| Author | Message | ||
     Dr_greg |
Boy am I glad I didn't start swapping engines...  Anyway, the belt is rubbing against the crankcase, like this (see shiny spot):  The belt is tracking a little too far to the inside of the drive pulley. What would cause this? It started spontaneously with the previous belt, and has continued with the new belt. Nothing has happened to the bike (e.g. crash) to misalign any of the relevant axes. I'll clean both pulleys thoroughly, then take care when I reinstall the belt to start it tracking as far to the OUTSIDE of the drive pulley as possible. FWIW, absolutely NOBODY suggested this as the cause (even Al at American Sport Bike). Man, what a relief! Looks like I'll make it to Homecoming after all.  And I retract any bad things I said about Ulys. --Doc | ||
| Yamafreak |
Doc you are the MAN!  | ||
| Hughlysses |
Doc- I wonder if some of the internal strands haven't broken? That might cause the tension to vary across the width of the belt, causing it to track one direction or the other. Make sure you have a spare before Homecoming! | ||
| Ulynut |
Nice catch, Doc! Doc- I wonder if some of the internal strands haven't broken? That might cause the tension to vary across the width of the belt, causing it to track one direction or the other. Good thinking. | ||
| Froggy |
Damn I was hoping you would swap a Helicon in  | ||
| Nvr2old |
Service manual lists several causes of mistracking, are you sure you're not just looking at a symptom? | ||
| Tootal |
I was going to suggest that a rock had gotten lodged and your belt was rubbing it. That happened to me on a Harley once. I'm trying to figure out why yours is tracking wrong? How is the bearing on the drive pulley shaft? Any play in the pulley? Check along the path of the belt and see if there is anything stuck in there forcing the belt over. Don't know if that's possible, just brain storming.  | ||
| Ronmold |
Put the belt on the opposite direction, if there's a belt defect it should mis-track the other way, although I doubt you could have 2 bad belts. (Message edited by ronmold on May 12, 2010) | ||
| Rwcfrank |
Worn swingarm bearing perhaps? | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
What ever it is, I'm paying close attention to this thread. I love to watch smart people figure stuff out! | ||
| Dr_greg |
I love to watch smart people figure stuff out! Hah! Don't kid yourself Nate; I'm just as lucky as the rest of you guys... Re the belt tracking: I thoroughly cleaned ALL components in the final drive, with no change in tracking. I'm going to reverse the belt tonight; I'll report on the result. Service manual lists several causes of mistracking... Can you tell me where? I looked for exactly that and couldn't find anything (see how "smart" I am...)  Worn swingarm bearing perhaps? That would do it, but at 30,000 miles it would surprise me. I probably have 800 miles on the new belt, and there appears to be virtually NO external damage to the belt due to the rubbing. I'd prefer no contact, of course, but this doesn't seem like a serious problem to me, and is henceforth going on the back burner. I have an '86 Toyota 4AGE engine to rebuild, and a little trip planning to do  --Doc | ||
| Natek |
Doc, looking at the case, I'd be more worried about it than the belt.  | ||
| Nvr2old |
Service manual lists several causes of mistracking... DRIVE BELT MAINTENANCE 2009 manual Condition: Excessive edge wear (mistracking) 1. Misalignment or bent drive structure.....Check structure (bad bearing, bent members, etc.) 2. Bent or rough flange.....repair flange/replace sprocket. 3. Damage due to handling (pry on, etc.).....Follow proper handling/installation procedure. 4. Debris damage to edge of belt.....Inspect/replace belt or inspect for damaged or missing guards. 5. Belt hitting obstruction.....Check structure (bad bearings, bent members, etc.) or inspect for loose/missing fasteners or inspect for damaged or missing guards. 6. Bent or loose idler bracket.....Replace idler assembly or inspect for loose/missing fasteners. 7. Broken or loose guards.....Check structure (bad bearings, bent members, etc.) or inspect for loose/missing fasteners or inspect for damaged or missing guards.} | ||
| Rotorhead |
Could the idler pulley cause it to track out of line? Perhaps a bad bearing there could cause an issue? Or a bent pulley arm causing an odd angle forcing the belt to the inside? Look on the back side of the belt for some type of evidence or wear on the idler pulley surface. This could be as simple as in the oil line issue. Sorry to bring up the past.  | ||
