T Rutlands Timing Belts vs Ricambis T belts

The last thing I want to do is trash a $20k+ engine because I wanted to save $20 on the belts.

You might ask a mechanic you trust about this.

I'm wondering what Dave Helms would say. Just over a year ago, he told me about a problem with aftermarket bearings that would fail almost immediately. Since he couldn't count on any of his past suppliers with absolute certainty, I believe he had bearings made to his specs. A man like Dave will know exactly what to use and what not to use.

As for me, I'm not taking any chances.

 

The timing belt on my 348 is from Rutlands. I bought it before Daniel-san was open for business. If I remember correctly it was a Dayco belt. So far so good after 6+ years. Yes, yes, I know, it's time to change the belt.

 

Coming up on 30 years of doing business with Ted. All of my timing belts come from him...hundreds per years. Ted's prices are based on what he pays for the item, not Factory prices.

Although Ricambi is a quality outfit, there's no need to overpay for the same product. Ferrari belts were made by TRW, Dayco and Isoran...and have been used interchangeably for years...

 

+1 Dave Helms is a wealth of knowledge.

 

Rutlands is a first class operation, with extremely capable staff. I would not hesitate to use their parts (and I do use them)

 

Both Rutlands and Ricambi are quality suppliers. I have purchased from both guys and have been happy.

When I wanted to buy a new water pump, I was shopping around and found a great price at T Rutlands (it was 35% cheaper than Ferrari dealers and Ricambi). I did call them to make sure it was the right item - checked the part # and everything. I also double checked with Norwoods (my service shop) and got their okay for it.

You can call them to make sure that it is the correct item for you car.

 

Belts are extremely hard to figure out. I would stick to ricambi belts with the Ferrari logo. Over the years Ferrari has changed the spec of the belts and the change interval when using the uprated belts on certain models the 575 being one. I have actually seen that ferrari TSB with my own eyes. All OEM ferrari belts are of the new design. Older aftermarket belts will fit but if used one I would stick to a more aggressive belt change schedule. When I raced my 348 and did the belt service every year it did not matter what I used. But on my street 550 which sees a normal 3 year interval I use the OEM ferrari logoed belt. There is also a belt code on every belt. It has the year, week made and position number where it was cut off the main drum. In manufacture there are always positions where the quality of some belts in a lot are always better. My suspicion would be that Ferrari would cherry pick from the best position on the drum. I think there is a reason to use the ferrari logo belt and the price difference is really not enough to make a difference in a $5k major service. There was a belt thread years back where rifledriver iirc was the one who pointed out the belt differences and why OEM should be used. He changed my mind about these belts. Stick with Ferrari.

 

I agree.

If their not sure what part goes with your car they will do research to fiqure which part is exactly right for your car/year/model/type of engine mgmt system etc. instead of sending you the wrong part. I've often thought they'd forgotten to call me back only to get a call with the part number i need after they've taken the time to fiqure it out and get it right.

I only live six hours away but have gotten everything i've ordered from them the very next day even though i only pay the basic shipping fee.

They should be a sponsor here.

 

Isn't the internet wonderful? Not really, so many people will shop around saving $1 here, $20 there. By the time you are done so what?

I have my preferred suppliers, although they are not always the cheapest, I value my rapport with them and can ask questions and receive useful answers.

I too will check pricing/availability and shipping, but probably use 2 sources for 90% of my Ferrari parts.

Being an installer/reseller of more importance to me is the follow up warranty or replacement attached to the product. My pics of a service for the owner will show the Fcar logo for their and my peace of mind.

Pay your money, take your choice, simple as that.

 

So let's use a little intelligence here... Just because one part is less expensive than the other doesn't mean in itself that it's any lesser quality. In other words, the same Bosch part sold in a pretty yellow Ferrari box v. an online parts house (same exact Bosch part), the former being $269 and the latter being $49 is a prime example, and such examples are plenty in the Ferrari world. The answer here lies in the actual technical atttributes of the belts sold via TRut v. Ricambi or dealer. Perhaps there's no difference at all! In any case, until the technical details are known this is all just conjecture...

The logic "why risk it and go for the cheaper belt" inherently assumes that such belt is, in fact, inferior. It may well be, in fact, superior!

 

I reviewed my post today and realized it may be misinterpreted. The example I gave with the water pump might make someone think that T Rutlands is always cheaper than Ricambi. This is not true.

I found out from my mechanic that Rutlands had placed a large order of water pumps and hence got a price discount and passed this on to the customer. This could have been a one off situation. The normal price would have been a lot closer to the Ricambi price.

My philosophy (right or wrong) is to first find the RIGHT part and only then identify the RIGHT vendor. Take the advice of your service shop - they buy stuff on a frequent basis and will guide you to the right source.

You will find out more often than not the right vendor will supply the right part.

