NOS (new old stock) Timing Belts

[dave lincs]

Hopefully the supplier of these belts will admit liability for this situation soon and rectify the problem

These have come from a well respected trader known to many but if they do not sort this and people name and shame all over the net then I'm sure that
would not be good

[DMGRS]

Hello all,
I've only just spotted this thread while browsing the forum - we've had a couple of emails about this (which I've seen posted previously) but there's been no mention in any contact about a forum thread.

This issue is still very new to us - we went entirely on the bag's date code (2018) and the advice given to us by Dayco some years ago that the shelf life is 10 years for the line of products we stock from them.
This was also confirmed with their supplier when we questioned this further, again many years ago.

We weren't aware of a date code on the belts - and even if so, we'd expect it to match the date on the bag. The supplier we buy these from is an authorised Dayco distributor based in the UK, so you'd expect the codes to match - we're surprised they don't, as (like everyone on this thread) we expected them to be the same.
We're still waiting for them to look into this in more depth, and of course we'll post back when they've done so.

The bigger issue is this doesn't just affect belts from us - we've been speaking to other distributors of Dayco belts to find stock dated newer than ours and we've hit a brick wall; in fact our belts with the 2012 stamping are 4 years newer than those we've so far been able to find from our other suppliers - all of who are large players in the supply of parts for our vehicles. Their belts are mostly dated 2008, so if you're ordering elsewhere please check these too.

As you can probably tell this is a very new issue for us, so we're working to sort it ASAP - however I can say with 100% certainty that there have been zero failures of these belts reported to us, with our own fleet of several KV6-engined vehicles using our kit.
We've inspected the belts fitted (most of which are now several years into their life on the car) and they look in great condition with no cracking; just the usual 'zebra stripes' as mentioned by someone else in this thread (which is perfectly normal).

Our first priority is finding supply of newer belts - this is proving enormously tricky as it seems Dayco's last production run of these was in 2012.
We're speaking to Dayco themselves to commission our own run if possible, and while doing this are also in talks with other manufacturers to either check dates on their stock or have a custom-run batch for us.

In the meantime, we are happy to warrant that the belts will last the full 90,000 miles / 6 years - we have absolutely every confidence this is the case.
In the unlikely event of a failure, please get in touch and we'll be happy to help - but again, we're guaranteeing off our own back that you won't need to do this as we are 100% sure they'll last the full interval.
We've unbagged a few and checked them over carefully - they're still supple with no signs of cracking or other indications they're drying out or otherwise past their best.

As always, feel free to get in touch if you have any questions - we are always 100% open and honest with customers, and are happy to discuss this further if needed.
We're enthusiasts first and a business second - we'll make sure the overall outcome of this is what's best for the community, our cars and our customers.

Regards,
Mat

[Arctic]

Originally Posted by DMGRS

Hello all,
I've only just spotted this thread while browsing the forum - we've had a couple of emails about this (which I've seen posted previously) but there's been no mention in any contact about a forum thread.

This issue is still very new to us - we went entirely on the bag's date code (2018) and the advice given to us by Dayco some years ago that the shelf life is 10 years for the line of products we stock from them.
This was also confirmed with their supplier when we questioned this further, again many years ago.

We weren't aware of a date code on the belts - and even if so, we'd expect it to match the date on the bag. The supplier we buy these from is an authorised Dayco distributor based in the UK, so you'd expect the codes to match - we're surprised they don't, as (like everyone on this thread) we expected them to be the same.
We're still waiting for them to look into this in more depth, and of course we'll post back when they've done so.

The bigger issue is this doesn't just affect belts from us - we've been speaking to other distributors of Dayco belts to find stock dated newer than ours and we've hit a brick wall; in fact our belts with the 2012 stamping are 4 years newer than those we've so far been able to find from our other suppliers - all of who are large players in the supply of parts for our vehicles. Their belts are mostly dated 2008, so if you're ordering elsewhere please check these too.

As you can probably tell this is a very new issue for us, so we're working to sort it ASAP - however I can say with 100% certainty that there have been zero failures of these belts reported to us, with our own fleet of several KV6-engined vehicles using our kit.
We've inspected the belts fitted (most of which are now several years into their life on the car) and they look in great condition with no cracking; just the usual 'zebra stripes' as mentioned by someone else in this thread (which is perfectly normal).

Our first priority is finding supply of newer belts - this is proving enormously tricky as it seems Dayco's last production run of these was in 2012.
We're speaking to Dayco themselves to commission our own run if possible, and while doing this are also in talks with other manufacturers to either check dates on their stock or have a custom-run batch for us.

As always, feel free to get in touch if you have any questions - we are always 100% open and honest with customers, and are happy to discuss this further if needed.
We're enthusiasts first and a business second - we'll make sure the overall outcome of this is what's best for the community, our cars and our customers.

Regards,
Mat

Hi Mat.
It is good of you to come to the board and let members know what you are trying to do, but with the outlined warranty above you can not be 100% on this it only takes one belt to give because of it's out of date life, and the engine could be wreaked.

So are you saying that then you would cover the costs of a new engine fitting and the labour ?

Also are you saying that if you find a seller with up date belts those that have had the Dayco belts from with the 2012 date you will supply and pay for them to be fitted.

I think it would be best to pin point your meanings.

[vitesse]

Well said Steve ! These are after all a product with a recommended shelf-life.

This business of shelf-life is not a new discovery, here's one from 2014, (https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...d.php?t=172642). Mat has been around these groups as long as I have, and even on the dark side (.org).

At the moment I'm thinking what an idiot I am that I never checked the DMGRS supplied belts, even though I knew of a date stamp, too trusting?

