Blood, sweat, tears & beers . . .

I see "belt tension gauges" in the catalogs but I don't think those are the right gizmos - they look like a measuring device. Seems to me the right tool would be some sort of spreader to move the tranny away from the motor.

Are you running an inner primary? If not there's a adjustable plate available that connects the tranny to the motor. Or you can make something custom. I think the tranny and motor should be connected somehow. I saw a set-up that I guy had using Heim connectors and threaded rods. They went from the back on the crankcase to the front of the tranny. Looked very cool. I'm not sure about amount of belt play. 3/4" sounds ok. I think mine is set at 1". My set-up is not adjustable. Did you check the BDL website for install instructions?

The BDL website was not helpful. I'm not running an inner primary and at this point there is no connection between the motor & the tranny. The heim joints and threaded rods sounds like it might be a good idea - I guess using two sets would work - and they might also help adjust the belt to the proper tension.

yes, 2 sets. one heim on each end of a threaded rods. Gives the adjustment and looks bitchin too. I will look for a picture. I saw one recently.

Check here on the shovelhead forumn for pics.
Switching to an Poen belt - Page 3 - Shovelhead Forum

Thanks Tommy. I looked over the pics and they didn't show the heim joint set up. Interesting stuff about the shovels though. Maybe Fab Kevin can help - I'm emailing him right now . . . Oh, almost forgot (do a lot of that lately!) On the shovel forum you linked me to, apparently some guys didn't use anything to connect the motor to the tranny; said the tranny plate is stong enough to hold everything in place. Mine is a 1/2" thick & the front mounting holes are threaded. I'm thinking of running it as is . . .

The tranny is mounted to a 1/2" thick plate which in turn is mounted to the frame. Standard set up. The plate is bolted & torqued in place, the tranny being loosely mounted on the plate at this time. Tranny will move backward and forward on the slots in the plate for adjustment. I hope I made that a little clearer . . . sometime me anglish not so goot, amigo!
BTW, my wheel sprocket & the tranny sprocket line up very nicely, no shimming necessary. (I'm using a chain final drive).
Exams begin today at the Hobgood Academy where I teach woodshop & art. Next Monday, the 13th, is the last teacher workday. I hope some parts come in soon, I'm getting a little antsy . . .

Ok, that is a very thick tranny plate. I guess you could try it alone.
The motor pulley are and tranny pulley and the ones that need to line-up first. Do you do that?

Not yet. Still waiting for the open primary to arrive. I have also ordered a set of shims for the front pulley - I'm sure I'll need them. The tranny plate is actually two 1/4" plates welded together. Very strong. The one I have is exactly like the black one in the pic, except mine is original from the 70s.

Waiting for open primary? I thought you said you were not running a primary? Am I confused?
I did not have to shim my motor pulley. Maybe I was lucky.

If you are gonna use an open primary kit why are you saying this in post #356:
"I'm not running an inner primary and at this point there is no connection between the motor & the tranny. The heim joints and threaded rods sounds like it might be a good idea - I guess using two sets would work - and they might also help adjust the belt to the proper tension."
Doen't an open primary connect the motor and tranny??

oh ok. So where does that plate go? Over the tranny only to account for the thickness of an inner primary?

I know where the tranny plate goes, I was asking about the plate in the picture in post #226.

I believe the part you are referring to is the Bearing Support that attaches to the tranny. (They are used when the inner primary is removed). Maybe I should have called the unit I'll be using an "open belt drive" and not an "open primary". I'm sorry about the confusion, Tommyc. Anyways, I assume the two heim connections would bolt to the two holes nearest the "C" in the photo.
Oops! Pic is sideways.