15k miles Desmo?

I went to school so I could pass the FAA tests and get my aircraft mechanics license. 30 guys in my class (all wanting to be aircraft mechanics all thinking they had what it takes most w experience w gasoline engines). When we got to the basics of a 4 stroke reciprocating engine we had to spend a week on what they called ‘a flying W’. All it was is a simple diagram showing valve timing in relation crankshaft rotation. 4 hours a day for 5 days. 20 mf hours. And some of them still did not understand when we finally moved on. With valve to piston clearance being pretty tight in these things there isn’t a lot of room for error. One tooth in the wrong direction there is gonna be contact. 4 cams/tight clearances - it’s prolly not the best motor to learn on. No matter where their trepidation level is : )

First you can’t mess the “timing up unless you loosen the timing bolts on the cam which have nothing to do with the valve check. You can mess up the cam orientation but you would really have to try to do so The cams are gear driven. On the 99s if you have to re-shim, you rotate the crank until both cam flats are parallel. There’s even a tool that hold them in place at TDC if your that sketchy. you pull the cam caps and pop the cams out. They load the drive gear from the top. TDC is impossible to miss. As long as you don’t rotate the crankshaft and install the cams back with the flat spot up you can’t mess it up. Not sure how many V2 and V4 heads you have gone through Don but these things are pretty easy to work on.

The only reason I would say this engine is easier than another would be the light valve spring pressure. That and the fact that like you said you can buy a fixture to hold the cams

Even so I picture guys like Karl ....... it up big time

It seems crazy to suggest that a guy that doesn’t wrench run out and buy tools and do it himself. Even crazier than letting a shop that had never done one before do it. Those both seem like bad ideas to me...

Why does every thread turn into a train wreck by the same guy(s)? I asked a simple question and look where we are now.

Its funny how the supposed know-it-alls on this forum like to dick swing but never offer any actual useful specific advice. While it's fun to talk like each one of us knows everything about doing the valve adjustments on these desmo motors, I've seen nothing of any actual use to anyone that's looking to do the job themselves.

How about some practical, specific advice? Checking the clearances may be same as any other valve spring engine but adjusting them is not.

If you need to adjust the closing shims on the intakes, you need a $600 special tool to remove the shims that you'll be lucky to use twice unless you race every weekend or something. Installing the intake closers requires a separate but less expensive special tool, and installing them is finicky to say the least.

If your exhaust closing shims are out of spec, order new keepers before buying new shims as the keepers wear out and increase the clearance.

These are all lessons I had to learn as I did my valve adjustment, that honestly I haven't seen anyone talk about. Maybe I missed it. Opening shims are the same as any other engine so those are easy and straightforward.

I also believe in learning and doing things yourself and would never trust a "technician" ducati certified or not to touch my bike.

Maybe providing some useful assistance instead of stating which school you went to would help more people "diy."

jeosbor1 said:

Why does every thread turn into a train wreck by the same guy(s)? I asked a simple question and look where we are now.

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I tried to help you understand the charges

Wasn’t telling you what you should do

Yeah man its why I cut way back on here the train wreck and chaos is not going away. It's too bad the guys asking for help on here get mis driven. How is Don gonna help these guys he can't even get his own .... running.

jeosbor1 said:

Why does every thread turn into a train wreck by the same guy(s)? I asked a simple question and look where we are now.

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There is a decent video out there some guy did on the shim swap. He didn’t have any special tools. He did a good job one it. Google “Ducati 1199 valve adjustment”. It’s been out there for quite a while.

endodoc said:

There is a decent video out there some guy did on the shim swap. He didn’t have any special tools. He did a good job one it. Google “Ducati 1199 valve adjustment”. It’s been out there for quite a while.

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He didnt have any special tools because he didnt adjust his intake closers. If you read in the comments section he says "pray your intake closers are in spec." Not a good way to go into a valve adjustment job, knowing beforehand you can only do half the job.

It's quite obvious you, Don, and probably no one else (active) on this forum have actually done the job in real life. Just skimmed through the service manual and are instantly an expert. "Book smarts." It's ok, the ones that like to brag about their edumacation usually are.

Anyways sorry op, hopefully you find a good dealer to do the job right at a fair price. If you (or anyone else) decides to tackle the job themselves, pm me, I'd be glad to offer pointers. I'd even be glad to rent out the tools you'd need to do your intake valves.

Ryfly, Not sure where you get your intel on your perception of peoples skills. I’ve been through quite a few of these motors. I’m on my 3rd 1299 motor build now. I build and hand assemble every piece including port work. I have the full Ducati tool kit and engine assembly set. I just finished a new 1299 SL Motor for a naked bike project. PM me if you want pics but don’t throw me into the poser category.

It ain’t what you don’t know that’ll get you in trouble...

It’s what yer sure that you know that just ain’t so : )

LOL ok Don that was prety funny. You may not be all that bad

Ryfly05 said:

He didnt have any special tools because he didnt adjust his intake closers. If you read in the comments section he says "pray your intake closers are in spec." Not a good way to go into a valve adjustment job, knowing beforehand you can only do half the job.

It's quite obvious you, Don, and probably no one else (active) on this forum have actually done the job in real life. Just skimmed through the service manual and are instantly an expert. "Book smarts." It's ok, the ones that like to brag about their edumacation usually are.

Anyways sorry op, hopefully you find a good dealer to do the job right at a fair price. If you (or anyone else) decides to tackle the job themselves, pm me, I'd be glad to offer pointers. I'd even be glad to rent out the tools you'd need to do your intake valves.

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Wondering if the special tool is needed to seperate the intake valves closing shim from the two 1/2 cone retainers that they have??

I have a set of RS heads on the table that need new seats. in the morning ill give it a shot at doing the the whole thing without any special tools and report back. Actually, Ill have the wife do it. That will make it fair.

lotus7 said:

Wondering if the special tool is needed to seperate the intake valves closing shim from the two 1/2 cone retainers that they have??

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Yes that is the whole point of the tool. The intake closing shims are pressed onto the 1/2 cones. There is another tool for the pressing, or installation.

endodoc said:

I have a set of RS heads on the table that need new seats. in the morning ill give it a shot at doing the the whole thing without any special tools and report back. Actually, Ill have the wife do it. That will make it fair.

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"On a table" nice. Try that on engine without any special tools. Don't think most are going to take the heads off for a valve adjustment.

Ryfly05 said:

Yes that is the whole point of the tool. The intake closing shims are pressed onto the 1/2 cones. There is another tool for the pressing, or installation.

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Thanks for the reply and information Ryfly05.Very helpful and interesting to me.If I could ask another one- Looking at the parts diagrams of the smaller engines ( 899 and 959) they use c rings on ALL the closing shims while on the larger 1199 and 1299 ( dont know about V4) they use a mixture of the c-rings and 1/2 cones as retainers. Does that mean the smaller engines are easier to replace the closing shims on and that you dont need any exotic tool?

Don, you got the head off and the cams out. I'm so proud of you!

I used a 7/16” deep socket to knock the intake closer shims apart from the keepers on mine

Tapped it softly a few times

Ducati sells a clutch centering tool too ya know?

Ok Ryfly you win man, Maybe post up some pics of what you are working on so we can all see how its done.