Has anyone attempted a Valve adjustment?

Ok,
So I just got done reading another thread on the 15,000 mile service which brings on the dreaded valve adjustment and cost for it. My questions is this, has anyone attempted to perform a valve adjustment in their garage? My buddy and I have done ours in the past on his 998 and my 999. He went to school to learn how, but he is just a road worker and im a machinist. So has anyone attempted this yet? Im only at 2,200 miles so im way off from it....but I think once I get there ill try it.

Nope - i'm not brave enough

tstephenson said:

Nope - i'm not brave enough

Click to expand...

Me neither, but I keep wondering if my fear is completely irrational. I mean how hard can it really be? I think, like anything else with these bikes, the real issue will be everything you have to remove to get to the actual bit needing the work. You are a couple hours away from me, but if you guys decide to do this one day on a weekend I may drive up and bring the beer and camera.

Do you guys have all the stuff you need or are you going to rent it? I know you used to be able to rent the stuff online for the 1098, but I can't remember the source off the top of my head.

EDIT - this is the one I was thinking of - http://ducatitoolrental.com/

chsnprodigy said:

Ok,
So I just got done reading another thread on the 15,000 mile service which brings on the dreaded valve adjustment and cost for it. My questions is this, has anyone attempted to perform a valve adjustment in their garage? My buddy and I have done ours in the past on his 998 and my 999. He went to school to learn how, but he is just a road worker and im a machinist. So has anyone attempted this yet? Im only at 2,200 miles so im way off from it....but I think once I get there ill try it.

Click to expand...

I would be really surprised if they needed doing even at 15,000 miles inlet valves have the taper collets that never seem to go out of adjustment

So are dealers charging the same to inspect the valves as they are to adjust them?? I mean.. once you get to the point where you can check them are you at the same point where you can adjust them also??

DDS available yet?

...but guys, enen if you perform your own valve clearance check you still need DDS (Ducati Diagnosis System) to clear the service light.

I highly doubt a dealer would clear it for you having not done the check them selves.

The question is, has anybody aquired a copy of the DDS or duplicate yet?

The new Ducati DDS is a TEXA instrument. You would have to be a dealer to get the one assigned to Ducati and you would have to be a dealer to get the frequent updates.

MV and Aprilia use the TEXA also, but they will not work in the Ducati application.

There you go ruining it for me. Every time I think "i've got this" something comes up and I throw in the towel and take it in for service. I guess another potential issue is resale. Do you think the guy buying it from you down the road will trust that you have done all the desmo services correctly yourself?

Capt CF said:

There you go ruining it for me. Every time I think "i've got this" something comes up and I throw in the towel and take it in for service. I guess another potential issue is resale. Do you think the guy buying it from you down the road will trust that you have done all the desmo services correctly yourself?

Click to expand...

Good question, but the issue of clearing the service light still exists.

If you have the equipment to do the diagnostics and clear the light, then id trust that you smart enought to do the check/adjustment correctly.

That being said, i'd never buy a used Ducati from private party...at least buying from a dealer more than likely they've taken the time to over the bike abd make sure its up to date.

In closing, my dealer already assured me that by 15K miles this bike will probably not need any adjustment...hopefully the service techs around the world will have integrity and not charge you out tha ... for service not needed.

I REFUSE TO PAY $1800 FOR ANY SERVICE !! I'd ride that ..... with the service light on forever lol...or until 30K miles, if my bike even makes it to 15K miles haha

We have the right equipment to do the valve adjustments on the 998, 999 and 01 Aprilia Mille R. He has over 45,000 miles on his 998 so hes done the valve adjustment a couple of times. With the 998/999/Mille R checking and adjusting the valves was just a matter of measuring the shims with a micrometer, measuring the clearance in the valves with shims, doing the math to bring it back into spec and going to buy the shims to correc the clearances. Attention to detail was the key thing, but between him (gun freak, state highway worker) and I (Quality assurance for DoD, machinist in the AF) we have done it flawleslly and have had no problems.

edit: I just clicked the link for the ducati rental tool link....we use normal hand tools with micrometers and shims. The harmonic belt toll thingy...now that cracked me up. The school he went to basicly told him to measure the flex (just like a chain) and if it doesnt flex that much its good. I forgot the name of the school but ill have to ask him.

The way ive always looked at motorcycles is that they are machines, nothing more nothing less. Ive worked on F-15's that are complicated, why not a Ducati? This is my thought process. And as far as the service light....ive been riding with mine on for 500 miles.

Capt CF said:

Me neither, but I keep wondering if my fear is completely irrational. I mean how hard can it really be? I think, like anything else with these bikes, the real issue will be everything you have to remove to get to the actual bit needing the work. You are a couple hours away from me, but if you guys decide to do this one day on a weekend I may drive up and bring the beer and camera.

