Hey fellas, Just started my bike up after a few weeks and its making a strange noise, haven't run it for long enough to warm up in case its serious, could it just be lack of oil circulating? before i start taking it apart i wondered if anyone knew more. Thanks in advance for any help
It shouldn't due to lack of oil and doesn't sound like it would be. It seems to be at a frequency that matches the belt rotation. Check the belt and tensioner pulleys for marks, corrosion or something stuck to the belt even.
Thanks for replying Derek. I moved in to a new house end of last year and ive now got my bike in detached concrete garage, not been good for my poor girl.. Defo doing the belts, oil, filters etc this month, going to use california cycleworks belts as have heard good things.(anyone heard bad things?) just had a play with the tensioner, will add new bearings to the list.
Yes. Just watched your video of the tensioner. It shouldn't rock about like that and is the probable source of the noise. Exactfit belts are good and I think there is a forum discount for them. @Exige is the UK distributor and will be able to tell you.
Cool, just spotted these points of contact to clarify.(image is rotated for some reason) thanks for your help, is he connected to exactfit?
The belts are located laterally by the tensioner pulley flanges. If there is movement at tensioner it will allow some sideways movement of the belt probably accounting for the contact marks. @Exige is the UK importer for Exactfit and sell their belts in the UK.
Discount explained here - costs £5 to subscribe but if you go for the £15 option you get a Halford's trade Card via the Forum too. https://www.ducatiforum.co.uk/threads/exact-fit-timing-belts-forum-subscriber-discount.38123/ I do belts with 4 x SKF bearings and Fuji Lock Nuts and Wave washers too for £126.90 - this would be £107.87 with the forum Subscriber Discount for PP F&F payment inclusive of 1st Class signed / Insured post Note our belts are the highest spec available and have different tension requirements as they do not stretch as much as other belts - Set at 99Hz nominal instead of 110 OEM settings. You also get the 15% discount on www.Exact-Start.com products too...
thanks exige, I've got the halfords trade card already but will defo subscribe, will put an order in ASAP, cheers
Oddly enough, only belt retainer rings on the front of the idlers and tensioners.. A knackered bearing could allow the belt to track off to the rear, into the engine side
My 749s has a rear retainer ring on the idler, but yeah not on the tensioner. Nice 888 btw would love one, one day....
I found the same issue with the pulley floating and replaced the bearings. What was interesting was std fitment bearings are C4 with has a high internal clearance. I replaced mine with C2’s which have much less movement.
Thanks northan monkey, I've ordered the kit through exige so will see what the fit is like, I have another bike to do next month so might try the c2's
Hopefully.... Should get the belts and bearings through this week, and might have time to fit them on Friday, fingers crossed that sorts it! Will update the thread after. The idler has a similar amount of movement too
C4 bearings are rated for high speed use, which the tensioner pulleys certainly have. So I'd be wary about changing to a different spec of bearing. Irrespective of what spec bearings are fitted, if you can rock the pulleys they are buggered.
as above and if an idler/tensioner bearing has that much play it can bind more under tension. Sometimes heavy abrading on the outer non-toothed face (maker's white lettering completely worn away etc) of the belt is the first clue to possible over-tensioning or idler/tensioner bearings binding. The matt, 'fluffy' appearance to the teeth you have highlighted could well be the first signs of this and (if so) it's good you have caught the problem early. Over-tensioned belts can cause a similar result after time just for reference, and as ducati dad says, you can check to see how much (if any) the belt has been 'walking around' by examining the edges of the belt when removed to see if inconsistent appearance/more shiny on inner edge than outer edge etc.
It wasn't my intention to cause a knee-jerk reaction J, that amount of play is very unusual and (as Derek said) it could be due to a previous owner fitting low-spec bearings. Also you would have to be really ham-fisted to over-tension a belt to the the degree that it would fail quickly. Engines that have been left standing in possibly damp conditions for some time can lead to internal corrosion of idler/tensioner bearings (but a tell-tale rusting on outer faces usually gives you an idea if severe) so that, although appearing to have no play on initial testing, could develop excessive play upon regaining regular use.
To the best of my knowledge c4 are designed for interference fitting where the forces will close up the internal clearance. The speed rating shouldn’t be an issue as they run at half engine speed.
