Generic belt and tensioners

[Valkorado]

OK, I'm definitely hearing something making noise under the timing belt cover.  I'm going to go ahead and order/locate what is needed for this job, hopefully using less expensive generic parts.  Not sure if I can find the stuff locally, but we do have a CarQuest, Napa and a new O'Reilleys.  Of course, I'll have to get help for this job but I'd like to get the necessary stuff together.  Anyone know which part numbers have been used successfully?  TIA.

[Ricky-D]

It's no sweat to remove the cover. I'd suggest to investigate before you go off and buy a bunch of parts you may not need.

***

[saddlesore]

Here's a link to generic parts......http://www.jkozloski.com/generic_parts.htm

I used the gates belts.  A little noisy at first but they'll quiet down.  A LOT cheaper than Honda parts.

[MarkT]

I bought the Honda belts over a year ago and waited until enough miles and a round tuit was on hand before I installed them.  Didn't break the bank.  One of the install procedures is to measure & set the tension by pulling on the belt span at a certain point while measuring the deflection for a certain poundage pull.  I found an analog Timney trigger scale was the perfect tool for this.  Of course with most of my guns on the bottom of Lake Michigan I was glad to find a use for the scale.  Now if I can just find a use for the Lyman digital trigger scale...  It's not really a big deal and it could in fact be done at the motel on the Darby ride - and I could bring the scale.  But that might be iffy, if you need a tool you didn't anticipate.  I can mail you the scale if you don't have a need for one in your range bag...  Then you can just bring it along on the Darby ride.

If you're getting a noise I would suspect you might have an idler pully bearing problem.  There's not much in the belt area to make noise.  Did you use a mechanic's stethoscope?

[John Schmidt]

Keep in mind, if those belts are too tight they will cause the tensioners to howl and sometimes screech. I'm with Ricky on this, pull the cover and check the condition and belt tension. If you can tweak the belt and hit a hit "C" with it, it's waaaay too tight. Those tensioners seldom go bad and the belts aren't far behind. Most replace them at/near 100k for peace of mind.

[Valkorado]

Thanks for the replies.  Mark no stethoscope but it's coming from that general area for sure.  John call me paranoid but I went ahead and ordered the Gates belts.  I guess I'm as concerned about the current ones being 19 years old as anything.  I'm also too chicken to pull the cover; I don't have a garage and every time I do something outside I drop stuff in the dirt.  Is there anything else I'd need to purchase like new tensioners?  Might as well do it right.  Saw this post

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,54029.0.html

I'll order those pulleys if advised.  Not sure which bolt would be best though, seems to be some debate on that.

[old2soon]

SOMEWHERE in the tech archive someone posted a really neat rebuild of those belt tensioners.   BUT I'm with the others-check it out BEFORE ordering a bunch of parts you no need!   When I changed out my timing belts all I did was clean the tensioners they were quiet when I took them off and now at 108+++ miles on the clock they are still quiet. I probably didn't NEED to change the belts but I did-for peace of mind.   Gates belts from O'reilly at about half the cost from Honda. And I have been known to take mine to 130 M P H indicated when I feels like I needs to!   RIDE SAFE.

[old2soon]

Mark no stethoscope but it's coming from that general area for sure.  Call me paranoid but I went ahead and ordered the Gates belts.  I guess I'm as concerned about the current ones being 19 years old as anything.  I'm also too chicken to pull the cover; I don't have a garage and every time I do something outside I drop stuff in the dirt.  Is there anything else I'd need to purchase like new tensioners?  Might as well do it right.  Saw this post

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,54029.0.html

I'll order those pulleys if advised.  Not sure which bolt would be best though, seems to be some debate on that.

     Park it on a piece of 4 X 8 plywood at least 3/8" thick.  Thataway you AIN'T digging thru other detrious lookin fer lost parts. RIDE SAFE.

[Valkorado]

Good to hear those belts are working.  Hopefully my tensioners will be in good shape too.

And I have been known to take mine to 130 M P H indicated when I feels like I needs to!   RIDE SAFE.

  That's a couple notches above my comfort zone!

[MarkT]

Well if it was me I might buy those tensioners from gates rather than Honda, if you're hearing noise, and have them on hand before I pulled the cover.  If you don't need them then maybe you can sell them here, or put them in your kit for when you do.  I'm thinking you're not taking out a mortgage to buy them, but if you need them you have to close it back up and wait for them to arrive, or not ride.  But that's just me.

