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1steelers
Member
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Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 12:22 pm | 1st Post |
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| ok. everyone keeps pushing the timing belts deal and understand they must be changed. just bought my wing last summer. only put a thousand miles on her. had it serviced a few weeks ago along with tires and dropped alot of cases of beer for the cost. all i want to do is ride it now but keep worrying bout those belts. my free time is extremely limited and what time i do get i want to feel the pur of her between my legs!!!!!. sooooo someone put my fears to ease and say it will be ok till the end of the riding season when i will change those damn belts!!!!
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sandiegobrass
Guru
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Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 12:41 pm | 2nd Post |
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1steelers wrote: ... sooooo someone put my fears to ease and say it will be ok till the end of the riding season when i will change those damn belts!!!!
I think I can.. I think I can.. I think I can.. I think I can.. 
BANG!!!.. I thought I could..I thought I could..I thought I could..
Sorry.. bad joke...  In all seriousness, though, you have not given enough information to make a judgement. Timing belts are a little bit like oil. Everyone (but the 1800 guys)have them, everyone says you should change them, but the answer is like what brand and how often.
The prevailing opinion (by my estimation ) is somewhere in the 5 to 8 years or 50-80,000 miles. NOthing in the GL1000,1100,1200 service manuals say anything. The GL1500 manual actually says 100,000 miles before an inspection/replacement. And another piece of information is that the GL1200 uses the T070 belt which is also used on the '83-'87 Toyota Corolla and SR5. Toyota says 60,000 miles for this belt.
So can you go through the summer?? Don't know.. It is easy to inspect the left side of the GL1100 because there is room to pop off the left cover without disturbing anything else.. takes about 10 minutes. If you do that, at least you can make an educated evaluation... the real problem is that guessing wrong gets painfully expensive, not so much for parts (used heads are not that expensive), but for wrenching time and lost riding..
Good Luck  SDB/Jim
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If a man speaks in the forest and there is no woman to hear him, is he still wrong?
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SDB/Jim
2000 GL1500SE
1983 GL1100I
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Temporarily in Indiana
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GLester
Guru
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Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 12:46 pm | 3rd Post |
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Welcome to the forum!. If the PO kept the bike up, and changed the belts at 5 years or 60,000 miles, then you should be ok. If you could find out this tibit of info, then there is not much need to sweat it. Changing the belts are not that hard or expensive, about 2 hours and less than $50 if you get Gates belts or Napa or goodyear belts. And we have plenty of instructions posted in various threads on how to do it. If not sure, then I would try to be aware that although it is rare, belts have snapped before. They can look good, but the cords on the inside can be breaking, and you would not know about it until it was too late. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
Gene
Last edited on Thu May 8th, 2008 12:47 pm by GLester
____________________
Gene Lester
Present Bikes: 1993 Goldwing 1500A
1981 GL1100
"Loud pipes don't save lives, they just annoy everyone"
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Rudy
Forum Ferret
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Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 12:53 pm | 4th Post |
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It will be ok for us. You are the one with the potential problem and the decision is all yours.
Hope that works out for you.
____________________
Rudy
'89 GL1500K 94k - http://goldwingtech.info
Give & Get help traveling: http://glhelpers.com/members
Buy & Sell your stuff: http://RudysBackyard.com/
SERRASJ photos - http://annualssgwrally.us/coppermine/
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tybme
Very Active Member
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Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 03:57 pm | 5th Post |
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Rudy wrote: It will be ok for us. You are the one with the potential problem and the decision is all yours.
Hope that works out for you.
LOL Rudy always makes me smile!
I rode mine for the first 3 months without changing them and when I finally did I was sure they would have been good for another season.
That being said. It took me 3 hours to do the work. If they had busted I would have been out at least $500.
____________________
1996 1500 Aspencade
PGR Member
Member of the Kansas chapter of Wild Rhinos
Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways. totally worn out, shouting, "Holy ****... What a Ride!"
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redbaron
Moderator
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Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 04:14 pm | 6th Post |
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I agree with Rudy, But I have to ask, How much is your peace of mind worth??? And this issue of timing belts is not and was never intended I don't think a to be "scare tactics" at all. Had this be true then a lot of us here would either own lots of stock in Goodyear or Gates,,etc.. But the main idea is to inform everyone who owns or has bought an older Wing that, if you have no idea when timing belts were last changed, at least pull the left cover and make a visual inspection of existing belts....Then make your decision on whether or not to put on new belts...nothing more nothing less.....its just having a piece of mind not worrying about belts, maybe making enough money for next tank of gas might be a bigger worry.....
My Wing is getting new belts, the old ones didn't look bad but at least I will know when they were changed and that I should be able to get another 50,000 miles on them before they may need changing....The only thing I haven't looked at is my idler pulleys, I know that those puppies are high dollar and if need be I'll buy a new set..Then I'll have Peace of Mind.....
