Just an update: I tried the Dave trick of putting Lowe's  thin ribbed rubber floor matting over the rubber biscuits in the hub, but did it differently: Dave cut trapezoid shapes to put between the metal fingers going in between the biscuits. Hoping to keep things from moving around, I just cut a one piece ring with radial slots, and it took all the side play out of the pulley.

To do this you use a compass to mark out on the matting a 3 1/2" radius OD and a 1 1/2" radius ID cut, making a donut. Then put some talc on the metal studs that go between the biscuits and set the piece down centered on your donut. Cut out the powder marks left by the studs. Lay it on the biscuits and trim to adjust the fit so no mat gets caught between the pulley hub and the center hub. The mat cuts easily with scissors and it doesn't have to be perfect.

With the hub apart I ran the axle through the pulley hub and wiggled it. There didn't seem to be any significant slop in the bearing. I figured the problem was fixed.

With it all back together there is no more side play in the pulley. It's a solid mate up.

But the noise, a metal-to-metal chirping sound, a sort of a howl at speed, is not entirely gone. The belt runs centered on the drive pulley. No edge rubbing on the belt. I am baffled at this point, can't figure what to try next. I don't see any metal-to-metal contact anywhere to cause the chirp.

But the mat thing works like a charm if your drive pulley is wobbly.

Sonny,

I would like to see pics of the way you put the rubber matting on your rear hub.

Kenny G

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 09/15/15 at 21:04:23:


I did that. It worked well, running quiet now. Thanks, Justin.