ElectricMotorcycleForum.com

  • April 26, 2024, 09:59:42 AM
  • Welcome, Guest
Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  

News:

Electric Motorcycle Forum is live!

Pages: [1]

Author Topic: Adjust belt tension -> Need of lifting ramp?  (Read 1249 times)

scorpion32

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 43
    • View Profile
Adjust belt tension -> Need of lifting ramp?
« on: April 07, 2017, 07:34:12 PM »

I realized that my belt tension is not in spec. Almost 20kg too much.

Question: Is it necessary to put the zero on a lifting ramp so that the rear tire is without ground connection? Or can i just adjust the belt tension as described in the manual without a lifting ramp?
(The manual is not mentioning a lifting ramp, however the manual is known for not beiing very precise for the maintenance work (e.g. if changing headlight bulb, it does not say how to get to the "back of the lamp")

My concern is if i do it without a lifting ramp, probably the rear tire gets some "track-angle" if fastened again.

Thx for you help.



Logged

Shadow

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1085
  • 130,000mi electric since 2016
    • View Profile
Re: Adjust belt tension -> Need of lifting ramp?
« Reply #1 on: April 07, 2017, 08:06:41 PM »

It's easier to do on a stand, I would think.

The other way is to have a friend hold the bike upright. You loosen the axle nut, make your adjustments, and then a swift kick with your boot to the rear tire.
Logged

Richard230

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9484
    • View Profile
Re: Adjust belt tension -> Need of lifting ramp?
« Reply #2 on: April 07, 2017, 08:43:25 PM »

The adjustment doesn't vary between checking the belt tension on or off a stand, like it would with most IC motorcycles, since the motor drive is concentric with the swing arm pivot and therefore doesn't change as the suspension moves up and down.   :)
Logged
Richard's motorcycle collection:  2018 16.6 kWh Zero S, 2009 BMW F650GS, 2020 KTM 390 Duke, 2002 Yamaha FZ1 (FZS1000N) and a 1978 Honda Kick 'N Go Senior.

scorpion32

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 43
    • View Profile
Re: Adjust belt tension -> Need of lifting ramp?
« Reply #3 on: April 07, 2017, 08:58:20 PM »

Thx guys,
now i feels safe to make the adjustments prior to my trip tomorrow.

:-)
Logged

JaimeC

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1952
    • View Profile
    • Facebook page
Re: Adjust belt tension -> Need of lifting ramp?
« Reply #4 on: April 07, 2017, 09:42:15 PM »

FYI:  I bought a perfectly usable track stand for $30 from Harbor Freight for just this purpose, and it has come in handy for other things on the bike as well.

http://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-swingarm-rear-stand-65620.html
Logged
1999 BMW K1200LT
2019 Yamaha XMAX
2021 Zero SR

clay.leihy

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 337
    • View Profile
Re: Adjust belt tension -> Need of lifting ramp?
« Reply #5 on: April 08, 2017, 07:44:48 AM »

FYI:  I bought a perfectly usable track stand for $30 from Harbor Freight for just this purpose, and it has come in handy for other things on the bike as well.

http://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-swingarm-rear-stand-65620.html
Second that stand. I just used it for my rear tire change on my FX. Works great. I also have a Harbor Freight balancing stand and like it too.

Sent from my Z981 using Tapatalk

Logged
Clay
DoD #2160,6

Shadow

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1085
  • 130,000mi electric since 2016
    • View Profile
Re: Adjust belt tension -> Need of lifting ramp?
« Reply #6 on: April 08, 2017, 07:55:53 AM »

I remember the "Zero oil change" video, it was funny.

