What will happen when your timing belts breaks?

[Heinno]

Hi All

I have a fairly long trip planned in the next few day and I supect my timing belt to be slightly stretched a bit (bike has 115 000km on the odometer). I do not think I can get new belts ordered in and replaced in time.

Will the motor be damaged, or simply stall when the belt snaps? (I might be able to get the belts in in time and take them with me - just in case)

Please let me know, thanks

Heinno

[Michvalk]

Honda Engines are designed zero clearance on the valves. If a belt breaks, the pistons slap the valves and usually breaks the head, or at the very least bends the valves. The chances of no damage is very small. You can inspect the belts (there are two) by removing the front cover. I would at least look at their condition. I think I remember seeing in the manual to inspect at 100000 miles. Not many reports of belt failure, but not impossible. Look for cracking in the inside of the belt.
Order the belts and replace when you have time. Altho Many have run them many more miles than you have, a quick inspection will put your mind at ease. OH, and do not readjust the tension unless you absolutely have to. Good luck on your trip, and ride safe

[Bugslayer]

Hi All

I have a fairly long trip planned in the next few day and I supect my timing belt to be slightly stretched a bit (bike has 115 000km on the odometer). I do not think I can get new belts ordered in and replaced in time.

Please let me know, thanks

Heinno

When I changed mine, I was surprised at how good their condition was. With close to 100K miles on them, I'm sure they could have gone longer. And unless you just want to order the belts from Honda, your local NAPA should have them in stock.
Gates # 275

Napa # 250275

Goodyear - #40275

[Patrick]

I would doubt the belts are stretched ,but, regardless, belts look fine right up till the time they decide to break.. These are an interference engine.. That said, I've not heard of one of these belts ever breaking.. The belts are easy to replace and I like to keep them a little looser than Honda says.. These engines stretch a lot as they warm up..

[Chrisj CMA]

What is the problem with getting belts?  If you have car parts places go to all of them until you find the belts.  You do not need to buy them from your Honda Dealer unless of course you just want to pay 4 times what they should cost and wait two weeks for them.  Cheers

[Mr Bojangles]

   Something you might want to consider, the idler bearings should also be checked, these are the small rollers that tension the timing belts. My belts were not too bad, but, the bearings in the tensioner of one of them was a little rough. That small roller spins at engine RPM, and if it locks-up, it will "trash" a new belt, just remove the cover and at least, check them. The belts, (as stated above) can be had from most auto parts stores. I think I paid less than $50.00 for the pair.
                                                                     Not worth the worry, BoJangles

[Disco]

I changed mine in April at 37,XXX miles, but 12 years old.  They were a bit stiffer than the new Gates belts, but showed no cracking at all.  I got my Gates belts from Amazon for just over $18.00 each with free shipping.

[bigfish_Oh]

I changed mine in April at 37,XXX miles, but 12 years old.  They were a bit stiffer than the new Gates belts, but showed no cracking at all.  I got my Gates belts from Amazon for just over $18.00 each with free shipping.

Ditto here, I/m replacing at 20,000 assuming lack of movement was harder on them than regular use, cheap piece of mind, same as rear coming apart, my piece of mind(new owner)

[Red Diamond]

Was a Millwright for 27 years, "zero clearance", " interference", both have a meaning. Maybe someone could explain how these flat 6 engines can even be started up without exploding.

[Bobbo]

Was a Millwright for 27 years, "zero clearance", " interference", both have a meaning. Maybe someone could explain how these flat 6 engines can even be started up without exploding.

Simply put, an "interference" engine's valves extend into the combustion chamber far enough to where the piston can hit it.  With normal valve timing, the piston is never at the top of it's stroke when the valve is fully opened.  If the drive belt breaks, and the tappet or lifter is stopped at the top of the cam lobe, the piston will hit the valve and usually bent it.

I've never seen a broken belt on a Valkyrie, but I've seen many bent valves from home mechanics who didn't realize that a valve drivetrain needs to be timed with the crankshaft.

[hubcapsc]

[Red Diamond]

Was a Millwright for 27 years, "zero clearance", " interference", both have a meaning. Maybe someone could explain how these flat 6 engines can even be started up without exploding.

Simply put, an "interference" engine's valves extend into the combustion chamber far enough to where the piston can hit it.  With normal valve timing, the piston is never at the top of it's stroke when the valve is fully opened.  If the drive belt breaks, and the tappet or lifter is stopped at the top of the cam lobe, the piston will hit the valve and usually bent it.

I've never seen a broken belt on a Valkyrie, but I've seen many bent valves from home mechanics who didn't realize that a valve drivetrain needs to be timed with the crankshaft.

Thanks, I understand.

