Cost of replacing belts and valve adjustments, good price?

[yourname]

Well I just stopped by my local Ducati dealer in Modesto Ca since I attend college there to see how much they would charge me to replace my belts and do a valve adjustment. Well labor came out to about $400 bucks plus parts (belts and shims if they need to be replaced) $90 a pc. for belts and I'm not sure how much ea. shim is at the dealer. Is this to much? The 6k service is no more than $600 she quoted but that doesn't include replacing my belts. I can do the other maintenance that the service recommends but not the valve adjustments or replacing the belts. I have a little over 7k on my bike, it's an 04 749. I have been doing some research but still have yet to find some decent prices or locations. Is there any shops anyone could recommend with good service and prices around the Nor Cal area? I don't have time to tear her apart and get the desmotimes book and do the service myself nor do not want to take any risk of damaging anything. I'm not in a rush to do so but I miss riding and I don't like staring at her in the garage collecting dust. I wouldn't mind traveling around the area to get good service and prices but any advice is appreciated, TIA!

[galaxy]

Nichols Manufacturing in Milpitas or Munroe Motors East Bay...can't go wrong either way. Belt shouldn't need replacing until 12k. I did everything on my 6k service myself, including stripping it all the way down and checking all the clearances. Had two valves that actually 'needed' adjusting and it sucked because it was one on each cyl. Took it to Munroe's and told them I wanted the two vavles adjusted and the belts checked/adjusted. Right at $200 even, but that included some filters and a couple other small things. Would have been cheaper if I had gotten lucky and both bad valves been on the same cyl. Any dealer should, but I know Munroe or Nichols either one with work with you if you want to do most of the maintenance yourself. 6k though is a good time to get things in the fuel system checked though...balance T/B's, set TPS, mixture, etc. I didn't do it cause I had just had that done a few months prior for the new exhaust. Good luck.

[yourname]

Thanks galaxy. I'd love to tear her down and go through it myself but I'm just to busy with school and work that I could only take her in and get it done but being a college student, I'm on a budget so I'm trying to find the best deal without getting raped. Well reason for me wanting to replace the belts is that everyone and ducati mechanics are telling me every 2 years or 12k. I'm almost near 2 years but not near 12k, I popped the belt covers off and "checked" or should I say inspect the belts for any cracks or stress on it but it seems to look good. I've worked on plenty of cars and I know what a bad belt looks like but I don't know if I'm pushing it or not. Either way I'm getting everything on the 6k service done myself besides the belts, valves and forgot to mention tb/carb sync.

[kaos]

your right at 2 years.the only deviation would be if the bike is a 'new' but under the 2 year warranty period.then if something happened i'm sure you would be covered.

[Bella749]

Originally Posted by yourname

Thanks galaxy. I'd love to tear her down and go through it myself but I'm just to busy with school and work that I could only take her in and get it done but being a college student, I'm on a budget so I'm trying to find the best deal without getting raped. Well reason for me wanting to replace the belts is that everyone and ducati mechanics are telling me every 2 years or 12k. I'm almost near 2 years but not near 12k, I popped the belt covers off and "checked" or should I say inspect the belts for any cracks or stress on it but it seems to look good. I've worked on plenty of cars and I know what a bad belt looks like but I don't know if I'm pushing it or not. Either way I'm getting everything on the 6k service done myself besides the belts, valves and forgot to mention tb/carb sync.

What you need to do.. time permitting, of course.... is get in really good with a dealer, and get them to let you work alongside their mechanic. Unfortunately, you are very limited on the maintenance you can perform on the newer bikes without special tools and the almighty Mathesis tool.

My 6k service cost me less than $200 including 1.5hrs labor.
-adjusted 4 valves
-reset cams
-synched/tuned throttle bodies
-Changed all fluids
etc.etc.etc.

I did most of the work at the former Ducati Austin. Since I had no experience actually tearing down a Testastretta, I paid them the straight-rate labor to let me perform the work at their shop with their resources, including technicians.

I could not even quantify the savingsreaped from this relationship, and the experience gained is priceless

Granted, I did spend quite a bit there, and I voluntered my help whenever it was needed. Man, do I miss those guys... no offense to MotoTek

[yourname]

Originally Posted by Bella749

What you need to do.. time permitting, of course.... is get in really good with a dealer, and get them to let you work alongside their mechanic. Unfortunately, you are very limited on the maintenance you can perform on the newer bikes without special tools and the almighty Mathesis tool.

My 6k service cost me less than $200 including 1.5hrs labor.
-adjusted 4 valves
-reset cams
-synched/tuned throttle bodies
-Changed all fluids
etc.etc.etc.

I did most of the work at the former Ducati Austin. Since I had no experience actually tearing down a Testastretta, I paid them the straight-rate labor to let me perform the work at their shop with their resources, including technicians.

I could not even quantify the savingsreaped from this relationship, and the experience gained is priceless

Granted, I did spend quite a bit there, and I voluntered my help whenever it was needed. Man, do I miss those guys... no offense to MotoTek

Sounds like a good idea Bella, ill definetly keep that in mind and ask them. You got a killer deal and not just that, hands on learning experience with your bike and mechanics who knows what their doing. The wait for my nearest dealer said about a month before they could work on my bike since they are booked so ill still continue to search for some advice til then..thanks for the help!

[Mars]

Wow, I still have the original belt on mine. It's only done 4k, but it's an '03 - making it almost 3yrs old. I recently took it to my mechanic who told me the belt was fine. I've been told to change it at 2yrs or 10k, not 12k by Ducati. But seriously, if the bike hasn't done the kms, what causes the belt to wear? I can only think fluctuating ambient temperatures make the belt hard and brittle, and since it is in tension causes it to crack??? Does anyone else have any ideas why the belt would need changing if it hasn't done the kms?

'03 999s

[kaos]

if it was only mileage most ducs would never need a belt change.but there are factors ,ozone ,heat,etc.

[Stasher]

Originally Posted by Mars

Wow, I still have the original belt on mine. It's only done 4k, but it's an '03 - making it almost 3yrs old. I recently took it to my mechanic who told me the belt was fine. I've been told to change it at 2yrs or 10k, not 12k by Ducati. But seriously, if the bike hasn't done the kms, what causes the belt to wear? I can only think fluctuating ambient temperatures make the belt hard and brittle, and since it is in tension causes it to crack??? Does anyone else have any ideas why the belt would need changing if it hasn't done the kms?

'03 999s

Rubber compounds harden and become brittle with age, as with you I am not sure what causes it but why take a chance. Kms or Age....both equal reasons to change your belts, the consequences of not doing them could be devastating.

[galaxy]

The Reasons for doing this...with today's belt technology...is the allmighty dollar. Newer belts made by Gates on these bike would easily last 50,000 miles. No one would dare speak of this in this community, but auto's do it every day with the same product, with naar a problem. Yes, I am of the opinon that it's cheap insurance so why take the chance...especially on a bike still under warranty, but at the end of the day the entire 2 yr/12k mile belt replacement issue on these bikes is about money.

Now that I've spoke my opinion on belts...let the flames begin as I know there have to be some that disagree.