How long does a supplier keep a cam-belt in stock?
Discussion
I have a 1979 Lotus Eclat that hasn't seen the light of day in years but has recently been MOTd and is hopefully coming back to life. Just before it was mothballed 9 years ago, a new cam-belt was fitted.
Now, I know that conventional practice is to replace cam-belts every 'n' miles or 'nn' years as a precuation but I find myself asking this question - if I buy a new cam-belt, might it not be years old anyway, having been made some years ago and sat on a suppliers shelf? What's the difference?
Does anyone in the trade know about whether there is a 'use-by' principle in cam belt stock control?
Now, I know that conventional practice is to replace cam-belts every 'n' miles or 'nn' years as a precuation but I find myself asking this question - if I buy a new cam-belt, might it not be years old anyway, having been made some years ago and sat on a suppliers shelf? What's the difference?
Does anyone in the trade know about whether there is a 'use-by' principle in cam belt stock control?
I spoke to Dayco's UK importer about this (amongst other things) a few years ago, apparently there isn’t a use by date, but the stocks tend to change with sufficient frequency to make it unnecessary, whilst you can decipher the production codes on the belts, it seems to be a bit hit and miss.
Whilst I can’t comment on Lotus motors, with Ferrari's when the belts go, the majority of the time it can be traced back to a seized tensioner bearing and not the belt itself, with motors that have been sat in the same position, fairing worse than cars that have been used.
For the sake of a few pounds and a couple of hours of your time, I’d suggest it would be prudent to change the belts and the tensioners out
Whilst I can’t comment on Lotus motors, with Ferrari's when the belts go, the majority of the time it can be traced back to a seized tensioner bearing and not the belt itself, with motors that have been sat in the same position, fairing worse than cars that have been used.
For the sake of a few pounds and a couple of hours of your time, I’d suggest it would be prudent to change the belts and the tensioners out
I've a feeling 9 years is longer than the normal in-service life recommended by Lotus for the cambelt anyway.
Personally I'd expect to replace it as part of the recommissioning of the car. You wouldn't retain the 9-year-old brake fluid, would you?
For what it costs, weighed against the cost of a top-end rebuild if the old belt were to disintegrate, it's cheap insurance IMHO.
Personally I'd expect to replace it as part of the recommissioning of the car. You wouldn't retain the 9-year-old brake fluid, would you?
For what it costs, weighed against the cost of a top-end rebuild if the old belt were to disintegrate, it's cheap insurance IMHO.
Depends on the stock and movement.
I've worked at a dealer who had been moving what was basically obsolete stock on and off their system for 6-10 years because they were too tight to write it off. Most of it to fit obscure stuff. A 79 Eclat for exapmple. And that was the time that they had had it.
However belts don't tend to disinterate with time by being on the shelf. The wear and eventual break up occurs with temperature and friction over long periods.
I've worked at a dealer who had been moving what was basically obsolete stock on and off their system for 6-10 years because they were too tight to write it off. Most of it to fit obscure stuff. A 79 Eclat for exapmple. And that was the time that they had had it.
However belts don't tend to disinterate with time by being on the shelf. The wear and eventual break up occurs with temperature and friction over long periods.
Rob-C said:
I've a feeling 9 years is longer than the normal in-service life recommended by Lotus for the cambelt anyway.
Personally I'd expect to replace it as part of the recommissioning of the car. You wouldn't retain the 9-year-old brake fluid, would you?
For what it costs, weighed against the cost of a top-end rebuild if the old belt were to disintegrate, it's cheap insurance IMHO.
Your missing his point. He probably will change it. But there's nothing to say that the new one hasn't been sitting on a shelf for 10 years anyway. Waht with this being an oldish car.Personally I'd expect to replace it as part of the recommissioning of the car. You wouldn't retain the 9-year-old brake fluid, would you?
For what it costs, weighed against the cost of a top-end rebuild if the old belt were to disintegrate, it's cheap insurance IMHO.
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