[Valkorado]

Well if it was me I might buy those tensioners from gates rather than Honda, if you're hearing noise, and have them on hand before I pulled the cover.  If you don't need them then maybe you can sell them here, or put them in your kit for when you do.  I'm thinking you're not taking out a mortgage to buy them, but if you need them you have to close it back up and wait for them to arrive, or not ride.  But that's just me.

Saw your other post Mark.  If you haven't ordered one yet, I have a brand new never used Dan-Mark.  I'll lay it on you for your help (and then some if necessary).  Let me know.

[MarkT]

Well if it was me I might buy those tensioners from gates rather than Honda, if you're hearing noise, and have them on hand before I pulled the cover.  If you don't need them then maybe you can sell them here, or put them in your kit for when you do.  I'm thinking you're not taking out a mortgage to buy them, but if you need them you have to close it back up and wait for them to arrive, or not ride.  But that's just me.

Saw your other post Mark.  If you haven't ordered one yet, I have a brand new never used Dan-Mark.  I'll lay it on you for your help (and then some if necessary).  Let me know.

That's nice Seth, good thought.  I ordered it already. 

[F6Dave]

It's worth mentioning that one of the bolts holding the timing cover on (an upper one) may run into a cooling passage and has some sealant on it.  This bolt can be tight, and some have broken it trying to get it out.  Age may make this problem worse.

One method to make removal easier it to fully heat up the bike (like on a ride) and loosen the bolts when you get it home.  Then you can do your maintenance the next day.

BTW, I've read that Honda bought their belts from Gates when they built the Valks in Ohio.  They may actually be the same part.

[saddlesore]

The bolts holding the cover on are different lengths.  Make a chart or something to make sure you get the right ones back in the original holes or you'll spend a lot of time going in and out.
Also the bolt mentioned above with the sealer on it has to be put back in with a sealer on it. 

[old2soon]

The bolts holding the cover on are different lengths.  Make a chart or something to make sure you get the right ones back in the original holes or you'll spend a lot of time going in and out.
Also the bolt mentioned above with the sealer on it has to be put back in with a sealer on it. 

    Definitely what he said!  RIDE SAFE.

[0leman]

As I am nearing the 100K mark and planning on replacing the belts soon (no noise from front end), What sealant is being used on the long bolt??

[old2soon]

As I am nearing the 100K mark and planning on replacing the belts soon (no noise from front end), What sealant is being used on the long bolt??

       Something NON hardening. And heat and coolant compatible. RIDE SAFE.

[Valkorado]

As I am nearing the 100K mark and planning on replacing the belts soon (no noise from front end), What sealant is being used on the long bolt??

I think BigBF said he doesn't use any at all when he puts the covers back on.  I'll have to double check that.  

I'm trying to figure out where to find the perfect bolts for the Gates tensioners, I like the look of the flat head Jimmytee originally used in his post.

[John Schmidt]

As I am nearing the 100K mark and planning on replacing the belts soon (no noise from front end), What sealant is being used on the long bolt??

I think BigBF said he doesn't use any at all when he puts the covers back on.  I'll have to double check that.  

I'm trying to figure out where to find the perfect bolts for the Gates tensioners, I like the look of the flat head Jimmytee originally used in his post.[/color]

I assume then you're talking about rebuilding the old ones? If not and you're just going to replace them with OEM parts, don't concern yourself with the "perfect bolt."  Just use the bolts already there used to mount the tensioners.

[Valkorado]

As I am nearing the 100K mark and planning on replacing the belts soon (no noise from front end), What sealant is being used on the long bolt??

I think BigBF said he doesn't use any at all when he puts the covers back on.  I'll have to double check that.  

I'm trying to figure out where to find the perfect bolts for the Gates tensioners, I like the look of the flat head Jimmytee originally used in his post.[/color]

I assume then you're talking about rebuilding the old ones? If not and you're just going to replace them with OEM parts, don't concern yourself with the "perfect bolt."  Just use the bolts already there used to mount the tensioners.

No, going to go with these
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Gates-T42015-Timing-Belt-Pulley-Tensioner/42732019
that Jimmytee wrote up.  Much cheaper than OEM even after finding custom hardware, and ordering two qualifies for free shipping.