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Old 02-01-2021, 12:31 PM   #38
crust
rattles when he walks
 
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: in the comfy chair,moved furniture around
Bike: M900
Posts: 1,065
As the others have said, once you've done them you'll be laughing at how much thought you've put into changing them.

As above, use a good condition allen key to undo the tensioners - not a ball ended one.

I undo the oil cooler mounting bolts, it's only two bolts, it makes it easier to thread the covers. I take a piece of cardboard, draw a rough L shape and poke the cover bolts through it so I know which one came out of where.

Plugs out, bike in a high gear and rotate engine until the marks line up. Twist the belts so you get an idea of how much you can twist them, use a 5 + 6mm allen key to get an idea of how easy it is to slide them past the tensioners.

I use the allen key method, but there's nothing wrong with other methods, more than one way to skin a cat etc.

Getting the belts on can be fun, I use a small flat blade screwdriver to tease the belt on a little at a time - do this gently, they will fit - honest.

I would advise against loctite on the tensioner bolts as they can be a pig to get undone without any extra help.

When you've tensioned them as said above spin the motor over a few times and check the tension with a twist and the allen keys just to re-assure yourself.

With belts its better to be a little loose than too tight.

Takes about 30mins and a mug of coffee normally. Don't forget to write in the front of your manual the date and mileage you changed them, saves a lot of head scratching in a couple of years time.
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