Claude
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1982 GL-1100 Goldwing Interstate
Rudys Backyard.com
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Rudy
Forum Ferret
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Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 04:31 pm | 7th Post |
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Red, the nice thing about the tensioner pulleys is that they will most likely give you a lot of warning in the way of noise and chatter before they go. Not like the belts.
____________________
Rudy
'89 GL1500K 94k - http://goldwingtech.info
Give & Get help traveling: http://glhelpers.com/members
Buy & Sell your stuff: http://RudysBackyard.com/
SERRASJ photos - http://annualssgwrally.us/coppermine/
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Popeye
Senior Member
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Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 05:41 pm | 8th Post |
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If you want peace of mind, stay away from anything mechanical.
I recently bought my wing with 20k miles & new tires. I tossed the tires & replaced the brake pads....it's what I've always done with a strange bike. It may break down on me, but it won't kill me.
If something worries you, then fix it. Otherwise you just can't enjoy it.
Also, you can decide to do timing belt after riding season & worry about a 100 other things.
When you get your timing belt, your coolant or oil will leak out & fry your engine anyway.....it never ends.
#1 is be SAFE, have FUN.
____________________
____________________
Patriot Guard.
Patriot Guard Riders.
KANWINGS [Rhinos] of KS
GWRRA
'97 1500SE Black/Chrome
'84 Shadow 500 Red
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wrongway
Very Active Member
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Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 06:10 pm | 9th Post |
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1steelers wrote: ok. everyone keeps pushing the timing belts deal and understand they must be changed. sooooo someone put my fears to ease and say it will be ok till the end of the riding season when i will change those damn belts!!!!
I've heard for years that the only sure things in life are death and taxes. I'm in the car business and import cars recommend timing belt changes at around 60,000 miles.
I've seen people ignore the recommendation and not have a problem until 90,000 miles while others run into problems at 70,000 miles.
Soooooooo if you bike is under the recommended mileage (which apparently doesn't exist for your bike) for the change then you should be ok.
Just remember the only guarantees in life are the death and taxes.
I hope you're ok and enjoy your new ride as much as I enjoy mine.
____________________
Greg (wrongway)& wife Bonnie
Previous bikes from recent are:
2001 Valkyrie Standard, 2005 Vulcan 1500, 2000 750 Shadow....30 year absence....350 Honda, 175 Bridgstone, 305 Honda, 125 Kawasaki
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nobbie
Very Active Member
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Posted: Fri May 9th, 2008 03:11 am | 10th Post |
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| Timing belt scare tactics aren't really different than insurance scare tactics. It only hurts if you've guessed wrong.
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Gofastandfalldown
Very Active Member
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Posted: Fri May 9th, 2008 03:59 am | 11th Post |
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What you don't know WILL hurt you. If you don't know for sure the last time it was changed, then that is your cue to change it. I've had one break in a car and it wasn't a pretty sight.
Also, if you go to all the trouble (at least on my GL1000) to pull the radiator, hoses, wires and covers just to get access to inspect the belts, you might as well just change 'em while you are in there and be done with it. They really aren't difficult to change. As long as you don't move any of the toothed pulleys, you can slip the old ones off and the new ones on in just a few minutes.
Last edited on Fri May 9th, 2008 04:04 am by Gofastandfalldown
____________________
1978 GL1000
"Honesty may be the best policy, but it's important to remember that apparently, by elimination, dishonesty is the second-best policy" George Carlin R.I.P.
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Dancinbear
Very Active Member
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Posted: Fri May 9th, 2008 04:03 am | 12th Post |
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I'm gonna run mine this season.............. if it"blows- chunks", then, I'll part this sucker out and get me a 1500......
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1steelers
Member
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Posted: Fri May 9th, 2008 11:45 am | 13th Post |
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| i like your thinking!!!!!!!!!
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WingedNut
Very Active Member
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Posted: Fri May 9th, 2008 12:20 pm | 14th Post |
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Dancinbear wrote: I'm gonna run mine this season.............. if it"blows- chunks", then, I'll part this sucker out and get me a 1500......
I hope "if" that happens and you get a 1500 you will have learned something from the experience and do better with the 1500.
____________________
There's no such thing as sanity and that's the sanest fact - Dire Straits
Past:
Honda 150 Dream
1947 Harley (stolen before ridden)
Honda 250 Scrambler
Honda 450 Scrambler
1980 Honda CB650
Present:
95 GL1500A (Pearl Sierra Green)
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Hawker22
Guru
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Posted: Fri May 9th, 2008 01:18 pm | 15th Post |
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Not disputing the logic of timely and preventitive timing belt changes. But just to be fair to the makers of these belts, I have rarely or perhaps never heard of a timing belt failing on its own-that is without some other related component being the cause.
A few stripped teeth can be caused by an improperly lubed cam shaft. The tensioner bearing can fail and cause the belt to shred;(this happen to a friend's car recently) or the belt encasement can be damaged and impact the belt. Toyota states that the tensioner has about the same life span as the belt.
