Safety-wired Valve-cover bolts for 899/1199

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Styler

Styler

Supporting Member
Joined
Apr 3, 2012
Messages
1,088
Location
NW Arkansas, USA
Many of us have had our valve cover bolts loosen up a bit and, as a result, some oil leakage around the gaskets from either the front, rear or both cylinders. It was explained to me by a Ducati tech that there is so much power from this V-twin one can only expect the entire engine to move around quite a bit and be somewhat structurally fluid/dynamic; so it is no surprise that things come loose.

That said, I've noticed that some of the Panigales prepped for racing have had the valve-cover bolts drilled and safety wired to help address this problem.

My bike is ready for its 15,000-mile service after the last couple of track days at the end of October and so I've asked the shop to safety-wire the valve cover bolts when when everything is apart for the 15,000-mile service. All I have to do is supply the mechanic with pre-drilled bolts when I drop off the bike for service.

The bad news; I have not been able to source pre-drilled bolts for the valve covers. The good news; ProBolt USA said they'd make up a set if I can provide the specs for the bolts.

The ask:
  1. Does anybody have the specs for the bolts that secure the manifold covers? (material, head style, thread and thread pitch, length)
  2. Number of bolts? (all the same length?)

Anyway, I would be grateful if anybody can provide this information. I'm sure ProBolt would love to make this "bolt kit" available to others.
 
Last edited:
Styler said:
Many of us have had our valve cover bolts loosen up a bit and, as a result, some oil leakage around the gaskets from either the front, rear or both cylinders. It was explained to me by a Ducati tech that there is so much power from this V-twin one can only expect the entire engine to move around quite a bit and be somewhat structurally fluid/dynamic; so it is no surprise that things come loose.

That said, I've noticed that some of the Panigales prepped for racing have had the valve-cover bolts drilled and safety wired to help address this problem.

My bike is ready for its 15,000-mile service after the last couple of track days at the end of October and so I've asked the shop to safety-wire the valve cover bolts when when everything is apart for the 15,000-mile service. All I have to do is supply the mechanic with pre-drilled bolts when I drop off the bike for service.

The bad news; I have not been able to source pre-drilled bolts for the valve covers. The good news; ProBolt USA said they'd make up a set if I can provide the specs for the bolts.

The ask:
  1. Does anybody have the specs for the bolts that secure the manifold covers? (material, head style, thread and thread pitch, length)
  2. Number of bolts? (all the same length?)

Anyway, I would be grateful if anybody can provide this information. I'm sure ProBolt would love to make this "bolt kit" available to others.
Click to expand...

If you look up the parts fiche can you get the sizes off that ? I know Ducati Omaha website has parts listed. Perhaps the Torque list in the mechanical section is also a place to look it up.

I will look on my torque list later in the garage.
 
Styler said:
Many of us have had our valve cover bolts loosen up a bit and, as a result, some oil leakage around the gaskets from either the front, rear or both cylinders. It was explained to me by a Ducati tech that there is so much power from this V-twin one can only expect the entire engine to move around quite a bit and be somewhat structurally fluid/dynamic; so it is no surprise that things come loose.

That said, I've noticed that some of the Panigales prepped for racing have had the valve-cover bolts drilled and safety wired to help address this problem.

My bike is ready for its 15,000-mile service after the last couple of track days at the end of October and so I've asked the shop to safety-wire the valve cover bolts when when everything is apart for the 15,000-mile service. All I have to do is supply the mechanic with pre-drilled bolts when I drop off the bike for service.

The bad news; I have not been able to source pre-drilled bolts for the valve covers. The good news; ProBolt USA said they'd make up a set if I can provide the specs for the bolts.

The ask:
  1. Does anybody have the specs for the bolts that secure the manifold covers? (material, head style, thread and thread pitch, length)
  2. Number of bolts? (all the same length?)

Anyway, I would be grateful if anybody can provide this information. I'm sure ProBolt would love to make this "bolt kit" available to others.
Click to expand...

Had a quick look on the torque list and it looks like 33mm length 1mm pitch and it was either M8 or 6 but easy for you to have a look. You would have to look at the parts fiche to see how many.
 
I'd try though to keep them bolted, drill the heads and wire them installed.

Might not be a good idea to relieve pressure on the gasket
 
Phl said:
I'd try though to keep them bolted, drill the heads and wire them installed.

Might not be a good idea to relieve pressure on the gasket
Click to expand...

