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01-05-2024, 06:27 PM | #1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Clevedon
Bike: M1200s
Posts: 563
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Belt tension
I've read a lot about changing the belts on my M1200s and most say the tension is really important to get right. However I've not seen anything on why, no one has said what happens if they are too tight or too loose. Can anyone tell me what could happen if the belt is too tight and if it's too loose.
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Keep the rubber side down. Mick |
01-05-2024, 06:57 PM | #2 |
Too much time on my hands member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Forest Of Dean
Bike: S2r
Posts: 3,206
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Too tight and the belts can fail early as it's dragged over the pulleys, Kevlar is used a reinforcment and that doesn't like being stretched and will start produce fractures in the fibres. Too loose and it will start flapping around, well more resonating and that adds more load to the belts and the reinforcement can fail.
So in both cases they can fail early, snapping is rare but it does happen or if the damage to the belt reinforcement is enough stretch and skip on the pullies especially if they are too loose to start with. Any fail is a bit of a disaster, you really don't want to see the mess it makes of the piston crown and valves. I'm sure someone has a toe curling picture or two they'll be happy to post
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"The final measure of any rider's skill is the inverse ratio of his preferred Traveling Speed to the number of bad scars on his body." Song of the sausage creature |
01-05-2024, 09:26 PM | #3 |
Lord of the Rings
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Norwich
Bike: M900sie
Posts: 5,939
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02-05-2024, 07:05 AM | #4 |
Bronze Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Hondon de los Frailes
Bike: S4r
Posts: 291
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Gates do a belt tension app, no mistakes then, I tested it against a Genuine Ducati belt tension tester and they were identical.
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02-05-2024, 07:59 AM | #5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Leics
Bike: M900
Posts: 2,889
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Whilst you should set them right, I don't think it's that critical to be exact on especially if using frequency as the setting.
For example, set your belts properly and then check them a few months later, they will be looser. I have a mechanical gauge that I bought for my 916 which works well but it won't fit on a 2v belt as there isn't space so I just use the go/no-go allen key method and never had a problem. I tried the frequency thing but found it too fiddly. I would err on the slack side rather than too tight though as, I assume, things tighten up slightly when hot. You may have noticed that belt service life has been extended on newer models, I would suggest mainly for marketing reasons (to reduce the perception of Ducati maintenance being expensive) yet they maintain the same settings for older models, but what is the difference? Obviously belt quality has improved since the early days and I, for one am quite happy to double the official service life on my bikes. There, I've said it now and will probably suffer a catastrophic belt failure...
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M900, 916, LeMans II. |
02-05-2024, 08:25 AM | #6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Clevedon
Bike: M1200s
Posts: 563
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Thanks for all your replies, I changed the belts last month and only took the bike out yesterday for the first time but after only 3 miles I noticed a "tappety noise" hard to explain so I went back home and stripped the belt covers off and I couldn't see anything wrong although the belts seemed to be at different tensions and I did check them twice before putting everything back together. So today I will re-tension them and try again.
Gasa, I don't ever want to see that in my engine. Dukedesmo, I did strech them to 6 years before changing them but I'm not sure I would go to 10.
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Keep the rubber side down. Mick |
02-05-2024, 12:11 PM | #7 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Leics
Bike: M900
Posts: 2,889
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Quote:
My Monster is now on year 4 of that 2 year cycle so I'll probably change them next year.
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M900, 916, LeMans II. |
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02-05-2024, 03:28 PM | #8 |
Old Git
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Cricklade
Bike: Multiple Monsters
Posts: 2,883
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I now use 4 years for old 2v bikes for belt change and 4 years for my S4
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02-05-2024, 06:56 PM | #9 |
Bronze Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Glasgow
Bike: M1100evo
Posts: 268
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Changed my belts at 15k mls desmo service 2018…..15 k mls and 5 years later another desmo service and belt change…..belts were in A1 condition ! And Yuasa battery fitted at the first service still going strong…
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02-05-2024, 08:34 PM | #10 | |
Fanactical volunteer
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Kent
Bike: M900
Posts: 9,034
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Quote:
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http://albies93m900.blogspot.co.uk/ |
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03-05-2024, 08:26 AM | #11 |
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Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Clevedon
Bike: M1200s
Posts: 563
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Yes Albie, I did them at their respective TDC on compression. I redid it all yesterday and turned the motor over via the handle a dozen times and checked again all is correct so it's back together waiting for a dry day.
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Keep the rubber side down. Mick |
03-05-2024, 06:28 PM | #12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Clevedon
Bike: M1200s
Posts: 563
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Had a dry afternoon so I took the bike out for a spin and had no Tappety, tap tap noises, no screeeching noises and the bike didn't go Bang so I'm calling that result.
I used a different tuning app which was much easier to use so that helped a lot. I found the job quite easy really, the hardest part was refitting the tank, I need longer thinner arms to reconnect the overflow hoses. Thanks for all your help and advice.
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Keep the rubber side down. Mick |
04-05-2024, 10:08 AM | #13 |
Bronze Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Hondon de los Frailes
Bike: S4r
Posts: 291
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Which app did you use?
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05-05-2024, 08:43 AM | #14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Clevedon
Bike: M1200s
Posts: 563
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I used guitar tuner - likeTones. Very easy to use and stays open while you fanny about between adjustments.
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Keep the rubber side down. Mick |
05-05-2024, 09:42 AM | #15 |
Fanactical volunteer
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Kent
Bike: M900
Posts: 9,034
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I'm glad. Too many don't and they it won't be far out or I give it a little extra or less honest..
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http://albies93m900.blogspot.co.uk/ |
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