Anyone out there who wants to buy tyres with a date stamp of 2012 and accept an assurance from the fitting company that they will be safe?

Keep well

Mike

[DMGRS]

Originally Posted by Arctic

Hi Mat.
It is good of you to come to the board and let members know what you are trying to do, but with the outlined warranty above you can not be 100% on this it only takes one belt to give because of it's out of date life, and the engine could be wreaked.

So are you saying that then you would cover the costs of a new engine fitting and the labour ?

Also are you saying that if you find a seller with up date belts those that have had the Dayco belts from with the 2012 date you will supply and pay for them to be fitted.

I think it would be best to pin point your meanings.

We'll warrant the belts will last the full service interval of 6 years / 90,000 miles - we're working with our supplier to establish who will carry the liability for this (given they appear to be mis-bagged) but ultimately we don't want anyone to end up out of pocket because of something that isn't their fault.

With regards to swapping belts that have already been fitted and are in service, that isn't something we will be able to cover - while we're happy to guarantee the belt will last the full interval, we simply can't pay for everyone to have the belts swapped out for replacement items - especially given every example we've seen and checked shows the belt to be in perfect health with no signs of cracking or deterioration.

So far we've been getting information from mechanics and enthusiasts we work with to establish if there are any fitted that are cracking or showing undue signs of wear etc - we've had plenty of pictures sent in, but zero showing any wear of concern. Zero cracks, no splitting etc.

Once we have established new supply we'll of course swap any unfitted belts over if the customer wishes to do so - however it seems this problem stretches far further than anyone could have anticipated, and simply finding a Dayco belt manufactured within the last 10 years seems to be almost impossible.
We're currently in talks with other manufacturers to check their stock dates - fingers crossed we find something shortly.

[DMGRS]

Originally Posted by vitesse

Well said Steve ! These are after all a product with a recommended shelf-life.

This business of shelf-life is not a new discovery, here's one from 2014, (https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...d.php?t=172642). Mat has been around these groups as long as I have, and even on the dark side (.org).

At the moment I'm thinking what an idiot I am that I never checked the DMGRS supplied belts, even though I knew of a date stamp, too trusting?

Anyone out there who wants to buy tyres with a date stamp of 2012 and accept an assurance from the fitting company that they will be safe?

Keep well

Mike

I'm quite surprised it's taken this long for it to be spotted that the 2018 date on the packaging doesn't align with that of the belt - I'd naively assumed this would match, given it's meant to be a production date for the component contained within.

So far the feedback we've had from other dealers also stocking these belts is that their stock seems OK too, and that the recommended fitting date is a 'worst case scenario' to account for retailers that store their belts in less-than-optimal conditions - I've been around the warehouse these are stored in myself, and they're all in closed box-on-pallets (so no UV light) in a well-maintained warehouse.

This isn't enough for us to say 'great, let's keeping supplying these forever' - we're still hunting for another source with a more recent date stamp, but it should be comforting for those with these fitted (as should our pledge to resolve any issues, should they happen).

[Reebs]

I too have purchased a belt kit from DMGRS for my tourer engine rebuild. Mine is dated 2012 as well, and I've been hitting the internet all morning trying to find a replacement part. So far, I've found that the belts they have at Rimmer Bros which they say on their website are Genuine OEM ones, are marked Rover when I asked them to go and check and it had the following number on it 08034190 which would indicate a year of manufacture of 2008! this seems to bear out what Mat has indicated in his reply.

Eurocarparts can source me one from their central distribution centre for tomorrow but can't tell me the manufacturer name or what date code would be written on it, and looking on line, I can buy a Quinton Hazell belt from autodock.co.uk or mymotorworld.com but again have no way of contacting them to find out the year of manufacture.

This is a minefield and my car is still currently sitting there waiting for the belt to go on.

[sean75]

The belts I've just replaced, not because of degradation I hasten to add, were fitted in 2010. it's entirely possible that the belts that were recently fitted are no newer or bizarrely older than this.

It's quite unnerving ,but really I have had no choice but to replace with what was available at the time, as it was a case of refitting existing belts when changing the hydraulic tensioner, or a new(old stock) alternative.

The label on the box that the belts came packed in has a barcode with the part number , product code and CD/05/23 which I hope is the manufacturing date.

[DMGRS]

Originally Posted by Reebs

I too have purchased a belt kit from DMGRS for my tourer engine rebuild. Mine is dated 2012 as well, and I've been hitting the internet all morning trying to find a replacement part. So far, I've found that the belts they have at Rimmer Bros which they say on their website are Genuine OEM ones, are marked Rover when I asked them to go and check and it had the following number on it 08034190 which would indicate a year of manufacture of 2008! this seems to bear out what Mat has indicated in his reply.

Eurocarparts can source me one from their central distribution centre for tomorrow but can't tell me the manufacturer name or what date code would be written on it, and looking on line, I can buy a Quinton Hazell belt from autodock.co.uk or mymotorworld.com but again have no way of contacting them to find out the year of manufacture.

This is a minefield and my car is still currently sitting there waiting for the belt to go on.

We've been around all the 'usual' suppliers too, and all seem to be 2008 or 2012, with the majority being 2008.
We do have a few leads we're looking into presently for new stock, but I expect it'll take a day or two for quotes to be drawn up, or existing stock to be checked.
As always I'll keep the thread updated with progress

[Reebs]

I’ve ordered a Gates belt from a local autofactors which won’t be in until tomorrow. Is there a date ID code on the Gates belt too? I’ve been looking on-line and so far not found any mention anywhere? It would be good to check the Gates belt tomorrow before I part with the readies.