So changing the timing belts usually leads to changing some of the other components, and this may be more important than changing the belts.
The way I see it.
____________________
Hawker22(Ken)
Per Ardua Ad Astra
1997 GL1500SE--White Cloud
Skype--Skyhawk22
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wrongway
Very Active Member
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Posted: Fri May 9th, 2008 01:28 pm | 16th Post |
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Hawker22 wrote: Not disputing the logic of timely and preventitive timing belt changes. But just to be fair to the makers of these belts, I have rarely or perhaps never heard of a timing belt failing on its own-that is without some other related component being the cause.
A few stripped teeth can be caused by an improperly lubed cam shaft. The tensioner bearing can fail and cause the belt to shred;(this happen to a friend's car recently) or the belt encasement can be damaged and impact the belt. Toyota states that the tensioner has about the same life span as the belt.
So changing the timing belts usually leads to changing some of the other components, and this may be more important than changing the belts.
The way I see it.
Interesting that you mention the tensioner because when I bought my high miler last fall I insisted that the dealer put new timing belts on as part of the deal.
The mechanic told me that the old belts looked pretty good but the tensioner was starting to seize so he replace the belts and tensioner.
____________________
Greg (wrongway)& wife Bonnie
Previous bikes from recent are:
2001 Valkyrie Standard, 2005 Vulcan 1500, 2000 750 Shadow....30 year absence....350 Honda, 175 Bridgstone, 305 Honda, 125 Kawasaki
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Jluvs2dive
Guru
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Posted: Fri May 9th, 2008 05:00 pm | 17th Post |
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Interesting timing on this post. I just read this Wingworld workbench section a few days ago, and was going to put this out for discussion.
This guy asked about changing the belts on his '90 1500 with 29,000 miles. Stu's answer is in this linked pdf file. I personally would be concerned with the rubber of that age, but maybe unnecessarily. My only personal experience has been with my '86 Aspy and recently with my '84 Standard. I can say both bikes had Honda original belts on them, the Aspy had 44,000 miles and the Standard 75,000, and honestly I could see nothing wrong with them, but I changed them anyway as a precaution. Are we maybe being too cautious? Dave Campbell had info on his site stating that if new belts were stored hanging on a hook they could not be trusted. That's one extreme. Stu is saying that if they look fine, have not been contaminated, that they are fine no matter how old they are, the other extreme. Stu is a well respected technician, but is he an expert on the composition of the timing belts? Maybe we should have a poll. Does anybody have any personal experience of a timing belt breaking and if so, was it due to age or wear on the belt or was there some other cause?
John
____________________
 1986 GL1200 Aspencade, in the coolest color, 2-tone blue
also
87 & 84 Interstates
84 Aspy
past
84 Standard
80 Yam Midnight Special 1100
79 Suz SP400 Enduro
72 Honda SL350
81 Honda XR500
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Hawker22
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Posted: Fri May 9th, 2008 05:13 pm | 18th Post |
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| Good idea John----so let her rip.
____________________
Hawker22(Ken)
Per Ardua Ad Astra
1997 GL1500SE--White Cloud
Skype--Skyhawk22
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Rudy
Forum Ferret
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Posted: Fri May 9th, 2008 06:34 pm | 19th Post |
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My old Ford canadian Pinto had several timing belts break. They didn't look bad except at the tears.
Fortunately the engine was not an interference engine so they simply shut off.
I think that since everyone will agree that a timing belt WILL break SOMETIME, the issue is more about when than if. So IF a timing belt will break SOMETIME. Will a new timing belt break as soon? Not likely.
Since there are a multitude if conditions that can shorten or lengthen the time before breakage, it becomes the same game as life insurance. If you knew exactly when you were going to die from natural causes in advance, the game would be a lot easier to win.
BUT YOU DON'T. DO YOU?
I would think that a guy who stores his bike all winter above the 45th parallel in a cold shed and rides 4 months out of the year would get a lot more life out of the belts than a guy who stores his in an un-airconditioned shed in the desert. Or outside for that matter.
Last edited on Fri May 9th, 2008 06:36 pm by Rudy
____________________
Rudy
'89 GL1500K 94k - http://goldwingtech.info
Give & Get help traveling: http://glhelpers.com/members
Buy & Sell your stuff: http://RudysBackyard.com/
SERRASJ photos - http://annualssgwrally.us/coppermine/
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Gofastandfalldown
Very Active Member
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Posted: Fri May 9th, 2008 06:36 pm | 20th Post |
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| The problem I have run into with timing belts is not breakage but rather the teeth coming off. With age, the rubber will develop hairline cracks and the teeth will start to separate from the belt. After awhile, enough of them will be missing that the pully will hit the bald spot in the belt and just spin in place. This wasn't on a Gold Wing but was on a car.
____________________
1978 GL1000
"Honesty may be the best policy, but it's important to remember that apparently, by elimination, dishonesty is the second-best policy" George Carlin R.I.P.
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