Drive belt drifts when carrying a passenger.

[sledhead]

Calling all you smart folks out there. I have one for you.
I have an 08 GS.
When I drive the thing by myself the belt is aligned just perfectly.
BUT.....
When I get my wife or son on the back, the belt drifts out to the edge.
Like this:
View attachment 7064
How the heck am I supposed to correct that?????
If I adjust it to pull it in I am afraid it will jump the ridge on the inside.
I'm confused.:dontknow:
Anyone have any ideas for me????
Thanks in advance.

 

[boborgera]

Calling all you smart folks out there. I have one for you.
I have an 08 GS.
When I drive the thing by myself the belt is aligned just perfectly.
BUT.....
When I get my wife or son on the back, the belt drifts out to the edge.
Like this:
View attachment 7064
How the heck am I supposed to correct that?????
If I adjust it to pull it in I am afraid it will jump the ridge on the inside.
I'm confused.:dontknow:
Anyone have any ideas for me????
Thanks in advance.

:dontknow:
Hard to tell but is the belt over hanging the sprocket? If so i guess you already know that's not normal.
Even backing up it should only drift a mm or two. I wish i could help you on this one,
but I'm sure somebody will chime in and figure it out for you.

 

[sledhead]

:dontknow:
Hard to tell but is the belt over hanging the sprocket? If so i guess you already know that's not normal.
Even backing up it should only drift a mm or two. I wish i could help you on this one,
but I'm sure somebody will chime in and figure it out for you.

Yes the belt is indeed overhanging the sprocket. 2 or 3 MM at the most.
The weird this is that every now and then the belt will realign back to normal...

I cant put my finger on it.

 

[sylblk]

belt tension

first check the front sprocket bolt. if sprocket is loose it will cause misalignement that may show under two up increased stress. second, check the belt tension with one rider on the machine. remember that the belt will tighten as you add weight. hope this helps.

 

[Dyno824]

Sledhead type in belt alignment in the search box all kinds of info there,it's a fine line to get tension and alignment right,had your problem once. Best to You

 

[Firefly]

What you're showing is NOT normal. You might see that after backing up or turning and stopping-- but that is extreme.

You need to jack it up from the frame, run it and see how it looks in both forward and reverse.

 

[sledhead]

What you're showing is NOT normal. You might see that after backing up or turning and stopping-- but that is extreme.

You need to jack it up from the frame, run it and see how it looks in both forward and reverse.

I hear ya Firefly... but just because it looks good up on the jack wont mean it will track right when I have the passenger on the back.

 

[Firefly]

I hear ya Firefly... but just because it looks good up on the jack wont mean it will track right when I have the passenger on the back.

How are you able to see it when riding two up? Would be kind of hard to do-- at least for me.

 

[sledhead]

How are you able to see it when riding two up? Would be kind of hard to do-- at least for me.

I have the wife check it out as we are riding. Also I can lean WAYYYYY out and clearly see it.
I just took it over lunch with just me on it and it tracked fine.

 

[sabunim5]

Rear Axle tight? Tension adjustments tight? Rear Shock loose? Can't think of much else.:dontknow:

 

[sledhead]

Rear Axle tight? Tension adjustments tight? Rear Shock loose? Can't think of much else.:dontknow:

I checked all but the tension.
My dealer is 2 hours away and I haven't had the chance to have them go over it as of yet.

Thanks for the input!!! :2thumbs:

 

[retread]

Bearings? But you should be able to hear if they're bad.

john

 

[Firefly]

I have the wife check it out as we are riding. Also I can lean WAYYYYY out and clearly see it.
I just took it over lunch with just me on it and it tracked fine.

Hmmm...maybe it's like that light in your fridge----- you don't really know if it's on or off when you're not looking at it.....

More weight on the bike will put more pressure on the belt, and may amplify any belt mis-alignment. Have you had your belt re-set to the new lower tension? Tension is set with the swingarm all the way down - so that would be the least amount of tension.

I re-set mine to around 180 lbs. of tension using the Kricket gauge and it seems to be much better than the previous too-tight setting.

Sounds like you either need to re-tension and re-align the belt yourself, or get it in to the dealer--- along with checking the front sprocket and rear axle to make sure nothing is loose.

 

[sledhead]

Hmmm...maybe it's like that light in your fridge----- you don't really know if it's on or off when you're not looking at it.....

More weight on the bike will put more pressure on the belt, and may amplify any belt mis-alignment. Have you had your belt re-set to the new lower tension? Tension is set with the swingarm all the way down - so that would be the least amount of tension.

I re-set mine to around 180 lbs. of tension using the Kricket gauge and it seems to be much better than the previous too-tight setting.

Sounds like you either need to re-tension and re-align the belt yourself, or get it in to the dealer--- along with checking the front sprocket and rear axle to make sure nothing is loose.

Good advice Firefly... I have a Krikit on order and will be here on Thursday so I'll check the tension.
I hope that's all it is. I do notice a whine at slower speeds. I've read other posts where people have said the belt can cause that whine.
I don't have a warranty on this bike so this kind of stuff REALLY freaks me out.:yikes:
I appreciate your input.

 

[sledhead]

Bearings? But you should be able to hear if they're bad.

john

I don't know John if its bearings. What bearings would you be referring to??? What kind of sound would that make??? Sorry for the dumb questions...pps:

 

[retread]

I don't know John if its bearings. What bearings would you be referring to??? What kind of sound would that make??? Sorry for the dumb questions...pps:

Rear wheel bearings, kind of a clunking grinding sound that goes up in frequency as you speed up.

john

 

[Lamonster]

There have been a few counter sprocket bolts that have sheared off, that would be the first place I checked. Other than that I'm not sure. If it was a bearing you would feel it or hear it. :dontknow:

 

[Eddie]

It is an alignment issue. Make sure the rear wheel is strait & has not slide a little forward. When you put the extra wgt. on it.It will ride off. If it is not aligned.Also as others have said " check the front sprocket bolt" Other than that I would say a bearing is going bad causing a little lean on one of your sprockets. For sure you have something throwing the belt out of alignment under pressure.

 

[sledhead]

It is an alignment issue. Make sure the rear wheel is strait & has not slide a little forward. When you put the extra wgt. on it.It will ride off. If it is not aligned.Also as others have said " check the front sprocket bolt" Other than that I would say a bearing is going bad causing a little lean on one of your sprockets. For sure you have something throwing the belt out of alignment under pressure.

I going to check that tomorrow night Eddie. I hope you're wrong about the bearing bud. I looked at the belt alignment on the front sprocket and it was perfectly down the middle.
I'm hoping it's just a little tweaking on the back to clear this up.
Thanks a bunch for your input!!:2thumbs:

 

[sledhead]

Your rear axle is just out of alignment - move the right side forward until the belt centers - this is not a defect just a normal adjustment. Make sure the belt is not to tight.
No big deal.

Yep.. that's my plan. I didnt get to it last night but had a heck of a time finding a store with a 36mm socket with a 1/2" drive. My torque wrench is 1/2". I'ml REALLY hoping you are right stealth11.
Thanks for the input!!!:2thumbs: