[ajax]

Had a new rear tire put on yesterday and now I have slack in the drive train? Any ideas why?

 

[bikerdeano]

Are you talking about your Belt not being adjusted right?

 

[ajax]

Are you talking about your Belt not being adjusted right?

I have lash/slack when I let off the throttle? (gears 2nd-5th) I don't feel it in 1st or 6th?

 

[ajax]

Under a load If I let of the throttle to decel quickly I feel slack in the gears? Roll on the throttle and it feels like everything snatches. A quick decel and same thing? It wasn't doing this before the tire change? Didn't do it when I had the last set put on either?

 

[Creek_IP]

Under a load If I let of the throttle to decel quickly I feel slack in the gears? Roll on the throttle and it feels like everything snatches. A quick decel and same thing? It wasn't doing this before the tire change? Didn't do it when I had the last set put on either?

I'd certainly start by checking belt tension when it's cold.

 

[ajax]

I think the tension is fine? I don't have oner of the tension tools, but I read somewhere either here of the VMC, that with the belt cold if you could twist the belt aout 45 degrees, the tension is about right? This I can do. The belt has always seemed a little tight to me since day one? So to be honest I'm not exactly sure? What I do know is I rode the bike foran hour and a half yesterday just to get to the dealer to getthe tire changed. Took them about an hour, would the belt have had time to cool off by then?

When I left I had no rear brakes and had to go back.After another 30 minutes he realized the brake pad clip was crooked? "If" the tension is correct, what else would cause the lashing? Trying to get this straightened out to leave forHelen, Thursday. But I'm not riding it like this?That lashing when rollin on and letting off the throttle can't be good for anything?Gonna take it back to the dealer and leave it over night so they can work with it with the belt definitely cold. (another three hours on the road)

If Iweren't pressed for time I'd try to figure it out myself? This is my first belt drivebike and I gotta say I ain't crazy about it? (one of the reason'sit took me so long to go with a Victory in the first place) Shaft drive was a lot easier.

 

[NorCal]

When I left I had no rear brakes and had to go back.After another 30 minutes he realized the brake pad clip was crooked?

Doesn't your dealer perform a test ride after a service to make sure everything is working properly? I find it unacceptable that a bike would leave a service department without having brakes. I'd really be upset about that and would question all future repairs or start looking for a new dealer.

 

[eronfitz]

I've had what i consider to be exessive lash in my drivetrain since day one, I suspect the primary drive. I had my dealers service manager drive the bike and he didn't feel any lash. It kinda pissed me off, I felt like they were blowing me off!

 

[ajax]

Doesn't your dealer perform a test ride after a service to make sure everything is working properly? I find it unacceptable that a bike would leave a service department without having brakes. I'd really be upset about that and would question all future repairs or start looking for a new dealer.

This is the first time it's been back there since the 500 mile service. I've been doing everything else myself. Luckily, all I've had to do is oil changes. My last tire change was done by a local independent 1 man shop. He was on vacation. I guess bad planning on my part. I had 12,000 miles on my tires and didn't wanna load the bike up and head to Helen. Especially with my wife on board too. Next go round, with better planning and more time, I'm gonna take the wheels off myself. And learn how to adjust everything back to spec myself too.

 

[ajax]

I've had what i consider to be exessive lash in my drivetrain since day one, I suspect the primary drive. I had my dealers service manager drive the bike and he didn't feel any lash. It kinda pissed me off, I felt like they were blowing me off!

I've been riding this bike for over two years. I know immediately if it starts doing something it wasn't doing before?

 

[Freerider]

I always figured all Vic's had a little gear lash. My Vision has had it since da one. . Dealer said its normal. Plus, Vision belt adjustment is at 1.25" cold which is more than other models due to more rear tire movement. I'm used to it now.

 

[eronfitz]

I've been riding this bike for over two years. I know immediately if it starts doing something it wasn't doing before?

Its not doing anything new, its had it since day one. How do I know if it is not normal ? I think I'll go to MOMS this weekend & drive a CC and see how that feels !

 

[bikerdeano]

I always figured all Vic's had a little gear lash. My Vision has had it since da one. . Dealer said its normal. Plus, Vision belt adjustment is at 1.25" cold which is more than other models due to more rear tire movement. I'm used to it now.

The CCT has a spec of 1.25" as well.
I think the OP needs to go back to the Dealer and explain his concerns and see if they can make it right. Thats what I would do.
I get the feeling that the OP thinks that everything to do with the Belt is OK... and the problem is elsewhere.
Does the OP think that the dealer went into his bike's Transmssion and messed up the Gear lash? So in a hours time that the Dealer had the Bike in its shop... they removed and replaced the rear tire, re-aligned the wheel and tensioned the belt correctly and then went into the transmission and effed up the gear lash?

