Rear Belt Pulley

[mcgroom]

Alright here we go. I know this topic has been brought up dozens of times on here but still looking for a solution that makes sense. Hell, who knows, maybe one of the noobs has some new input on an old topic.

Here is the situation:

BELT SQUEAK.

After adjusting belt deflection and alignment over 1/2 dozen times in the past year I have come to grips that it is most likely a pulley problem (since the teeth are squared off) and not a bearing issue like I was hoping.

Pulled the rear wheel, bearings seemed fine but decided to change anyways. Waiting on those to arrive.

Pulled the pulley off to replace with an aftermarket one, (bought 3 different ones on ebay that I liked the look of.... all 65 tooth x 1.5 inches), realized the hub on my PM wheels is to large to mount the aftermarket pulleys.

I also realized the teeth on my drive belt are begining to square off as well.

Dogvet said it is common for the older pulleys to be worn out in the 15k range. I have 12k so I am not surprised.

I know there are teflon coated pulleys availiable for the newer dogs but would be surprised that any of the pulleys that are still out there that match my PM wheels will be coated with teflon.

Which means I will be right back where I am now in a year or two.

Not to mention the the f'in cost, pulley ($650) and belt ($175), just to fix a squeak.

I have a buddy who is going to machine the inner diameter of one of the aftermarket pulleys to match the larger PM hub.

I know I can have my old pulley milled and an insert glued in which I am considering as well. Waiting to hear back from them this morning on cost but I think in the $450 range.

As for the belt, it is in great shape except for some mis-shaped teeth. If I continue to use that belt, will that allow grit to get in some of the gaps and cause the pulley teeth on what ever pulley I replace my old with to wear funny as well?


Anyone got any ideas?

 

[P8RIOT]

First thought - it sure seems like you'd want all components of that critical drive train assembly (belt & 2 pulleys) to be as well matched as possible - meaning, new belt, too.

 

[Raywood]

In 05 BD when to the teflon coated pulleys to prevent this noise. Yours is most likely worn so if you intend on keeping the bike for a long time then I would have Supermax mill it down and put on their plastic pully and that should take care of your problems.

 

[mcgroom]

In 05 BD when to the teflon coated pulleys to prevent this noise. Yours is most likely worn so if you intend on keeping the bike for a long time then I would have Supermax mill it down and put on their plastic pully and that should take care of your problems.

I just got off of the phone with Phil as a matter of fact.

$460 (insert and milling), $50 (for the additional set screws), $30 for shipping and handling. 5% upcharge for credit card.

If he has the pulley by Friday it will be back on its way by next Wednesday. Can't ask for a better turn around than that.

Seems like the way to go but $567 + $175 for a belt squeak.....damn.

Just hoping for something different that is easier for me to justify.

 

[mcgroom]

How many guys have converted to chain drive and would I be happy with that?

What kind of cost would I be looking at to do that?

 

[DRBarnhart]

Ear plugs are cheap... :up:

Dennis

 

[barhopper]

Dont pay the CC fee. Do a debit or a check over the phone to save $27 bucks.

 

[LDO]

In 05 BD when to the teflon coated pulleys to prevent this noise. Yours is most likely worn so if you intend on keeping the bike for a long time then I would have Supermax mill it down and put on their plastic pully and that should take care of your problems.

Ray,
Does that mean he could just get a BD 05 pulley (off ebay perhaps) and use that instead?

Seems like all those prices are pretty high!:angry:

 

[BubbleHead]

In 05 BD when to the teflon coated pulleys to prevent this noise. Yours is most likely worn so if you intend on keeping the bike for a long time then I would have Supermax mill it down and put on their plastic pully and that should take care of your problems.

RAY, I HAVE THE TEFLON PULLEY ON MY 07. MY BELT CHIRPS WHEN I FIRST TAKE OFF. DO YOU THINK SOME DRY LUBE ON THE BELT EDGES MIGHT STOP THIS ISSUE?
BBD

 

[Raywood]

RAY, I HAVE THE TEFLON PULLEY ON MY 07. MY BELT CHIRPS WHEN I FIRST TAKE OFF. DO YOU THINK SOME DRY LUBE ON THE BELT EDGES MIGHT STOP THIS ISSUE?
BBD

Yeah, I spray mine down quite often with silicone spray. With the new RSD bikes though it often an alignment issue with the wheel and tranny.
You have the custon bike with the 124" motor in it don't you? If so you may want to verify the alignment.

I've worn out two pulleys and one belt already on mine and my next one will be the Supermax route. I think it would be cheaper in the long run for me with all the long distance runs and miles rather than buying a new pully and belt. I think the replacement cost of the Supermax insert would be less after the intitial expense!

 

[BubbleHead]

THANKS FOR THE ADVICE RAY, I'LL USE SOME DRY LUBE FOR NOW. THE ALIGNMENT LOOKS RIGHT SO I'M THINKING A LITTLE LUBE MIGHT FIX THIS. NO WEAR ON THE BELT EDGES OR TEETH. JUST PUT MY FIRST NEW REAR TIRE ON AT 17,268 MILES AND I STILL HAD SOME TREAD LEFT BEFORE THE WEAR BAR BUT I FIGURED WHAT THE HELL BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY. IF I HAD MORE TIME I'D TRY AND BECOME THE MILEAGE MASTER JUNIOR BUT I'LL NEVER GET THAT CLOSE TO THE MASTER HIMSELF SOON AS I RETIRE THOUGH, LOOK OUT LOL!!!

