Belt squeak - Harley Forum

domino · #1 07-19-2009, 11:18 AM

I have a 1999 FXD Superglide with 161,000 miles.

The belt squeaks. Sounds like from the main drive pulley off the transmission.
I been using dish soap liquid to shut it up.

What's the cause?

Tension is good. Aligned with tool.

HarleyCruiser · #2 07-19-2009, 11:33 AM

Your pulleys are probably worn out. Take a look at them they should have a chrome coating, when this wears off they start to squeak.
What happens as the pulley wears, the clogs get larger, and the belt moves as the pulley goes around.
Riding on gravel sand wears the pulley out faster.
I have to replace mine about every sixty thousand because of the sand roads around my house.
I always have a extra E-bay take off when the pulley starts to talk to me.
I wear ear plugs so it usually gets pretty bad before I replace it.
Usally replace the rear twice as much as the front, it seems to be the worst for wear.
Also a good idea to align the tire by how the belt tracks.
It should ride out when going forward, in when going back.

unclepsycho · #3 07-19-2009, 12:12 PM

Well now that his came up......
I have had the belt on my BMC 'chirp' on deceleration, and sometimes on accel. It has been doing it a long ime.
Is that the sound you are talking about?
I have adjusted the belt, aligned it, but never sprayed anything on it. I washed it off when I clean the bike, but I dont use any spray wax or stuff like that near the belt. I spray the rag, pointing away from the bike, then apply. That way I know the spray is not getting on the belt.

The chirp has been there for quite a while, I just ignored it till now. I think it is getting louder.
and no... the chirp is not the back tire.

domino · #4 07-20-2009, 11:08 AM

Well here is my replyfication. I made that word up. Ha ha ha.

Well the rear pulley is a newer one. and the squeak seems to emanate from
the front pulley. So it's probably the front pulley or perhaps the belt coating is worn? Do they coat belts with teflon or something?

I say heck with it and ride it. I been using soap as a lubrication which won't hurt a thing in my theory. Now someone will warn me and say " DON"T USE
SOAP! it will bla bla bla ! " Well to answer that, what more do you want from
161,716 miles on a 1999 FXD?

I'm too cheap to replace the front pulley as it does quiet down with application of dish soap and stuff. And I'm mostly on the highways anyhow
so power transfer is fine.

She's getting tired. I know it. I want to hit 200,000 with her with as little
repairs as I can manage. After that; retire her. Decide what to do in terms of
cost efficient motor rebuild or whatever.

But for now I im riding it as is. Hopefully till the end of season and see about
replacing that front pulley.

Thanks for the replies...

unclepsycho · #5 07-20-2009, 08:13 PM

If you can get to 200,000 why not try to squeeze another 50k and go for the 1/4 million? you only got 89k to go

I will try the soap on mine, but wont that make the belt slip and jump on the pulley??? Mine is already jumping at full throttle, and it is 'sqeeky clean' (he he)

And I dont know what they coat the belt with... yet. (I will research it to find out)

usturbine · #6 07-20-2009, 08:42 PM

I have had this issue with my 94 Ultra and my bothers 95 Ultra at 40,000 plus miles.

I originally thought the problem was my primary and my brothers seemed to be a front wheel bearing. After replacing my primary chain and my brothers wheel bearings.( by the way the dealer we stopped at agreed with us and changed them both for a few hundred dollars when we were on our way home from Sturgis) a few miles down the road after we left the dealer the noise returned in both bikes.

We continued on home with no problems. I finally had time to look at it closer and found it appeared to be coming from the rear belt. I sprayed WD40 on mine and the noise went away so i figured it had something to due with the belt adjustment. I readjusted both belts by feel not having the tension gage at the time. I think i felt mine was loose and my brothers was to tight. Anyway i readjusted both belts and to this day the noise has not come back.

hope this helps.

Dennis

domino · #7 07-21-2009, 09:58 AM

thanks again as always...

i'm beggining to like this board.

I have thought about the belt tightness and adjustment.

I changed to a new tire this early spring and always check the alignment of the wheel and belt tension seems to be ok. as i have that H-D belt tension tool thingy. It's darn difficult to check the tension sitting on the bike and
using that tool. It's a two man operation as per instructions; one person is
supposed to sit on the bike while the other checks the tension w/ gauge.

I don't THINK its too tight or too loose. I should recheck that.

and to reply to clepto whatever his name is. No the belt didn't SQUEEK slip off
the pulley. I used my latest invention car wax with a teflon in it in a spray type bottle. Ha ha ha works like a charm.

that front pulley does have 161,803 miles as per july 20, 2009 so i can understand why it might be the pulley itself. but then it can be belt tension.

Finally, it did fine with the used soap method from OBX NC back to Cleveland
900 miles in a day the long way home.

Bigincher · #8 07-26-2009, 01:04 AM

Belt is dirty or too loose. Simple as that.

BCJ · #9 08-05-2009, 02:37 PM

With 161,000 could just be worn out. But if you are going to push it out longer, here is something that works pretty good. Depending on how worn out it is will determine who long this will work. Clean the belt and pullies front and back very good. I use S100 spray some on the front pully, reach in there with a tooth brush and scrub, rinse off repeat until the rinse off looks clean. Scrub the belt and rear pully look for the same. Then use a DRY Silicon, ACE Hardware carrys it. Two or Three coats let dry between coats and dry before ridding. Leaves no OIL residue. Works good.