 

[ajax]

I don't know why I even bothered to post this on here? I knew I would get the standard "it's normal" answer. Let me just say if it would have had that much drive lash the day I test rode it, I wouldn't have bought it?! I've been riding for 40 years. I'm not new to motorcycles. I've been riding this one for two years now. I'm certain the drive lash that I'm feeling is NOT normal?! Not for THIS bike. The lash I'm experiencing is excessive! It feels like something is going to break. When it lashes you can feel it throughout the whole bike. I'm not saying that I think they went into the transmission, as was suggested? All I'm saying is its doing something that this particular bike wasn't doing before? I know normal for this bike, and what happening now, ain't.

 

[notaharley]

I don't know why I even bothered to post this on here? I knew I would get the standard "it's normal" answer. Let me just say if it would have had that much drive lash the day I test rode it, I wouldn't have bought it?! I've been riding for 40 years. I'm not new to motorcycles. I've been riding this one for two years now. I'm certain the drive lash that I'm feeling is NOT normal?! Not for THIS bike. The lash I'm experiencing is excessive! It feels like something is going to break. When it lashes you can feel it throughout the whole bike. I'm not saying that I think they went into the transmission, as was suggested? All I'm saying is its doing something that this particular bike wasn't doing before? I know normal for this bike, and what happening now, ain't.

I know how frustrating it is when you have a real concern and some of the responses are...well...not well thought out, at times. There are so many guys that post things like, "I changed my oil, and now I have more power", that if we don't know someone, everyone begins with the dumb stuff someone might have missed. Assuming that you are a fellow well-experienced biker who knows his bike, trust your gut, and go back to the dealer and be very clear and confident that something IS wrong, and you need it diagnosed. What expands in the drive-line is the aluminum rear pulley. NOT the belt. The pulley cools right down--cold water could be sprayed on it to accelerate the cooling. You do not need to leave the bike overnight. Belt drives are good--even Yamaha has switched. It IS possible that your belt is too loose. Twisting is not a reliable method--although good in a pinch on the side of the road when changing a tire. You need a bet tension guage. Cheap tool available at any HD dealer (same as the Vic tool). Once you have eliminated the belt as a variable, then you can look elsewhere. Since the dealer touched it last, and there was one problem that was their negligence, logic dictates that the other problem has something to do with what they did while they had your bike. Be kind, friendly, but firm and assertive. If you show up feeling upset, it will come through and put the service guy on the defensive. They deal with at least a nut a day. Hang in there.

 

[OneThumb]

There are no chain or belt drives within the engine other than the chain drive to the overhead cams.
Transmission is gear driven from the crankshaft, no room for play there.
Only take up lash I see you having could befrom the drive belt.

Now the only other thing I think you may be felling when gearing down with throttle off (Fuel injectors are powered off) and engine some where above 2,500 rpm and decreasing under compression to around 1,300 rpm (I'm guessing here) the fuel injectors open to supply fuel allowing the engine to refire giving you a free of wheeling sensation.

I have felt this on all Victorys.

 

[ajax]

I know how frustrating it is when you have a real concern and some of the responses are...well...not well thought out, at times. There are so many guys that post things like, "I changed my oil, and now I have more power", that if we don't know someone, everyone begins with the dumb stuff someone might have missed. Assuming that you are a fellow well-experienced biker who knows his bike, trust your gut, and go back to the dealer and be very clear and confident that something IS wrong, and you need it diagnosed. What expands in the drive-line is the aluminum rear pulley. NOT the belt. The pulley cools right down--cold water could be sprayed on it to accelerate the cooling. You do not need to leave the bike overnight. Belt drives are good--even Yamaha has switched. It IS possible that your belt is too loose. Twisting is not a reliable method--although good in a pinch on the side of the road when changing a tire. You need a bet tension guage. Cheap tool available at any HD dealer (same as the Vic tool). Once you have eliminated the belt as a variable, then you can look elsewhere. Since the dealer touched it last, and there was one problem that was their negligence, logic dictates that the other problem has something to do with what they did while they had your bike. Be kind, friendly, but firm and assertive. If you show up feeling upset, it will come through and put the service guy on the defensive. They deal with at least a nut a day. Hang in there.

Given the rear brake issue, this was my thinking as well. I got it back to the dealership yesterday right before closing and left it. Now I'm just repeating what the tech at the desk told me when I dropped it off. But he said, that when you pull the rear sprocket, there's a(I think he called it a) "cush bushing"? Cush something, anyway? He said that if this isn't put back in just right it would causeplay, causing the lash? Again, just repeating what I was told. He could have been pacifying me, I don't know?

