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Don't let a good belt good bad

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by Texas Forever, May 9, 2005.

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  1. Texas Forever

    Texas Forever Eight Time F1 World Champ
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    Apr 28, 2003
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    #1 Texas Forever, May 9, 2005
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Here's what can happen if you don't drive your Ferrari. These pics are of a 1999 F360 Modena with less than 2,500 miles on it. It is a one-owner car and has never been tracked. The pics are kinda small, but if you look, you will see where the belt has cracked. Also notice how deformed the teeth have gotten.

    A lot of you think that replacing belts due to age is a scam by Ferrari to pick your pocket. You might want to rethink this assumption.

    This is also a good example of why the extended warranty from FNA is a great deal. Yeah, you gotta spend some money upfront to get the inspection, the belt service, and the warranty. But, would you rather pay me now or later?

    Enjoy

    Dale
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  2. UroTrash

    UroTrash Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #2 UroTrash, May 9, 2005
    Scary.

    Dale, who's car?
     
  3. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #3 Dr Tommy Cosgrove, May 9, 2005
    Looks like it was caught in time. I bet somebody feels like they just dodged a HUGE bullet!
     
  4. LarryS

    LarryS Formula Junior

    Nov 14, 2003
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    #4 LarryS, May 9, 2005
    imo, not age, looks like something (nut, bolt?) got between the belt and pulley. I would be surprised if a matching mark couldn't be found on one of the pulleys. I've seen this before on one of my cars....
     
  5. SrfCity

    SrfCity F1 World Champ

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    #5 SrfCity, May 9, 2005
    Why would the pulley's be rusty? Any tech guys have an opinion on what would cause a failure with so few miles? FWIW, I don't think that a Ferrari $8K extended warranty would have done anything other than forcing the guy to get a belt change sooner.
     
  6. Texas Forever

    Texas Forever Eight Time F1 World Champ
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    #6 Texas Forever, May 9, 2005
    No, this is not my car. The pics were given to me in confidence, so I can’t really say who it belongs to.

    I’m sure that one of the techs on this board can explain this better than me. But, it my understanding that the biggest stress on the timing belt comes from the start cycle. When the car sits for a long time, the belt memorizes it’s position and gets stiff. It becomes inelastic.

    When you fire it up, this puts a lot of stress on the belt. Repeat this sit-and-start cycle over a period of time, and problems, problems. This is why it is a good idea to at least start the car and let it run until warm, if you are going to let it sit for a long time.

    I had an airplane tech tell the same thing for planes. The hydraulics are meant to work under tension and don’t do well just sitting on the ground.

    As far as the warranty issue goes, I guess this is why FNA requires a belt change BEFORE offering the warranty.

    Dale
     
  7. UroTrash

    UroTrash Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #7 UroTrash, May 9, 2005
    And just remember how good gears and chains sound!
     
  8. TimF40

    TimF40 Formula 3

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    #8 TimF40, May 9, 2005
    Any idea on how long it takes sitting to "memorize" its shape? 1 day? 1 week? 1 month? I really don't have any idea. I ask because I drive my 360 weekly and think I won't have the above problem. Maybe I actually do and am just kidding myself?

    Great pictures. Thx - Tim
     
  9. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

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    #9 Rifledriver, May 9, 2005

    The pulleys being rusty is quite common on a car that has been sitting. From the looks of the tensioner bearing on the 1/4 (right bank) the motor has not been run recently.

    I am with mcguy on this one. I think something went between the edge of the belt and one of the sprockets. A tear like that is generally from foreign object damage. On a 512TR I was doing belts on a few years ago one of the belts had a substantial sized hole through the middle of the belt and it was working just fine.

    I would buy however that the belt, due to age/heat hardening may have allowed the tear to happen because it has lost some elasticity.

    Dale, tell your friend to keep that belt. I figure it saved him $10k.
     
  10. Texas Forever

    Texas Forever Eight Time F1 World Champ
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    #10 Texas Forever, May 9, 2005
    Brian, it was actually a savvy buyer who insisted on a the belt change as part of the deal.

    Folks, at the end of the day, Ferraris are just cars. They are not investments. They are not art (well, not the newer ones anyway). If you're not going to drive it, why buy it?

    Dale
     
  11. judge4re

    judge4re F1 World Champ

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    #11 judge4re, May 9, 2005
    Here endeth the lesson. Amen.
     
  12. SrfCity

    SrfCity F1 World Champ

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    #12 SrfCity, May 9, 2005
    Thanks for the added info that's more helpful.
     

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