Alternator belt life

[lkyphl]

Just out of interest, I changed the alternator belt on my '00 GS on the weekend, and after 84,440kms (yes, a little overdue .... ) it looks as new, as did the first one after 60,000kms.





If only my fork brace looked as healthy ......


Phil

 

[Twotter]

24k for me. Last one looked fine and is kept as a spare but I've heard a few horror stories on belts going before the 36k recommendation.

 

[artman975]

excuse my ingnorance guys but what are the horror stories?

i thought the belt only drives the alternator.

 

[Deleted account 190209001]

About 24K for me also on my 04 RT. Don't have enough miles on the GS yet to worry...... I hope.

 

[Twotter]

excuse my ingnorance guys but what are the horror stories?

Prior to doing my 24k service in April I read of quite a few people who had their belts go at 30-34k. I think the belt cost me £11 so changing it earlier wasn't a problem.

 

[Marty Gutenfart]

I think what artman means is, why is a snapped alternator belt so "horrific"? It's not really a serious issue - or is it?? If so I'd like to know too!

 

[Steptoe]

I think what artman means is, why is a snapped alternator belt so "horrific"? It's not really a serious issue - or is it?? If so I'd like to know too!

depends where you are and where your going when it snaps - if you drive with your lights on during the daytime, you won't get very far. When the battery runs out of juice, your bike won't run, i.e. your stuck wherever it stops
So if your on holiday across europe when it snaps, and your not carrying a spare- it's an unneccessary drama. If your on the way home from work in the dark and wet, it's an unneccessary drama .

It depends what's a serious issue to you .

 

[Twotter]

Wot the guru said

 

[pomm001]

excuse my ingnorance guys but what are the horror stories?

i thought the belt only drives the alternator.

I agree with the comment above, the belt only drives a farty little 55-amp alternator its kept dry by the cover so in theory should last almost forever.
While it may be a recomendation to change every 24k , i am not sure i understand why

The FEAD belt on my VW sits in the open, drives alternator, waterpump,PAS pump, AC compressor and has a service life expectancy of 100,000 miles.

I have worked in the component test area of BMW in Munich and can confirm that they have a state of the art rig for testing such belts, and that their test spec is very very harsh, so much so that a non genuine 'pattern' belt can be trashed within a couple of hours.
So why the short service life?
Is the quality of the OE belt now so poor?
Or is it to generate spare part sales?
And if, and when you replace the belt for whatever reason do you change fitting a non-genuine belt? that would be very likely have a shorter life

While it may be a recomendation to change every 24k , i am not sure i understand why



Questions Questions

 

[Steptoe]

I agree with the comment above, the belt only drives a farty little 55-amp alternator its kept dry by the cover so in theory should last almost forever.
While it may be a recomendation to change every 24k , i am not sure i understand why
Questions Questions

How many bikes are you judging your statement on ? just your own ?


I see belts fecked at less than 30K miles, i see belts that have done 50K miles and look good for the same again.

If you use a lot of electrical extras, it loads the alternator, which wears out the belt quicker- which is why the life varies from bike to bike .

My belt is in perfect condition, BUT i always carry a spare with me.

But if you like sitting at the side of the road, with your fate and time in someone elses hands, carry on, don't let me stop you

 

[pomm001]

How many bikes are you judging your statement on ? just your own ?


I see belts fecked at less than 30K miles, i see belts that have done 50K miles and look good for the same again.

If you use a lot of electrical extras, it loads the alternator, which wears out the belt quicker- which is why the life varies from bike to bike .

My belt is in perfect condition, BUT i always carry a spare with me.

But if you like sitting at the side of the road, with your fate and time in someone elses hands, carry on, don't let me stop you

My statement is based on doing two years R&D work on FEAD (front end accessory drives) i.e. belt drives for alternator, water pump PAS, AC and not on any data collected on either my own, or other GS’s

While I don’t doubt that you and others have replaced belts with low miles it throws open the question why should the alternator belt on a GS have to be changed at such a relatively low mileage when compared to 4 wheelers?

When you change the belt do you use genuine or non-genuine replacement?

What exactly is the recommended replacement mileage?

Thanks for the tip re sitting on the roadside, best put a new belt on my spares list!

 

[Twotter]

The poly v-belt is down to be changed at the 36k service according to BMW but as Steptoe has said they don't always make it that far (and he has seen more GS's than I have for sure). Being a pessimist I chose to change my belt at 24k as the generator cover was off to turn the big bolt on the front to find TDC so as to do the valve adjustments. As it happens my belt was fine but I chose to change it anyway and now it acts as my spare. The replacement belt was a genuine BMW spare from my friendly dealer.

As for why they need changing at that interval you've got me there but it may be something you can ask your dealer about to see what they say.

 

[notadrop]

Yup I changed mine after 26k as it was disintegrating [little bits of hardened drive belt ribbing found inside the front cover when doing the tappets]. I agree they ought to last longer, but they don't seem to.

 

[Clive]

On my 1200 (now just over 30,000 miles) the belt has lasted longer than the alternator

 

[Mick O'Malley]

I see belts that have done 50K miles and look good for the same again.

Bought a new one for my 72k service without checking existing; old one looked fine so bunged it in pannier. Just gone over 100k, so old one still fine after 64k.

Regards, Mick

 

[BBB61]

Changed the belt on my old 1100 at the 36k mark and it didn't look worn. But the belt on my 1150 failed at 26k whilst driving home from Heathrow one evening. Wasn't a drama though. I got through Hanger Lane and parked at a Fullers pub just down the road and called out the RAC

 

[Swesty]

Mine went at 35800 (I was going to do it at 36K service anyway) on way back from NEC in November, just before the Corley services. Switched off all electrics I could and got back to St Ives no problems. Must be a good 60 miles. Just kept it nailed so as not to bother returning unused petrol to the tank and therefore pumping it again and again and..................

 

[artman975]

Hi guys, seem to have started a little debate on the life of the polly Vee!

I assume 36k, 24k are miles?

wots all this about taking the belt cover off to set tappets? just done mine today, usual procedure, - rocker covers off, plugs out, select top gear, stick in plug hole to feel top dead as you pull the engine round with back wheel. bugger that taking covers off n using fancy tools