NOS (new old stock) Timing Belts

[DMGRS]

Originally Posted by xsport

This problem has been around for quite some time unknowingly to us all. It seems to be a problem that has been here for quite some time and with all fairness to DMGRS the supply options were just not out there. The issue is with very few exceptions throughout the suppliers over here. Well done mat for taking up the mantle on our behalf. ...

Thank you - we trusted our supplier to give us a product that at the very least, matched the date on the bag...!

I'll make sure it's an issue people are aware of - I'm willing to bet there's a lot of kits from other sources out there with the 2008 belts included and most fitting will be none the wiser.
While I'm sure they'll be fine in service, when given the option a belt as new as possible is always a good idea.

One thing I have learned from this is that it'd be fantastic if Gates could include a clear date code on their belts that can be decoded by the end user - there seems to be a few theories around how their codes are formatted, but Gates themselves seem very quiet on the issue.

[Arctic]

[QUOTE]

Originally Posted by Reebs

The Gates belt I ordered in from Romsey Motor Factors arrived today and looks to be an old but unused genuine package. There is no date on any of the box labelling.



The only numbers printed on the belt are as follows:



The number sequence and amount of digits differs from the Dayco belt coding so I have no way of knowing what the year of manufacture is for this Gates timing belt? It does have the number 12 on it however, so does that indicate another 2012 stock item? I’ve emailed Gates directly for an explanation of the belt number but have had no reply so far (they cannot be telephoned)

For those members on here who have posted that they always go for Gates belts, can you please tell me how you know the age of the belts you use because I have searched and searched and searched the internet without an answer.

As it stands, as I don’t have definite proof that the Gates belt has been sitting around on a shelf for the last 12 years, I’m sticking with that and will ask DMGRS to refund me for the Dayco belt.

It just goes to show, that with Rimmers apparently holding 2008 new old stock, and other online and motor factor suppliers having no knowledge of the age of the belts they order from their suppliers or get from their central warehouse, DMGRS are certainly not alone with this issue and as far as I can see are being the most proactive in addressing the problem on our behalf.

If anyone can get a new production run initiated it will be Mat, Scott and Max at DMGRS.

In light of my own experiences in this last week, I defy anyone at the present time to actually find and buy a brand new belt with proof of its manufacture date, it’s actually an impossible task![/QUOT

E]

Hi Paul.
Was this where you sent your email.

https://www.gates.com/gb/en/services...first-fit.html

[xsport]

I dont think you will get any response from gates. Its such a huge corporation, and i doubt any employee will want to get involved in an issue such as this ...

[DMGRS]

Originally Posted by xsport

I dont think you will get any response from gates. Its such a huge corporation, and i doubt any employee will want to get involved in an issue such as this ...

This seems to be the case with Dayco too - the dealer we're using is great to deal with, but I couldn't get much out of Dayco themselves when attempting to discuss this.

[Reebs]

Originally Posted by Arctic

Hi Paul.
Was this where you sent your email.

https://www.gates.com/gb/en/services...first-fit.html

Hi Steve, I think I used that on-line form yes, but I can tell you the email address it got sent to was [email protected]

No reply as yet. I have however had a fast refund for the Dayco front belt from DMGRS, so I have absolutely no complaints with their customer service and will still recommend them to others and continue to purchase from them with every confidence in their products and aftersales support.

The only reason I went for the Gates belt alternative is for piece of mind, seeing that the Gates belt didn't specifically indicate a production date. Both belts looked to be in exactly the same condition BTW.

[DMGRS]

Cheers Reebs
This one has certainly been an eye opener!

[Arctic]

Originally Posted by TeeCeeColley

Just received my timing belt kit. Super quick delivery from UK to Australia and started on the job straight way. Unfortunately job is now on hold.

Reluctant to name and shame, it is a supplier known to most on here but.........

Thoughts?

I'll make sure it's an issue people are aware of - I'm willing to bet there's a lot of kits from other sources out there with the 2008 belts included and most fitting will be none the wiser.
While I'm sure they'll be fine in service, when given the option a belt as new as possible is always a good idea.

One thing I have learned from this is that it'd be fantastic if Gates could include a clear date code on their belts that can be decoded by the end user - there seems to be a few theories around how their codes are formatted, but Gates themselves seem very quiet on the issue.