 

[Raywood]

THANKS FOR THE ADVICE RAY, I'LL USE SOME DRY LUBE FOR NOW. THE ALIGNMENT LOOKS RIGHT SO I'M THINKING A LITTLE LUBE MIGHT FIX THIS. NO WEAR ON THE BELT EDGES OR TEETH. JUST PUT MY FIRST NEW REAR TIRE ON AT 17,268 MILES AND I STILL HAD SOME TREAD LEFT BEFORE THE WEAR BAR BUT I FIGURED WHAT THE HELL BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY. IF I HAD MORE TIME I'D TRY AND BECOME THE MILEAGE MASTER JUNIOR BUT I'LL NEVER GET THAT CLOSE TO THE MASTER HIMSELF SOON AS I RETIRE THOUGH, LOOK OUT LOL!!!

That's still a lot of mileage. Glad your getting out enough up there in the great NW. That's good mileage on the tire too. I got 19 and 22,000 out of my first two now have over 15,000 on my fourth!
Spray that belt with some silicone every week and it will quite it down.

:2thumbs:

 

[waykool]

Spray that belt with some silicone every week and it will quite it down.

:2thumbs:

Spray the underside of the belt its self or spray the face of the pully or both?

 

[Moespeeds]

Mine started squealing after the dealer put a new rear tire on. After 3k miles like that I put it on a lift and found it to be way out of alignment. Even after aligning it 50 times I never got the squealing to go away. Last season at 10k miles I put a new belt on and the squealing stopped, but the belt always tracked a little funny. When I put my bike back together last week I found the transmission needed to be shimmed. I'm sure there were no shims under there when I took it out. Now the belt tracks smooth and cenetered for the first time since I got this bike. I also believe that once that belt starts squealing you need to replace it. So I say replace the belt, check your tranny shim, and align everything. Don't trust anything the dealer has done!

 

[TEXASDOG]

I had trouble with sqealing belt on my Mastiff until I bought a Harley belt. It doesn't sqeal even if it is misaligned and I was told they are the strongest belt. I broke 3 belts prior to getting the one from Harley.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[mcgroom]

Mine started squealing after the dealer put a new rear tire on. After 3k miles like that I put it on a lift and found it to be way out of alignment. Even after aligning it 50 times I never got the squealing to go away. Last season at 10k miles I put a new belt on and the squealing stopped, but the belt always tracked a little funny. When I put my bike back together last week I found the transmission needed to be shimmed. I'm sure there were no shims under there when I took it out. Now the belt tracks smooth and cenetered for the first time since I got this bike. I also believe that once that belt starts squealing you need to replace it. So I say replace the belt, check your tranny shim, and align everything. Don't trust anything the dealer has done!

Agree on all accounts. Has not been to the dealer since I got it but who knows before.

I will check the trans alignment regardless of what I end up doing.

I am at 11700 now and the noise did not start until I hit the 9k mark last year. I got the bike at 6k and everything was good until then.

I am just trying to figure a way to not drop $700 + into resolving a squeak. The pulley is shot at this point and so is the belt. If I change either of them then I have to change both. If I could live with the squeak they both have some life left in them and the ware is equally mated. I just cant stand the noise.

With that said, if I drop $700 + into a chain drive conversion, it becomes a mod and I can EASILY justify that to myself.

Just haven't done enough research to determine if that is the way I want to go.

 

[Moespeeds]

What makes you think your pulley is shot? I've got 15k+ hard miles on mine, and it's fine. Also, check your tranny shim, I think mine was cocked a little causing the belt to twist, even though it was properly aligned. I'm not sure if the procedure is in the manual, but it's pretty simple to do. Biggest hassle is you gotta at least loosen the motor plate, if not take it off completely.

 

[mcgroom]

What makes you think your pulley is shot? I've got 15k+ hard miles on mine, and it's fine. Also, check your tranny shim, I think mine was cocked a little causing the belt to twist, even though it was properly aligned. I'm not sure if the procedure is in the manual, but it's pretty simple to do. Biggest hassle is you gotta at least loosen the motor plate, if not take it off completely.

Both the pulley and the belt teeth are chewed up. Almost square with edges now. Now the belt teeth are the same shape as the pulley teeth.

Dogvet said this was common for some of the earlier pulleys. Not sure why, but he said they were only good for about 15k miles.

I know it is not in my manual. Do you think I could pull it from the Baker site?

 

[BubbleHead]

Yeah, I spray mine down quite often with silicone spray. With the new RSD bikes though it often an alignment issue with the wheel and tranny.
You have the custon bike with the 124" motor in it don't you? If so you may want to verify the alignment.

I've worn out two pulleys and one belt already on mine and my next one will be the Supermax route. I think it would be cheaper in the long run for me with all the long distance runs and miles rather than buying a new pully and belt. I think the replacement cost of the Supermax insert would be less after the intitial expense!

RAY I DID WHAT YOU SUGGESTED AND IT SEEMS TO HAVE CURED THE ISSUE. ONCE AGAIN, YOU ARE THE MAN :up:

 

[Raywood]

Ray,
Does that mean he could just get a BD 05 pulley (off ebay perhaps) and use that instead?

Seems like all those prices are pretty high!:angry:

Sorry I missed this post Bob!!

An 05 pully wont work for him cause the 04 and earlier models have a wider belt. In 05 they went to the skinny'r one they are using now. I think it inch and a quarter vice inch and a half or something like that.
Not to mention RSD!