GL1500 Timing Belt Replacement Interval

25894 Views 20 Replies 17 Participants Last post by wingpilot96, Jun 11, 2013

VDIGUY

Discussion Starter · Dec 12, 2012

When I checked at the dealer, he showed me where the service manual said to replace the belt at 100,000 miles.
I see alot of discussion about the importance of changing them, some people much more often than that.
I have a 98 SE I bought this fall, ( my first GW) with 62,000 miles on it. It has been maintained in good condition. Do i really need to worry about it now? Is it okay till I get closer to 100,000 or is it really a problem? Are people just paranoid about them?

Thanks.

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1 - 20 of 21 Posts

goldtop

· #2 · Dec 12, 2012

Be sure that you have the mileage correct. There are some people that read the miles for kilometres and visversa. 100,000 miles sounds right for a cam belt.

If you are positive about the mileage on the bike then all will be fine. If there is any doubt then change out and start your mileage for next change from there.

You are probally picking up on the comments made in relation to the fact that these engines have very fine timing tollerances and it doesn't take much to have the valves and pistons meet!

By the way that mileage for a 1998 is low.

Silicon Sam

· #3 · Dec 12, 2012

It's been said a bunch of times here, but there's 2 main reasons to change belts, or most things made of rubber on the bike. Mileage or age. Your tires may only 5000 miles on them, but if they are 16 years old (as an example) would you trust them?

From the front cover of the Gates Timing Belt Replacement Guide:

Avoid Costly Engine Damage;
Change Your Timing Belt At
The Recommended Interval
Or Every 72 Months,
Which Ever Comes First.

http://www.gates.com/common/downloads/files/Gates/TimingBeltReplacementGuide.pdf

Bunch of stuff on the web including this quote from Carscope:

"The old standard interval for timing belt replacement was every 60,000 miles. Even if you don't drive much, you should replace it every 6 years because age and dry rot will weaken it just as much as mileage and use."

It's very cheap insurance that lasts a long time..

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John J

· #4 · Dec 12, 2012

The answer is usually the same to this question...if you are thinking about it and it's bothering you then change them. I changed my '98 when it had only 15k miles because of the years not the miles.
There's a great tutorial on this site of how to do it and even those of us with very limited experience have done it ourselves. Belts are cheap to buy too.

FitzAl

· #5 · Dec 12, 2012

On a 14 year old Wing that I didn't know if the belts were ever changed, I would make it my first service priority job. You will get all the guidance you need from the members here and also from this tutorial:

http://www.goldwingfacts.com/1500timingbelts.htm

FitzAl

· #6 · Dec 12, 2012

On a 14 year old Wing that I didn't know if the belts were ever changed, I would make it my first service priority job. You will get all the guidance you need from the members here and also from this tutorial:

http://www.goldwingfacts.com/1500timingbelts.htm

rpeters549

· #7 · Dec 12, 2012

Due to age not a bad idea to do, and not difficult. It just takes a little time is all. I am going to do mine at ten year intervals myself, unless I put over 100k on in less time than that. I changed mine at 89k and they looked fine, but not being a scientist I do not know the true condition of the rubber.

newday777

· #8 · Dec 12, 2012

Cheap insurance to replace the belts, peace of mind
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php?ck[viewcurrency]=USD&ck[ID]=0&ck[idlist]=0
GATES Part # T275 Timing Belt $14.55 (2 belts needed to be ordered)

knklehd1

· #9 · Dec 12, 2012

newday777 said:
Cheap insurance to replace the belts, peace of mind
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php?ck[viewcurrency]=USD&ck[ID]=0&ck[idlist]=0
GATES Part # T275 Timing Belt $14.55 (2 belts needed to be ordered)

I have owned 2 1500's and the first thing I did was change the belts as stated above :readit:....peace of mind.....

Redeye1620

· #10 · Dec 13, 2012 (Edited)

$16.72 each on Amazon with free shipping....-Rich

Do a search for "Gates T275 Belt"..............

VDIGUY

Discussion Starter · #11 · Dec 14, 2012

Thanks guys. I hadn't thought about the age. Now if they had been a tire that would have been at the front of my mind. Guess I'll go change some belts this winter.

t15dja

· #12 · Jun 8, 2013

How did you get on with the belts?

