Correct Drive belt deflection on side-stand - Road Star Warrior Forum : Yamaha Star Warrior Forums

ThingFish · 11-01-2019, 10:09 AM

Guys I see a number of posts here where correct drive belt deflection is mentioned as being 1/2inch-3/4inch of slack on the sidestand...that is 12.7mm-19.05mm with 10 pounds upwards push force (4.5kg)
But in my owners manual it states to use the marks on the belt drive bottom cover which are marked in increments of 5mm and deflection should be 6mm-8mm (or 0.24-0.31 inches) on the side stand with 10 pounds upwards push force. That is a BIG difference!! Which is correct? The manual surely?

Someone else here (Snowboy) says he has half an inch slack upwards and half an inch slack downwards making it a total of 1 inch slack. Quote "With the bike on the side stand, I always adjusted mine so the belt could move 1 inch total (½" up and ½" down)" Unquote

freeezzzz · 11-01-2019, 11:48 AM

I also agree with the opinion that the manual indicates an excessively strong tension of the drive belt. I do less than indicated in the manual. But I can’t say anything instrumentally, although I have a tensometer. I used to use a strongly sagging belt, so much so that I could feel the slaps of its tension during acceleration. Unpleasant, but not fatal. But when the belt was pulled as said in manual, I noticed tangible wear on the driven pulley in just 8 thousand kilometers. Moreover, such a tension of the belt contributes to the damage of the bearings of the wheel axis and the middle gear.

In general, I look at the manual, take a tensometer and do a little less)))

arizonawarrior · 11-01-2019, 10:19 PM

As the pulleys rotate, the belt tightness changes. I've had excellent results using the service manual instructions and specs. These procedures start with finding the tightest spot on the pulley's rotation. The rest of the spots are more loose. When you do this set-up right, and it's all buttoned-up, you can always check all the points on the belt's rotation and discover something.

rij1 · 11-02-2019, 02:37 AM

I always set them to 1/2" - 10lb - on side stand if not 1/4" - 10lb - on side stand.

ThingFish · 11-02-2019, 03:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rij1

I always set them to 1/2" - 10lb - on side stand if not 1/4" - 10lb - on side stand.

So which is it? 1/2" or 1/4"?

rij1 · 11-02-2019, 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThingFish

So which is it? 1/2" or 1/4"?

Usually 1/2" but that's my max.

ThingFish · 11-02-2019, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rij1

Usually 1/2" but that's my max.

So thats a 1/2 inch up and a 1/2 inch down so in total 1 inch slack....seems a bit too loose to me

arizonawarrior · 11-02-2019, 09:26 AM

When checking belt tension you push the belt 'up' using a 10-pound gauge until it deflects the desired / specified distance. It's the same tension no matter if you deflect the belt up or down. It is not compounded.

Many do not rotate the rear wheel in order to find the spot where the belt deflects the least (tightest spot) and guage at that point to spec. I suspect not finding the tight spot and instead using 1/2" at any random spot has a chance of being close enough. But on the off chance your random spot is the loosest spot, you would tighten it and make the tightest spot even tighter. The other side of the equation if using random spot means there could be enough slack to cause slap on WOT and snap the belt. This isn't rocket science. Too tight and the bearings and pulleys and belt all suffer. Too loose and the belt breaks while riding this bike the way God intended. Belts are a massive pita to source and install on the road, I'm mystified why more people don't take advantage of a simple engineered sequence to leverage the bike's design for wear items like the drive belt. If you choose to remove the belt guard it still only takes a moment to grab a flat ruler to gauge deflection to some extent.

rij1 · 11-02-2019, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThingFish

So thats a 1/2 inch up and a 1/2 inch down so in total 1 inch slack....seems a bit too loose to me

You just push/ measure in one direction (usually up). 1/2" max. If I'm working on there friend bikes I set to 1/4" but mine I set to 1/2".
If you think it's too loose for you set it to factory specs or to 1/4".

Quote:

Originally Posted by arizonawarrior

When checking belt tension you push the belt 'up' using a 10-pound gauge until it deflects the desired / specified distance. It's the same tension no matter if you deflect the belt up or down. It is not compounded.

Many do not rotate the rear wheel in order to find the spot where the belt deflects the least (tightest spot) and guage at that point to spec. I suspect not finding the tight spot and instead using 1/2" at any random spot has a chance of being close enough. But on the off chance your random spot is the loosest spot, you would tighten it and make the tightest spot even tighter. The other side of the equation if using random spot means there could be enough slack to cause slap on WOT and snap the belt. This isn't rocket science. Too tight and the bearings and pulleys and belt all suffer. Too loose and the belt breaks while riding this bike the way God intended. Belts are a massive pita to source and install on the road, I'm mystified why more people don't take advantage of a simple engineered sequence to leverage the bike's design for wear items like the drive belt. If you choose to remove the belt guard it still only takes a moment to grab a flat ruler to gauge deflection to some extent.

