Timing Belts

[2step]

I have a '98 Tourer with 28000 miles, how often should the timing belts be changed?

[Bone]

The service manual says to replace every 100,000 miles.

[Valker]

Not quite...the manual says to "inspect" the timing belts every 100,000 miles. I will replace mine sometime this year (when I get a chance) and I have 107,000 on mine. 

[valk2128]

When you check the timing belts also check the tension is correct and tha the tension rollers are clean.  My tension rollers had some black crud on them and this was causing a chirping sound that was driving me crazy. Cleaned the tension rollers with Aceton and the chirping is all gone.

[CMA_Carl]

Hey y'all! I just changed my timing belts(95,000), and now i hear a whine at about 2,000rpm when it's warmed up. I don't hear it running down the road, just in stop and go traffic. I can't hear it when it's cold. Do i have the tensioners too tight? Too loose? I went with the gates belt.
thanks for the good info i know i'll get!

Carl

[R J]

Hey y'all! I just changed my timing belts(95,000), and now i hear a whine at about 2,000rpm when it's warmed up. I don't hear it running down the road, just in stop and go traffic. I can't hear it when it's cold. Do i have the tensioners too tight? Too loose? I went with the gates belt.
thanks for the good info i know i'll get!

Carl

Sounds like you have a tensioner too tight.

[Chrisj CMA]

I have found if you try to follow the Honda book and measure the play and adjust the tensioners to that .2-.3" or whatever it says......most likely you will end up too tight.  The springs do a wonderful job getting the tension just about perfect if you are careful to have the mounting bolts just the right torque while you are setting the tension.  just loose enough so the tensioner can move freely but tight enough so its held flat against the block so there is no binding.  I then push gently on each tensioner and let the spring guide its final resting place, then I check each side to see if they feel the same, and whicever side I like the tension better, I make the other side match, usually a very small tweek of the position of the tensioner is needed.........probably clear as mud, hope that heps

[CMA_Carl]

WOW was i off track! I tightened the tensioner with a pry bar to the .25 movement of belt, then tightened the tensioner bolts..tight!  I better look at the book and tighten them correctly.
thanks!

[Chrisj CMA]

ya Carl......you are WAY tight, no wonder its yelling at ya.........sometimes we make things harder on ourselves than they need to be.....been there done that.......good luck

[Cholla]

When you check the timing belts also check the tension is correct and tha the tension rollers are clean.  My tension rollers had some black crud on them and this was causing a chirping sound that was driving me crazy. Cleaned the tension rollers with Aceton and the chirping is all gone.

Great timing on this subject for me.  Its a rainy day, so I was going to inspect my belts a little earlier than 100k miles (61k).  Belts look excellent, but I had the "crud" built up on one of my tension rollers also, plus both belts needed a little tweaking on the tension.  The belt on the left side (as sitting on the bike) was quite loose and probably had 1/2" of slack with very light force applied.  Before adjusting the tension, I started the bike with the cover off and you could see & hear the "flutter" with the belt too slack. 

Carl, I had to gently "pry" mine also, then tighten the bolts to 19 lbf-ft per the book.  I'll know if it whines now that I've got the belts too tight.

Thanks & Best Regards.... 

[Ricky-D]

With all things being equal it is the springs that are mounted on the tension pulleys that is the correct force.  You need to insure they move freely and let them tell you when to fasten down the assembly. The belt should have the full slack on the pulley side of the belt with the crank exerting pulling force on the drive side of the belt.

[bentwrench]

It also helps to put some pressure on the opposite side of the belt with a wrench on the crank bolt.snug the tensioner while turning the crank a little bit .then torque the tensioner bolt.this will let the spring reach proper tension with out the belt pushing the spring back winding up with a loose belt.
bw