To change the belt tensioner bearings, or not - Ducati.ms

dharhay · Dec 29th, 2006, 11:32 am

Many sites have the thread on wheel bearings...

Well, what are all of you up to as to the belt tensioner bearing? Anyone change them periodically, never, have failures????

Desmo_Demon · Dec 29th, 2006, 12:09 pm

Every time I do a belt adjustment or belt change, I remove the bearings, clean them really well, and check them for flat spots or grittiness when rolling them with my fingers. I haven't changed any, yet....

I just checked the original ones on my ST2 at 24k miles, during Thanksgiving, and they looked good. A couple of weeks before that, I checked the ones in my '87 Paso project bike with 29k miles, and they felt good, also. I've never had a failure and don't know anyone personally whos had a failure, but there have been a few posts here of people who have. I've heard of some people changing them with the belts, just to play it safe, but that isn't cheap.

Edit - Here's what I was dealing with on the Paso (sat for four years before I bought it)...

Before:

After:

Stick · Dec 29th, 2006, 9:00 pm

I just did my belts at 33K on my ST2. The rollers still feel like they did at the 12K belt replacement.

7234 · Dec 29th, 2006, 10:32 pm

My 04 ST3 at 24k I believe had several roller bearings totally shot which of course turned one of my two belts to toast. I know how lucky I got with this free pass!

Takkasan · Dec 30th, 2006, 5:56 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by dharhay

Many sites have the thread on wheel bearings...

Well, what are all of you up to as to the belt tensioner bearing? Anyone change them periodically, never, have failures????

100,000+ miles on the original tensioner bearings & still going strong. 98 St2.Takkasan.

dharhay · Dec 30th, 2006, 7:32 am

Thanks for the replys. I tear the 03 ST4s down in a few days and wanted to hear what others do in that area. I have near 20000mi. Right now, I think that I will wait for the next belt change, this coming summer 07.

Slower than you · Dec 30th, 2006, 2:29 pm

Takkasan:

With so many miles on a duc, tell us what was required to keep it going for so long. Could be a neat story for us.

Takkasan · Dec 30th, 2006, 4:14 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldFart

Takkasan:

With so many miles on a duc, tell us what was required to keep it going for so long. Could be a neat story for us.

There is a story on the bike on Ducati Australia's web site under My Experience, it is a few years old, but I could write a follow up if you think it would be of interest. Cheers John.

Slower than you · Dec 30th, 2006, 4:22 pm

Cool!
Give us a link to the site.

elemental · May 6th, 2007, 5:57 am

I am in the mit's of spring cleaning a 8700 mile 748 , yesterday I broke into changing the timing belts' I found that my horizontal idler pulley had a lot of play in it, after further inspection, it rolls clean and feels good other than the inner race is rocking side to side, after removing it from the pulley, the stud shows signs that the bearing has been vibrating on the stud and wearing on it enough to remove the anodizing, It passes the run out test and is still round enough for me but I find this strange,.....