Timing Belt change - 1993 900SS

[Iconic944ss]

Just changed mine and thought I'd found a few things that might be of help.

1) Here in the UK the advice seems to be, stick with factory belts - mine are but, were also labelled "Power-train".

2) The Ducati suite site had been excellent in the past with the article on belt tension:

http://www.buschandbusch.com/ducatis...lttension.html

however, the link for belt changes is wrong and points to the old website (couldnt find an e-mail addy to tell anyone) but, the belt change article is active:

http://www.buschandbusch.com/ducatis...eltchange.html

3) Sadly, my bike has a 'disc' on the outside of the timing pulley that I thought was actually a cast in flange and an integral part of the pulley.

SO...I was trying to lift the belt over the flange - when if fact, its just a close fitting disc/large washer that pushes up to the edge of the pulley and can be removed with care, using long nosed pliers (be careful they are fragile).

4) The vertical cylinder pulley has more than just 'a bit of tension' - lol - unless the guy at ducati suite is superman! I used a pin in one pulley hole and an Allen key opposite to lever the pulley to the alignment point and was then able to push the belt on.

Two useful tips I was given:

a) The pulleys should be able to freely move through about 100 degrees of arc - if not there might be internal problems.

b) Check the tension;
always tension the belts with the respective cylinder @ TDC. If you tension both belts with the alignment marks aligned, the rear is being pulled tight by the helper spring on the inlet

Good luck - Frank

[duc dude]

my 91 900ss has that same cam pulley with a flange how do you remove it and reinstall it because it is a pain trying to stretch the belt over it

[rwantin]

Thank you. I've got a new set of belts waiting on the bench - will be my first go-around with these - so taking in all the info I can.

[Iconic944ss]

Hi Guys,

Outer ring flanges 'should' pull off as in my post above, with the gentle use of a pair of good pliers.

Links have changed for the helpful sites listed:

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

&

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

Good luck - Frank

[Duckmaniac]

Just remember that the vertical cylinder pulley is spring mounted on its shaft and will "jump" out of the timing position very easily. I held mine in place with needle nose pliers holding the pulley shaft nut. I do not have the Ducati pulley nut socket. The needle pliers worked great. Still keep your eyes riveted to the pulley while installing the belt, so in case the pulley rotates from the spring load, you know which way it turned (yes it can turn either way) so you know how to rotate it back into position. This is the only tricky part about changing belts.

The dealer wanted $385 including belts....... I did it for the first time in 15 minutes without a crank turning tool. Thieves ! real easy.

Phil