06 RT alternator belt renewal...a few observations

[tbryant]

I finally changed out the original alternator belt...at just under 76K miles. The belt has no cracks or stress showing but it did have some deflection at mid-point between the pulleys. Without a socket to fit the crank, I used the rear tire in 6th gear to rotate engine (primary spark plugs removed). I used a rectangle of plastice cut from a gallon milk jug fed under the belt and then the belt slipped right off. Installing the new belt, I used a pin punch in one of the holes in the crank pulley and the belt literally jumped onto the crank pulley. It actually went on one groove too far so I fed the end of the plastic strip under the belt and slipped it into its proper position. Literally, this is a piece of cake, took ten minutes at most. Once installed, I noticed the new belt didn't have nearly as much deflection between the pulleys. Though my original belt showed no sign of wear, it has stretched. Now that I know the process is very simple, I won't run a belt so long.

I write this only to encourage others to change their own belts, it is a straight forward procedure.

Penny-and-a-half

Terry

[marcopolo]

FYI, BMW changed the interval relatively recently for replacement of the alternator belt on R1200RTs to: "every six years or every 40,000 kms".

This is in the maintenance schedule version 04.04.08 dated 02/2009; the interval used to be every 60,000 kms. I only have the RT schedule, so I don't know if it's the same for other hexhead models. If you access the schedules online at sites such as A&S BMW, you'll find an earlier version and not this latest one.

[andrewsi]

Does anyone have the complete version of the most up-to-date RT maintenance schedules/recommendations?

It'd be nice to know the complete list of what's changed...

[cwsenn]

I changed mine awhile back and considered doing as you did for the removal of the belt but instead I just cut it off. I did not see much point in saving the belt and cutting it off took no time at all.
I put the new belt on with the bike in sixth gear on the center stand and just rotated the rear wheel with my foot while guiding the belt on, a piece of cake. I was glad I did it as I now know how easy it is.

Chuck Senn

[marcopolo]

Does anyone have the complete version of the most up-to-date RT maintenance schedules/recommendations?

It'd be nice to know the complete list of what's changed...

Other than a dealer, who should print them out for you, I'm not sure who else would have them. The ones available online can be a little out of date.

Changes I can recall off the top of my head:

1) alternator belt replacement interval;
2) FD fluid change interval and new reduced fill quantity;
3) brake fluid flushes (every two years for wheel circuits, and every four years for the ABS control circuit (assuming your bike has a control circuit)).