Adjusting Ducati Desmodromic Valves

[SmithSwede]

Ok, I guess this is NGC, but it’s still a cool Italian bike.   

So I spent the weekend, off and on, checking and adjusting the desmo valves on an old 2V carbed 1996 Ducati 900 SuperSport.  Replaced a few shims.  Eventually got everything back to spec, and the bike runs great so I don’t think I botched the job. 

Frankly, I didn’t find this process to be that big of a deal.  And it will be considerably faster the next time I do this now that I’ve figured this out.   

The way people talk this is some arcane Italian voodoo that only sorcerers trained in the Desmodromic Dark Arts can perform.  And even then only if the moon is in the correct position and you have the right sort of toad for a friend. 

Of course, logically speaking the other possibility is that I have indeed transitioned to a sorcerer.   

[oldbike54]

 Does Texas require a license for sorcery ?

 Dusty

[SmithSwede]

What’s a good name for a toad?  A big fat one jumped onto my porch this weekend and he apparently plans to stay long term. 

[Devildog]

Very brave. You don't mention the belts, have you replaced them? Did they show wear? Mine are three years old but only have about 1000 miles on them, but I will inspect them this winter, and get up the nerve to check valve clearances.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Well, it was a bit more difficult/PITA when you had to pull the rocker spindles and opening rockers out (vs. just pulling a clip and sliding the rocker over).

[fotoguzzi]

What’s a good name for a toad?  A big fat one jumped onto my porch this weekend and he apparently plans to stay long term.

Gamabunta

[kirby1923]

Ouote
"Frankly, I didn’t find this process to be that big of a deal.  And it will be considerably faster the next time I do this now that I’ve figured this out. "

I have nothing against the Ducs' have owned 3..but...

I can do a complete valve check and adjustment on my Beemer (1150) in about 35 minutes.

The CX about the same..

My VFR would require more because of the faring removal (and tank). Owned 3 w/about 180K between the three and you have to remove the cams mic and find shims UGH! if they need adjustment...

Never had one (VFR) that needed to be adjusted.

?See what the fuss is about?

:-)

[oldbike54]

What’s a good name for a toad?  A big fat one jumped onto my porch this weekend and he apparently plans to stay long term.

 Male or female , W/O that vital bit of information there is no way to give this creature a good name .

 Dusty

[Gusable]

My dad has a big affection for multistrada 1100s bikes.  I might have to check the desmo’s some day.  Super cool stuff

[Idontwantapickle]

Ok, I guess this is NGC, but it’s still a cool Italian bike.   

So I spent the weekend, off and on, checking and adjusting the desmo valves on an old 2V carbed 1996 Ducati 900 SuperSport.  Replaced a few shims.  Eventually got everything back to spec, and the bike runs great so I don’t think I botched the job. 

Frankly, I didn’t find this process to be that big of a deal.  And it will be considerably faster the next time I do this now that I’ve figured this out.   

The way people talk this is some dark art that only sorcerers trained in the Desmodromic Dark Arts can perform.  And even then only if the moon is in the correct position and you have the right sort of toad for a friend. 

Of course, logically speaking the other possibility is that I have indeed transitioned to a sorcerer.

SS,

As Charlie noted the newer desmo is easier. Did you replace the keepers? Once the valves settle in from new that was usually all that was needed to get the valves back to their happy place. I haven't done one as new as yours but the Pantah and bevel engines used a simple wire keeper in the lower shim that would deform over time.

Hunter

[SmithSwede]

Male or female , W/O that vital bit of information there is no way to give this creature a good name .

 Dusty

Well, I turned him over to check sex, and the toad started cursing me in Latin.   Sounded male.   I decided not to press the issue

[SmithSwede]

Very brave. You don't mention the belts, have you replaced them? Did they show wear? Mine are three years old but only have about 1000 miles on them, but I will inspect them this winter, and get up the nerve to check valve clearances.

