two things of interest (maybe?) today.......

[RedValk]

one, Sherry told me an interesting story from yesterday. Seems some guy pulled up next to her at a traffic light....while she was on her Valk riding home from work. The guy was on a 1300 VTX. he's checking out the Valk....and finally says to her something about "that's an awfully BIG bike....for a WOMAN to be riding"  She just looks at him and nods. Then he says "actually, looks kind of cool....but probably big and heavy?". She nods. Light turns GREEN. He attempts to roar off....he's pushing his 1300 "X" hard. She cranks on the Valk....and blows by him....  She continues to leave him behind...then finally backs off. He catches back up and gives her the big thumbs up. It's THE FIRST TIME IN HER LIFE....someone challenged her at a light. And..........she won.......   

Cool..............   


Second thing. i got my "new" valk's timing belt replaced at 100,000. The manual said "inspect" the belt (ok, beltS....there are two) at 100,000. I figured if you're gonna' go to the trouble to pull the cover off and "inspect"....after 12 years and 100,000 miles....probalby ought to just REPLACE.

anyway, ever since having the belts replaced, i can now HEAR something....i'm thinking the belts...from the front end. I NEVER heard this before that i can remember...until having the belts replaced. It's just a "whirring" kind of noise i never heard before.........but it IS there.

IS THAT NORMAL? Perhaps it will go away as i break in this "new" Valk? But seriously, i DO hear something i never heard b4 replacing those belts.........

[Chrisj CMA]

Tim.....Im guessing the tensioners are too tight.....very easy to do especially if you had the dealer do it.........same happened to mine,  also some of these engines have one of the bolts that hold the throttle side (right) side tensioner go straight into the oil so if its not sealed well it will leak, you will see oil at the bottom of the belt cover in a few days is so

[John Schmidt]

If you set the tensioner pulleys too tight, they will set up a bit of a whir or whine. If much too tight, they'll really whine at you.

LOL....Chris posted while I was typing. We agree it appears.

[RedValk]

Tim.....Im guessing the tensioners are too tight.....very easy to do especially if you had the dealer do it.........

guilty. i was out of town in St. Louis and Sherry took it in for me to the dealer. i'm thinking maybe the tensioners are just a tad tight? it is a very subtle noise...not loud....but....i'm always keen to things like that (attention to detail)...so i noticed it. Very subtle....not loud...but there...and it was NOT there before. i'm assuming if they are only a little tight, it will be ok.............

[alph]

We’ve got a belt tension tester at work that gets used sometimes!  You would not believe how much shorter a life an over tightened belt will have.  Now I’m talking belts that are three inches wide and ten feet long, but still, if it’s on my personal vehicle it’s a lot more important to me then a piece of equipment at work!! 

Get your tension checked.  We’re not talking a simple belt change here, this isn’t like the belt on your truck alternator.  If your tension’s good, then I’d guess that it’s the new belt seating it’s self.