I was checking my valves and belts today. I inspected my belts and found one crack in each belt. I was curious if anyone else has seen this or had input on how close to catastrophe I was.
The two belts on the left are Bucci, after 3 years of open covers and approximately 4000 miles.
The one on the right is an OEM Ducati belt that was on the bike when I bought it. I don't know much about this belt as I bought the bike needing to be serviced. I would guess that it had 7000 miles and was atleast 4 or 5 years old. The other belt is fine, I cannot find a single crack anywhere.
Thoughts?
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8375/8528375601_c9d3719f6f_b.jpg)
I wasn't aware that Bucci belts were still available, or even recently...
I'm not at all confident that a visual inspection of any belt is useful, other than if you see an obvious rip or hole.
I thought belts had to changed every 24 months
it's a join in the belting. they all have it. the exactfit ones are rubber lined on the inside, so it might not be visible. but i'm sure they'd still have that join line.
Quote from: Speeddog on March 04, 2013, 01:56:01 PM
I wasn't aware that Bucci belts were still available, or even recently...
I'm not at all confident that a visual inspection of any belt is useful, other than if you see an obvious rip or hole.
yes, they are.. and still marked "gia.co.moto"
Quote from: Speeddog on March 04, 2013, 01:56:01 PM
I wasn't aware that Bucci belts were still available, or even recently...
Quote from: ducatiz on March 04, 2013, 06:27:22 PM
yes, they are.. and still marked "gia.co.moto"
I purchased these belts from DesmoTimes 3 years ago. They are still for sale at Bevel Heaven
Link (https://store.bevelheaven.com/engine-related/bucci-kevlar-timing-belt-906-907ie-paso-m900-900ss-944ss-st2-mh900e-2v-see-drop-down-menu/)
Quote from: Silver duck on March 04, 2013, 03:04:37 PM
I thought belts had to changed every 24 months
That is what the manual says, but this has been debated.
Quote from: brad black on March 04, 2013, 06:17:41 PM
it's a join in the belting. they all have it. the exactfit ones are rubber lined on the inside, so it might not be visible. but i'm sure they'd still have that join line.
I noticed that the cracks were all in the same spot and had a similar thought about the joining of the belts. I couldn't find a break or joint in the other belt though.
So, is this common? Anyone have high mileage or aged belts with similar wear?
I am going to replace the belts anyway, I just was curious what others had experienced.
I haven't ever had a belt fray or crack on the "outside".
This is what a cracked belt looks like ...
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8095/8529877859_8b63ac4cab_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/91610734@N06/8529877859/)
... came off a 95 M400, no idea of mileage or age, or apparent service! The cracks were all over both of the belts, the worst being the vertical.
Amazed they didn't let go on the original owner, needless to say, they were the first items replaced!
Pat
i stopped selling the gates 900 belts as 2 customers brought new belts i had just sold them back because of this "fault". they all have it, and have done so for as long as i have been looking at them. the ducati belts also have it, but it's often well hidden. it's not a fault.
but i don't think you want to hear that.
Quote from: Blue on March 04, 2013, 07:37:00 PM
That is what the manual says, but this has been debated.
I have had the service department at my dealer tell me on more than one occasion that they don't need to be changed until I reach 4 years. Most notably, I was told that when I first had the belts changed on my Sport 1000. They were at three years and had never been changed, but the bike only had 2900kms. The dealer told me that they really didn't need to be changed until 4 years, but I asked them to change them anyway, and then they told me it was unnecessary, but if I wanted to have it done... I was quite surprised, since I would think the dealer would be more likely to play it safe. I also inquired about changing the belts on my Monster 796 when it hit the two year mark this past fall (at ~5200 kms), and I was once again told that they did not need to be changed until they were four years old.
Go figure.
The old belts had woven fibreglass strands that circled the belt a few times. Basically one long piece of fibreglass string. This made it so the belt would not stretch and less likely to break than a plain rubber belt since it had 4-5 "wraps" .
The newer kevlar belts have a kevlar mesh instead of the fibreglass. it is several layers of kevlar mesh impregnated. kevlar will not stretch (remember those old tyvek envelopes?) and is remarkably strong against deformation.
the cracks are more problematic to losing a belt tooth (and skipping) than belt breaking.
Quote from: ducatiz on March 05, 2013, 11:04:15 AM
The old belts had woven fibreglass strands that circled the belt a few times. Basically one long piece of fibreglass string. This made it so the belt would not stretch and less likely to break than a plain rubber belt since it had 4-5 "wraps" .
The newer kevlar belts have a kevlar mesh instead of the fibreglass. it is several layers of kevlar mesh impregnated. kevlar will not stretch (remember those old tyvek envelopes?) and is remarkably strong against deformation.
the cracks are more problematic to losing a belt tooth (and skipping) than belt breaking.
Wouldn't skipping be just as bad a belt breaking?
Quote from: xsephirot on March 05, 2013, 11:08:57 AM
Wouldn't skipping be just as bad a belt breaking?
i meant to say that the issue with cracking is more related to losing a tooth than breakage. they are both bad.
Quote from: Bishamon on March 05, 2013, 07:18:44 AM
I have had the service department at my dealer tell me on more than one occasion that they don't need to be changed until I reach 4 years. Most notably, I was told that when I first had the belts changed on my Sport 1000. They were at three years and had never been changed, but the bike only had 2900kms. The dealer told me that they really didn't need to be changed until 4 years, but I asked them to change them anyway, and then they told me it was unnecessary, but if I wanted to have it done... I was quite surprised, since I would think the dealer would be more likely to play it safe. I also inquired about changing the belts on my Monster 796 when it hit the two year mark this past fall (at ~5200 kms), and I was once again told that they did not need to be changed until they were four years old.
Go figure.
Just as a data point and not to be construed as a recommendation, Ed LaCruze (RIP) the former Ducati dealer and Ducati guru here in Reno had a low mileage 500 Pantah that he ran the original belts on for more than 20 (twenty) years. Don't know what they looked like when he did change them, or if he ever did change them. Ed's view, and he pretty much knew everything, was that miles, not years, are the over-riding factor in belt life. I worry more about changing the tensioning bearings as it seems like a seized tension bearing is behind many belt failures