Belts near disaster

Mr Gazza · 03-06-2020, 04:16 PM

I'm glad you caught it in time otherwise we would be reading another story!

The moral is really to check over a new bike yourself before riding and then you know for sure. Caveat emptor!

I bought a 750SS that the seller was really not sure about belt or tyre age age, so I said I would buy it, but he would have to deliver it. After the still running bike was switched off in my drive I paid for it, and then checked the belts and tyre dates... Slack and frayed belts, tyres 9 and 10 years old! No worries, I haven't attempted to start or ride it since, but this kind of condition is very common with second hand Ducatis unfortunately.

It could be worth your while checking the belts again after a few miles and make sure they are still tracking true. Someone on here posted recently that his new belts would not stay on the pullies correctly, and it turned out to be caused by (new) faulty tensioner assemblies running the belts off course. It could be that the tensioners were changed at the last belt change and have run the belts off? This will happen after the first few revolutions, so will be immediately evident.

03-06-2020, 04:16 PM	#1
Mr Gazza Lord of the Rings Join Date: May 2013 Location: Norwich Bike: M900sie Posts: 5,845	I'm glad you caught it in time otherwise we would be reading another story! The moral is really to check over a new bike yourself before riding and then you know for sure. Caveat emptor! I bought a 750SS that the seller was really not sure about belt or tyre age age, so I said I would buy it, but he would have to deliver it. After the still running bike was switched off in my drive I paid for it, and then checked the belts and tyre dates... Slack and frayed belts, tyres 9 and 10 years old! No worries, I haven't attempted to start or ride it since, but this kind of condition is very common with second hand Ducatis unfortunately. It could be worth your while checking the belts again after a few miles and make sure they are still tracking true. Someone on here posted recently that his new belts would not stay on the pullies correctly, and it turned out to be caused by (new) faulty tensioner assemblies running the belts off course. It could be that the tensioners were changed at the last belt change and have run the belts off? This will happen after the first few revolutions, so will be immediately evident. __________________