SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Belt Chirp
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1233187728

Message started by gerald.hughes on 01/28/09 at 16:08:47

Title: Belt Chirp
Post by gerald.hughes on 01/28/09 at 16:08:47

The belt on my Savage has started chirping rather loudly. I have had a number of bikes with belt drives, and have never experienced this problem before. After reading the postings, it seems to me that this is not uncommon on the Savage. The general opinion is that I should put some bee's wax on the belt. I will give it a try tomorrow.

In the meantime, I have a question for the more mechanically inclined on this site, which given my level of mechanical knowledge, means almost everyone. Why is it that the belt only chirps when the bike is in gear, the clutch is engaged, and the throttle is on? (The chirping goes away when I roll off the throttle, or pull in the clutch, or coast out of gear.)

Thanks

Title: Re: Belt Chirp
Post by BurnPgh on 01/28/09 at 16:17:18

Mine only ever squeeks in the rain or after its been rained on but I'd suggest you check belt tension. The included belt tool causes a slight overtighening of the belt from what I hear. If you can turn the belt 90 degrees by hand in the middle between the pulleys then you've got the correct tension. If its tighter than that loosen it up a bit and see if that doesnt help the squeeking.

Title: Re: Belt Chirp
Post by verslagen1 on 01/28/09 at 16:20:22

What have you done lately to the rear wheel?

Chirping is easily caused by an alignment problem.

I bought mine and it was adjusted fine. I noticed that the belt was riding one side, so I made a small adjustment and she started chirping. Another adjustment and it was worse. Finally jacked up the rear adjusted it so when spun it pretty much was in the center. That worked, locked it down and you'll have to twist my arm pretty hard to get me to play with it again.

Title: Re: Belt Chirp
Post by photojoe on 01/28/09 at 16:37:50

It was a bit of trial and error for me. Take your time. Loosen the axle bolt (don't forget to use some sort of dole to keep it from spinning), and start tuning the belt adjusters a little at a time. Go for rides until the chirp stops. But yes, I have to agree that the issue is related to the belt being too tight. At least that was the case with mine. Took me about 45 minutes total to get it just right. Got worse before it got better and I knew I was on the right track. Just reversed the turn direction. Freedom from the chirp is only an hours time away. Or less if you're lucky.

Title: Re: Belt Chirp
Post by Digger on 01/28/09 at 19:04:04

This might help, and it definitely won't break the bank:

Cheap Rear Wheel Alignment Tool (http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?board=tech;action=display;num=1183995917)

In general, the wheel alignment index marks on the swingarm are not to be trusted.

IHTH!

Title: Re: Belt Chirp
Post by verslagen1 on 01/28/09 at 19:26:19

Oh just put on a straight pipe. The L with it.

Title: Re: Belt Chirp
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 01/28/09 at 22:15:09

I took a heavy string & pulled the front pulley cover off, stuck the string on top of the pulley & rolled the bike forward till the string was trapped under the belt & coming out from under the belt at the front edge of the pulley. Pulled the string tight & made it touch the rear edge of the pulley, then lined the rear pulley up to that, Next time, Ill leave the rear pulley pointed to th left a hair.

Title: Re: Belt Chirp
Post by thumperclone on 01/29/09 at 18:15:43

was it a litle cooler in tucson last you rode?? mine acts up in colder weather..i use belt dressing (DOES NOT attract dirt)and wait till weather is warm again to adjust..

Title: Re: Belt Chirp
Post by ralfyguy on 01/29/09 at 19:03:43

4B545255484F7E4E7E46545813210 wrote:

I read this tutorial countless times, but I cannot figure out what you're doing. I might get it if I could watch what you're doing. :)

Title: Re: Belt Chirp
Post by Digger on 01/29/09 at 19:25:17

I've never tried this stuff on a Savage drive belt, but it may work to reduce belt noise:

Dry Moly Lube (http://www.crcindustries.com/hd/content/prod_detail.aspx?PN=03084&S=Y)

I've used it on the damper rubbers in the rear wheel of my ST1100. It sticks to rubber very well and dries to a thin, tough layer of moly paint (that's the best way I can describe it).

Since the spec sheet says you can use it for belts, I'm guessing it would not harm our belts any.

Might be worth a shot for any of you prospective guinea pigs out there!

Title: Re: Belt Chirp
Post by serowbot on 01/29/09 at 23:36:56

674A44444651230 wrote:

Might be worth a shot for any of you prospective guinea pigs out there!

I have some moly-lube,.....
Wire up the electrodes,...I'm gonna' try it.... :-?

Title: Re: Belt Chirp
Post by Digger on 01/30/09 at 18:57:21

5345524F57424F54200 wrote:

I have some moly-lube,.....
Wire up the electrodes,...I'm gonna' try it.... :-?

8-)

For any others who would like to experiment, I got my can of Dry Moly Lube at the local Fastenal outlet.

I'd try it myself, except that my belt is as quiet as can be right now and I don't want to change anything? :)

Title: Re: Belt Chirp
Post by Polar_Pilot on 01/31/09 at 18:03:24

this chirping business has come up countless times over the years - and the myriad of solutions have been very helpful

for my 2 cents - I just bring out either a bar of soap and rub it along the inside and outside edges of the belt or I bring out a bit of dish washing liquid soap and do the same thing.

That stops the chirp until the next time it rains - then I have to reapply the soap

Not a big problem to solve really

Title: Re: Belt Chirp
Post by MMRanch on 02/02/09 at 09:05:20

Black shoe polish (paste kind) not only looks good it makes that belt be quiet and stays on perty good.

Works for me.

Title: Re: Belt Chirp
Post by verslagen1 on 02/02/09 at 11:39:10

Having done this twice on 2 different bikes, I have some confidence in that it works.

loosen the axle.
jack the rear wheel up.
adjust the tensioners until the belt is the correct tension.
rotate the wheel by hand in the normal direction of travel.
adjust the tensioners until the belt rides in the center of the pulley.
rotate the wheel by hand in the reverse direction of travel.
re-adjust as neccessary.
repeat until you have a happy medium.

Now, of course both bikes came w/o squeaks so there weren't any alignment issues. One began to squeak when I mis adjusted it, so it is capable of squeaking.

Title: Re: Belt Chirp
Post by thumperclone on 02/02/09 at 18:29:02

went out for first ride of this year(finally above 40 long enuff to melt the black ice)not one chirp, all i did was pump up the tires to specs since last ride was toy run 2weeks b4 xmas..

Title: Re: Belt Chirp
Post by Charon on 02/03/09 at 07:24:37

My '07 S40 seems to chirp the same way, that is, with power on. It almost seems to chirp at the same rate the engine fires, for what that might be worth. I attempted the method of adjusting the rear wheel alignment to center the belt, but ended up with odd handling. Centering the rear wheel to run in line with the front cured that. Now the belt runs on the left side of the pulleys. Belt tension doesn't seem to matter much - I have tried it with the Suzuki-supplied gauge, and with the 90-degree-twist method and now have it between the two. Note that there is only about one turn of the adjusting bolts difference. Careful listening locates the squeak as coming from the left edge of the front pulley. I tried Dupont's Teflon Multi-use dry wax lubricant, and it seems to work well enough. It is sold as a lubricant for O-ring chains, for which it works also. My long-term solution may well be to lubricate the belt to make it quiet, then sell the bike and call my 250 Ninja prime mover.