belt squeal

[quasi]

out on a ride a few weeks ago met an oldtimer bike mechanic/builder. he heard the belt on my 2012 rts squeal as I pulled in beside his and his friends matching Indians. told me to get rid of the squeal to jack the bike up, start it, put it in 1st gear and take a bar of bath soap to the edges of the belt. well I did that over the weekend. was able to get the bike out today for a short ride across town and back and had zero squealing. first time it has been quiet since I bought the bike back in November 2015. belt is aligned, tension is good, not riding the rear pulley flange, but it is dead against the outer flange on the front pulley. don't know how long this "cure" will work, prolly until it gets good and wet and starts making suds! the squealing was only on left hand turns and accelerating out of them. I tried the dab of grease thing, tried belt dressing and even a wax based chain lube. nothing worked til I used the soap.

 

[Warlock]

out on a ride a few weeks ago met an oldtimer bike mechanic/builder. he heard the belt on my 2012 rts squeal as I pulled in beside his and his friends matching Indians. told me to get rid of the squeal to jack the bike up, start it, put it in 1st gear and take a bar of bath soap to the edges of the belt. well I did that over the weekend. was able to get the bike out today for a short ride across town and back and had zero squealing. first time it has been quiet since I bought the bike back in November 2015. belt is aligned, tension is good, not riding the rear pulley flange, but it is dead against the outer flange on the front pulley. don't know how long this "cure" will work, prolly until it gets good and wet and starts making suds! the squealing was only on left hand turns and accelerating out of them. I tried the dab of grease thing, tried belt dressing and even a wax based chain lube. nothing worked til I used the soap.

That has been used for a long time on belts. Sometimes the simple things makes a big difference. This might help others with a squeaking belt.
David

 

[Highwayman2013]

Actually BRP had a bulletin on this. They said to put a small dot of grease on the belt. I did it many times on our 2012 RTL.

 

[quasi]

Actually BRP had a bulletin on this. They said to put a small dot of grease on the belt. I did it many times on our 2012 RTL.

yeah, me to. it didn't do a bit of good on mine.

 

[Chupaca]

Here's the thing....

The grease bit was from the teeth mating with the sprocket . The belt rubbing the flange is different. There were some engines not aligned right and the belts could not be aligned right. That was some time ago. The soap trick works...:thumbup:

 

[quasi]

well, I was right. as soon as I got caught in the rain the soap turned to suds and now the belt is squealing on the outer edge of the front pulley again. what a p.i.t.a these things are. something is discombuberated!