Is it normal for the Belt to travel across the rear sprocket?

[Buggy]

Is it normal for the drive belt to move across the rear sprocket. I had my rear tire changed and the belt looked fine about a credit card width from the inside edge of the sprocket. Later after turning into my driveway the belt had moved more to the left about mid sprocket. After riding straight the belt moved back to the proper position.

 

[billybovine]

The spec is 1 to 5 mm from the rear sprocket flange. That is only after going straight forward for a short distance. Ignore belt position after going in reverse or after a turn.

 

[Chupaca]

Getting the belt right is somewhat tricky and though it runs correctly forwards, you will find that when you run it backwards it walks to the outside.... Getting it to stay in both directions is the thing. When you torque the axle, it can shift as well...... :dontknow:

 

[Mad Mac]

When I did my own rear wheel removal and replacement, I had the belt adj. about a credit cards width from the flange, then rode the machine and it took a set (stretched), and now it has about 3 mm gap from the flange, but seems to be holding. Sometimes when I pull forward, the gap stays the same, but when I back-up it will have a little less of a gap, according to my calibrated eyeballs anyway......

 

[badkins]

Recently changed the rear tire & set the tension on the belt; I have a belt tensioner installed. Does the belt move around as noticed at the sprocket?
When I am moving forward then stop, get off bike, & look at the belt to sprocket lip gap, the belt is 1/4 inch or so from the sprocket lip. When I back up, stop, get off the bike, and view the belt to sprocket lip gap, it is tight to the sprocket lip. Is this normal?

 

[Woodaddict]

Recently changed the rear tire & set the tension on the belt; I have a belt tensioner installed. Does the belt move around as noticed at the sprocket?
When I am moving forward then stop, get off bike, & look at the belt to sprocket lip gap, the belt is 1/4 inch or so from the sprocket lip. When I back up, stop, get off the bike, and view the belt to sprocket lip gap, it is tight to the sprocket lip. Is this normal?

1/4" is a bit too much. Spec is 1-5mm, which is about 3/16"; as long a belt is not OFF the left side of pulley it will be OK. You could bring it in closer by adjusting the RIGHT side tensioner. Backing up is NOT the way to check it, only moving forward and check it, so you're doing that correctly. It does wander some on backing up.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

There is a video on U-Tube done by an owner that shows the Drive belt while driving ..... it moves across the Sprocket ( ie. back & forth ) continuously..... I no longer care about this occurrence ..... Mike :thumbup:

 

[NorwegianRT]

I made a recording on the belt movement for an earlier thread of mine as I had the same questions.
People on this great forum assured me all was normal. :2thumbs:

Here's a link: [video]https://arnesastrobilder.blogspot.com/2024/03/belt-movement-rt-2012.html[/video]

 

[Mikey]

I agree with most of the above replies, but I think 1/4 in is a little severe. If your tension is correct, I would adjust it back just a touch to the credit card thickness or two! Just my opinion. There's a reason for that, you're working on two sprockets, and you don't want to have the belt riding up on the edges of ether of the front or back sprocket, then you'll get a squealing noise from your belt, and it will wear the sides of your belt. Good Luck on whatever you decide!!

 

[badkins]

Thank you, I appreciate the response.
The belt is tight to the flange when going forward. I will loosen the adjustment on the passenger side of the axel slightly, I believe that will move the belt off the flange on the sprocket. I will try to get a credit card space between belt and flange.

 

[jjc54]

I agree with most of the above replies, but I think 1/4 in is a little severe. If your tension is correct, I would adjust it back just a touch to the credit card thickness or two! Just my opinion. There's a reason for that, you're working on two sprockets, and you don't want to have the belt riding up on the edges of ether of the front or back sprocket, then you'll get a squealing noise from your belt, and it will wear the sides of your belt. Good Luck on whatever you decide!!

If I want to move the belt closer to the flange on the rear sprocket is it a clockwise or counter on the adjuster on the right side?

 

[NorwegianRT]

Last time my belt was adjusted it was done by the dealer cause I also got a new belt.
If I am not remebering it all wrong from when I did it myself, you shall turn it clockwise.
However, it is easier to see and figure out if you have your Spyders rear wheel off the ground. Jack it up so tire is free off the ground. Also good to have two blocks infront of the front wheels incase it should fall off the jack.
Loosen the 36mm nuts that holds the bolt going through the wheel just enough so that you can adjust the sprockets.
Use 1/4 turns and see how the belt reacts to you adjusting.
When happy, tighten the 36mm nuts to the specs and you are good to go.