Just came across an interesting post by shazam on another forum regarding belts getting a flat spot if not turned during long periods of non use. It seems this is possibly another old wives tail. Unlike v-belts, synchronous (timing) belts do not flat spot. Gates, the manufacturer of the Ducati timing (synchronous) belts, state that they expect a belt to provide full industrial service as designed, even if stored for 8 years on a drive under tension. http://ww2.gates.com/IF/facts/documents/Gf000058.pdf Let the discussions begin. Steve
My point is really that most people say that while the bike is stood over winter the engine should be turned every few weeks to prevent the belts from flat spotting, this may not be the case. So if a bike has been stood for 3 or 4 years in a garage will the belts still be fit for purpose? Gates seem to think so. Steve
I have had belts on for long periods of no use 12+months, without rotating the engine. Never had any problems at all when using the bike afterwards.
I'm by no means an expect on this, (or anything else) but working with similar materials for a living, I suppose there could be a chance the belts may shrink in warmer conditions or stretch if not moved over long periods??? I know there's a lot or talk about not starting the engine unless going out for a longish ride. But maybe the advantages of starting the engine, moving the belts and circulating the oil around outweigh the disadvantages...
I think the flat spotting is a myth! have yet to change a belt that does not return to it's 'oval' shape when removed and frequently left belts for 4-5 years before changing, admittedly the belts on for those periods of time have not done 10's of thousands of miles. I have twice worked on bikes that broke belts, both of which were the early belts without the red re-inforcing, and in both cases I concluded the mechanical issues I discovered were the cause. One, had a very tight closer and the other a seized idler roller. My esperience is that belts will last well past the specified two years IF there are no mechanical reasons for the belts to wear badly; so check the tension annually and if there is a lot of belt dust, find out the reason why!
Don't know really. Just reading the posts on here about those who start up their bikes over winter and those who don't for whatever reason. I always started up my blades and rd500s every other week and didn't have any negative results from doing that. I've Been starting up the 848 every now and then and letting it idle until the fans kick in at 98 degrees but am still unsure (after reading the other posts) If this could be a bad thing. Each to their own, I suppose...
The disadvantages of starting a bike up just for the sake of it is the wear on the engine. Because the oil is thicker when cold, it can take over 30 seconds after start for the oil to reach all the parts that need lubrication so those camshafts at the top of the engine are running with hardly any oil. There will probably be more wear in those 30 seconds than there would in 1000 miles of constant driving. An engines life could be measured in the number of start ups rather then the total mileage. Many people, me included, would rather buy a second hand car that has 80,000 miles of motorway use than one that has 12,000 miles of town use.
I said over 30 seconds because it can vary with engine design, oil viscosity and outside temperature. There was a study many years ago by a prominent engineer who did some experiments with a OHC Honda twin engine. His conclusion was that the best protection was to use an oil with a wide viscosity range (a smaller number at the front), so I personally use a 5W40 in all of my bikes. If I used a 15W40 then the oil would be much thicker when cold and take longer to lubricate the extremities. The other thing is to avoid blipping the throttle on a cold engine. Some modern high performance Audi cars put an electronic restriction on the revs of the engine while the oil temperature is below a certain level as the oil is too thick at that temperature.
My 999R Fila had it's original belts on when purchased in 2013 - so 10 years but only 1500 miles. It has full MOT history and for 9 years of it's life it was pretty much started and run to the MOT station and back. I ran it up before buying but haven't since storing the bike - now it's mine I would change before starting but I don't think there is any danger they would break. My Diesel Renault has done 130,000 miles on it's Cam Belt and is doing fine (recommended intervals 60,000)
Big job to change them evidently - £500 from a local independent garage. Car is only worth £1000 and earns me £0.45 a mile @ 70+MPG. Also a car allowance of a few thousand a year I've had the car since 10,000 miles and it's paid for itself several times over. If it goes bang my next bike purchase will have to be a car I guess
It's a little Modus, hence 70+ MPG. I've had it up to 85mpg average at times! I really don't think it will go bang
I run belts for years, as long as they look good then I leave them, just check adjustment. The only belts I've seen damaged have been from seized idler bearings. As for the oil taking 30+ seconds to reach the top end, take off an oil feed and start the engine, then after you've cleaned your bike still tell me it's 30+ seconds! And yes, I know this from experience
Can not show any proof but know a guy with a 748 that has done 760000 kays with no belt change or valve check.He just uses it as a daily commuter. I asked him why he had not changed anything and he said "It was given to me so owes me nothing and I am just going to ride it until it stops" Fair enough I suppose
