SuzukiSavage.com - Belt Tension

Jimmer Senior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 497 NewportPa. Gender:	Belt Tension 07/19/10 at 11:33:17 What's the rule of thumb for this tension. One should be able to turn the belt at a 90 degree angle on the bottom of the drive belt . Is this right?
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babyhog Serious Thumper Offline Find a Cure for Breast Cancer! NOW!! Posts: 3802 WV Gender:	Re: Belt Tension Reply #1 - 07/19/10 at 12:09:56 That's what I've always heard
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buttgoat1 Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 1042	Re: Belt Tension Reply #2 - 07/19/10 at 17:52:31 I think the trick is turn it 90deg with moderate pressure. I aligned my whee, tightened the belt, twisted the belt and it was too tight made some strange noises when it rolled, backed off a bit and it was fine.
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james may Senior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 252 holyoke, ma Gender:	Re: Belt Tension Reply #3 - 07/19/10 at 19:14:25 You don't have the belt tension tester tool that comes in the savage tool bag? it's in a black bag behind the silver cover that you open with a key. If it's between the two lines when held between the tension tab and the belt.
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28884 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Belt Tension Reply #4 - 07/19/10 at 19:26:09 james may wrote on 07/19/10 at 19:14:25: You don't have the belt tension tester tool that comes in the savage tool bag? it's in a black bag behind the silver cover that you open with a key. If it's between the two lines when held between the tension tab and the belt. Now take that and throw it in the ocean.
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BurnPgh

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Re: Belt Tension
Reply #5 - 07/19/10 at 20:12:55

verslagen1 wrote on 07/19/10 at 19:26:09:

james may wrote on 07/19/10 at 19:14:25:

You don't have the belt tension tester tool that comes in the savage tool bag? it's in a black bag behind the silver cover that you open with a key. If it's between the two lines when held between the tension tab and the belt.

Now take that and throw it in the ocean.

+1. Using the tension tool will set you up with a belt thats too tight. On the bottom, in the middle between the pulleys it should indeed reach 90* when twisted with moderate pressue.

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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Belt Tension Reply #6 - 07/19/10 at 23:09:33 Its not just a rule of thumb. Its more like, a rule of thumb & forefinger
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Jimmer Senior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 497 NewportPa. Gender:	Re: Belt Tension Reply #7 - 07/20/10 at 05:15:49 Already got that great tensioner tool out of the tool bag, what a waste. Thanks for the help, everyone.
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Charon

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Re: Belt Tension
Reply #8 - 07/20/10 at 05:41:45

Instead of throwing away the tensioner tool, add a mark to it. Get the belt to the tension you like, insert the tensioner tool, and scribe another mark on it. That way you will have a repeatable way to tension the belt the way you like it the next time.

When I experimented with mine, I discovered that the difference between the 90-degree twist and the Suzuki tension tool was less than one turn of the belt adjusting bolts. Depending on the strength of your thumb and forefinger, your results may differ.

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ralfyguy

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Re: Belt Tension
Reply #9 - 07/20/10 at 18:10:00

Charon wrote on 07/20/10 at 05:41:45:

Instead of throwing away the tensioner tool, add a mark to it. Get the belt to the tension you like, insert the tensioner tool, and scribe another mark on it. That way you will have a repeatable way to tension the belt the way you like it the next time.

When I experimented with mine, I discovered that the difference between the 90-degree twist and the Suzuki tension tool was less than one turn of the belt adjusting bolts. Depending on the strength of your thumb and forefinger, your results may differ.

That's what I always wondered about how much difference there is.

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Phelonius Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 1897	Re: Belt Tension Reply #10 - 07/21/10 at 09:25:10 Mine doesn't get tense. I keep it in the garage on a shelf. Phelonius
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Digger

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Re: Belt Tension
Reply #11 - 07/23/10 at 21:36:53

Charon wrote on 07/20/10 at 05:41:45:

Instead of throwing away the tensioner tool, add a mark to it. Get the belt to the tension you like, insert the tensioner tool, and scribe another mark on it. That way you will have a repeatable way to tension the belt the way you like it the next time.

When I experimented with mine, I discovered that the difference between the 90-degree twist and the Suzuki tension tool was less than one turn of the belt adjusting bolts. Depending on the strength of your thumb and forefinger, your results may differ.

Good words from Charon, as usual.

Here is my experience with the tool:

If you insist on using the belt gauge, don't set the belt any tighter than this:

Actually, the gauge should be positioned such that its longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the belt. Mine is set a little off of the perpendicular in the above photo.

Currently, the belt on my Savage (see signature) is a tad too tight (I can rotate the belt about 85 degrees). If the gauge in the picture were set perfectly at the perpendicular, it would indicate a bit tighter than it does in the photo. I figure my slightly over-tight belt cancels out the slight mispositioning of the tension gauge, soooo.....

Bottom line? Don't use the gauge, set your belt tension via the twist method. If you insist on using the gauge, set the belt tension no tighter than what you see on the above photo.

YMMV!

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PhilM Full Member Offline Posts: 127 England (Twyford) Gender:	Re: Belt Tension Reply #12 - 07/25/10 at 00:51:13 Mine still squeaked a little bit after I adjusted it using the 90 degree test. I backed off the adjuster bolts a further 1/2 turn and that nailed it.
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Belt Tension Reply #13 - 07/25/10 at 01:40:52 I think Im gettin a tension headache
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BuckRYCA

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Re: Belt Tension
Reply #14 - 07/25/10 at 06:20:18

Interesting thread --What's the problem with adjusting the belt with the supplied tool and following Suzuki's instructions?

I set mine on the middle mark scribed on the tool. All seems well.

Do you believe that the Suzuki engineers didn't consult with the Banjo (belt) engineers as to the correct tension? Or that the Banjo engineers don't understand their own belt?

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