TMax Mk4 drive belt replacement

[Chocky]

Just had my drive belt replaced at 27,000 miles at a cost of £288 for the belt, plus fitting. £288 for the belt! This was not at an official Yamaha dealer, but done by my trusty local mechanics.

Since Yamaha do not give a belt replacement mileage, it may be of interest to Tmax Mk4 owners that the signs that the belt needed changing were squealing noises from the back wheel, under acceleration. Sounded like a dry bearing. The internal toothed part of the old belt was in good condition, but the edges showed some signs of wear and I think that there may be a steel layer in the belt whose edge had started to rub on the retaining rim of the toothed wheel.

Never had a problem with my Mk 2 enclosed chain, but that's progress for you!

[charles1976]

£288????
Seen a belt for £105 on eBay

[2wheelover51]

There's a video on You tube of a Dutch mechanic changing a belt on a Mk 4 (I think) with teeth missing from the belt from what could be stone damage? I don't understand much Dutch but I prefer my belt or chain enclosed and running in oil thank you very much Yamaha. It's cost cutting for Yamaha moving to a belt. Most of us wouldn't feel the difference in handling between the enclosed chain and the lighter belt, I'm sure.

[MrGrumpy]

Go on cheer me up....I've been getting horrid squeaking noises from the belt for ages (its done 18k miles)!!! The precise noises vary, but at the moment they are worse on part throttle - they vanish on bigger throttle inputs or throttle off. There again, I've had similar noises for yonks...they do change if the belt is refitted (ie when tyres are changed).
Yes, the belt instead of the enclosed chain is definitely backwards progress....and, No, I couldn't feel any riding difference between the two, unlike Yamaha promised.

[Chocky]

I suspect that when you open the throttle, the belt moves to one side of the toothed wheel and against the retaining rim, causing any exposed metal in the belt to rub against it. This is only a theory, mind you, but I would like to try it out if and when it happens again, by turning the belt round so that the other, less worn side rubs against the rim instead.
I also agree that I could tell no difference in the rear end drive or handling between the Mk2 and Mk4.

[Ferret]

Most belts are directional and should not be reversed ,just like cvt belts . I have had belts on a lot of big heavy and more powerful bikes ,never had one fail or ware out ,all had in excess of 60k on them .

[2wheelover51]

60 K could be looked upon as "lifetime", which is what I've heard Yamaha describe the drive belts service life when the Mk 4 came out, but 18 K ? "No way jose!"
Not that I'd buy a BMW scoot (too expensive servicing & parts) but at least they didn't follow Yamaha down this route, which some of the others have done.

[MrGrumpy]

Not that I'd buy a BMW scoot (too expensive servicing & parts) but at least they didn't follow Yamaha down this route, which some of the others have done.

BMW did, but it appears they didn't do it right. The early TMaxs had a special sort of chain (if I remember it was called a HyVo or something like that), and I read somewhere that technically it was a belt rather than a chain! I've no idea - but the upshot was you didn't ever ever need to change it. However, it seems that the Beemers have a more ordinary chain, which does need replacing - at enormous expense.

[MrGrumpy]

I guess that whilst £244 for a drive belt is appalling, I'm throwing £200 worth of tyres at it every 4-5,000 miles, so like the valve check, in the bigger picture, a new drive belt is annoying but not a financial disaster.

[Globs]

I guess that whilst £244 for a drive belt is appalling, I'm throwing £200 worth of tyres at it every 4-5,000 miles, so like the valve check, in the bigger picture, a new drive belt is annoying but not a financial disaster.

These are the economics of a medium sized car LOL.