| Nvr2old |
I'm betting on number 6. IIRC doesn't the history of this Uly include a ghost ride into a tree?  Just kidding, but I thought I remembered you said it had been down once by previous owner. | ||
| Dr_greg |
I'm betting on number 6. IIRC doesn't the history of this Uly include a ghost ride into a tree? Just kidding, but I thought I remembered you said it had been down once by previous owner. This is true; I was riding right behind him, and 564 didn't hit a tree, it was a 25 mph lowside into dirt. But remember I have swapped idler pulleys with 044, and no difference. Hmm, I guess 044 has ridden into a deer, however... I have swapped out EVERYTHING in the final drive, to no avail. Gonna swap belt direction now and see what happens. You guys do realize this is one advantage of a chain  --Doc | ||
| Ulynut |
You guys do realize this is one advantage of a chain Yeah, but it would be hard to go back to a chain drive again. Constant obsession with proper tension, constant obsession with proper lube, cleaning up from properly lubing the friggin thing, extra noise.... I'll keep my belt, thank you.  | ||
| Froggy |
Chains won't take out a chunk of your engine case when mis-aligned? | ||
| Dr_greg |
Reversed the belt: no change... I'm so $#@%^&*(@ tired of wrenching on this bike. So it rubs; BFD. Maybe I should fit a blooey pipe; then I'd never hear it. Or quit wearing earplugs, then I'd never hear it. I admit to preferring the belt, but you naysayers do realize that chain technology has improved somewhat in modern times. And please, PLEASE, PLEASE don't turn this thread into yet another belt v. chain discussion. Thanks. As far as I'm concerned, discussion over. Time to move on. --Doc P.S. Next week gonna take an extended test ride on a MTS 1200 (with the dreaded chain drive) Don't worry, I won't offend you Buell purists with my opinion of the MTS. | ||
| Ulynut |
You won't offend me, thats one sexy machine. Tell us all about it. | ||
| Froggy |
I would love a Multi, but I just lost another pay check at Erik Buell Racing. | ||
| Ourdee |
Doc, If yo get the MTS 1200, can I have one of your old Uly belts?  | ||
| Florida_lime |
Doc, I'll be trying the MTS 1200S Touring tomorrow am, then hopefully a longer ride Saturday afternoon. There are advantages to working at a Ducati dealership.  | ||
| Eulysses |
I would not worry about belt edge wear. The way belts are made you could drag a lot of it off and it still would be fine (snowmobiler talking here). There is a misalignment somewhere...but you could probably just ride it until it is obvious. | ||
| Ronmold |
Start it up with the belt off, put it in 2nd and take a wide flat file to the drive cog and bevel the edge away from the engine 10-20 thousandths, that may give enough influence to get it back on track. Have you compared the inner & outer diameters yet? | ||
| Uly_dude |
what if you cantored the rear wheel to the right just a little(if that's even possible). That may force the belt at the front pully to fall into line. Just a thought. I imagine you thought of that to though. | ||
| Dr_greg |
OK, one last thing. I'll replace the swingarm bearings. There is nothing else to do. I suppose the R swingarm bearing has gotten tired of bearing up under the relentless belt tension. It would have been nice of the designers to provide an adjustment. But they didn't. That would be too chain-like. --Doc | ||
| Firstbatch |
Doc, may be worth a remove, inspect and replace of the drive sprocket. I know there is no adjustment in there according to the service manual but the re-torque procedure is pretty specific. Just thinking it may be worth it before a swing arm pull. Hard to see how the at 30k the bearing would go bad at the swing arm ...but who knows . The axle just taper fits into a bushing on the swing are...correct? Wonder what kind of wear can occur at that point to cause misalignment. Perplexing indeed. Have fun on the MTS....can't wait to hear your ride report  | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Doc, Maybe the swingarm axle holes are not perfectly true to each other. If the axle is at an inward upward pitch then the belt would climb up slightly. The same thing could be at the engine end. Engine at a slight twist. Crazy thoughts but something is the cause. Mount a laser and see what's what. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Dr_greg- Why not go back to fundamentals and check alignment using a string or straightedge before you start replacing parts? A least that should show you where the problem is- wheel, swingarm, idler pulley, or drive pulley. |
