Belt problems

[pompey]

What have I done? I had my frame powder coated so now is the time to rebuild. Engine & transmission is back together and I put the inner & outer primary back. Here’s the thing- the belt does not seem to fit. The back wheel is too far back. It’s like the belt shrank a 1/2" or so. I know the engine is correct & the transmission only can go side to side for adjustment. So why doesn’t the belt seem long enough?

 

[Daddycool]

have you checked the adj screws in the swing arm?

Might read a "how to" on changing the rear tire. It might help you narrow your problem down. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

 

[pompey]

Daddycool, that's not the problem, I haven't even got the adjustment screws in yet & the back wheel is on but the belt seems to tight I don’t have any room for adjustment. What did I do

 

[BBChopper]

Did you get all the trans shims back in place? You may have changed the thickness of the mounts and now the engine/trans is higher thus further away?

 

[MARV]

its got to be close. huh?

get it started on top of the pulley then spin the tire?

use a heat gun to expand the belt?

take the washer/stops off both ends of the axle to move the axle farther forward to get the belt on?

 

[pompey]

Did you get all the trans shims back in place? You may have changed the thickness of the mounts and now the engine/trans is higher thus further away?

Yes I hope i did. I only had a chrome base plate No shims

 

[pompey]

Opps I just tried to upload a pic of what I have. Didn't work

 

[pompey]

its got to be close. huh?

get it started on top of the pulley then spin the tire?

use a heat gun to expand the belt?

take the washer/stops off both ends of the axle to move the axle farther forward to get the belt on?

Marv, I got the belt on, it just seems to tight I have no adjustment at all

 

[MARV]

it'll stretch then readjust

 

[lee]

make sure you have removed any powder coat from where the motor and transmission mount to the frame

 

[Vegas]

Something must have changed. I'd have to lean towards the mounting of your driveline and the addition of powder coat as Lee said.

 

[RRRUFF]

Are the belt & sprockets new or are they the same ones that were on there?

 

[pompey]

make sure you have removed any powder coat from where the motor and transmission mount to the frame

Lee I didn’t remove the powder coat, also I did get lower profile tire (tyre):up: got a 40 had a 60. RRRUFF, thats the only thing thats different

So are you telling me I have to take everything back out:bang:

 

[Vegas]

That depends, is the belt loose enough to be servicable now and can you align the rear wheel keeping it loose enough.

 

[RRRUFF]

I thought you may have gotten the belt or a sprocket the wrong size. Tire profile shouldn't make a difference in belt tension. Did you get the transmission alignment right?

 

[lee]

Lee I didn’t remove the powder coat, also I did get lower profile tire (tyre):up: got a 40 had a 60. RRRUFF, thats the only thing thats different

So are you telling me I have to take everything back out:bang:

you need to remove the powder coat. Firstly you need to get solid mounting - the powder coat can brake down meaning everything will loosen up and you also need metal to metal for good grounding

 

[pompey]

That depends, is the belt loose enough to be servicable now and can you align the rear wheel keeping it loose enough.

Vegas, I can get the belt on the belt’s a little tight not that tight but the wheel is at the minimum I was sure it was back further

I thought you may have gotten the belt or a sprocket the wrong size. Tire profile shouldn't make a difference in belt tension. Did you get the transmission alignment right?

RRRUFF,I had a look at the pictures I had taken of the frame, and it had paint on it, so I am thinking the new paint should be the same. I took a lot of pictures of the strip down after reading a lot of Gas Man’s how to. Put the engine back in and then the transmission everything lined up to put the primary back on & after I tightened the transmission I put the back wheel back on. Only thing new was the tire size. Vegas I can get the belt on the belt’s a little tight not that tight but the wheel is at the minimum I was sure it was back further before I started

 

[Raywood]

Vegas I can get the belt on the belt’s a little tight not that tight but the wheel is at the minimum I was sure it was back further before I started

This is what you actually want. The old belt was probably old and stretched. Your new belt is tight and you want it set at the minimum adjustment setting on the axle so that you have more to work with.

I wouldn't have installed my motor and tranny on a painted frame though. I would have removed the coating down to bare frame. I think you are going to have alignment problems down the road as the paint compresses and everything loosens up.

 

[MARV]

I wouldn't have installed my motor and tranny on a painted frame though. I would have removed the coating down to bare frame. I think you are going to have alignment problems down the road as the paint compresses and everything loosens up.

that and its the ground to the frame.

could always install a grounding strap

 

[pompey]

This is what you actually want. The old belt was probably old and stretched. Your new belt is tight and you want it set at the minimum adjustment setting on the axle so that you have more to work with.

I wouldn't have installed my motor and tranny on a painted frame though. I would have removed the coating down to bare frame. I think you are going to have alignment problems down the road as the paint compresses and everything loosens up.

I guess I am going to have a go at getting the powder coat off without taking everything out. Didn’t want to but I don’t want problems down the road. So the belt is ok, that’s good news thanks.