You could do far worse by not buying from Ricambi and Rutlands

 

I think you give them waaaay too much credit. In this day of supply chain logistics the belts and other parts are probably stuffed into yellow horsey boxes by the current parts (low bidder to a spec) supplier without any Ferrari personnel ever seeing them. I know that Ferrari likes to live in the past in a lot of ways, but I also know that they are interested in making a profit to stay open.

 

More than likely this is true.

 

I am sure this is true sometimes that's why you gotta know your parts. There is a difference between a part replacer and a mechanic who knows how what he works on functions and the stress things are under. Someone mentioned bosch stuff. Well I basically got chewed out by bosch for suggesting that they sold ferrari the seconds on connectors. If any of you look at the ferrari bosch connectors with dirt in them in your shop right now compared to a bmw bosch connector that you have to fight to take apart you will know what I mean. You gotta know your parts.

Guys...on belts all I can say is do yourself a favor and get both belts in your hand and see for yourself. Look at the drum positions and date codes you can get from your suppliers and decide for yourself. Do you want to place an '09 ferrari logo belt on your car or one sitting who knows how on a shelf from '06? Real mechanics would be glad for you to choose the latter they need the work.

And by the way rutlands has had a long history of good service but they have purchased a couple others over the years like maranello autoparts and lyle tanner over the years if IIRC. These two had a culture of finding aftermarket suppiliers to undercut ferrari prices and increase profit margins. Some of those key employees were at rutlands and may still be at rutlands. That is not bad it's just you gotta know what you are buying. Was it any wonder that back in the 308 days the rutland valve cover gaskets without the little red circley things leaked oil? All you guys who used the cheap gaskets and glopped on the RTV know exactly what I am talking about!

And the next time you buy bearings who do you think works harder than Daniel @ Ricambi to ferret out all the counterfeit bearings? Do you think its Daniel who lives your passion or the guy picking up a paycheck? Talk to DaveHelms about bad beerings and you probably won't sleep good tonight.

I have been in this game going on my 3rd decade. You will probably be fine on old aftermarket belts. But hey... if you wanna be cheap just leave the old belts in. One guy on the 348 board is up to 12 years on the OE belt...go for it!

 

I could not agree more. Penny wise and pound foolish.

 

+1
I've gotten many T-belts from T Rutland. I think he works hard to get good stuff, and sells oodles of these and won't keep any old stuff sitting around. It's interesting when one would doubt him because his prices are lower.

I've seen counterfeit Weber needles & seats (NOT from Ted Rutland) that I couldn't use and agree you gotta know what you're looking at.

 

Oh, the drama of a controversial thread!
This is not just about parts BUT of vendors.

All joking aside, I buy from both although Ricambi's website is definitely superior and MUCH easier to navigate

 

I love this thread. It makes me want to sell some random 10 cent screw or a bolt for $1000, and then blast every other manufacturer for creating a cheap OEM copy.

The power of perception.

 

The last belts I got were marked as Dayco and were from Rutlands. 'Nuf said.

 

Excellent explanation.

 

also very good explanation!!

 

I got a private email early this week pointing me to this thread and asking this very same question. Well.... having had the products from both vendors in my hands, and as some may know, having had business relationships with both, this is what I can tell you...

Ricambi and Rutlands both sell the same belts. These belts are ALL MADE BY DAYCO. Some of them are in a blue box, some are in a yellow box with little black horses on it. The only real differences are that blue is cheaper, and most likely newer stock. I can say for a fact that both Ricambi and Rutlands have a very high turnover of these items, so they are not likely to have been sitting on the shelf for very long. Both vendors treat the belts with respect - ie no folding them over.

Other vendors may sell other manufacturer's belts - about these I have no knowledge (both the belts and the vendors).

At the end of the day buy your belts from either of these vendors and sleep easy. Whether you get blue box or yellow box is up to you, but it's your money. I'm too poor to pay a premium for a pretty box, so my car runs a blue box belt sourced from Ricambi. I guess the next one will be from Rutlands just to be fair...

Finally, a few posts down FBB mentions that Rutlands may have bought Lyle Tanner out. That's incorrect - it's Ferrparts who bought out Lyle Tanner and his Ferrarpartsexchange company. The most recent activity from Rutlands was to open a second warehouse in Monterrey California.

I hope this clears up the question I was asked.

Dave

 

David is correct, however we no longer sell any blue boxed Dayco belts, nor have we for the past year. I have blue boxed Dayco on my car, and had zero problems.

We switched back to branded Ferrari belts for a variety of reasons, mostly relating to traceability and date codes we were seeing on the belts themselves.

 

Dave,

Actually I'm probably older than you. Rutlands did buy out tanner the first time back in about 1988. The latest iteration of LT who moved from socal to Nocal around 1990 may have sold out to Ferrparts...I don't know I'm not watching. The point of my post was understanding the "culture" of LT/rutlands will give you a glimpse into their service and parts sources. Ricambi is quite uncompromising for only the best he can get. My respect for him continues to grow.