| Author | Message | ||
     Nevar |
As I was pushing my 03 XB9S into the garage, after a short 40-mile ride this morning, the idler/tension wheel was squeaking loudly and it still does it after the bike has cooled down. It isn't a metal-on-metal squeak but more of a rubber drive-belt-on-tension wheel squeak. Is this normal? Does it indicate the belt is too tight? Too loose? I haven't adjusted it since I bought it 600 miles ago (bike has 7100 miles). The belt looks good - it has the final interim 03 belt fix but not the full 04 XB belt fix. Tim (Message edited by nevar on August 21, 2005) (Message edited by nevar on August 21, 2005) | ||
| Surveyor |
I've got the same "problem" | ||
| Black_sunshine |
Same here and does it from time to time. I see no wearing or rubbing and it hasen't been an issue for about 5k miles. It doesn't do it unless I'm pushing it backwards most of the time. | ||
| Truk |
Same here and primarily when pushing it backwards. 03xb9r with 8,500 miles. Everything looks fine...figured just what it does | ||
| Midknyte |
I have a squeek when backing mine into the garage. Never took the time to figure it out. Probably same thang. No answer for you other than, "me too". | ||
| Sparky |
Nevar, there's no adjustment possible on the belt tension. Check the color of the bearing seal on the idler. If it is not red then you have the obsoleted bearing/idler. There was a running change on all the XBs that the Factory did in the past. | ||
| Nevar |
Sparky, Yes. The bearing is red - the same red color as the front and rear wheel bearings. I guess the belt system is OK, I just hadn't heard this squeak before today. Tim | ||
| Opto |
Been through some rain lately? sometimes that'll do it. Then the squeak goes away. | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Just noticed the Blast doing this too. I think that is because it has been washed recently and the belt is "squeaky clean". | ||
| Steve_uk |
I get this same squeak when the bike is wet, but I often get another squeak when riding along and closing the throttle even in dry weather. I think it's when the belt is loaded then unloaded. I have the Free Spirits sprung tensioner though, so I'm not sure if that is causing the second squeak. I get another noise, like a click or clunk when pushing the bike around immediately after riding in the rain. I've noticed it a couple of times now and it's puzzling me as to where its coming from. Its definitely from the front-end... brake disc or wheel bearings, or fork springs perhaps? I dunno... Anyone else get this? | ||
| Black_sunshine |
Steve....its probably your head bearing. Just needs to be re-torqued. I had the same thing and that fixed her right up. | ||
| Nevar |
Opto, Nope. No rain. Nor have I washed the bike yet - I've only had it for 600 miles. I'm just going to assume the belt system is OK for now. Thanks for the responses. Tim | ||
| Holling |
Mine squeaks too when I push it in and out of the garage. 9S with 5K mi. I believe its just the rubber drive belt teeth grabbing and releasing the metal sprocket teeth. Normal. | ||
| M1combat |
WRT the clunk... Get someone to sit on the bike and rock it back and forth with the front brake squeezed. Put a finger so it's touching both the rotor and one of the mounting bolts. You'll notice that the rotor moves a little and then "clunks". Or at least that's the way mine is... | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
M1Combat - good point. It is easy to confuse the movement of a floating rotor with the clunk of a loose steering head bearing. | ||
| Steve_uk |
Black_sunshine... Thanks. I'll look into re-torquing the head bearing, it's worth a try, but I can't understand why I only hear the noise after riding in the rain, and never when it's dry. M1combat... Yeah I know the clunk you're talking about. I've experienced that on other bikes I've owned, but on my XB, I hear this noise when pushing the bike around without applying the front brake. Btw, it probably sounds more like a creak than a clunk  Thanks. | ||
| Fullpower |
the squeeky belt is normal when backing up the buell. sportsters do that too. the bearings in the idler pulley are prone to water contamination, and get rough and gravelly after each 3 or 4 thousand miles of wet roads. the bearings (6203) are cheep, and very easy to knock out. expect to pay around 10 bucks for a pair, takes less than 20 minutes to swap 'em. on my chain drive version, i used a much more substantial 6303 bearing, seems to be a bit more durable. |
