In my quest to quiet the belt squeak on my savage, I decided to replace the rubber dampers between the rear wheel and the big sprocket on the back.

It made a huge difference in the free play of that sprocket. Before, I could rotate the sprocket 2 or 3 degrees with virtually no resistance, and I could rock it side to side about 1/4" with a small amount of effort.

After the new dampers were installed, there was no free play in the rotation, and with all my effort I could barely rock the sprocket at all.
Re-assembling the the wheel was difficult until I moistened the dampers with some water so the wheel could slide back in.  

The old dampers were  worn thinner, and had deep dents in them from where they pressed against the sprocket. They also were a bit gummy, as if something had attacked them chemically. Perhaps someone used oil on them to assemble it last time tires were changed. The bike has about 17,000 miles on it now.

But how well does it quiet the squeak? Alas, I can not test it yet. A couple of days ago I was walking barefoot across my patio and really slammed my toe into a heavy lawn chair. It is broken, ( the toe, not the chair) and it hurts too much to put my boots on.  

Apparently ATGATT should apply to me even when I am NOT riding!

Hopefully, I will be able to stuff my foot into my boots this weekend and give you all an update then.

Cue twilight zone music ...
No one has ever quoted stripes to me before,
until today, when two different people have quoted it.
Not the same line though.

thats just weird...

( not that is anything inherently weird about quoting stripes, just the coincidence of two quotes within hours of each other. )

The new dampers did the trick. Not a peep out of the belt anymore!

I probably wasn't hurting anything with the worn dampers, because the belt was showing no sign of wear, but it sure is nice not to have to listen to that squeak.

Looking at the PO's records, which he was nice enough to provide me with, I noticed he took the bike in to adjust the belt at 13,800 mi, and then again at 14,200.  I suspect he noticed the squeak and took it in the first time, they didn't fix it, he took it again shortly later, they still didn't get it so he gave up.  Dealer probably told him they all do that.

How long should brake pads last? He has had new front pads put on 3 times in 16,800 miles, and the rear pads done once.

Also, I was able to adjust the rear wheel so belt tracked in center of pulley, and it stayed there while I turned the wheel either direction by hand with bike up on block. Didn't look at at it while underway. At this setting, the position indicators ( by the adjusting nut ) are within about 1/4 mark of each other.

I set the tension with the tool, and tried the 90 degree method and ended up just about the same, So no need to invest in the tool, but it makes it a little easier to set the tension.  Just stick the gauge in and turn adjusting nut till gauge is at the middle line.

I haven't seen stripes since it came out. About all I remember about it is Bill Murray was in it, and it involved the military. Maybe time to put it in my Netflix Q.

Rogue, How much play do you have in your rear pulley?  Mine seemed pretty loose when I replaced the bumpers. I think mine may have started squeaking around 14,000 miles.

Some good ol' spray canola oil on the belt makes her nice and quiet!
If only it worked for something else shhh!