HarleyTechTalk

2006 EG about 51k miles. I first noticed it a couple of days ago. When it first happened it was wet out and I thought I lost traction in second gear. Kind of lost forward momentum for about a 1/2 second and thought I heard a grind or a slip. Yesterday on dry pavement under hard acceleration just after shifting to second gear it did it again. Like a clunk grind sound, let off the gas and under normal acceleration I'm not hearing or feeling it. Only when I get on it. I changed primary fluid last night and it's shifting better but still can get it to do this if I get on it hard in second gear. Sound like clutch issue? any help appreciated

Drive belt slipping?

Quote from: Bigbluff on March 31, 2015, 01:54:22 PM
Drive belt slipping?

Hmmm. didn't even think of that possibility. will check for sure. It really sounded like metal to metal grinding together. almost a slipping grind. And it really sounded like it came from the primary area. I guess I'll have to make it happen again on the way home to try and help identify it better.

Quote from: jamess71 on March 31, 2015, 02:09:53 PM

Quote from: Bigbluff on March 31, 2015, 01:54:22 PM
Drive belt slipping?

Hmmm. didn't even think of that possibility. will check for sure. It really sounded like metal to metal grinding together. almost a slipping grind. And it really sounded like it came from the primary area. I guess I'll have to make it happen again on the way home to try and help identify it better.

You might want to take a look at the belt first, before trying to duplicate the noise....

my 07 electra glide did something similar,needed a new drive belt had a few teeth missing new belt and adjusted proper all is well

Could be a bad clutch hub .

Or the trans pulley is stripping the splines a lot of different posabilitys best to tear it down and find the problem

Well once again this forum to the rescue. ;-) My drive belt was very loose. I would never have expected it. Tightened it up last night and all good again. Very happy that was the only issue. Thanks to all for the help.

Hope you Didn't Over Tighten to compensate you mind/worries... Best a Tad Loose not playing tunes on it or the bearing will go next...

First off, I thought Nick had it correct, that was my thinking also.. Been there and seen that.

signed....BUBBIE

I twist the bottom of the belt. 45 degrees, usually good to go.

Quote from: BUBBIE on April 03, 2015, 10:10:49 AM
Hope you Didn't Over Tighten to compensate you mind/worries... Best a Tad Loose not playing tunes on it or the bearing will go next...

First off, I thought Nick had it correct, that was my thinking also.. Been there and seen that.

signed....BUBBIE

Didn't go too tight. Still able to push it up about an inch without pushing too hard. I'll try the 45 degree trick when I leave work for sanity sake.

The question is why was it loose?  Those belts don't loosen on their own.  Either the axle moved or you could be loosing a swingarm or other bearing. Belts don't stretch.

Quote from: jamess71 on April 03, 2015, 01:48:41 PM

Quote from: BUBBIE on April 03, 2015, 10:10:49 AM
Hope you Didn't Over Tighten to compensate you mind/worries... Best a Tad Loose not playing tunes on it or the bearing will go next...

First off, I thought Nick had it correct, that was my thinking also.. Been there and seen that.

signed....BUBBIE

Didn't go too tight. Still able to push it up about an inch without pushing too hard. I'll try the 45 degree trick when I leave work for sanity sake.

An inch without pushing too hard is still a bit too loose.

 
" Belts don't stretch."......Well,  hopefully when it comes to drive belts,  they don't change size much,  but I'm of the opinion there is some degree of "stretch" involved with hot versus cold on that belt much as there is with a primary chain or real rear drive chain.

Quote from: moscooter on April 03, 2015, 03:42:36 PM

" Belts don't stretch."......Well,  hopefully when it comes to drive belts,  they don't change size much,  but I'm of the opinion there is some degree of "stretch" involved with hot versus cold on that belt much as there is with a primary chain or real rear drive chain.

   and to add  that all aramid fibres stretch and it can be up to 1%, also depending on the application aramid fibres suffer from what is referred to as creep or in simple terms slippage, which is extremely difficult to measure.

When you ride the bike and get the running parts warm to Hot, THEN press up on the belt... That one inch will be down to a 3/8 to 1/2 inch with firm push up in the middle where checked...

The Metal pulleys DO change/grow the OD (larger)  from the expansion  when HOT...

signed....BUBBIE

These belts are carbon fiber and they damn sure won't stretch enough to jump a tooth. My experience  is that they like the tension a shade on the tight side or they will shear teeth.

100,000 miles on my 09 King original belt using Old School Tension... A tad looser than The TIGHT show room bikes...

I make it a habit to check bikes on occasion on the show room floor... Try that some time and you will find them usually TOO Tight

ALL my other HD's have and Had good results and Belt Longevity using the looser adjustment... 05/97/00/06/09...

signed....BUBBIE

I believe showroom bikes (new) will wear in and loosen slightly as the machine marks and belt surface imperfections are erased with "break-in wear". This effect is however will very minimal and may not require readjustment if the belt was marginally too tight on the showroom floor.

Your really lucky it didn't strip all the teeth off the belt or tear up your pulleys. I'd also be checking for a reason, other than neglect, of how the belt got that loose in the first place. Really aggressive starts and banging gears will sometimes shift  the adjustments. The manual says 65 lb torque on the axle nut I run mine closer to 100 to keep it in place on my T124 Dyna. It will not stay put otherwise.
My manual says to use the HD specific tool, and look for 3/8" movement at 10lbs of pressure on the tool. You can push the belt tighter by hand, but the initial setting with the tool is supposed to give the "correct tension" overall. All setting is done with belt cold as I remember. I ran the belt on s supercharged 95" at 130 hp without isssues while maintaining tension as HD described in the manua.  fwiw Buffalo

after another inspection it's much tighter than the inch with light push, more like 1/2 inch with firm push. As Bubbie said would be the case, this was after the bike was warmed up.

As to why it was loose. I replaced the rear tire a few hundred miles back. I believe I didn't tighten the axle nut enough. I had to hold the bolt on the left side while I tightened the right this time or it would loosen the belt as I tightened the axle nut. I think that must have happened and I didn't notice it last time. Live and learn. I can tell you one thing it won't happen again. 

jamess71,

What is wrong James , Don't you have 3 hands...

There is a tool made that will hold adjustment while you use Two hands to tighten...

Coyote showed the one he uses a while back.. ME ? I just struggle...

signed....BUBBIE

This works great. I got mine from Calif Phil.

Ahhh ok then, well of course they make a tool for that. lol. That would have made it too easy. ;-) For $50 i think I'll continue to struggle. lol If I was doing it more often then maybe. Or better yet, next time get one of my kids out there to help me.