Belt whine...

[Oclaf]

okay, two 98 Glides, one has the belt that came on it when I bought it from neighbor, the other has new(er) belt as I broke one a few years back...I have made them tight, made them loose, put them on spec. wheels are aligned, it all started when I put new tires on them. not at same time but that is when it started. I read on here to wash them, I did, the new belt was quiet for a bit, then started again?  the other never did shut up...ideas? thoughts? 

[WhipLash96]

okay, two 98 Glides, one has the belt that came on it when I bought it from neighbor, the other has new(er) belt as I broke one a few years back...I have made them tight, made them loose, put them on spec. wheels are aligned, it all started when I put new tires on them. not at same time but that is when it started. I read on here to wash them, I did, the new belt was quiet for a bit, then started again?  the other never  I had a similar issue when I went from H-D Dunlap to Perelli Night Dragons. I did almost all the same stuff as you until we decided to measure and compare the tires. That was our issue. No more problems

[WhipLash96]

Sorry about that. Measure the tire widths and look for differences on the outer edges that may cause the tire to be fatter. Happened to me.

[Oclaf]

went from the 'old' metzler to the new one, 888 or whatever, like the ride and look on my bikes...only change...but will look

[easyricer]

I've seen that a time or two, just couldn't find a sweetspot to shut it up. For those I keep a can of the Automotive  fan belt dressing. Just a dab l do ya and they are nice n quite again. While you are down there, take a look at your pulleys. Any wear at all can cause noises but even more so when the hard coating on the rear pulley is coming apart.
EASY

[Thumper Buttercup]

When we got our new Ultra we were down riding around Rapid City and the
belt started making all kinds of noise.  We drove down to the Dealership and
the shop manager gave us a bottle of HD Poly Oil, looks like a silicone that never
drys up, he told me to put to small eraser size globs on the belt in two different
places and it will work itself around to the whole belt.  We do in each spring
and once in the summer and never had anymore noise.

[88b]

This one whined a bit

[BUBBIE]

88b,

Unanswered things about that belt would be nice.

Do you know why the wear? Miles on the belt?

I'd Guess: too loose a belt setting, to much gritty dirt. AND maybe a lot of TWIST of the wrist

How much power did that bike have? What year also? Yada Yada

signed....BUBBIE

[WhipLash96]

Sorry guys, just not a fan of fixes that do nothing but not fix the problem.  Hmmmm. Maybe that should have been addressed right away? Oh well, crap happens.

[frankieb]

Check the tracking of the belt, to me it sounds like the belt is tracking to far and rubbing the outter edge of the pulley. Check the top and bottom of the pulley.

[Oclaf]

how can the 'tracking' be off if the wheel is aligned per book/manual? also, on the 'black' Glide, the tire is rubbing, haven't had the time to look as he bags have to come off, I have to raise on the jack, thing called work gets in way. the "blue" glide, I think its the wheel bearing, not the belt. the 'whine' doesn't whine at ten MPH or slower? actually stops rather abruptly, I noticed on the way home tonight...will park and drive the truck, damn! thanks for all the tips. to keep on, the pulley is matched to the custom wheel so its not factor on either. blue one has around 32k the black one 13k. also, I read before, to clean as I previously posted and not to use and dressing two responses are to use it. my intuition is to not use it as the belt on the bike is more exposed than under hood belts on cars, so it would seem defeatist? regardless, I think I prematurely thought it was the belt when it was something else...

[fire5150]

how can the 'tracking' be off if the wheel is aligned per book/manual?

Several issues can effect alignment.
Rear fork cleave block wear and proper torque
Misaligned drive pulley and bushing wear

An out of round wheel

Damaged shock or the adjust classy linkage  improper set or broken bolt
Damaged motor mount.

The list can go on and on  just because the pulley is in line to a service spec. You have to ensure the entire system is solid and none of the above and other possible issues exist and add to the delema.
What was the belts tention  etc

Just food for thought