Another thought as a reaction from the last post, my bikes are both two valve bikes, compared with a four valve bike the belts are doing less work as there are less cams and valves, less rpm's , and going through a less tortuous route so should in theory last longer. i still think a regular inspection is best though. a comment on one of the posts where the piece of flint got behind the cover and trapped, my bike without covers is less likley to suffer this, but of course is more likley to pick up someting from the front wheel, luck of the draw i think.
Looks like a specialist job to me. Bought my bike in April and has only done 500 miles since last change but that was in 2008. I think I'll get them done. Who can I ask to do this near Bedford/Northampton? I can do old old cars and bikes but never done anything as techy as this! 1995 916, b-t-w
I can send you a how-to document that had pics and all, and here is a link to a good youtube video of a 916 getting a belt change too. Ducati 916 / 748 / 996 timing belt change, video 1 - YouTube - Part I Ducati 916 / 748 / 996 timing belt change, video 2 - YouTube - Part II Ducati 916 / 748 / 996 timing belt change, video 3- YouTube - Part III Ducati 916 / 748 / 996 timing belt change, video 4 - YouTube - Part IV A
There are two well respected indy garages near you , both at the Silverstone race track. Forza Italia and Baines. If they are 400 years and 500 miles old I`d get them done asap.
Surely I`m not the only one who remembers reading about the desmo chariots used during the Roman Empire ? Of course the belts weren`t made of rubber back then but they still only needed changing every 3 years or 2 campaigns, whichever came sooner.
Now that paranoia is setting in , my 1198s is definitely left without a wheel turned over winter, however I do, occasionally put in top 6th gear and rotate the back wheel by hand just so the belts sit in a different position. Normally when I have a beer in hand just staring and thinking of something useful to do. I know its not as good as a good run but would 2 or 3 rear wheel revolutions move the belt to a better place (Nog, Nelly) every so often?
Camshaft Timing Belts Ducati 749/996R/998/999/999S/999R/ Monster S4RS S4R-T NEW | eBay Interesting but I dont think I'd trust buying these ,are they even kevlar
It would be interesting to find out who manufactures these, as far as i know the only manufacturer is Gates, there is some twist here as these are readily avalable in Austrailia where they get used quite often, they were sold by sprintex / vee two and i think still are, but not available in the uk, wonder why? are they made by gates and badged as a cheaper option?
Im sure I sat next to this guy and his wife on a flight to Australia. Whoever made the seatbelt should do Ducati belts as well, it was under a bit of a strain.....
'Just booked in at Forza-Italia, Silverstone. The quote appears (to me) to be quite reasonable. And they'll do it while I wait (as long as I present it "cold".
That's all i do with mine Maccaa. Give the forks a good bounce or to at the same time to stop the seals drying up and get another beer
Agreed I put some marks on my belts like they tell you to do when you watch the online belt change stuff ,(out of curiosity) as I simply lock my cams ,far better and easier IMO. Once marked it takes something like 30 or so rotations (maybe more I stopped counting) of the rear wheel before the marks re-alighn . As you can see you'd never get the belts back in the same place anyway .