I have a 1998 SE with 21,000 miles on the clock. As far as I know the belts have never been changed and I have bought a pair of Gates belts in readiness...but am a little nervous about doing this, having read about all the dire things that can befall us if we get it wrong!
Just wondered if you did change the belts and if so how you got on....any tips for us......and did you drain the coolant?

Cheers

Frank1980

· #13 · Jun 8, 2013

My wing has 322,00km on her & the first thing I did (when I bought her ) was verify the condition of the belts ( the previous owner "said" it was a well maintained bike ), but I needed to know.... age/wear creates brittle belts... remove the belts & bend them backwards, if there are any cracks... REPLACE THEM. In my case the belts were actually OK, so let them run, I'll check again next year.

Redeye1620

· #14 · Jun 9, 2013

http://www.goldwingfacts.com/forums...surprise-changing-my-gl1500-timing-belts.html

Ken Bergen

· #15 · Jun 9, 2013

Frank1980 said:
remove the belts & bend them backwards, if there are any cracks... REPLACE THEM. In my case the belts were actually OK, so let them run, I'll check again next year.

Let us know how that goes for you as in most cases the belts don't show any external signs, the internal cords just break leaving you with a pile of scrap metal.

busdriver

· #16 · Jun 9, 2013

Frank1980 - When I did mine a few years ago with Gates belts I specifically remember the instructions on the package saying "do not bend or twist" belts to avoid damage.
Just something to consider.

Frank1980

· #17 · Jun 10, 2013

Thanks guys for your honest replies !
My experience with timing belts is not Goldwings, but many years in an industrial manufacturing. We ran timing belts 24/7 & when they let go prematurely, ie the nylon cords broke internally, they had been over tensioned. The honda manual gives, from my background, a very low tension requirement, but one to be followed. The other point I find interesting, timing belts are by their nature are constantly being bent.
With my wing, the visual inspection was done because at the time I had zero information. The bike had 322,000 kms on it & I was not going to start replacing parts until I verified it was not necessary to replace engine. Later i was told the belts were ~5 years old / ~6000km on them. If the transmission does not need replacement in the fall / winter ( and a replacement / rebuild will get new belts ) , I will arbitrarily replace belts as a part of growing list of ailments.

... Next time I will supply more info if my approach seems counter to the norm.

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Chromo

· #18 · Jun 11, 2013

Frank1980 said:
My wing has 322,00km on her & the first thing I did (when I bought her ) was verify the condition of the belts ( the previous owner "said" it was a well maintained bike ), but I needed to know.... age/wear creates brittle belts... remove the belts & bend them backwards, if there are any cracks... REPLACE THEM. In my case the belts were actually OK, so let them run, I'll check again next year.

Just curious, why would you go to all that work and not bother spending the $30- $40 tops and just buy new belts and be certain they are new and good?
Why bother doing all that work to take them off and check again next year?
Just replace them anyway and forget about them for the next 6 years and 80,000 miles :ROFL:

Also, just looking at them and bending them does not show anything about the belts/cords inside them that actually hold them together! If the internal belts/cords snap there goes the belt no matter how good it looks on the outside!

Think about an old nice looking tire that goes BOOM with broken internal cords/belts!

CrazyWing

· #19 · Jun 11, 2013

Loving this forum... I'm purchasing a 1998 Se in the next few weeks with 12, 881 miles. I have known the current owner for many years and that the bike is well taken care of but for the expense of $40, I think it's best to be safe and change the belts... at least knowing how my luck goes.... lol

ding dong

· #20 · Jun 11, 2013

Chromo said:
Just curious, why would you go to all that work and not bother spending the $30- $40 tops and just buy new belts and be certain they are new and good?
Why bother doing all that work to take them off and check again next year?
Just replace them anyway and forget about them for the next 6 years and 80,000 miles :ROFL:

Also, just looking at them and bending them does not show anything about the belts/cords inside them that actually hold them together! If the internal belts/cords snap there goes the belt no matter how good it looks on the outside!

Think about an old nice looking tire that goes BOOM with broken internal cords/belts!

Ditto. Been there done that and ended up rebuilding a head. There is no way to insure a belt is good by looking at it.

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