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GrufRude · 05-13-2005, 04:16 AM

Can't speak from experience, but machines are machines. Check this link:

http://www.sportrider.com/tech/146_9504_hand/

A quick google turns up a bunch of other links, but the job doesn't look overly difficult for a reasonably competent home mechanic.

tomk2 · 05-13-2005, 05:12 AM

This Ducati valve thing is one of the most over-rated maintenance tasks in motorcycling. It must be one of the salesperson talking points that they teach at BMW, Honda, etc

One of my best friends and riding buddies has two Ducs with Desmoquattro (4 valve) engines, he does all his own service... those things are a bit more pain in the ass but having assisted on those I'd have no qualms about doing a nice simple two valve Duc myself.

On a naked bike like a Monster or Multistrada it'd probably take me 6 hours the first time I touched the bike, 2-3 hours after that. Notice that Ducati does a nice job of enginnering the access you need to the heads... removal of gas tank, fairings, etc.

P.S. The service interval may be 5,000 miles but when you check the tolerances it's unlikely that more than a couple valves will be out of spec

allbikesbiker · 05-13-2005, 05:43 AM

What a coincidence.

Someone asked that same question on another forum I belong to.

answered by posting links:

http://www.ducatisuite.com/valves

http://www.ducatitech.com/

http://www.ducatimonster.org/smf/ind...c,21994.0.html

I'm mildly interested in it too, although I think I'll let the dealer do the 6K service on the 999 just to see how hard they wack me with the bill.

maladg · 05-13-2005, 05:47 AM

That Sport Rider link article was good. And speaks to a truth....hi-rez black & white photos are the bees knees for illustrating how to.

Now I'm nostalgic for CYCLE mag...again.

longride · 05-13-2005, 07:28 AM

WWBD What Would Buz Do??

yo-me-mo · 05-13-2005, 09:08 AM

I thought I saw something on ducatis site that said values are adjusted every 10,000 on a st3. I was thinking about it also since they are offering 2.9 % financing.

mscuddy · 05-13-2005, 10:22 AM

Nice to know it's not that complicated. You've got a follower for each valve actuation, right? (I'm looking at a desmo setup from 750cc Osca at the moment). How do you adjust ? Shims?

Thanks for the link on the M8E. I use to see that car in my dad's garage in Hidden Hills, remember the big fuel injection stacks. Awsome car. Formula libre. Like a P Wagen or W125.

oleland · 05-13-2005, 03:02 PM

Although I have not done a Duc valve check yet I do plan on doing the valves on my Multistrada.I think because they have an opening rocker and a closing rocker people think they are more complicated,but I think a little more time consuming would be more accurate. I think removing the bodywork and just getting to the valves can be very time consuming on any machine.My old 16 valve Suzuki was very tedious to check valves on also.

tomk2 · 05-13-2005, 04:19 PM

Yeah, shims

It was a blast looking at all the old race stuff Hemmings had for sale... if I were a billionaire I'd prolly have a pretty big garage with a lot of $hit in it

sliphorn · 05-13-2005, 04:37 PM

Martin Brickwood--www.mbpducati.com has replacement collets that allow 18,000 mile valve adjustment intervals, or so he claims. Anyone know about these?

05-13-2005, 04:16 AM	#1
GrufRude Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 52	Re: Valve adjust on a Duc? Can't speak from experience, but machines are machines. Check this link: http://www.sportrider.com/tech/146_9504_hand/ A quick google turns up a bunch of other links, but the job doesn't look overly difficult for a reasonably competent home mechanic.

05-13-2005, 05:12 AM	#2
tomk2 Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 514	Re: Valve adjust on a Duc? This Ducati valve thing is one of the most over-rated maintenance tasks in motorcycling. It must be one of the salesperson talking points that they teach at BMW, Honda, etc One of my best friends and riding buddies has two Ducs with Desmoquattro (4 valve) engines, he does all his own service... those things are a bit more pain in the ass but having assisted on those I'd have no qualms about doing a nice simple two valve Duc myself. On a naked bike like a Monster or Multistrada it'd probably take me 6 hours the first time I touched the bike, 2-3 hours after that. Notice that Ducati does a nice job of enginnering the access you need to the heads... removal of gas tank, fairings, etc. P.S. The service interval may be 5,000 miles but when you check the tolerances it's unlikely that more than a couple valves will be out of spec

05-13-2005, 05:43 AM	#3
allbikesbiker Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 179	Re: Valve adjust on a Duc? What a coincidence. Someone asked that same question on another forum I belong to. answered by posting links: http://www.ducatisuite.com/valves http://www.ducatitech.com/ http://www.ducatimonster.org/smf/ind...c,21994.0.html I'm mildly interested in it too, although I think I'll let the dealer do the 6K service on the 999 just to see how hard they wack me with the bill.

05-13-2005, 05:47 AM	#4
maladg Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Rock throwing distance from Home Despot HQ Posts: 1,141	Re: Valve adjust on a Duc? That Sport Rider link article was good. And speaks to a truth....hi-rez black & white photos are the bees knees for illustrating how to. Now I'm nostalgic for CYCLE mag...again.

05-13-2005, 07:28 AM	#5
longride Super Duper Mod Man Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Anywhere they let me Posts: 10,484	Re: Valve adjust on a Duc? WWBD What Would Buz Do?? __________________ I'm a knucklehead

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05-13-2005, 09:08 AM	#6
yo-me-mo Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 43	Re: Valve adjust on a Duc? I thought I saw something on ducatis site that said values are adjusted every 10,000 on a st3. I was thinking about it also since they are offering 2.9 % financing.

05-13-2005, 10:22 AM	#7
mscuddy MODERATOR X Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Next to my still checkin the temp. Posts: 5,444	Re: Valve adjust on a Duc? Nice to know it's not that complicated. You've got a follower for each valve actuation, right? (I'm looking at a desmo setup from 750cc Osca at the moment). How do you adjust ? Shims? Thanks for the link on the M8E. I use to see that car in my dad's garage in Hidden Hills, remember the big fuel injection stacks. Awsome car. Formula libre. Like a P Wagen or W125. __________________ A gun is a tool, Marian; no better or no worse than any other tool: an axe, a shovel or anything. A gun is as good or as bad as the man using it. Remember that.

05-13-2005, 03:02 PM	#8
oleland Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 35	Re: Valve adjust on a Duc? Although I have not done a Duc valve check yet I do plan on doing the valves on my Multistrada.I think because they have an opening rocker and a closing rocker people think they are more complicated,but I think a little more time consuming would be more accurate. I think removing the bodywork and just getting to the valves can be very time consuming on any machine.My old 16 valve Suzuki was very tedious to check valves on also. __________________ brn2rd

05-13-2005, 04:19 PM	#9
tomk2 Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 514	Re: Valve adjust on a Duc? Yeah, shims It was a blast looking at all the old race stuff Hemmings had for sale... if I were a billionaire I'd prolly have a pretty big garage with a lot of $hit in it

05-13-2005, 04:37 PM	#10
sliphorn Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 179	Re: Valve adjust on a Duc? Martin Brickwood--www.mbpducati.com has replacement collets that allow 18,000 mile valve adjustment intervals, or so he claims. Anyone know about these?