weird noise after belt change

[100thwindow]

So I replaced my drive belt on my 06 xb and now it makes a grinding noise at low speeds..at first I thought it was my brakes but my pads are only a few months old and my rotor looks good..so I bled the brakes and put new fluid..noise is still there. Thought it was my clutch dragging so readjusted the clutch from primary and noise is still there. Noise sounds like it's coming from the area where the belt pulley is...it hasnt affected the ride in any way just kinda annoying. What can it be?

 

[thrstrmech]

bearings in the idler pulley? possibly...

 

[John422]

Did you forget a wheel spacer? Did you put the belt on the right direction? They only go one way. But if the belt is right and your not missing anything on your axle. I know on my 1125 my rear pads on my bike wingle and at lower speeds like on my gravel driveway I can hear it hitting my disc but if you just step on the brake enough to get both pads to hug the disc the little noice goes away.

 

[BuellSki]

This is the first time I've heard of the belt being directional. I've taken my belt off numerous times. And put it back on. I've never had a problem with the "directional" thing. But are there grooves worn into the tensioner pulley? My original pulley had then and it wore grooves into the belt. But I would have to say the bearings in the pulley are worn out. But I'm just guessing. I've never had that noise. Is the belt new or used?

 

[100thwindow]

Yeah I installed the belt and wheel correctly. I never had this problem before. I think I'm gonna take my rear wheel off and back on again just to be sure.

 

[snrusnak]

Is the belt really directional!?!?!?

 

[Negative]

Certainly not... I just looked at mine on my bike and my spare one... The one on the bike is the original 03 belt and the spare is the updated 03 belt... Neither show an arrow for rotation and the teeth are uniform from both directions...

To the OP... I side with the people saying to check your bearings... Sounds like the idler pulley bearings might have bit the dust man... Just my $0.02... =)

 

[John422]

Well that's what you get with hear say. So for that I apologize but in the guys defense maybe it's just 1125? He said the belt walks to the left which would make sense for 1125 because the lip on the rear sprocket is in the left. Buuut then again I personally don't know just made sense in my head when he said it.

 

[Negative]

Either that or a bad bearing might have a pulley out of line somewhere... (hopefully not... Just thinking out loud)... =/

 

[100thwindow]

thanks for all the advice. gonna get to it tomorrow and report back. How do I check the pulley bearing?

 

[thrstrmech]

loosing the rear axle 15 turns to release the tension off the belt, remove the idler pulley, disassemble the pulley from the bracket and remove the bearings from the pulley...hold the inner race of the bearings with your index finger and thumb, roll the bearing on smooth, clean surface...looking for smooth continuous rolling of the bearing, if you feel any bumps, grinding, chatter, any damage or signs of rust...replace them. better safe than sorry

 

[BuellSki]

And as I said in my last post. If the pulley has any type of wear on it. Replace it. I think it's coated in carbide. Like the other 2 pulleys. And it'll come with new bearings installed already

 

[thrstrmech]

been there done that, before...

 

[BuellSki]

Yep. I should have taken pictures of mine! It looked a lot like that one.