Hi,

My son has a 98 Ducati M600. We've done a basic service, brake pad changes, bled the clutch, tensioned the chain. The next task on the list is replacing timing belts. A service centre has quoted over $400 in labour for the job plus $65 each for the timing belts. Has anyone here had experience changing timing belts? It looks relatively simple provided we're very careful with aligning the timing marks and adjusting the tensioners. Is it a long and technically difficult task?

JohnH

If you can use a wrench, you can change the belts.

Once you remove the covers, turn the engine so the pulley marks line up with the stake or mark on the heads.  I add a grease pencil mark as well on all of the pulleys so if anything shifts i see it right away.

Loosen the tensioners, remove belts -- test the tensioner bearings to make sure it turns easily..

Put on new belts, make tensioners snug on the belt.  Triple check your marks if you made them with pencil or on the case.

Use your personal method of belt tensioning.  Make sure to recheck after about 100 miles.  They should not change but sometimes the tensioner might not be done right.

Allen wrench method is fine for that era engine, also the "quarter turn" method.  I do the latter first and the former second.  I've seen a hand scale used on the tensioner -- loosen the tensioner and hook the scale on, then hold it at the right amount, but I've never done it.

If you open a beer when you start, you should just be finished now.

You can find aftermarket Gates, Bucci, or Dayco belts for a lot cheaper than $65.. Gates doesn't sell to retail in some markets (for the Ducati belts) but both Bucci/Gia.ca.moto and Dayco do.

G'day,

I have changed my own belts, i used cycleworks ones and basically followed the same steps as above (cheers ducatiz)

I was super worried about it, i used a white marker pen to mark the timing positions.

Should be a breeze...

~Marty

Piece o' piss!!

Check out the CA Cycleworks site for their workshop vids!! The belt change one is shows how simple it is!! 

You can even get the vids on CD if you want!! Contact Chris/Candice. She might send you some M&M's if yer nice!! 

Thanks for the helpful responses.

I also found this info while searching for more details about tensioning.

http://www.ducatisuite.com/beltchange.html

http://www.ducatisuite.com/belttension.html

cheers,

JohnH