I Replaced the belts about 12,000 miles ago.   Old ones looked fine but I replaced them anyway. 

They looked fine this weekend.  No wear I could detect.  Just a tad looser than I had left them, so I snugged them up a bit and called it good.

[Gliderjohn]

From SmithSwede:

Well, I turned him over to check sex, and the toad started cursing me in Latin.   Sounded male.   I decided not to press the issue

May have to think of a good unisex name. Maybe just "Toad", but then I am not very creative.
GliderJohn

[Motormike]

Ah, the famous Desmo valve adjust.  I start sweating just thinking about it.  Actually, the two-valve air cooled engines aren't too bad.  But you haven't lived until you've tackled a water-cooled Desmoquattro.  I'm convinced there is a large rubber room somewhere filled with Ducati mechanics that have dropped one too many split-ring collets down into the bowes of a Desmo engine.
The shims are the easy part.  It's those damn tiny split-ring retainers Ducati uses that will drive you mad.  Just put a new set of timing belts on my ST4s.  It's still a PITA.  Everything has to come off: all body panels, seat, tank, battery, battery tray, and about a zillion fasteners.  Thank goodness I won't be doing that again for a while. As far as the belts go, they are quite robust.  I'm up to five year intervals on mine.  That's Ducati's standard on their new bikes, so it's good enough for me.

[Buckturgidson]

My dad has a big affection for multistrada 1100s bikes.  I might have to check the desmo’s some day.  Super cool stuff

The 2 valve air-cooled Ducatis are the best IMHO.

[oldbike54]

 Well then , I would give the toad a good Latin name , like Bob .

 Dusty

[rschrum]

The 4 valvers are a bit fiddley. The toad, Suzie.

[Ryan]

I looked at a bright yellow ST4 on the showroom floor. I asked about maintenance; i was informed that the valve adjustment was an every 6,000 miles and cost $600. I crapped my pants. I was riding 1000 miles a month, and the idea of putting aside $100 a month for service was too much. i asked about doing it myself, and was told there was a tool involved that cost $2500. I bought my Lemans Tenni instead, and was extremely happy with that decision. All Italian, no little red booties with matching leathers required.

[LowRyter]

My 939 SS has 9500 miles on it.  The adjustment is due at 18k.  They say the new engines aren't as bad to do as the older ones.  I am not so sure.

I can rent a kit with tools and consumables.  They also have a video and supply computation sheets to record measurements and calculate the adjustments.

I doubt if I'll tackle it.  I might sit in with my go-to guy.  Or I might pay the dealer since it's still in warranty.

[LowRyter]

I looked at a bright yellow ST4 on the showroom floor. I asked about maintenance; i was informed that the valve adjustment was an every 6,000 miles and cost $600. I crapped my pants. I was riding 1000 miles a month, and the idea of putting aside $100 a month for service was too much. i asked about doing it myself, and was told there was a tool involved that cost $2500. I bought my Lemans Tenni instead, and was extremely happy with that decision. All Italian, no little red booties with matching leathers required.

As I mentioned earlier, kits are available for rent.  And it's possible to change the various consumables and components with upgraded parts and get quite a bit more mileage.  Of course, that is a complete change out. 

http://www.ducatitoolrental.com/home.html

I understand the ST4 is one of the more difficult jobs.

[Rough Edge racing]

Ok, I guess this is NGC, but it’s still a cool Italian bike.   

So I spent the weekend, off and on, checking and adjusting the desmo valves on an old 2V carbed 1996 Ducati 900 SuperSport.  Replaced a few shims.  Eventually got everything back to spec, and the bike runs great so I don’t think I botched the job. 

Frankly, I didn’t find this process to be that big of a deal.  And it will be considerably faster the next time I do this now that I’ve figured this out.   

The way people talk this is some dark art that only sorcerers trained in the Desmodromic Dark Arts can perform.  And even then only if the moon is in the correct position and you have the right sort of toad for a friend. 