Do you guys have all the stuff you need or are you going to rent it? I know you used to be able to rent the stuff online for the 1098, but I can't remember the source off the top of my head.

EDIT - this is the one I was thinking of - Welcome

Click to expand...

chsnprodigy said:

We have the right equipment to do the valve adjustments on the 998, 999 and 01 Aprilia Mille R. He has over 45,000 miles on his 998 so hes done the valve adjustment a couple of times. With the 998/999/Mille R checking and adjusting the valves was just a matter of measuring the shims with a micrometer, measuring the clearance in the valves with shims, doing the math to bring it back into spec and going to buy the shims to correc the clearances. Attention to detail was the key thing, but between him (gun freak, state highway worker) and I (Quality assurance for DoD, machinist in the AF) we have done it flawleslly and have had no problems.

edit: I just clicked the link for the ducati rental tool link....we use normal hand tools with micrometers and shims. The harmonic belt toll thingy...now that cracked me up. The school he went to basicly told him to measure the flex (just like a chain) and if it doesnt flex that much its good. I forgot the name of the school but ill have to ask him.

The way ive always looked at motorcycles is that they are machines, nothing more nothing less. Ive worked on F-15's that are complicated, why not a Ducati? This is my thought process. And as far as the service light....ive been riding with mine on for 500 miles.

Click to expand...

I feel the same as you do - it's definitely not rocket science. Come on, you aren't using a harmonic belt tension measuring device?? I remember reading a thread once where people were downloading an app to an iPhone or Droid and using that to measure the frequency to see if it was in spec. Too funny.

I remember him telling me about people doing that with there iphone. haha The school he went to was BCM Ducati in NH, but they have since shut down. Well if no one has attempted this by the time I get to 15,000 miles...which could be in about 5 years....ill post a right up on how I did the vlave adjustment.

Here's a pretty good writeup I remember reading about a dude that did a 1098.

Ducati 1098/SF Valve Adjust - ADVrider

Yup, torn apart the internals of the 1098 look just like the 998/999 engine. Thats a good wright up though. A lot of people are scared because you breaking into a Ducati engine, yes care needs to be taken, but its something that can be accomplished by a level header person with some mechanical background. But im still curious if anyone on this forum has attempted it or seen it attempted by a Ducati tech?

I'm not sure how much the valve check procedure has changed now that it's got a timing chain.

I'd not attempt it until I had the shop manual.

this is the solution to not having ducati tool but it's not available for 1199 yet

Diagnostic & Tuning Products :: TechnoResearch Inc

i've seen the ducati mechanic up in indy at the GP last year taking the whole motor apart.
i think with the gears interlocked on the cams before connected to the chain, we're pretty well set on going on to the valves. it didn't look too complicated... i mean compared to belts on the cams.
desmodromic specific issues apart from that...

see page 39:http://issuu.com/ducatiomaha/docs/2012_1199panigale_ducatiomaha?viewMode=magazine&mode=embed



i still don't get it why the motor needs to get out of the "frame" , well, might have to take a 2nd look

Phil said:

i've seen the ducati mechanic up in indy at the GP last year taking the whole motor apart.
i think with the gears interlocked on the cams before connected to the chain, we're pretty well set on going on to the valves. it didn't look too complicated... i mean compared to belts on the cams.
desmodromic specific issues apart from that...

see page 39:2012_1199Panigale_DucatiOmaha

i still don't get it why the motor needs to get out of the "frame" , well, might have to take a 2nd look

Click to expand...

Well Phil I wouldnt say the engine has to be removed per-say, but you'll have to remove seat/tail/subframe, tank/airbox and radiator...that where the bulk of the cost is in labor.

The swingarm and head should remain intact so, it's not a complete removal of engine..as I seen someone else suggest, they're going to remove the engine themself and take it to dealer for clearance check HAHA !!

Unless the service managaer your daddy, no shop would do this lol.

Stw said:

So are dealers charging the same to inspect the valves as they are to adjust them?? I mean.. once you get to the point where you can check them are you at the same point where you can adjust them also??

Click to expand...

Times quoted in the service schedule are worst case scenario meaning clearances need changing =it should be less if they dont need adjusting
also if they need new shims there is a Ducati tool to remove the taper collets without taking the heads off which would cost over £300

DUCENZO said:

Well Phil I wouldnt say the engine has to be removed per-say, but you'll have to remove seat/tail/subframe, tank/airbox and radiator...that where the bulk of the cost is in labor.

The swingarm and head should remain intact so, it's not a complete removal of engine..as I seen someone else suggest, they're going to remove the engine themself and take it to dealer for clearance check HAHA !!

Unless the service managaer your daddy, no shop would do this lol.

Click to expand...

That was me, LOL! My approach to life is : think the unthinkable...
But you're right. Especially when still under warranty...