Good explanation...

ThingFish · 11-02-2019, 07:03 PM

Thanks for the feedback...My belt I just checked at a few spots.....tightest is about 1/3" and loosest spot just a bit less then 1/2". Belt makes no weird noises when I free wheeled down a hill this afternoon with engine switched off, in fact I dont even hear the belt.

11-01-2019, 10:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
ThingFish Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Western Cape, South Africa Posts: 78	Correct Drive belt deflection on side-stand Guys I see a number of posts here where correct drive belt deflection is mentioned as being 1/2inch-3/4inch of slack on the sidestand...that is 12.7mm-19.05mm with 10 pounds upwards push force (4.5kg) But in my owners manual it states to use the marks on the belt drive bottom cover which are marked in increments of 5mm and deflection should be 6mm-8mm (or 0.24-0.31 inches) on the side stand with 10 pounds upwards push force. That is a BIG difference!! Which is correct? The manual surely? Someone else here (Snowboy) says he has half an inch slack upwards and half an inch slack downwards making it a total of 1 inch slack. Quote "With the bike on the side stand, I always adjusted mine so the belt could move 1 inch total (½" up and ½" down)" Unquote __________________ "When life get's you down remember it's only one down and the rest is all up" Last edited by ThingFish; 11-01-2019 at 10:39 AM.

11-01-2019, 11:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
freeezzzz Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Moscow, Russia Posts: 285	I also agree with the opinion that the manual indicates an excessively strong tension of the drive belt. I do less than indicated in the manual. But I can’t say anything instrumentally, although I have a tensometer. I used to use a strongly sagging belt, so much so that I could feel the slaps of its tension during acceleration. Unpleasant, but not fatal. But when the belt was pulled as said in manual, I noticed tangible wear on the driven pulley in just 8 thousand kilometers. Moreover, such a tension of the belt contributes to the damage of the bearings of the wheel axis and the middle gear. In general, I look at the manual, take a tensometer and do a little less))) __________________ Burn the Guzzolene! Burn the tires! To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

11-01-2019, 10:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
arizonawarrior Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Reno Nevada and Rogue River Oregon Posts: 27,419 Blog Entries: 4	As the pulleys rotate, the belt tightness changes. I've had excellent results using the service manual instructions and specs. These procedures start with finding the tightest spot on the pulley's rotation. The rest of the spots are more loose. When you do this set-up right, and it's all buttoned-up, you can always check all the points on the belt's rotation and discover something. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

11-02-2019, 02:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
rij1 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: From Whittier,California Live in Ventura,California Posts: 2,484	I always set them to 1/2" - 10lb - on side stand if not 1/4" - 10lb - on side stand. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. *2002 XV1700 Roadstar Warrior* My Mods Cobra Fi2000 PowrPro with CVT(Non-Black) Speedstar Gen2 Exhaust To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. *Riding On the Darkside #2 (235/45/ZR17 BFGoodrich G-Force Comp-2 A/S)* *Rudy Jeremias* *(562)303-6036*

11-02-2019, 09:26 AM	#8 (permalink)
arizonawarrior Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Reno Nevada and Rogue River Oregon Posts: 27,419 Blog Entries: 4	When checking belt tension you push the belt 'up' using a 10-pound gauge until it deflects the desired / specified distance. It's the same tension no matter if you deflect the belt up or down. It is not compounded. Many do not rotate the rear wheel in order to find the spot where the belt deflects the least (tightest spot) and guage at that point to spec. I suspect not finding the tight spot and instead using 1/2" at any random spot has a chance of being close enough. But on the off chance your random spot is the loosest spot, you would tighten it and make the tightest spot even tighter. The other side of the equation if using random spot means there could be enough slack to cause slap on WOT and snap the belt. This isn't rocket science. Too tight and the bearings and pulleys and belt all suffer. Too loose and the belt breaks while riding this bike the way God intended. Belts are a massive pita to source and install on the road, I'm mystified why more people don't take advantage of a simple engineered sequence to leverage the bike's design for wear items like the drive belt. If you choose to remove the belt guard it still only takes a moment to grab a flat ruler to gauge deflection to some extent. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Last edited by arizonawarrior; 11-02-2019 at 09:32 AM.

11-02-2019, 07:03 PM	#10 (permalink)
ThingFish Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Western Cape, South Africa Posts: 78	Thanks for the feedback...My belt I just checked at a few spots.....tightest is about 1/3" and loosest spot just a bit less then 1/2". Belt makes no weird noises when I free wheeled down a hill this afternoon with engine switched off, in fact I dont even hear the belt. __________________ "When life get's you down remember it's only one down and the rest is all up" Last edited by ThingFish; 11-02-2019 at 07:05 PM.

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