Belts on a 998S
 

Guys inspired by AntonyE's article about changing belts, I have downloaded the checking software, got a microphone working off the lap top and thought I would have a go at checking the current tension on the bike - before moving up to actualy changing and tensioning them.

The one bit of information that I am missing though is what sort of frequency should we be looking for?

110 Hz (+/- 5Hz)

Thank you for that -will try on Saturday!

Isn't that for new belts??

I might be wrong, but I think used belts are around 80Hz.

your thinking of the minimum allowed, anything around 70 to 80 Hz is apparently acceptable, anything less and they NEED to be retensioned
Normal operational tension is 110/110 (± 5) so thats what should be set new or used

A Ducati bulletin specifies that recommended tension for installing fresh out of the box new belts and the acceptable range of deviation (110 Hz +/-5Hz). It also states that if you are going to reinstall a set of used belts they should be adjusted to 90-100 Hz (+/- 5Hz). It further implies that used belts can be left alone if they measure above 70Hz.

What Ducati is saying is to first set the tension of a new belt to spec, expect them to lose a slight amount of tension after some initial miles, and then verify at any later time that this tension is above the minimum requirement. In other words, you should not re-adjust the tension to the new belt spec max after run-in.

Otherwise the belt will be in danger of snapping after a few re-tensionings.

Thanks. Created a crib sheet with the info to put with all my manuals.

Any chance you can put a link to the original post?

Something else to stress myself about I suppose.

When I bought the bike, the workshop told me the belts wont need retensioning, just changing every 2 years or so.

2 years is indeed the change interval (or 12k miles, whichever is sooner). But the tension should be checked and adjusted if necessary at the intervening annual service.

This is what I use Chris, it came from Gates Spring last year so about a year after the Bulletin from Ducati North America, I often wonder if they are just trying to protect themselves from idiots. As that Bulletin says all Ducati belts are now tensioned to 110/110 (± 5) be they 4-Valve or 2-Valve and no difference between front and back belts on any of the aircooleds