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REattaching a disengaged Belt

Excess torque (e.g. standing up to pedal while going up a steep hill) can pull the belt tensioning system out of alignment, which can cause the belt to become loose, and in rare cases, to come off the front / rear cogs entirely. If the belt disengages, stop the bike on a flat surface and set the front parking brakes. The instructions below will walk you through reattaching the belt, so that you can get back to enjoying your ride in no time.

1. Prepare to reattach the belt:

  • Fit the belt fully onto the rear cog, and fit the teeth of top of belt back onto the top of the front cog. The belt will likely not yet be engaged with the bottom portion of the front cog.

2. Reattach the belt:

  • Lift the rear of the bike 1-2 inches off the ground, and slowly turn the pedals forward with your hand. As the front cog turns forward, the belt should fully engage with the cog, so that it’s centered and properly seated on both the front and rear cogs.

  • If the belt does not fully engage after 1 full turn of the pedals, repeat the steps above.

3. Ensure the belt is fully engaged and aligned:

  • Check that the teeth of the belt and cog are fully aligned on both the front and rear cogs, and there are no visible spaces or misalignments.

4. Check for space in the left-rear tension system:

  • Under extreme torque, the left-rear tension system can be pulled out of alignment, which is often the cause of the belt coming off.

  • Check for space between the black tensioning block and the 5mm rear-facing bolt. If you notice any space, or it appears the inward-facing bolts were pulled backward:

    • Loosen the 2 inward facing 6mm bolts 1/4 turn

    • Gently rock the bike seat left and right, or push the rear portion of the rear wheel to the left, in order to reset the left-rear tensioning block to the forward position. It should be snug against the 5mm rear-facing bolt.

    • Re-tighten the 2 inward facing 6mm tension bolts on left side.

5. Check the belt tension:

  • The belt should be taut, with some movement and rebound when pressed.

  • Tip: download the Gates Carbon Drive app to measure the exact tension (should be between 45-60 Hz)

  • If the belt seems floppy, the rear portion appears to sag, or the Gates Carbon Drive app indicates the belt is too loose, see the instructions for Adjusting the Belt Tension

6. Confirm rear wheel alignment:

  • While sitting on the bike with the brakes disengaged, pedal forward slowly and ensure rear wheel spins freely, the belt holds tension, there are no odd noises or obvious friction, and the rear brakes are functioning normally.

  • If you notice any issues, set the bike aside and contact the pro shop (for rentals) or ops@fairwaybikes.com (for fleets and personal bikes) for further assistance.