Belt Tension way to low

[bluestratos]

Got around to testing the tension with my Kricket, about 100 with the belt tensioner pulled away from the belt. I reset it to 150 but been raining for 2 days now so no chance to check it out. It has to be a lot smoother now, I could feel the belt slap before.
Since it does not call out for a torque setting on the axle nut, how do you know if you have it tight enough?

Thanks

Randy

 

[Camdenlake]

Service manual says 96ftlbs for the axle nut on the muffler side. Just had mine loose to align.

Josh

 

[Scott&Marla]

Torque specs

If you look in your owners guide, under the heading of specifications, it tells you the rear drive axle nut torque should be between 91 lb ft - 101 lb ft. I personally split the difference. Hope that helps. :dontknow:

 

[Sarge707]

I like 140 on the Cricket and be sure your doing the test properly .
I recently had the rear wheel off and took apart the adjustors and made sure BOTH nuts were equal length from the head off the bolt!
Getting them perfectly equal and then making a very small adjustment now gives me a very smooth belt!

 

[bluestratos]

Thanks for the info, I should have checked the book, the info I had said to just make sure the nuts were secure enought ensure the axle did not move which made little sense, lol.

I will have to try to find a 36 mil socket that will fit my 1/2" drive torque wrench as I used my 3/4" drive set to loosen and reset.

As far as doing the test right, it appeared easy for me. I put my finger in the loop on the kirket, held it parallel/centered on the flat side on top of the belt about 1/2 way along the lenght of the belt. I gently pushed down until it clicked and stopped immediately. I did this several times and got the same results each time both during the adjusment and after. This sound correct?

 

[Campverdefela]

Thanks for the info, I should have checked the book, the info I had said to just make sure the nuts were secure enought ensure the axle did not move which made little sense, lol.

I will have to try to find a 36 mil socket that will fit my 3/4 drive torque wrench as I used my 1" drive set to loosen and reset.

As far as doing the test right, it appeared easy for me. I put my finger in the loop on the kirket, held it parallel/centered on the flat side on top of the belt about 1/2 way along the lenght of the belt. I gently pushed down until it clicked and stopped immediately. I did this several times and got the same results each time both during the adjusment and after. This sound correct?

:2thumbs:

 

[Sarge707]

I like Moving Pictures!:roflblack:

 

[flybuddy]

Just did my 600 mile check yesterday and I got 170 on the belt tension. I had read somewhere that 180 was optimal. I know the factory has lowered their (fig) neutons. Does anyone know what the optimal tension should be when checked correctly with a Krikit?

 

[Sarge707]

From what I have read I get the impression its about 130 with the new standard on the ground (Krikit)?opcorn:

I like mine at 140 on the ground. IMHO:roflblack:

 

[flybuddy]

I had read some previous posts where it was recommended to check it with the rear wheel off the ground. Also here's a quote from a previous Krikit post on setting.

"450 Newtons + or - 150 Newtons is what the latest service bulletin states. So, for those of us in Rio Linda, that means 300 - 600 Newtons is within spec. with 450 (I assume) being the ideal.

That converts to about 68 - 135 lbs. But the Krikit will not give accurate lbs. readings so you can't simply go by the graduations on the gauge. This is because the Krikit is not designed for flat belts like the one used on the Spyder.

So you have to interpolate or convert the correct tension to what the Krikit reads for it. The consensus is 180 lbs. on the Krikit corrisponds pretty closely to a properly tensioned belt."

 

[Sarge707]

I had read some previous posts where it was recommended to check it with the rear wheel off the ground. Also here's a quote from a previous Krikit post on setting.

"450 Newtons + or - 150 Newtons is what the latest service bulletin states. So, for those of us in Rio Linda, that means 300 - 600 Newtons is within spec. with 450 (I assume) being the ideal.

That converts to about 68 - 135 lbs. But the Krikit will not give accurate lbs. readings so you can't simply go by the graduations on the gauge. This is because the Krikit is not designed for flat belts like the one used on the Spyder.

So you have to interpolate or convert the correct tension to what the Krikit reads for it. The consensus is 180 lbs. on the Krikit corrisponds pretty closely to a properly tensioned belt."

I have read every thread and post on this including that one (More than once) and you get varying opinions?
Mine was brought down to 600 Neutons by the dealer (Shortly after the first Bulletin) which I found out (soon after) equaled 140 on the Krikit (On the Ground).
If there 600 n = 140 on my krikit then I figure 450 would be about(?) 130. I,m happy with 140 at the higher edge of acceptable.

 

[flybuddy]

I wonder how on the ground affects the tension vs jacked up?

 

[NancysToy]

I wonder how on the ground affects the tension vs jacked up?

It raises the tension.

 

[bobbobtar]

Had mine checked at the dealer, after replacing rear tire, the tech said it was in spec on the high side, checked at home with the Krikit, bike on the ground and it read 180.

 

[Cal777]

Where can we buy the Crikit gauge?

 

[thehawk]

I just bought one from O'Reilly's. Had the rear tire replaced and now have a bad vibration at 75+/- mph that I never had before. Figure the dealer did it and I just need to check. Not having the best luck with the techs. Oh, $16.99 plus tax ... took a couple of days.

Went back to the dealer, had the tech recheck it. He says it's right on spec ... my Krikit reads 180 on the ground. Guess I'll go with that now.

thehawk

 

[cjackg]

Got around to testing the tension with my Kricket, about 100 with the belt tensioner pulled away from the belt. I reset it to 150 but been raining for 2 days now so no chance to check it out. It has to be a lot smoother now, I could feel the belt slap before.
Randy

Is that with Capt Jims (sponsor) belt tensioner? I had heard that with it installed the belt could be set at a much lower tension with no effect...

 

[Sarge707]

Had mine checked at the dealer, after replacing rear tire, the tech said it was in spec on the high side, checked at home with the Krikit, bike on the ground and it read 180.

So what do we mean by the high side? 800n, 700n, 600n, ???

We need a Sponsor dealer too do a test (Or Two, or Three) on someones vehicle and to Publically post what a certain N Rating will correspond to a Krikit reading on the ground!


Otherwise were ALL going from what our dealer told us the reading was BUT we are Not sure someone with a sincere interest in the group
would find?:dontknow:

 

[bluestratos]

Well got the axle nut torqued to 194 lbs and took it for a ride. Much better, less vibration and it even seems to smooth out the shifts. I checked the belt alignment on the pully after the ride and it is right on so good to go.

Thanks again

 

[NancysToy]

Well got the axle nut torqued to 194 lbs and took it for a ride. Much better, less vibration and it even seems to smooth out the shifts. I checked the belt alignment on the pully after the ride and it is right on so good to go.

Thanks again

:yikes: :yikes: :yikes: The torque spec on the axle is 96 lbf-ft If you tightened it to 194 lbf-ft, the axle is likely damaged, and should be replaced along with the nut. It could also adversely affect the wheel bearings.