[Daniel Meyer]

These belts are not fragile. Try cutting a used one. They are braided steel under that rubber. If the teeth are in okay condition and the tensioners functioning, you are good to go probably to 150,000 miles.

[Heinno]

Thanks all, my bike has 115 000 KM on, not miles, so I should be fine I guess - I just hear a bit of a loose sounding ticking from under the timing belt cover - it was not there before - started at about 110 000km. Getting a bit louder as the miles role on bye... I adjusted the valves as well, but the ticking is still there.

[Michvalk]

Thanks all, my bike has 115 000 KM on, not miles, so I should be fine I guess - I just hear a bit of a loose sounding ticking from under the timing belt cover - it was not there before - started at about 110 000km. Getting a bit louder as the miles role on bye... I adjusted the valves as well, but the ticking is still there.

Use a wooden dowel or some such similar item to use as a listening rod. Place one end on the timing cover, the other to your ear. You should be able to locate the area that the tapping is coming from. I still say take the cover off and check it out. Could be somethin, could be nothing. Won't take too long and will ease your mind if nothing else

[Skinhead]

A picture is worth a thousand words......

[Brian]

If your NAPA dealer doesn't have them sitting on the shelf they can have them the next day. That's what I had to do when mine developed a slice on the top side. I really only changed them out because they were original to my 97 Standard. I had a slight noise coming from the right side that made me go in for a look. Noticed the tension pulley had some wobble in it. I changed it too after ordering it from Honda, the noise is gone.

[Walküre]

I've never heard of one going out on a Wing, either, come to think of it. I'm sure it HAS happened, but not enough apparently, to even warrant mentioning.

R

[Madmike]

Was a Millwright for 27 years, "zero clearance", " interference", both have a meaning. Maybe someone could explain how these flat 6 engines can even be started up without exploding.

Simply put, an "interference" engine's valves extend into the combustion chamber far enough to where the piston can hit it.  With normal valve timing, the piston is never at the top of it's stroke when the valve is fully opened.  If the drive belt breaks, and the tappet or lifter is stopped at the top of the cam lobe, the piston will hit the valve and usually bent it.

I've never seen a broken belt on a Valkyrie, but I've seen many bent valves from home mechanics who didn't realize that a valve drivetrain needs to be timed with the crankshaft.

... some people will describe an engine that won't interfere between the valve train and pistons if the two get out of time as a "free turning" engine

[F6Mark]

For example, my Toyota pickup truck maintenance schedule says to replace the timing belt at 60,000 miles (I think), but a mechanically-inclined friend told me if it ever broke it wouldn't hurt anything, so I am waiting for a sale at the Toyota house.

[Walküre]

For example, my Toyota pickup truck maintenance schedule says to replace the timing belt at 60,000 miles (I think), but a mechanically-inclined friend told me if it ever broke it wouldn't hurt anything, so I am waiting for a sale at the Toyota house.

An ounce of prevention? What if it breaks 120 miles from home, at 70 mph, on the freeway? And, what Toyota house ever has a sale??   

Most of the Toyota's I've worked on, recommended 90,000 miles. I'll admit, I HATE getting stranded, ANYwhere!

R

[dalai-lama]

Thanks all, my bike has 115 000 KM on, not miles, so I should be fine I guess - I just hear a bit of a loose sounding ticking from under the timing belt cover - it was not there before - started at about 110 000km. Getting a bit louder as the miles role on bye... I adjusted the valves as well, but the ticking is still there.

The ticking could very well be the PAIR valves.  They are right down in the center on top of the motor.  These can tick and the sounds can sound like they are coming from the head area.

Just a thought.

the dalai

[Mr Bojangles]

WOW, since mine has been desmoged, I forgot about the pair valves, good call, and I would imagine they might sound like a valve tapping. Good call.
                                                                   BoJangles

[Red Diamond]

WOW, since mine has been desmoged, I forgot about the pair valves, good call, and I would imagine they might sound like a valve tapping. Good call.
                                                                   BoJangles

Why would yours still have a pair valves if it has been desmogged? I thought that desmogging got rid of all that.

[Chrisj CMA]

For example, my Toyota pickup truck maintenance schedule says to replace the timing belt at 60,000 miles (I think), but a mechanically-inclined friend told me if it ever broke it wouldn't hurt anything, so I am waiting for a sale at the Toyota house.

An ounce of prevention? What if it breaks 120 miles from home, at 70 mph, on the freeway? And, what Toyota house ever has a sale??   

Most of the Toyota's I've worked on, recommended 90,000 miles. I'll admit, I HATE getting stranded, ANYwhere!

