Ducati cam belts- how difficult?

[popelli]

have been avoiding this for a while

but belts on my 900ss and wife's monster needed changing

took about an hour and a half per bike

skill level required is about the same as that for changing oil and filter

the only difficult part of the whole exercise is stumping up the exhorbident price of the belts

interestingly the tension on the belts on 900ss as set by the factory was all to hell, one way too loose and the other too tight, the monster which had previously had its belts replaced by an independant shop was spot on

[98tls]

have been avoiding this for a while

but belts on my 900ss and wife's monster needed changing

took about an hour and a half per bike

skill level required is about the same as that for changing oil and filter

the only difficult part of the whole exercise is stumping up the exhorbident price of the belts

interestingly the tension on the belts on 900ss as set by the factory was all to hell, one way too loose and the other too tight, the monster which had previously had its belts replaced by an independant shop was spot on

Out of interest how much for the belts?and at what kms did they need changing on the SS?

[Edbear]

have been avoiding this for a while

but belts on my 900ss and wife's monster needed changing

took about an hour and a half per bike

skill level required is about the same as that for changing oil and filter

the only difficult part of the whole exercise is stumping up the exhorbident price of the belts

interestingly the tension on the belts on 900ss as set by the factory was all to hell, one way too loose and the other too tight, the monster which had previously had its belts replaced by an independant shop was spot on

I'd have an air-cooled Duc for this reason. Try doing that on the liquid-cooled bikes...

[svr]

have been avoiding this for a while

but belts on my 900ss and wife's monster needed changing

took about an hour and a half per bike

skill level required is about the same as that for changing oil and filter

the only difficult part of the whole exercise is stumping up the exhorbident price of the belts

interestingly the tension on the belts on 900ss as set by the factory was all to hell, one way too loose and the other too tight, the monster which had previously had its belts replaced by an independant shop was spot on

What about valve clearances - do you do check or do those yourself?

[98tls]

What about valve clearances - do you do check or do those yourself?

I do the clearances on the TL fwiw,no big deal really,decided i would do them myself after getting the bill from the bike shop for doing them the first time.

[svr]

I do the clearances on the TL fwiw,no big deal really,decided i would do them myself after getting the bill from the bike shop for doing them the first time.

If people knew how basic it is they'd do it themselves! Also normally it's just a check and maybe 2 hrs work. I'm suspicious that people get charged for `doing the valve clearances' when they've only been checked too.
Desmo Ducks are a bit different of course...

[popelli]

Out of interest how much for the belts?and at what kms did they need changing on the SS?

on both bikes its wasn't a question of mileage, it was a question of age, they aparantly need doing every 2 years or so

the old belts looked fine - however the cost of fixing a broken belt does not make it worth while running the risk

cost 900 about £33 a pair (NZ$100)

cost 600 about £53 a pair (NZ$150)

and both belts look exactly the same you work it out, the shops can't make sense of that either

Valve clearances - left well alone neither bike has done sufficient mileage since last checked

other comments about 4 valve water cooled ducati's I agree 100% that is exactly why we have aircooled 2 valve bikes

[McJim]

I'd have an air-cooled Duc for this reason. Try doing that on the liquid-cooled bikes...

This is why I HAVE a desmodue air cooled Ducati. The valves and rockers are huge which makes working with them a lot less fiddly than a multi valve liquid cooled anything too. And for some strange reason these bikes are very reasonably priced when you take into account their handling and that intoxicating sound.

Termignoni do belts that are just as good for about 35% less by the way.:

[98tls]

on both bikes its wasn't a question of mileage, it was a question of age, they aparantly need doing every 2 years or so

the old belts looked fine - however the cost of fixing a broken belt does not make it worth while running the risk

cost 900 about £33 a pair (NZ$100)

cost 600 about £53 a pair (NZ$150)

and both belts look exactly the same you work it out, the shops can't make sense of that either

Valve clearances - left well alone neither bike has done sufficient mileage since last checked

other comments about 4 valve water cooled ducati's I agree 100% that is exactly why we have aircooled 2 valve bikes

Yea hence the Question ie kms.What could possibly happen to the belts other than adjustment after high kms every 2 years?

[Edbear]

This is why I HAVE a desmodue air cooled Ducati. The valves and rockers are huge which makes working with them a lot less fiddly than a multi valve liquid cooled anything too. And for some strange reason these bikes are very reasonably priced when you take into account their handling and that intoxicating sound.

Termignoni do belts that are just as good for about 35% less by the way.:

My picks are the 900SS and the latest GT. The later model SS's are beautiful bikes if even somewhat painful on the commute.

[98tls]

My picks are the 900SS and the latest GT. The later model SS's are beautiful bikes if even somewhat painful on the commute.

Interesting Ed,why?by later model SSs how late are you talking?Owned a few oldish ones myself and all things considered the 900SS i owned was just a desperate attempt to re-establish a market that was lost many years earlier and all said n done compared to the way earlier SS an uninspiring piece of shite.

[Edbear]

Interesting Ed,why?by later model SSs how late are you talking?Owned a few oldish ones myself and all things considered the 900SS i owned was just a desperate attempt to re-establish a market that was lost many years earlier and all said n done compared to the way earlier SS an uninspiring piece of shite.

Sorry, but FOr some reason I just like the style, the engine, the sound...

[98tls]

Sorry, but FOr some reason I just like the style, the engine, the sound...

No need for sorry,each to there own for sure.I love talking Ducatis,been a fan for a very very long time,owned a few and theres one of the best examples of a 78 900SS in the family and has been for a long time,speaking of sound ever heard a Bevel 900s Contis barking down a valley from afar,better than sexHorses for courses i guess but ive often read posts by later model Ducati owners speaking of character and other such descriptive words,for me anyway the whole Ducati thing ended when Cagiva took over and people like Ian Gowanloch wept.These days Ducatis it seems are in many cases owned with a passion similar to a fashion conscious women with a penchant for handbags.An opinion not shared by the many followers of such fashion no doubt but hey everyones allowed an opinion eh.

[molex]

Try to watch this and other video :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vzPZ84ZRjU

[Edbear]

No need for sorry,each to there own for sure.I love talking Ducatis,been a fan for a very very long time,owned a few and theres one of the best examples of a 78 900SS in the family and has been for a long time,speaking of sound ever heard a Bevel 900s Contis barking down a valley from afar,better than sexHorses for courses i guess but ive often read posts by later model Ducati owners speaking of character and other such descriptive words,for me anyway the whole Ducati thing ended when Cagiva took over and people like Ian Gowanloch wept.These days Ducatis it seems are in many cases owned with a passion similar to a fashion conscious women with a penchant for handbags.An opinion not shared by the many followers of such fashion no doubt but hey everyones allowed an opinion eh.

I also happen to know where this one is, it belongs to an old school mate of mine. Kept in his foyer under alarm and lights. Believe it or not, he actually did a trip around the SI on it!