belt change

[speedracerrc51]

now another question here I got this 2005 999 bike 1021 miles and service guy wants to ghange the belts he said every 2 yrs or 7k miles it's this true..?
i got a appointment next week he told me about 300 for the service.

[john S.]

2 yrs or 12,000. Belts are made much better now and I've heard of people stretching it out, but for the first time I would rather play safe than sorry. $300, is that just for labor? If so add $200 to that for the belts for a grand total of $500+. Do your own and you'll save big. Access to the timing belts is easy on the Testastretta, on my 999 all I had to do was remove the horn bracket and the breather tube. The Desmoquattro is really cluttered and the battery is on that side. There is plenty of discussion regarding belt R&R, check here and especially Ducati.ms.

[viper1]

I don't agree with the "every two years" comment unless you put on a million miles each season! The 6K & 12K, yes, but depending on how many miles and how hard you are on it, you can get many more then two years out of them! I have an 04 with 3K on it, did the 600 mile check up and it's never been touched since!

[BC999S]

You're basically damned if you do and damned if you don't so I'd have to say I'm in agreement with John S and Viper.

I've got an '05 with 12k km on it. And original belts. At the 10k service we checked them and they looked new. So, were I you, I'd have them checked and make a game time decision.

[Ben710]

Hey speedracer,

I wouldn´t toy with the idea of stretching the intervals. Because if it does fail, what have you saved?

I had a belt snap on me once and it was >1000 Euros to rebuild the engine. Which actually was the cheaper way of doing things, since the crankshaft didn´t get damaged. I needed 4 new valves, 1 new piston (changed them for 2 Omega ones although I didn´t have to), then get the bottom end checked out get new bearings...

New belts every 2 years cost you 100-150 for the belts, unless you take the cheap Gates/Quentin Hazel/Renault belts which are a fraction of the cost but no OEM product. The stealership shouldn´t take more than 1 hour to swap the belts. They usually do an oil change so new oil + filter may come up on top.

Anyway, if you now stretch the whole thing to 3 years with a set of belts, what are you saving in the end?

Imagine you will keep the bike for 10 years, which is very unlikely. Then you do 5 belt changes with a 2 year interval. Let´s say a service of this kind costs you 300$, then you would spend 1500 US$ in 10 years. If you stretch the interval to 3 years, you´ll spend 900 US$. 600 bucks saved, sounds good right? Now, if a belt snaps because it´s too old or whatever has happened to it, add 1500+ US$ to the math, depending on what will be damaged if a belt snaps. Plus it´s likely that this would happen during a riding season. I´d be proper pissed off if all my buddies are riding and I would be forced to sit at home, sunny weather, broken engine... Believe me, I have been sitting home this year and in 07. No. Fun. At. All. You even get these nice asshole text messages from your "friends" saying how good the ride is and how perfect the racetrack is, how much fun they´re having... bastards.

600 $ in 10 years, that´s 60 bucks a year, 5 $ a month, 17 cents a day. I´d think twice about it


A few inspirational pics for you and your belt change:

[viper1]

Originally Posted by Ben710

Hey speedracer,

I wouldn´t toy with the idea of stretching the intervals. Because if it does fail, what have you saved?

I had a belt snap on me once and it was >1000 Euros to rebuild the engine. Which actually was the cheaper way of doing things, since the crankshaft didn´t get damaged. I needed 4 new valves, 1 new piston (changed them for 2 Omega ones although I didn´t have to), then get the bottom end checked out get new bearings...

New belts every 2 years cost you 100-150 for the belts, unless you take the cheap Gates/Quentin Hazel/Renault belts which are a fraction of the cost but no OEM product. The stealership shouldn´t take more than 1 hour to swap the belts. They usually do an oil change so new oil + filter may come up on top.

Anyway, if you now stretch the whole thing to 3 years with a set of belts, what are you saving in the end?

Imagine you will keep the bike for 10 years, which is very unlikely. Then you do 5 belt changes with a 2 year interval. Let´s say a service of this kind costs you 300$, then you would spend 1500 US$ in 10 years. If you stretch the interval to 3 years, you´ll spend 900 US$. 600 bucks saved, sounds good right? Now, if a belt snaps because it´s too old or whatever has happened to it, add 1500+ US$ to the math, depending on what will be damaged if a belt snaps. Plus it´s likely that this would happen during a riding season. I´d be proper pissed off if all my buddies are riding and I would be forced to sit at home, sunny weather, broken engine... Believe me, I have been sitting home this year and in 07. No. Fun. At. All. You even get these nice asshole text messages from your "friends" saying how good the ride is and how perfect the racetrack is, how much fun they´re having... bastards.