R

First of all.....its not an "it" its a "they" there are two.  even if one breaks 120 miles from home, you will need a wrecker, not a sale on belts..........if only one breaks, then half of your valves (one side) will be bent.  It wont be an easy or a cheap fix unless you are top notch mechanic and you do all the work........it will be work

[Walküre]

WOW, since mine has been desmoged, I forgot about the pair valves, good call, and I would imagine they might sound like a valve tapping. Good call.
                                                                   BoJangles

Why would yours still have a pair valves if it has been desmogged? I thought that desmogging got rid of all that.

Exactly why he forgot about them....

[Walküre]

For example, my Toyota pickup truck maintenance schedule says to replace the timing belt at 60,000 miles (I think), but a mechanically-inclined friend told me if it ever broke it wouldn't hurt anything, so I am waiting for a sale at the Toyota house.

An ounce of prevention? What if it breaks 120 miles from home, at 70 mph, on the freeway? And, what Toyota house ever has a sale??   

Most of the Toyota's I've worked on, recommended 90,000 miles. I'll admit, I HATE getting stranded, ANYwhere!

R

First of all.....its not an "it" its a "they" there are two.  even if one breaks 120 miles from home, you will need a wrecker, not a sale on belts..........if only one breaks, then half of your valves (one side) will be bent.  It wont be an easy or a cheap fix unless you are top notch mechanic and you do all the work........it will be work

The talk turned to Toyota, Chris...keep up...

[Chrisj CMA]

For example, my Toyota pickup truck maintenance schedule says to replace the timing belt at 60,000 miles (I think), but a mechanically-inclined friend told me if it ever broke it wouldn't hurt anything, so I am waiting for a sale at the Toyota house.

An ounce of prevention? What if it breaks 120 miles from home, at 70 mph, on the freeway? And, what Toyota house ever has a sale??   

Most of the Toyota's I've worked on, recommended 90,000 miles. I'll admit, I HATE getting stranded, ANYwhere!

R

First of all.....its not an "it" its a "they" there are two.  even if one breaks 120 miles from home, you will need a wrecker, not a sale on belts..........if only one breaks, then half of your valves (one side) will be bent.  It wont be an easy or a cheap fix unless you are top notch mechanic and you do all the work........it will be work

The talk turned to Toyota, Chris...keep up...

didnt know Toyota was now making Valkyries.....ok now its heading back to being Valk related   

[Kylenav]

I'm going on a 5K mile hike in just over a month and after reading this post I'm going to change the belts, regardless if they look bad or not on my '01 with 50K miles.  Is there one belt better than the other??  I'm not buying the $50 honda one, just wondering if NAPA or Gates or Goodyear do anything extra special to their timing belts.

THANKS!

[zimmerleemark]

I've never heard of one going out on a Wing, either, come to think of it. I'm sure it HAS happened, but not enough apparently, to even warrant mentioning.

R

i have seen it and valve knocked hole in piston. change the belts to be safe.
mark

[TomE]

On the Naked Gold Wing forum, dealing with bikes from the 70's and 80's, they do hear of broken timing belts fairly often. Often enough that "Change the Belts" is a rallying cry given to any new owner.

When the belts on these older sisters to the Valk break, bent valves result, and if it's really bad, a piston or two gets holed, scattering debris throughout the engine. Often, the belt breaks when idling.

There was one guy who ran his engine for quite a while with one broken belt. When he got the head off, he found that one of the valve heads had broken off and was rattling around inside the combustion chamber. That piston was scrap!

Now these Gold Wings are quite a bit older than the Valk, and most of them have sat for years before being restored. But changing the timing belt is cheap insurance. Used Valk engines are not as cheap as used GL1000 engines!

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

Zimmerman, I'm in Huffman and Keepinon is in Porter. we need to meet and  greet. Sorry for the highjack.

[SPOFF]

An ounce of prevention? What if it breaks 120 miles from home, at 70 mph, on the freeway?

In the case of the Valk, you have the other bank of cylinders to get home. That's still 50 hp. And the 1500cc GoldWings routinely went 250,000 to 500,000 miles without breaking belts. I'm more concerned about the battery that only lasted 12 years on mine. 

[TomE]

An ounce of prevention? What if it breaks 120 miles from home, at 70 mph, on the freeway?

In the case of the Valk, you have the other bank of cylinders to get home. That's still 50 hp. And the 1500cc GoldWings routinely went 250,000 to 500,000 miles without breaking belts. I'm more concerned about the battery that only lasted 12 years on mine. 

Well, yes and no.  If you break a belt, you do have another bank of cylinders to get home on, but at the same time, you are grenading the side with the broken belt. I don't think you would want to be riding with a broken timing belt.

On the mileage claim, I don't have an informed opinion.

[GOOSE]

it will sure be nice when this one's finished.......IT'S SIMPLE....BELT BREAKS....MOTOR BREAKS....nothing to it.