Hi Mat.
It is good that you are taking this by the horns and tackling it, rather than trying to side line it, but it still remains a fact that you knew that the date on the packaging was 6yrs old anyways, so therefore why did you not think hold on, I wouldn't like a six year old belt going on my car, which was by time only done in 2018, and I am now fitting a belt that is just has old.

As you say there have got to be lots of sellers out there with belts that are out of date, what are they going to do with them other than send them out hoping the general public will not know, and that garages will just fit them.

If owned a garage and was sent or given belts out of date I would refuse to fit them and tell the customer why if they had supplied them, If i had sourced them and the suppler sent me out of date belts again they would have been sent back, but i doubt garages are doing that.

Hopefully those that fit these belts for members on here will let us know what they have been doing fitting them or refusing and getting up to date ones.

[DMGRS]

Originally Posted by Arctic

Hi Mat.
It is good that you are taking this by the horns and tackling it, rather than trying to side line it, but it still remains a fact that you knew that the date on the packaging was 6yrs old anyways, so therefore why did you not think hold on, I wouldn't like a six year old belt going on my car, which was by time only done in 2018, and I am now fitting a belt that is just has old.

As you say there have got to be lots of sellers out there with belts that are out of date, what are they going to do with them other than send them out hoping the general public will not know, and that garages will just fit them.

If owned a garage and was sent or given belts out of date I would refuse to fit them and tell the customer why if they had supplied them, If i had sourced them and the suppler sent me out of date belts again they would have been sent back, but i doubt garages are doing that.

Hopefully those that fit these belts for members on here will let us know what they have been doing fitting them or refusing and getting up to date ones.

We did indeed know they were 6 years old according to the packaging - the issue was advice we were previously given by our Dayco distributor when questioning the date on some other belts previously was that the recommended shelf life is 10 years, rather than the 5 we have since been told Dayco are advising customers.
Not an excuse, of course - if in doubt I should have clarified this at the time, but I didn't see any reason to doubt the information given.

It's an interesting topic of debate because while our previous distributor (who we no longer deal with due to other issues) told us of 10 year shelf life (with no further information), when digging around to clarify this I did find a forum post from another marque that seemed to allude the 5 years was to account for the fact Dayco couldn't guarantee how the belts would be stored once they left their facility and were in storage with other distributors.

I've been around our current supplier's warehousing - it's a very modern facility with products being stored in solid-sided stillages until the batch is distributed. This is important as the belts won't be exposed to any UV or rapidly-changing atmospheric moisture levels / extremes of temperature - all of which would negatively affect the lifespan of the rubber belt itself.

I'm more than happy to accept 5 years is the shelf life we should be working to, and we'll be doing so (very strictly!) from now on - but given they've been stored well and belts we've asked enthusiasts we work with to inspect (some nearing the interval for replacement) are still in excellent condition, we're happy that there's zero risk to our car's engines from failure.

We have a large batch of 2020 and 2021-dated belts on the way to us (arriving tomorrow), we've checked the rest of our Dayco stock for other engines (they're all within 5 years) and we're working with anyone that's been in touch to arrange an exchange for the new batch.
It's been quite a week...

[vitesse]

It’s been quite a week … I imagine it has and I’m very happy to know that two replacement front belts will soon be on their way FOC.

I’m also happy to give Mat some praise here - does anyone imagine that we’d get the same level of response from Xpart / Rimmer’s who have supposedly sold even older belts? Do they even come on here anymore?

I’ve just been asked about a rear silencer and suggested a local outlet, the owner said he could buy the same one cheaper at AutoDoc (if the site isn’t down again). I pointed out that if for some reason it didn’t fit he could easily return it, whereas AutoDoc’s after-sales service is not worth the name.

Moral here somewhere …

[Arctic]

Originally Posted by vitesse

It’s been quite a week … I imagine it has and I’m very happy to know that two replacement front belts will soon be on their way FOC.

?

I’ve just been asked about a rear silencer and suggested a local outlet, the owner said he could buy the same one cheaper at AutoDoc (if the site isn’t down again). I pointed out that if for some reason it didn’t fit he could easily return it, whereas AutoDoc’s after-sales service is not worth the name.

Moral here somewhere …

Hi Mike.
I agree with the outline above, at least DMGRS have taken this seriously and are doing something about it, hopefully others will follow if not then I/we you should all know what needs to be done in the future.

Mat good on you you take up the mantle and press forward.