[Guest]

I'm wondering if you can run without belt covers for a short while without getting into too much trouble. There is a company function this Saturday that I have to go to, but my belt covers are removed for painting. So I'm wondering....

1. They won't just come loose and fly off right? I've got 3100 miles since my last service, where I assume that they checked the belt tension. It should still be in specs.

2. What would be the worst that could happen? I can't imagine a branch or stick getting lodged in there and throwing a belt.

3. Do you know anyone who runs without the covers? Any horror stories?

Thanks for all your help.

 

[Guest]

"don't worry.....at all"? certainly not!

small stone or piece of metal in it and you're screwed...even worse I'd guess

plus this is prone to have the belts wear faster I think

my advice is no.

 

[Guest]

Any problems with rain or water making the belts slip Scott?

I don't they would wear faster, my covers don't have a mark on them inside, so they dont keep them on the pulleys or anything. Wear would be a tension or riding style thing.

 

[Guest]

A liability, perhaps a remote one...... but then again remote doesn't matter much if a belt gets corrupted by foreign objects and the top end goes catastrophic. Ya pays yer money and ya takes yer chances

 

[Guest]

The wear issue stems from foriegn elements getting in between the belt and cog. Sand and grit really wears the aluminum pulleys.
Water won't make them slip, they're gilmer type pulleys, with teeth.

My last summer ride hab a blown 406 small block Chevy in it, and the lower pulley was about 8 inches from the pavement. The amount of wear that the pulleys saw in 1500 miles was amazing. There were even holes punched in the belt from stones. That belt was 3 inches wide and about three times the thickness of the duc's, which prob wouldn't have survived a hole punch by a rock. My 2 cents say, use covers.

 

[Cactus]

I rode several months without covers. I had no issues. Ducati mechanic at local dealer suggested I stop doing it because of some of the same concerns being tossed out here, something getting in there and screwing up the timing and screwing up the engine. Yeah it looks sweet, and I never had any issues, but I'm tight on money and couldn't afford it if something did happen.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for all the input guys, I'm putting them back on for tommorow since SoCal is getting it's first rain in months. We need it bad to help with the fires by my house. I might take them off again after and try it for a while.

Ditto for the money issue, I don't have the cabbage ;D for repairs if something goes wrong.