Ducati maintenance

[Voltaire]

The chain on the 900ssie needs replacing, so while it was up on the hoist thought I'd have a look at the valve clearances.
Did the usual internet research and even watched the You Tube video on it.
Looks easy enough.....
so all you have to do is:

remove fairing
remove tank
remove battery
remove rear shock
remove oil cooler
remove spark plugs
remove valve covers
remove crank shaft cover and fit engine turner.
find TDC a couple of times
insert feeler guages a few time
then again and press down on the closers
do a couple of sums
as it happened all in spec so no removing of shims and the like...whew.
Reassemble.

and now back to the chain....I wonder if I need to take off the swingarm or wil the chain need to be joined with a riveter.....hmmmmmm.
New chain and sprocket set from Haldanes next....gold x ring...what ever that is....

[7mmWSM]

A new chain is not joined all the way around and will come with a joining link. Either a C clip or a rivit style clip which requires a special tool to press on.
So simple question is, no you wont need to remove the swingarm. Make sure you put the joining link on the right way too!

[Richard Mc F]

Hey John.....rivet link ONLY.........and be greatfull y' dont have an S2, valve clearances, remove engine..........

[Voltaire]

A new chain is not joined all the way around and will come with a joining link. Either a C clip or a rivit style clip which requires a special tool to press on.
So simple question is, no you wont need to remove the swingarm. Make sure you put the joining link on the right way too!

Cheers.....
I was reading up on chains and I'm used to the link with the clip, but it sounded like that was 'old skool' and not done these days.
I wonder if the bike shop will lend/hire me the rivet tool as I imagine a hammer and dolly would be concidered rough.

As for the joining like and right way around I found a great memory jogger on a US site " the comet clip" ....makes sense I thought..

[Voltaire]

Hey John.....rivet link ONLY.........and be greatfull y' dont have an S2, valve clearances, remove engine..........

rivet link....I thought S2's had leather belts

[98tls]

Hey John.....rivet link ONLY.........and be greatfull y' dont have an S2, valve clearances, remove engine..........

Out of interest,how often between doing them?

[Voltaire]

Out of interest,how often between doing them?

Book says every 10000kms. I bought the bike last Sept with 17k on it from the local dealer as a mint Jap import. For some reason I thought it might have had a full service prior to sale
I was too spellbound by the red paint....the sound and the carbon fibre bling to ask sensible questions.

However I took a look at the belts at 22k and they were past their best by date , the clearance was huge and the rusty spark plugs were I think the originals.
I suspect I might be first to take the valve covers off too.

So can't really answer your question.
Any Ducati owners out there have any thoughts?

[98tls]

I was too spellbound by the red paint....

As i was when i bought my first one,nothing else mattered other than it be red and have Ducati on the tank.

[madmartin]

As i was when i bought my first one,nothing else mattered other than it be red and have Ducati on the tank.

bugger, so when my one is silver what does that mean? As for the maintenace issue i bet your clutch didn't try to chew off your foot 150k from home...

[LBD]

The chain on the 900ssie needs replacing,

and now back to the chain....I wonder if I need to take off the swingarm or wil the chain need to be joined with a riveter.....hmmmmmm.
New chain and sprocket set from Haldanes next....gold x ring...what ever that is....

The chain is just as easy as a Ducati valve set with the bike on the stand....

Starting at he front, remove front wheel
remove front brakes
remove forks
remove tank and seat
remove exhaust
undo engine mounts and drop engine out and....
the chain should then be right in front of you