600 $ in 10 years, that´s 60 bucks a year, 5 $ a month, 17 cents a day. I´d think twice about it


A few inspirational pics for you and your belt change:

Ben710 - don't get me wrong, I'm not saying dont do it, what I'm saying is the 2 year comment from your dealer isnt always true. Yes you are correct with your math, etc. and if the guy has the cash to do it, then for a piece of mind, do it, but I wouldnt worry about it since it's a 05 with very low miles on it.

[oconnor]

I do 3 years or 12,000 miles with the new belts. If I bought a bike that had sat unridden for a year or so, I'd definitely change them.

[bafflebrain]

It is part of preventative maintenance for a good reason. I got my belts on order and will do the swap this fall. I know the factory ones will be pristine when I pull the cover but I am doing it anyway.

Like Ben said, you can stretch it out or you can have a peace of mind. Expensive engine repairs is one thing. The last thing I want is a broken belt and locked up engine going at a good clip.

[BC999S]

I adhere to the mileage guide. The "change every two year" part is a bit much in my most humble opinion.

Besides, with the guys I ride with, I rarely have to rev it beyond 7k. Baffle, you know what I'm talking about.

[bafflebrain]

Originally Posted by BC999S

I adhere to the mileage guide. The "change every two year" part is a bit much in my most humble opinion.

Besides, with the guys I ride with, I rarely have to rev it beyond 7k. Baffle, you know what I'm talking about.

I agree that the 2 year interval is too frequent. Mine will almost be 3x that recommendation at the time of the switch.

7k eh? Anything to keep your hangar queen in tip top shape. Mine rarely go out of 2nd gear but hey, you're the one holding up the front...

[BC999S]

Originally Posted by bafflebrain

...but hey, you're the one holding up the front...

You mean its not a parade?

[sburns2421]

Ducati is taking lessons from Ferrari regarding belt change intervals. Put the fear of destruction in customers and generate plenty of work for service departments.

IMO, the two year rule would be the worst case with a healthy safety factor: belts adjusted to borderline specs, no warm up by the owner, lots of time at high rpm.

[Mr.Duc]

2 years or 10-12k miles

Belts $209 a pair + labor $200 max = Pece of mind.

Possible alternative - complete engine rebuild + lots of $$$$$$$$

[rjjablo]

I replace them everytime I replace my Rockers. 6K miles.

Cheap insurance.

[motodave]

Originally Posted by rjjablo

I replace them everytime I replace my Rockers. 6K miles.

Cheap insurance.

Now that right there is funny!!!

[Old Fart]

Replacement intervals are a conundrum. Hell, on a car the belts can can go 10 years or 150,000 miles.

On the 2V engines the two year cycle is pretty much on target. This is predicated on the wear induced by the small diameter idler rollers that flex the hell out of the belts. And the generally small drive sprockets that all ducs use.

Now on the later 4V engines such as the testastrettas the idler diameters are huge in comparison. This fatigues the belts less therefore a longer service interval could be derived. I don't think there will be a revised recommendation to increase the duration for two reasons. A. The factory probably doesn't collect data based on long term test to failure criteria. B. They make a lot of money selling belts.

I dunno, I'm sure I could stretch the interval but call me chicken or whatever, I'll still feed it a set of these outlandishly priced belts every two years. Still trying to think of what to do with all the old belts I have laying around. Lessee,, 2002 bike every two years x 2 belts = 8 used belts hanging on a hook in the basement.

I also have an older Goldwing. These belts are like $60 each from Honda. But the bike has been running fine for 15 years on Toyota Corolla belts (Gates) from NAPA at $13 each. I stick a set in every five years or whenever I think of it. Go figure.

[ducxl]

I've dread the emergence of this thread.I've done it 4 times since 2002 on my 996 using my Lowener gage.When i last installed a set,i soon after had the new SPS cam's dialed using the "twang" method.

I'm afraid i am lazy and do not wish to perform this service until one more season is finished.I may also screw up my cam timing with a new set of belts.I should've opted for an adjustable set of wheels.

Besides,my Schwinn needs major rework this Winter season.

Just saying,this subject is a touchy one as nobody wants belt failure.

[dyno-sore]

How many "close calls" have happened due to an unused condom being "heat cycled" in the wallet of some poor teenager?? Hey they're rubber! Change em or sweat it out! LOL

[huit]

Try retensioning belts after 2 years........it doesn't hold up!
replace them!
paul

[soslow]

My two-valve Ducati was built in 1997. I have owned it for 9-10 years now and the belts have not been changed in the time that I have owned it. They are almost certainly the original belts, as it's very unlikely that they would have been changed before I bought it. It doesn't get ridden much, but I started it up the other day and it didn't go 'bang'. If I am going to keep it I probably should change the belts soon myself (maybe I could do it) or get someone to do it.