Hi all, I’m changing the timing belts on my 900SL, I don’t have a workshop manual but I’ve seen a few YouTube videos and it doesn’t look difficult. In the videos I’ve seen all of the pulleys look different to what I have fitted. My pulleys have an outer edge which makes removal and fitting a little hard. All the pulleys I’ve seen in videos don’t have this edge. Any tips? Photo attached
Hey, yes these are the early pulleys, you’ll find you’ll have to pull the pulleys off the heads to change the belts..
I'm sorry, but I have to disagree, I've done several sets of belts with the old 'lipped' pulleys including my old M900 and 900SS. All you need to do is slacken off the adjusters all the way. Taking the pulleys off the shafts is a complete pain involving special tools and replacing those single use nuts.
If I remember correctly, the other end (the dual pulley) isn't flanged so you can take it off there first. This is all from a memory from 1999 though....
My Monster when I changed the belts had what you describe and they are awkward to slide the belt over, at least they were for me and needed patience. It certainly isn’t in my Haynes manual to remove the pulleys I bought my belts from Exige (Stu) formerly of this parish, here is his website. From my experience if you can buy before noon you’ll have them next day, I believe he posts before 1:00pm. I also replaced the tensioner bearings which I recall Exige selling as a kit along with the belts. I found one of my bearings to be running rough so possibly wise to as I’m sure a seized bearing would strip a belt quickly. https://www.ducati.tech/shop/Exact-Fit-Premium-Timing-Belts-c155214774
I’ve done the vertical belt, it was quite a struggle, my hands got really cold so I gave up on the horizontal belt even though I got the old one off, that wasn’t easy either. I don’t have any special tools, I’ve put the new belt on a radiator to warm it up over night. I’m also going to try to replace the bearings on the adjusters, a couple look pitted.
I watched my local Duc indie swap the belts on my 900 with flanged pulleys on a hot engine he made it look easy but has eons of experience and probably thumbs of steel. The flanges can allegedly be removed from the pulleys but I haven’t tried to do so on mine & I do have a pair of non flanged adjustable pulleys to go on if the mood takes me. PS no pulleys were removed in the belt swap process.
I’ll try not to do that. I’ve never heard of pulleys or sprockets needing to be removed to replace belts/chains
I’ve heard of that option before. When I struggle with a belt, I borrow my wife’s hair dryer to warm the belt up and make it more elastic. It works a treat.
It’s tight, but there’s no need to take the pulleys off. Warm the belts if the ambient is cold…. That helps. It’s not a good idea to pull the flanges off. They keep the belts in line and on centerline of the pulley's. If you remove them, the belts can run out and rub the covers. Later bikes use flanged tensioners to do the same job, with nothing on the pulleys.
Hi, belts done, I ended up pulling the side plates off the pulley, it came off with minimum force, doesn’t look like it was welded on more just tapped on? Also done the adjuster bearings, these needed some heat but they eventually came off Thanks for everyone’s input.
