Valve Clearances Notes

Pedro · 19-02-2006, 04:19 PM

Following a couple of requests, here's my notes I wrote up a couple of years ago about setting valve clearances - DIY Stylee!

I would suggest having at least a Haynes Manual handy or even invest in a workshop manual on CD from Fleabay (or ask me nicely.....!) when you do this. Anyfeedback, let me know and I'll enhance the notes.

Ped

19-02-2006, 05:32 PM

Cheers!

19-02-2006, 05:33 PM

Excellent guide ped although I have already done mine, will keep your guide for future reference though.

Chris

19-02-2006, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedro

Anyfeedback, let me know and I'll enhance the notes.

Ped

never had to change the closing shim, don't you need 3 hands?

Shaun

Pedro · 19-02-2006, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shauns4

never had to change the closing shim, don't you need 3 hands?

Shaun

Agree it's a bit fiddly but I held the valve with a cable tie to stop it dropping a little and that seemed to work fine.

Four valvers may be a little trickier......

Ped

19-02-2006, 06:16 PM

Closer on the 4 valver is not so bad once all the gubbins is out of the way as you can lever the rocker down with a screwdriver through the cam shaft hole. Main problem with the 4 valver is access to the rear cylinder exhaust valves, easier to take the engine out, well almost.

Pedro · 19-02-2006, 06:24 PM

At least two mechanics I've spoken to about 4 valvers is that it's easier to take the heads off - much quicker and quite likely cheaper!

Ped

19-02-2006, 06:27 PM

the Haynes 916 manual also says the same!

19-02-2006, 06:39 PM

Pedro thanks for this...really appreciate it. My aim in life is now to give these thieving b*stards as little of my money as possible!

Erm, how nicely would I have to ask you if you have a workshop manual for a '98 750? I can get a 900 one no problem, but the 750 never seems to pop up.

19-02-2006, 06:40 PM

Ped, where did you get the values for the clearance from? Are they the ones from the Haynes manual? Or are they the preferred ones as used by all the dudes in the know, ie the original ones befroe Ducati decided to change them for some reason unknown to me?

Sean

Pedro · 19-02-2006, 06:51 PM

I've got the 900 version - should be albut the same.

The clearances came from a trade source - apparently Duke revised the clearances as manufacturing tolerances allowed. I used these 2 years ago with no probs and perhaps more importantly, no need to change any after 12k. miles. Only changed when I reseated the valves.

Ped

19-02-2006, 07:19 PM

The Haynes manual says this.

Inlet opening clearance 0.10 to 0.12 mm.
Exhaust opening clearance 0.12 to 0.15 mm.

Inlet closing clearance 0.03 to 0.05 mm.
Exhaust closing clearance 0.03 to 0.05 mm.

I will be looking at doing mine again this year.
I think to be honest as long as you a getting some clearance you should be ok.
If the clearance is slightly to big it will rattle a bit but if the clearance is to small or there is no clearance at all that's when you run into problems.

Or that's what I think anyway.

Norrie.

19-02-2006, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by norrie

I will be looking at doing mine again this year.
I think to be honest as long as you a getting some clearance you should be ok.
If the clearance is slightly to big it will rattle a bit but if the clearance is to small or there is no clearance at all that's when you run into problems.

Or that's what I think anyway.

Norrie.

The clearance in the Haynes manual are OK, but the ones that Ped has specified are better.
But again the glibness in your post Norrie is amazing. Ducati desmodronics are not Tonka toys...they are not hammers or chisels. They are a quite incredibly accurately constructed mechanism, entirely unique to this engine and need exacting maintenance and care. "Slightly too big"?....whats that 0.02mm, 0.2mm, 0.5mm?....."too small"?....0.002....0.001....0.0008? This is why if you are in any doubt whatsoever as to maintenance of your desmos you shouldnt even think about it and leave it to an expert....and I do mean an expert.
Sorry Norrie, no offence meant, but then as a chap I know you wont take it as such.

ta ra

crust · 19-02-2006, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fosse Foxfight

Ducati desmodronics are not Tonka toys...they are not hammers or chisels. They are a quite incredibly accurately constructed mechanism, entirely unique to this engine

Nah, its old school technology as used on old bikes ridden by men smelling of wee (

) or even worse cars built by budding Nazis

http://speedwaybikes.fortunecity.net/desmo.htm

or

http://www.teamyikes.com/desmo.html

Crust

19-02-2006, 07:59 PM

It appears that sometimes I get a tad too passionate about mechanices and the like and have even been known to call people foolish for not maintaing their machines correctly

Well, all I can say is if you aint prepared to look after your bike the way its meant to then you dont deserve it and whoever dont like that can lump it.

