I have picked up a very loud steady squeak that seems to be coming from the front belt pulley.  Is there somethin' I can do to the belt to keep it from squeaking.  I shot a little lube on the pulley (careful not to get any on the belt), and it had no affect.  I'm assuming it's the belt now.  Help! ???

savagethumper wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01:


I had something like that.  It was more a metallic gnashing.  Turned out the front pulley was touching the cover.  I ground way about 1/8" from the cover and that was taken care off.

I'v got same thing.. coming from front pulley. The belt is not centered, it's more on left side of pulley. Don't know what to do with it..

is it possible to center front pulley by centering rear wheel? I'll have to try..
I'v got no special tool.. what do you mean by "finger force"?  

Kropatchek wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01:


2 things....could cause this.  

If it is "squeaking". it can be a dirty belt.  Clean the belt.  No lube.  You can use some belt wax though.  Then stay out of the mud holes or get a KLX    The rear tire throws too much right onto the swingarm and the belt....

Or, check the tension the way others have mentioned.  If the belt is too tight, it will squeak.  If you adjust the rear wheel alignment do the tension adjust at the same time.

Now...if it is "scraping" that can be the pulley cover and most likely the spacers for the bolts are installed wrong.  Those 3 bolts have different spacers and if they get mixed up (easy to do), the pulley will rub the cover.

It is if your running a 140 90.

Maybe that's the point. Cause the belt is on the rear pulley more to right side and on the front pulley it's more on left side.  I'll have to chceck it out.. Thank's for good idea..  

reeko wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01:


I have to agree with Diesel.  From the time I purchased my '98 last July, it was always slightly offset to the left with regard to the fender.  However, the belt was lined up perfectly on both sprockets and there was never any rubbing until I changed to a 140/90 instead of the original 140/80.  After that it definitely rubbed.   It is still offset exactly the same and the belt still lines up.  I removed the saddlebag supports and it still rubbed very slightly (of course, I am 200 lbs and have a trunk on the bike pretty full of stuff too).  I adjusted the shocks up from the #3 position to the #5 position and it seemed to have stopped except on rough roads.  I went ahead and replaced the bolts with button head allen bolts and that has solved it completely.  If the spacers are reversed, mine has been that way since I bought it from the original owner.