Hello all, Hope you've all had a great Christmas and New Year and I hope your leathers still fit! I'm going to ask a question that no doubt has been asked countless times before but a quick search didn't give me what I wanted. Now obviously the genuine timing belts are the ones to go for but I seem to remember that there is a Gates part that is the same - the Ducati parts are actually made by Gates. Is this correct? Does anyone have the part number? Does anyone know if the change to Kevlar increased the durability of the belts? The previous owner claimed that the belts had been changed recently and I've been going through the paperwork and there isn't any evidence so I'm going to change them - the last recorded change is around 2K miles ago but 4 years ago. As I'm planning to use the bike for track days I will be renewing the belts. I've found a fair bit on the bike I'm not happy about so have been gradually sorting the obvious stuff but it looks like a good baseline service is needed despite assurances that all had been done Thanks in advance!
Fit originals. Not the cheapest but it's foolproof. There's a lot of info on Ducati up north forum on the belt construction. You can get a hold of equivalents, but gates manufacture the OEMs under licence. some of the alternatives are shocking. I've removed a couple of sets that have been pretty close to failure in much less than 2 years and certainly no where near the mileage. They have been on 2V motors though. ya pays ya money, but the consequences are much more than the 20 quid or so you'd save.
I was kind of hoping to get the Gates ones direct I used to work in engine development for a big company with a blue oval logo so I reckon asking the right people might get me some at cost. Worth a try at least and if I'm successful I will share the info. Definitely wise words about not using anything of dubious or unknown origin - never have and never will
This topic has been debated to death tbh, and I understand you're thinking, but it's my understanding Gates distributors can't supply the exact same belt due to the licence agreement.
Taking Nelly's usual excellent advice, I just bought some belts from my local Ducati dealer P&H here in Crawley. I asked for belts for a 1998 916SPS and they duly provided them to me at a very reasonable 86 quid...(cough). Once back at my computer, just out of interest, I put the part number (737.103.1A) into Google and found an interesting article on Ducati Up North Site. Cam Belt info- Ducati Up North Anyway... It appears that I have been supplied "1st Generation" belts whereas I could possibly fit later, better "3rd Generation" belts (P/No 737.1009.1A). Should I go back to the Dealer and swap the belts for the later (improved) belts? Cheers, RX
The three "generations" of belts are all still available alongside each other Ricky. Tbh, there's little in it. You're bike still lists the '31A's as the correct belt and tbh that's what P&H have supplied you. I generally stock 91A's as a "cover all part" and keeps my stock simpler, but there's no problem using the 31's. The 91A's are a couple of quid more also. Yes, technically they're an "improved" belt but you're certainly not risking anything using the ones you have
I didn't doubt that the belts would be "risky" but just thought that perhaps tehre would be significant improvement by using the 91A type. Based on what you say however, I think I'll stick with the ones I have been supplied already if there's not a lot of improvement /life etc to be gained. Thanks for the timely response. R
I'm not advicing anyone to do as I did - but - I mounted these Renault Megane/Clio belts and abused my 916 trackbike for all 2012 season with no issues at all. After the season they still looked like new belts. They cost about half and can probably be found even cheaper in a car store. http://www.radmer.dk/download/916 remme.jpg br Jim
I been to Dunton many times in the 90's, as I worked at Dag Eng Plant in the Eng Eval Lab. Also, 'alewood, Boreham, Genk and Cologne.
