belt tension question

[yabo0569]

I want to check the tension on my belts. I found this link that shows how to do it. http://www.ducatisuite.com/belttension.html Can i follow does steps even if the 1100 engine is newer? If you do it in a different way please let me know.

[dukepilot]

The search function is your friend...

Belt Tensioning

[dave2riff]

There are indeed a lot of threads on this forum related to belt tension. For the
1100DS engines the service manual calls out a pitch of about 85-100 Hz when the
belt is plucked and measured with an audio transducer. From my limited
experience with belt tensioning, this is a tighter setting than the 5 mm hex key
method (more like a 3mm gap between the tensioning roller and the belt). So
be careful with using the older methods... although slightly too loose is "better"
than too tight (the belt can overheat and shred if too tight), I had an issue
with my Hyper where it developed a strange midrange resonance you could hear
and feel when the horizontal belt got _too loose_ (like 6 mm gap loose).

A lot of people say to use a guitar tuner or tuner software, but my two guitar
tuners would not read the belt frequency well at all without an amplified
miniature (expensive) microphone plugged in to them... the built-in mic didn't
cut it at all. This is one of those jobs that seems really simple and gets complex
in a hurry when you consider the effects on cam timing, the fact that belt
tension changes with the position of the cams, the timing marks should all
line up correctly when the job is done, etc. Also, the two fasteners holding
the tensioners have different torque specs (20/26 N-m); I would use a good
torque wrench on them since guys have been known to snap them off.

BTW, re-check those belt tension frequency recommendations...; the factory has
a tendency to "change their mind" on the optimal settings and I don't know if
there's a new recommended tension setting out there already since the last
time I checked.

[dhc8guru]

All the suggested guitar tuners were crap. Most of them didn't give the HZ frequency or you had to put in a chord, then it would just tell you it was "tuned". The others were so complicated that it would give you a headache. All worthless.

Then I found this.
http://www.mymusictools.com/test_too...uner_16531.htm

Only thing I can say about it is, its simple. Hold a mike to the belt, strum it and watch the Hz frequency readout.
If I remember, I set the belt tension frequency to 108Hz. There is a current service bulletin floating around the forum.

[Jeff4510]

Originally Posted by dhc8guru

All the suggested guitar tuners were crap. Most of them didn't give the HZ frequency or you had to put in a chord, then it would just tell you it was "tuned". The others were so complicated that it would give you a headache. All worthless.

Then I found this.
http://www.mymusictools.com/test_too...uner_16531.htm

Only thing I can say about it is, its simple. Hold a mike to the belt, strum it and watch the Hz frequency readout.
If I remember, I set the belt tension frequency to 108Hz. There is a current service bulletin floating around the forum.

this is what i used too with an external cheap mic, worked well

[lookmeys]

Great, now people are botting for this title. Means my efforts of actually working for it were in vain.

[PedroHM]

i tried this and had no joy, all i picked up was the sound of my finger pinging the belt. I'd love to see some pics of the setup.

OR

with the right belt tension what size allen key will go under the pully?

[jpgibson]

i use the 4mm horizontal cylinder, 5mm vertical rule.just replaced mine- were very tight from factory-as were the fasteners( I know about these, having snapped one!)
out!

[yabo0569]

Originally Posted by jpgibson

i use the 4mm horizontal cylinder, 5mm vertical rule.just replaced mine- were very tight from factory-as were the fasteners( I know about these, having snapped one!)
out!

Are you sure You didn't use 5mm for the horizontal and 6mm for the vertival? That is what the guy on the website used, but that engine is older.

[GMP]

That does not apply to the 1100 motor as the tensioner rollers are in different positions. A cheap lapel mic and demo guitar tuner software on a laptop worked fine for me. Of course you need one that displays frequency, and you should set the noise threshold up a bit (This may have been Pedro's problem). It should then read the belt vibration fine.