$60 for a timing belt??

[RipperXX]

NAPA wants $60 for a timing belt for my 90 AWD TSI... isn't that a bit much just for a belt?

 

[JusMX141]

Greddy, Power Enterprise, Gates... all out of the same factory. I think HKS is too, but im not 100%

I've had this discussion before, and I got put in my place because SUPPOSEDLY Power Enterprise is the only budget-priced belt made containing Kevlar. Apparently Kevlar itself is a patented product, and if it's used on anything it must be labeled on the product and the box seperately. Neither Greddy or Gates claim their belts to contain Kevlar.

 

[nfernotalon]

Correct^^

 

[Defiant]

Belts offer a quieter operation, but chains truly offer more consistent timing.

All modern 4-stroke OHC race bikes use a timing chain rather than a belt, and most of them rev well over 10k RPMs (many near 20k!). The modern OHC chains on car and bike engines use buffers that maintain constant contact with the chain for a precise timing adjustment, where the chains on older pushrod car engine did not have buffers and were prone to stretching.

I've worked on race bikes that had 3-4 seasons of hard racing on them and the chains were still well within spec.

Driving motorcycle cams is much less strain than a car's, and the space considerations of a motorcycle engine obviate the use of belts.
Datsun 2000 motors used double-row chains. They had a service life of 30K miles.
Comparing high-rpm motorcycle or racing engines to car motors doesn't translate very well. Too many large-difference distinctions.