Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Rob's Timing Belt Parts Mystery

[Robert Garven (rgarven]

Brian,

Can you or anyone else decoded this date code on the timing belts. I am pretty sure that is what it is, as the F40 belts 

they sent have a 20 starting number, the correct belts start with 21, and the older ones I pulled off from the past start 

with numbers that indicate that the first number is a year??

I know many people lock down the camshafts to change the belts and I did that the first time, but it is near impossible 

to get these belts on without turning both camshafts back-and-forth a little bit to get the teeth to slide in. With the tensioner 

springs completely backed off the belt slide right on but it's a real challenge to get the two camshaft rotated correctly so 

that's all this will happen….Its been too long since I did this, wish I had a lift I would change them weekly!

I am embarrassed to say the ones that I had on there had been installed for 12 years and when I took them off I could hear 

them audibly sigh. They held up but they were overdue for changing that's for sure! I've been really good about service on 

both Ferraris but getting back together with the band, and getting older caused me to put this off for too long. I change the oil/s 

and coolant still every year but getting down to these timing belts really is a lot of work on this car!

Rob