Would anyone like to make a video of using a stand with their Zero and adjusting belt tension?
Logged

KrazyEd

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 552
    • View Profile
Re: Adjust belt tension -> Need of lifting ramp?
« Reply #7 on: April 08, 2017, 11:11:49 AM »

I buy stuff from Harbor Freight every week. Mostly things that I will use ONCE.
I believe that I read something on here not long ago about the Harbor Freight
stands and the review wasn't very friendly. I believe they didn't like the quality
of the welds. I would check as thoroughly as possible before giving your baby
over to it. Cycle Gear usually has good deals on them as well
Logged

JaimeC

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1952
    • View Profile
    • Facebook page
Re: Adjust belt tension -> Need of lifting ramp?
« Reply #8 on: April 08, 2017, 05:59:31 PM »

I buy stuff from Harbor Freight every week. Mostly things that I will use ONCE.
I believe that I read something on here not long ago about the Harbor Freight
stands and the review wasn't very friendly. I believe they didn't like the quality
of the welds. I would check as thoroughly as possible before giving your baby
over to it. Cycle Gear usually has good deals on them as well

Several members of my club have the Harbor Freight stand and none of us has ever had an issue.  I'm even less concerned than my friend with the GoldWing as the Zero weighs considerably LESS.  I looked at the Cycle Gear stand and even on sale it was more than twice the price.  I find it hard to believe a piece of bent steel tubing with a couple of wheels welded on should cost that much.

The other two bikes in my garage have single sided swingarms so the stand is useless with them.  OTOH, the other two bikes are equipped with center stands so I don't need to use the track stand for them.

Some of the other (more expensive) stands I've seen have a handle which makes lifting the bike easier.  Again, that might be a concern with a heavier motorcycle but the Zero is a relative featherweight.
Logged
1999 BMW K1200LT
2019 Yamaha XMAX
2021 Zero SR

Shadow

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1085
  • 130,000mi electric since 2016
    • View Profile
Re: Adjust belt tension -> Need of lifting ramp?
« Reply #9 on: April 22, 2017, 09:47:08 AM »

FYI:  I bought a perfectly usable track stand for $30 from Harbor Freight for just this purpose, and it has come in handy for other things on the bike as well.
http://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-swingarm-rear-stand-65620.html
Second that stand. I just used it for my rear tire change on my FX. Works great. I also have a Harbor Freight balancing stand and like it too.

Safety third! Bought one today and with a couple of loop straps and bungee cords managed to figure a way to secure it and take it home with me.

I'm glad you suggested to check through a few of them in the store. The item pulled from the stockroom had an under-filled weld, and the next one I asked to have brought up was fine with good looking welds so that is the one I purchased.

Note and reminder to REMOVE THE TOP CASE before you try to lever the bike up. Seems obvious but I was trying with all my weight and even sitting on the lever end of the rear stand and absolutely nothing happened. I'd then realized that I was doing it wrong and after removing my top case the bike went up on the stand with only moderate difficulty. To do this by myself I tied the frame tube off to a nearby tree on the kickstand side with a bit of rope, chocked the front wheel with a bit of wood, and leaned the bike upright against the tension of the rope also with some wood blocks under the kickstand itself. Is there a better way of doing this solo?
Logged

clay.leihy

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 337
    • View Profile
Re: Adjust belt tension -> Need of lifting ramp?
« Reply #10 on: April 22, 2017, 10:11:47 AM »

FYI:  I bought a perfectly usable track stand for $30 from Harbor Freight for just this purpose, and it has come in handy for other things on the bike as well.
http://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-swingarm-rear-stand-65620.html
Second that stand. I just used it for my rear tire change on my FX. Works great. I also have a Harbor Freight balancing stand and like it too.

Safety third! Bought one today and with a couple of loop straps and bungee cords managed to figure a way to secure it and take it home with me.

I'm glad you suggested to check through a few of them in the store. The item pulled from the stockroom had an under-filled weld, and the next one I asked to have brought up was fine with good looking welds so that is the one I purchased.

Note and reminder to REMOVE THE TOP CASE before you try to lever the bike up. Seems obvious but I was trying with all my weight and even sitting on the lever end of the rear stand and absolutely nothing happened. I'd then realized that I was doing it wrong and after removing my top case the bike went up on the stand with only moderate difficulty. To do this by myself I tied the frame tube off to a nearby tree on the kickstand side with a bit of rope, chocked the front wheel with a bit of wood, and leaned the bike upright against the tension of the rope also with some wood blocks under the kickstand itself. Is there a better way of doing this solo?
Like this:

Sent from my Z981 using Tapatalk

Logged
Clay
DoD #2160,6
Pages: [1]