Anyone do their own valve adjustments on a Ducati?
 

I have a buddy with a 2008 air-cooled 1000, (sport GT maybe?), I work on his car and he wants me to maintain the bike as well. I'm a pretty decent mechanic and have built several automotive engines, but I'm not familiar with the Ducati valve opening system.

Is it really a PITA? Any special tools needed? Do they use shims? Thanks a lot for any leads as to where to start reading. :cool:

I did a valve adjust on my '01 Monster 900i. This was 5+ years ago, but it wasn't difficult.

If you're used to doing a 911, it's esp. easy. The access is much easier, and of course there are quite a few less valves to adjust!

It does use shims, so you have to make some calculations, but it's no big deal. There are some different "preload" kind of things I remember having to do.

There were tons of step by step instructions on the net even 5 years ago, I'd imagine there are 5X that amount now, with videos, etc. etc.

Just google, plenty of good tutorials, written and video, on the net.
It's really not that hard, I do mine...
The biggest pain is pulling the tank, fairings etc to get to the valve covers.
Complete shim kits are available, run 300-400.....I just make my measurements and order individual shims from the dealer 1.5hrs away.

I agree - it's really pretty darn easy. I also agree that you should just measure the clearance with existing shims, take them out and measure them, then order the right size. The shim kit just has to be full of sizes you will never need and, at darn near $400, a monumental waste of money.

The only hitch is that the bike winds up sitting, partially disassembled, waiting for the shims. Not bad if it's your bike in your garage, but since it's your buddy's, just make sure you are aware of that.

One dirty little secret: they hardly ever need adjustment. Lacking heavy springs, the desmo gear places very little pressure on the components that wear, causing the need for re-adjustment in other valve trains. You can probably go for years just checking without ever re-shimming. In 70,000 miles I've actually only had to re-shim twice.

Chris Kelley's site is a good reference: ducatitech.com - chris kelley's ducati information site

Thanks guys. I figured that it's not rocket science, and I also figured that I'd have to do some clicking around the web. I knew this was a good place to start.

What he said......when I bought my current 750ss, it was from a guy who'd gotten it then freaked out over the whole valve/belt thing...got it home, all valves were in spec and I swapped the belts out. Took an afternoon. I think Duc recommends every 7k miles, but unless you're flogging the snot out of it, that's absurd. 10k is perfectly safe and I don't plan on doing any more than every 15k unless I start mod'ing the snot out of it.

Can't help. Had mine done at the dealership. Did valve adj, belts, clutch & break flush, oil and fixed an idle surge problem for about $450. Happy to have it done and riding once again.

Holy Christ....the local dealer here gets more than double that amount for the exact same service. :eek:

Proitalia? That place is obscene expensive.

You know what, that's exactly what I suspected. The dealer here charges an arm and a leg and it's actually only an estimate depending on how many valves need adjusting!
When they told me that, I knew right away that most of them probably don't need it and they just run a feeler gauge through it and call it a day. :rolleyes:

Related question: do any of you know a good online parts source for OEM Ducati brake pads, belts, filters, etc.? TIA. :cool:

I guess that's one benefit to living in the middle of nowhere! I use Touringsport BMW/Ducati/Triumph in Greenville, SC. About an hour away. Good guys that have built a busy dealership through word of mouth.

Most definitely a benefit! Can you give an opinion on which brake pads to use on these bikes? OEM only, or one of the numerous kevlar pads available or (?) Thanks.

EBC. Never had an issue.

I'll second that. I run their discs as well. Funny, when I bought the discs, the instructions said the warranty on them would be void if I ran any pads other than theirs. That kind of rubbed me the wrong way, but since I was already running their pads anyway, what the hell. They make good stuff.

I order from CA Cycleworks, always have had great service/support. I think their house-branded belts are as good or better than OEM, and reasonably priced. California Cycleworks, Inc. - Aftermarket Ducati Parts for Ducati Performance | ca-cycleworks.com

Timely thread. I need to do this service, valves/belt, on my ST2.

I'll second that as well. CA Cycleworks rocks. Locally, I'm lucky enough to be fairly close to Ducati of Seattle. They have recently undergone a rather tumultuous change in ownership, but their service and parts support remain outstanding.

Speaking of the two, I have a fresh set of JE pistons from CA Cycleworks on the workbench right now, and DOS has my heads for a refresh. New Kibblewhite valves, new guides and seals, etc. Both are a pleasure to deal with.

No, Beverly Hills Ducati which is probably worse. Someone told me that it's the most profitable Duc dealer in the country. Not the biggest, just the most profitable. :rolleyes: