Alternator Belt snapped?

[Richard Stallard]

Left work this morning, got about 200meters down the road and I had this sksksksksksksshkshkshkshkssssssssss!!!!! from the engine.
Knew straight away what it was so just waited for the battery light to come on funny enough this happened just at the same time the speedo went over to 48000KMS (the belt snapping that is not the light coming on)

Is this roughly the life of these belts?
Called the BMW dealer in Dubai and they have 1 belt in stock( not bad for being the dealer for the whole of the Northen Emirates) which is in Sharjah, so will take the bike in on Saturday to get sorted, hope its just the belt snapping and not a seized alternator. Richard.

 

[Iain Hogg]

48,000Km sounds about right - the service schedule says replace at 60,000Km

But a lot of people around here know better

To give B*M their due, it is recommended to "inspect it" every 20,000Km

On the plus side, it's a relatively straightforward job to replace it.

Iain

 

[Tsiklonaut]

Yup, 50K per belt sounds about right in your conditions. Most probably it wasn't in ideal tightness too, but that's no prob, it doesn't extend the lifetime that much. And maybe it was even this "first service" fragile belt you had, not the later maintenance-free one BMW sells(?)

Geting 40K to mine, and now carring a spare belt with me on longer trips

Dunno how good the Dubai BMW are - can you get the new one right away or need to order and it takes a lot of time?

Check the alternator- and secondary shaft's head that "eat" and rotate the belt, there should be no cracks and misalignment in thread.

 

[Richard Stallard]

Thanks guys.

After my first off-road trip in very dusty conditions I did develope a squeek from the belt just after starting up, went away once the motor had warmed up, but probably reduced the running age of the belt from the start.

Do any of you know if the belt on the GS1100 is the same as my riding buddy who has less miles on his GS1100 than mine but an older bile needs to think about changing his now after mine has gone, not dur to distance travelled but mainly due to the hot weather over here and the posability of the belt cracking.

Will probably send an E-mail to Motobins and try to get a couple of replacement belts plus 1 spare each. Not sure if the one that the dealer has has been stored correctly probably not, more that likley sitting in a warehouse which is 100deg F for most of the year, when they should be stored in an airconditioned enviroment.

Thanks for all the replies, and help greatly recived.
Richard

 

[Gecko]

I managed about 60,000km from mine - when I changed it it was slightly frayed on one edge but still serviceable so I threw it in the pannier as a spare.
I think you might have different belts to your buddy. I seem to remember reading that the earlier bikes did not have a maintenance free or self tensioning system whereas the later one have this. I can't remember where I read or heard this but I think it was in the Haynes workshop manual .

 

[cookie]

i bumped into a ukgser named gary/spangle in dijon last sunday.

he rather spookily came to a halt outside my hotel with a broken alternator belt. i've just ordered a spare for myself

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

There was a change to the pulleys on early bikes. Think it was from alloy to pressed steel. After that, I think all are the same 1100 & 1150. None are self tensioning, but are set and forget until replacement is required.

 

[Gecko]

There was a change to the pulleys on early bikes. Think it was from alloy to pressed steel. After that, I think all are the same 1100 & 1150. None are self tensioning, but are set and forget until replacement is required.

That sounds about right . Did the change in the pulleys mean a different belt though ? I am wondering if the ribbing on the belts is then still the same to fit into the grooves on the pulley wheels ?

 

[cookie]

motorworks & sherlocks only list one alternator belt.

 

[Richard Stallard]

Thanks

Guys I will try Moto-Bins later and let you know.

Richard

 

[Spangle]

i bumped into a ukgser named gary/spangle in dijon last sunday.

he rather spookily came to a halt outside my hotel with a broken alternator belt. i've just ordered a spare for myself

And even more spookily I eventually made it home! Twas a pleasure to meet you (and rest of motley crew). Any other hotel in France and I would probably still be sat in the bar scratching my head wondering why my battery wouldn't charge...

After you left, I pushed it back to the hotel until Tues AM when Carole Nash arranged for tow to dealer 3 miles away. Back on road within 45 mins and enjoyed rest of holiday.

My warranty expired on Sat 21st May 2005, day before the belt died! What do you think of my chances of reimburement from BM?

Thanks again for all your help, and a very enjoyable evening.

 

[cookie]

gary, glad to hear you made it onwards ok.

had some adventures myself on the way home which i'll tell you about someday.

 

[Steptoe]

in an emergency, and you aren't carrying a spare -

try a car spare shop , ask for a 610 four ribbed belt -

The BM belt is a 611 four ribbed , which isn't a standard size,
the 610 is quite common to cars and will fit the GS
( and about £3 ) .

 

[richie]

Mine is at 93K KM and original. Syeptoe did not want to change it as it aint the same as on later bikes....

If it aint broke don't fix it....

Looks in good nick...

This post is asking for trouble

 

[Richard Stallard]

Thanks Steptoe.

Thats worth knowing.