| Author | Message | ||
     7873jake |
Replaced the drive belt about 2 weeks ago and have ridden the bike intermittently since (~200-300 miles on it since replacement). Each morning, when I leave the house to go to work, it makes a popping sound like the teeth on the belt get stuck in the teeth on the rear sprocket and don't pop out until they have to with the turn of the wheel. If it is a cool morning, this sound will continue for 10-20 minutes of normal riding (highway). I don't hear it on the highway, just after I slow down for a light or a stop sign. Its not a whine or vibration, just a popping sound. The first time I heard it, I stopped to see if I had a strap hanging that was bouncing around in the rear wheel spokes. That's what I thought it sounded like. I have inspected the belt- all good, no sign of wear or damage. I have inspected the rear wheel and bearings- again, all good (smooth and free rolling, not notchy or grinding) Will it stop eventually? Is it normal to do this in the first place? | ||
| Reepicheep |
My new belt is noisy as well, though not as bad as yours sounds. I checked the sprockets, and they looked fine, so I am just ignoring it (and it is getting better). | ||
| Uly_man |
I do not know what it is but it is NOT right and I have had enough new belts to know. Get it checked out. | ||
| Swampy |
Wheel bearings? | ||
| Nillaice |
make sure the belt is installed the right direction (so you can read the belt P/N standing next to the bike). or if it is; try flipping it and seeing if that helps make it go away. some belts are cut funny, and the teeth will try to catch on the pulley wall and try to ride over the edge. for example; my 9 used to do this when rolling it backwards out of a parking spot | ||
| Uly_dude |
ditto on the pully not being aligned. Try rolling it backwards. If the belt trys to jump off the pully, the pully fork holder needs to have a washer thrown in behind it or removed to get it aligned just perfect with the belt. I bet you're hearing the belt sliding back n forth on the pully. | ||
| 7873jake |
Ok, finally slowed down long enough to investigate this (when I posted the OP, I was at work, having just encountered the noise(s) on the commute in and thought "hmm I'll see what the collective says/thinks") The belt does make the sound I thought I heard, albeit not as loud or for as long as I thought. Alignment is good and the part number print is facing out, readable as I stand along side of the bike. That sound subsides after warming up. I only really notice it when the morning temp is at/below around 50 degrees. There appears to be good alignment throughout the final drive, i.e. the pulley is not bound or out of alignment. The bearings are still good. Smooth and notch-free. The rear brake seems to make the louder noise, that one previously described as the strap hanging, plinking in the spokes. Turns out, the outboard brake pad (the one against the plunger in the caliper) has worn at a rate about twice as fast as the inboard one. Because of this, the caliper seems to float more and thus, rattle. Typically, it has been my experience on cars that when one brake pad wears at a faster rate than another, the slider(s) need a cleaning (and lube under the seals) because they are sticking, causing the pad to wear against the rotor. I have not broken this caliper down and cleaned it yet so that may be my next service. For now, the back brake does function, the rear bearings couldn't be more smooth if I asked them to, and the belt stops making noise and loosens nicely once warm and under way. Thought I'd update this one now that I seem to have isolated it. I appreciate the responses and now need to tear in to the rear caliper to clean it and replace the pads. |
