Cambelt

[timw]

I'm having the engine serviced and it's been suggested that i should have the cambelt changed.

Is this necessary for a 2003 engine with 350 hours? (Yamaha 225 4 stroke)
or can it wait longer?

Thanks!

[Nick Hearne]

You will kick your self if you do not have it done & it then goes! + the mechanic saying I told you so whilst rubbing his hand at the thought of rebuilding your engine!

[bedajim]

Originally Posted by timw

I'm having the engine serviced and it's been suggested that i should have the cambelt changed.

Is this necessary for a 2003 engine with 350 hours? (Yamaha 225 4 stroke)
or can it wait longer?

Thanks!

If you have to ask then you should have it changed

[timw]

Well the only reason I was asking is that I don't recall having cambelts changed on low mileage and reasonably newish car engines when they get serviced.
I thought that happened on engines with about 50K plus miles on them.

I'm have very little mechanical understanding, but was wondering why a cambelt change has been suggested when the engine is quite new without too many hours.

Perhaps this is the norm for marine engines.

Anyway, I shall definately take the advise and get it changed.

Many thanks

[alt]

On my 1.7 DTI it's recommended at 600 hours. See how much it's gonna cost, for the sake of £100 you have the reassurance that it's not going to snap

[BogMonster]

Cam belts on most engines (probably including outboards) are rubber and therefore they perish with age as well as mileage.

I don't know about cars but the cam belts on Land Rovers I work with have a service interval of 5 years in normal use or 3 in arduous conditions (as well as the mileage interval) - and I would say an outboard is probably operating in arduous conditions so 3yrs is not unreasonable...