Of course, logically speaking the other possibility is that I have indeed transitioned to a sorcerer.

 It takes a bit of patience, a bit of understanding and a bucket to sit on....But some believe the stories and freak out and others don't do their own work..

[huub]

Ok, I guess this is NGC, but it’s still a cool Italian bike.   

So I spent the weekend, off and on, checking and adjusting the desmo valves on an old 2V carbed 1996 Ducati 900 SuperSport.  Replaced a few shims.  Eventually got everything back to spec, and the bike runs great so I don’t think I botched the job.

Frankly, I didn’t find this process to be that big of a deal.  And it will be considerably faster the next time I do this now that I’ve figured this out.   

The way people talk this is some dark art that only sorcerers trained in the Desmodromic Dark Arts can perform.  And even then only if the moon is in the correct position and you have the right sort of toad for a friend.

nothing hard about doing the shims ,
You were lucky you had the right shims available , if you have to order the shims and you need the bike next day the process becomes pretty annoying.
you had the modern engine where you can just slide the rocker aside, and apparently did not have to change the closing shim of the exhaust valve of the horizontal cylinder.
I have half a dozen ducati's, and absolutely hate to do the valves.
Their desmo system is a great marketing tool , but a complete pain in the ass for the home mechanic. 
worse of the 2 valves is the cagiva elefant , where you have to drop the engine to reach the valves.
I used to run a elefant as a daily transport , doing 250 km/day.
at that rhythm i had to do the valves every 8 weeks, dropping the engine every 8 weeks gets mildly annoying,
within a year i gave up spending my weekends working on my bike
I bought a guzzi le mans as my daily transport, that solved the valve adjustment issue.

Now if you get into the 4 valve ducatis , those are in a class of their own.

[rocker59]

Does Texas require a license for sorcery ?

 Dusty

Do you think it's time I added the sorcerer icon to his member profile?

[coast range rider]

Every time I adjust valves on my Guzzi I'm reminded what a pain the belts and valve adjusts were on my Multistrada. Doing Guzzi maintenance is rewarding, not a headache.

[Muzz]

Reading this makes me appreciate doing the valve clearances on the Heron head Breva 750.

[wymple]

Daryl. I've known several people named Daryl and they were all toads.......

[Rusnak_322]

currently have two 4 valve ducati's each with over 24k miles and serviced by the book, and I had another one before that I had serviced once. All done by either a Ducati dealer or a ducati specialist indy mechanic.
that is 7 valve adjustments (56 valves) and only one shim ever needed swapped out.

I normally would do this, but the tools cost a lot (not $2,500) and the shim kit is something like $300.

[oldbike54]

Do you think it's time I added the sorcerer icon to his member profile?

 He is a *Super Sorcerer* .

 Dusty

[LowRyter]

currently have two 4 valve ducati's each with over 24k miles and serviced by the book, and I had another one before that I had serviced once. All done by either a Ducati dealer or a ducati specialist indy mechanic.
that is 7 valve adjustments (56 valves) and only one shim ever needed swapped out.

I normally would do this, but the tools cost a lot (not $2,500) and the shim kit is something like $300.

Again.  For those of you so inclined, you can rent the tools and purchase consumables.   

http://www.ducatitoolrental.com/home.html

[Motormike]

I don't know what "special tools" anyone would be talking about.  Unless you consider a set of feeler gages and a micrometer "special."   No one has yet mentioned one of the things that makes the ST4 series of bikes a real maintenance headache:  Rocker arm flaking.  All the ST series (and some 749/999 bikes) are prone to having the hard chrome surface treatment on the rocker arms flake off.  So an owner really needs to pull the cams out and inspect the rocker arms for wear every other valve inspection, at a minimum.  Gee, a surface hardness problem that leads to metal flaking that can destroy the engine...that sounds awfully familiar. Who says there's no Guzzi content in this thread?