[Mantissa]

Hi all, i'm a bit frustrated right now and hoping maybe somebody can shed some light on this.

My bike has 950 miles on it and ran rock solid during those miles. I took it in for it's "first service" (only to find out it's nothing but a glorified, expensive, oil change but that's another topic) last Friday. When i picked it up i didn't even make it out of the parking lot before i noticed something was wrong. At extremely slow speeds, and i'm talking < 5 mph here with clutch in just coasting to a stop...the speed just above where being able to balance becomes an issue...there was a very obvious new squealing / rubbing noise that appears to be coming from the belt area. I immediately called them, explained the problem and they agreed to come pick it up this morning.

Well of course nobody could get it to make any noise today despite "putting on 10 miles in city traffic", even though i explained the issue happens under 5mph. so they just brought it back to me. Before i let the guy leave i tested it, and although fainter, it's doing the exact same thing. So i had the guy that dropped it off ride it and explained to him how to make it happen and he heard/felt the exact same issue. He suggested "putting some miles on it" and if it keeps happening to call them again.

So, what the #*$&?! It definitely did not make this noise for the first 950 miles. They did admit to adjusting the belt tension during the service which I'm assuming is the root of the problem. My first thought was that putting some miles on it seemed reasonable but now that he left and i did some more testing, i'm getting much more annoyed that there is an obvious issue and his solution was just to hope it magically goes away!

So, the issue: extremely slow speed, coasting to a stop, no brakes = squealing / rubbing. Not every time. Seems to happen more if i'm doing severe steering back and forth really getting the bike to sway, like if i was doing a slalom around cones.

Any thoughts / suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

[11Stryker]

Rear axle is misaligned after belt adjustment and also sounds like rear axle is loose!!

 

[kcl-labrat]

Is your rear brake grabbing, I know it sounds minute but it can really F$#K with your ride

 

[Natedog]

I know exactly what you're talking about as I have the same thing. I was feeling it in the bars and assumed it was coming from the front end. Checked brakes, they were fine. Checked steering stem bearings, they were fine. They I removed the front wheel to check the wheel bearings. They were really tight and I decided to swap them. This was NOT the issue as the noise is still there.

I then loosened the belt a little bit and went for a ride. Its a bit better now, but still there. I gotta get one of those guages. My belt is running on the outside of the rear pulley but it seems to be running straight and not rubbing the outside edge. The alignment marks on the swingarm match as well.


This is my first belt driven bike. I think I want my chain back

 

[SillyFingaz]

My dealership said that 600 miles was waaaayyyy tooo early to adjust the belt! Gotta at least wait for about 3000 miles... let it wear a little! Same advice with my Harley's and my Vulcan... If they're adjusting your belt at 600 mies, then they honestly don't know anything about belt driven bikes!

 

[Mantissa]

I was just looking at the belt more over lunch and noticed that the belt is not centered within the rear pulley, it appears to be right up against the outside edge, with an 1/8" gap or whatever between the belt and the inside edge. Is the belt supposed to be centered?

 

[Natedog]

Thats where mine sits as well. I'd like to get this noise figured out because I just priced the belts and a new OEM one $562. WOW! I want my $100 chain back for sure!

 

[SillyFingaz]

I was just looking at the belt more over lunch and noticed that the belt is not centered within the rear pulley, it appears to be right up against the outside edge, with an 1/8" gap or whatever between the belt and the inside edge. Is the belt supposed to be centered?

Just went out to look... mine is! and I had a Honda dealership change my tire and they put the belt back on just perfectly! I'd stay away from that place!

Why don't you guys just center the belt??

 

[11Stryker]

Hey guys, My belt was way loose before my first service so I adjusted it and had Dealer check it then. They said I did it right. I do notice that sometimes when parked it is at inside of rear sprocket, and other times at left. But I have never had any rubbing or squeeling of belt. I think that the key is to make sure wheel is aligned properly. While mine was on jack- I turned back wheel and adjusted both side tension bolts till belt would ride in near center of sprocket.

 

[Mantissa]

I took it to another dealer today after work for a 2nd opinion. Had him ride it and feel/hear the issue. Explained all the background and he agreed that i should just put some more miles on it. He said the belt might be slightly tight but with a bike this new it just needs to wear in. He said to give it another 400 or 500 miles and re-evaluate at that point.

EDIT:
also asked him about the belt not being centered, he didn't seem to bat an eye at it. Said it was no issue.

 

[gator8]

mine does this too...keep thinking its the front to be honest. I'm going to try backing off the bolt some.

 

[toby]

#1, If a mechanic did something to your bike other than what you took it in for without your authorization Big red flag. If you bought a brand new bike it was assembled by certified dealer mechanics and should not have a problem unless there is a defective part. And if you hear any noise that you don't now what it is you have 30 days to have it checked by the dealer and fixed or adjusted for free. These belts after being adjusted properly by the certified dealer mechanic shouldn't need adjusting for 8,000 miles or tire change.
#2, Do not take your bike to a mechanic that will not allow you to watch every thing he does.
I have 3 mechanics that allow me to stand there and watch them including the Yamaha dealer where I bought my bike. Any time I have ever let a mechanic with a, closed shop policy, work on any of my vehicles they have made stooped mistakes like forgetting to replace a bolt or worse.
Learn your machine and start doing as much work as you can yourself. I only take mine to a shop when I'm not equipped for the job myself.
# Do some research on what you think the problem is and if it's the belt in question I would take it back to the mechanic the adjusted it and tell hem to undo what ever it was he did WRONG without your permission while you watch. And or take it to the dealer where you bought it from and have them make sure it's right. Just my thoughts.

 

[SmokenJoe]

My thought on what I would do...........
Loosen axle nuts, back-off 1/2 turn on belt adjust, tighten axle nuts. Ride.

There are very few people who I let work on my bikes. (ME) If I walk into a dealer shop and see some young kids playing with tools, not happening. I watched a "kid" install a new stock exhaust on a Shadow 750. He got the pipes in place by banging on the chrome with a 1/2" ratchet.

 

[sfcmcgan]

I took it to another dealer today after work for a 2nd opinion. Had him ride it and feel/hear the issue. Explained all the background and he agreed that i should just put some more miles on it. He said the belt might be slightly tight but with a bike this new it just needs to wear in. He said to give it another 400 or 500 miles and re-evaluate at that point.

EDIT:
also asked him about the belt not being centered, he didn't seem to bat an eye at it. Said it was no issue.

The Belt does have to be centered (straight from the front pulley to the rear)... it will squeal at certain speeds if it is not.

 

[gator8]

Well mine isn't the front so I'm going to do the same with the rear and back it down a bit see if that's the solve.

 

[gator8]

wow still I have this going on...really getting on my nerves..starting to think its a rear bearing...anyone else ever cure this issue?

 

[straightjacket]

When I adj, mine, I just used the hash marks on the rear axle adjusters, and it worked fine? The only noise I've heard like what your describing was when I put on the rear brake and you can hear the vented rotor? But I don't notice at low speeds? Check your marks to see if your straight?

 

[Natedog]

Try the candle wax trick. Rub some on the edge of the belt you think may be rubbing. If it lessens the squeal then that's your problem. If not move on.

 

[gator8]

Well it was on my mind so I went and backed on on the belt just a little and presto...guess I was just a tad tight...all good now...think it was about a quarter turn.

 

[11Stryker]

Great News Gator!!