For those of you who love their bikes this small treatise by those superb chaps at Sigma Performance describes very nicely that little unimportant system that hides behind those sidecovers and under the little inspection covers on your cylinder heads...yes D*sm*dr*ni*cs...ssssh. Its very nicely written and indeed its written as a supplement to a Ducati circular that some of you owners of recent machines might find of interest.

http://www.sigmaperformance.com/rockers.html

19-02-2006, 06:24 PM	#7
Pedro Ciao, come stai? Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Somewhere Bike: Multiple Monsters Posts: 4,157	At least two mechanics I've spoken to about 4 valvers is that it's easier to take the heads off - much quicker and quite likely cheaper! Ped __________________ Monster 1200R! KTM 990 SuperDuke

19-02-2006, 06:40 PM	#10
Fosse Foxfight Guest Posts: n/a	Clearances? Ped, where did you get the values for the clearance from? Are they the ones from the Haynes manual? Or are they the preferred ones as used by all the dudes in the know, ie the original ones befroe Ducati decided to change them for some reason unknown to me? Sean

19-02-2006, 06:51 PM	#11
Pedro Ciao, come stai? Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Somewhere Bike: Multiple Monsters Posts: 4,157	I've got the 900 version - should be albut the same. The clearances came from a trade source - apparently Duke revised the clearances as manufacturing tolerances allowed. I used these 2 years ago with no probs and perhaps more importantly, no need to change any after 12k. miles. Only changed when I reseated the valves. Ped __________________ Monster 1200R! KTM 990 SuperDuke

19-02-2006, 07:59 PM	#15
Fosse Foxfight Guest Posts: n/a	Rockers...who needs em It appears that sometimes I get a tad too passionate about mechanices and the like and have even been known to call people foolish for not maintaing their machines correctly Well, all I can say is if you aint prepared to look after your bike the way its meant to then you dont deserve it and whoever dont like that can lump it. For those of you who love their bikes this small treatise by those superb chaps at Sigma Performance describes very nicely that little unimportant system that hides behind those sidecovers and under the little inspection covers on your cylinder heads...yes Dsmdrnics...ssssh. Its very nicely written and indeed its written as a supplement to a Ducati circular that some of you owners of recent machines might find of interest. http://www.sigmaperformance.com/rockers.html

19-02-2006, 05:33 PM	#3
Sparky Guest Posts: n/a	Excellent guide ped although I have already done mine, will keep your guide for future reference though. Chris

19-02-2006, 06:16 PM	#6
Shauns4 Guest Posts: n/a	Closer on the 4 valver is not so bad once all the gubbins is out of the way as you can lever the rocker down with a screwdriver through the cam shaft hole. Main problem with the 4 valver is access to the rear cylinder exhaust valves, easier to take the engine out, well almost.

19-02-2006, 06:27 PM	#8
Shauns4 Guest Posts: n/a	the Haynes 916 manual also says the same!

19-02-2006, 06:39 PM	#9
eonan Guest Posts: n/a	Pedro thanks for this...really appreciate it. My aim in life is now to give these thieving b*stards as little of my money as possible! Erm, how nicely would I have to ask you if you have a workshop manual for a '98 750? I can get a 900 one no problem, but the 750 never seems to pop up.

19-02-2006, 07:19 PM	#12
norrie Guest Posts: n/a	The Haynes manual says this. Inlet opening clearance 0.10 to 0.12 mm. Exhaust opening clearance 0.12 to 0.15 mm. Inlet closing clearance 0.03 to 0.05 mm. Exhaust closing clearance 0.03 to 0.05 mm. I will be looking at doing mine again this year. I think to be honest as long as you a getting some clearance you should be ok. If the clearance is slightly to big it will rattle a bit but if the clearance is to small or there is no clearance at all that's when you run into problems. Or that's what I think anyway. Norrie.