The bike is going in to the shop for its 15,000-mile service soon. I'll have them replace the OEM bolts with these when they put it back together.
 
Styler said:
The bike is going in to the shop for its 15,000-mile service soon. I'll have them replace the OEM bolts with these when they put it back together.
Click to expand...

Had a look at the bolts

For Horizontal Head
4 x Special Screw 779.1.697.1B
1 x 779.1.644.1b

For the vertical it looks like only four of the 697, I do not see the fifth one in the diagram. It does not show the sizes though. You can match that from the torque list though. If the dealer has these in stock then you can just measure them and then order your Proti ones. Proti sell predrilled in any size you just will have to maybe shave 2 mil off a 35 mm long one.
 
Hmm, different bolts, even dependent on whether you have the v-cylinder side covers installed or not.

If it could be reduced to two types of bolts (I think that would work), I would produce a Titanium kit of race-specs cover screws. But this would mean that the look for people who do not have the v-cyl side panels installed will be a bit irritating, since there will be a visible thread on top of the screws.

Also the safety wire would have to be sheath with shrinking tubes to avoid harming the magnesium covers.
 
I use safety wire on damn near everything in aviation, and aerospace everything.
It's definitely a great idea for the more important components, but as you have noted, difficult to find the appropriate hardware.

I'm going to be torque striping all of the hardware on my bike with a TEC sharpie marker for visual indication of anything loosening.
 
tehshayne said:
I use safety wire on damn near everything in aviation, and aerospace everything.
It's definitely a great idea for the more important components, but as you have noted, difficult to find the appropriate hardware.

I'm going to be torque striping all of the hardware on my bike with a TEC sharpie marker for visual indication of anything loosening.
Click to expand...

so you want to do a visual check on all bolts before every ride?

valve covers for example are crucial, but not accessible.
 
I sure don't, but on the occasion I do give the bike a once over it'll be a whole lot easier to recognize a broken torque stripe, versus a barely loose fastener.

You have a good point about the valve covers though. Some great locking fasteners, or safety wire would be optimal.

Phl said:
so you want to do a visual check on all bolts before every ride?

valve covers for example are crucial, but not accessible.
Click to expand...
 
Gecko said:
Hmm, different bolts, even dependent on whether you have the v-cylinder side covers installed or not.

If it could be reduced to two types of bolts (I think that would work), I would produce a Titanium kit of race-specs cover screws. But this would mean that the look for people who do not have the v-cyl side panels installed will be a bit irritating, since there will be a visible thread on top of the screws.

Also the safety wire would have to be sheath with shrinking tubes to avoid harming the magnesium covers.
Click to expand...

I'd buy a kit; but not if it was engineered to fit with the v-cyl side panels in place.

I never installed the plastic v-cyl side panels when they came out as a recall "fix" for the supposed heat problem. I thought it was far more important to be able to tell if the valve cover bolts had come loose and the engine blowing oil.

Heat is not an issue if you are on the track and riding in leathers.
Besides, the v-cyl side panels are damn ugly, and that's a fact.
 
I couldn't agree more with you (just one exception: this stupid ugly panels are beautifully made on the SL in CF).

But I'm sure I got your point. Let's see whether others chime in.
 
I'll take a set without the side panels installed. my engine is going to be under the knife for blue printing in a few weeks.
 
bradp51 said:
Had a look at the bolts

For Horizontal Head
4 x Special Screw 779.1.697.1B
1 x 779.1.644.1b

For the vertical it looks like only four of the 697, I do not see the fifth one in the diagram.
Click to expand...

Thanks Brad.
I'm not sure of the nomenclature for bolts/screws so I do not know how to interpret your information; other than repeating it back to some one who does. I assume if I go to a supplier and regurgitate the above, they'll know what I need.

Here is what I have from the Ducati Torque specs, reprinted from the Ducati Tech's online "manual." I'm not even sure if I am referencing the correct bolts, since no diagram is provided.

HEADS
  1. Head cover retaining screw: Length =33 mm, Thread pitch = M6X1
  2. Horizontal head cover special retaining screw: Thread length 33 mm, Thread Pitch M6X1
  3. Timing side head retaining screw: Thread length = 35 mm, Thread pitch = M6X1

Brad: does this jive with what you have posted?
 
@styler and Ljuice26:
V-cyl is not a problem, but H-cyl...
I don't know how much I have to remove from the bike to get access to the bolts.
 

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