I know better than to go in ranting and raving demandingto get something done. I just explained that I was trying to get it straightened out before the rally in Helen, and I'm an hour and a half away.And as I said before, it takes three hours out of my day to take my bike to the dealer? Which is why I explained when I carried it in Monday, I wasn't in a hurry, just take your time. They were done in an hour, and I left with no rear brakes?!? He told me he was the only tech working that day. (Memorial Day) I guess my point is, had he taken his time I would have had rear brakes, and not had the other issue? Because taking it in Mondayis a moot point when I had to carry it back? (another 3 hours of my time)

 

[ajax]

There are no chain or belt drives within the engine other than the chain drive to the overhead cams.
Transmission is gear driven from the crankshaft, no room for play there.
Only take up lash I see you having could befrom the drive belt.

Now the only other thing I think you may be felling when gearing down with throttle off (Fuel injectors are powered off) and engine some where above 2,500 rpm and decreasing under compression to around 1,300 rpm (I'm guessing here) the fuel injectors open to supply fuel to engine giving you a free wheeling sesation.

I have felt this on all Victorys.

OneThumb,every bike I've ever ridden has had a little. What I'm experiencing now is EXCESSIVE and EXAGGERATED! Nothing like before?The lash actuallyPOPS now?

 

[notaharley]

Given the rear brake issue, this was my thinking as well. I got it back to the dealership yesterday right before closing and left it. Now I'm just repeating what the tech at the desk told me when I dropped it off. But he said, that when you pull the rear sprocket, there's a (I think he called it a) "cush bushing"? Cush something, anyway? He said that if this isn't put back in just right it would cause play, causing the lash? Again, just repeating what I was told. He could have been pacifying me, I don't know?

I know better than to go in ranting and raving demanding to get something done. I just explained that I was trying to get it straightened out before the rally in Helen, and I'm an hour and a half away. And as I said before, it takes three hours out of my day to take my bike to the dealer? Which is why I explained when I carried it in Monday, I wasn't in a hurry, just take your time. They were done in an hour, and I left with no rear brakes?!? He told me he was the only tech working that day. (Memorial Day) I guess my point is, had he taken his time I would have had rear brakes, and not had the other issue? Because taking it in Monday is a moot point when I had to carry it back? (another 3 hours of my time)

I would seriously consider finding someone else to work on your bike. There is no "cush" bearing on a Victory. On a chain driven motorcycle, there is a rubber shock-absorbing device mounted behind the rear sprocket in the rim. On a Victory, the rear "sprocket" for the belt is bolted directly to the rim--nothing in between. Obviously, he is not familiar with Victory motorcycles....every Harley on the road is also built the same way. This is not an weird or uncommon setup. I still think the belt should be examined and anything else they touched back there, even the belt tensioners. The belt does no expand or contract under any conditions. They are amazing things. Only the aluminum sprocket is large enough to expand and affect the tension. I didn't mean to say that you would not have been calm and kind.....I know myself, that my motorcycle can be a very emotional issue when things are wrong. I have had to talk myself down before going in for a problem! Lol

 

[ajax]

I would seriously consider finding someone else to work on your bike. There is no "cush" bearing on a Victory. On a chain driven motorcycle, there is a rubber shock-absorbing device mounted behind the rear sprocket in the rim. On a Victory, the rear "sprocket" for the belt is bolted directly to the rim--nothing in between. Obviously, he is not familiar with Victory motorcycles....every Harley on the road is also built the same way. This is not an weird or uncommon setup. I still think the belt should be examined and anything else they touched back there, even the belt tensioners. The belt does no expand or contract under any conditions. They are amazing things. Only the aluminum sprocket is large enough to expand and affect the tension. I didn't mean to say that you would not have been calm and kind.....I know myself, that my motorcycle can be a very emotional issue when things are wrong. I have had to talk myself down before going in for a problem! Lol

Yeah, part of this is poor planning on my part. The fella that did my last set of tires is a 1 man shop. He rides a Harley, but three if his buddies ride Victory's and he does their maintenance for them. After his work, I had no issues at all. He is on vacation for the next two weeks. Again, poor planning on my part. I wasn't born yesterday and felt he was just pacifying me, as I stated earlier. Especially since I told him this was my first belt driven bike. He probably figured he could tell me anything? I know when I'm having smoke blown up my butt! Believe me, it won't go back there. To be honest, I don't trust any dealer, was just out of options? Plus, after taking it back up there yesterday so they could start in it first thing. (9:00) I called at noon and they haven't even started on it? Go figure!