Hi guys. I'm trying to install clip-ons on my 2005 Ducati Monster 620, and I am stuck at removing the top triple clamp. I have the 2 fork nuts out but the center nut (near the ignition assembly) has only been loosened. I can't get it out all the way without removing the ignition assembly, which I don't know how to do. I think since it is completely loosened, the triple clamp should come off. But it won't budge when I smack it with my mallet. What is keeping my triple clamp stuck on the forks?
Here's a photo showing the center nut near the ignition assembly loosened but not removed:
(http://i.imgur.com/xKZJj.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/CMmsv.jpg)
Thanks again for the help.
I would try adjusting the screws that allow for the handle bar to turn. By doing that you could get the handle bar to turn a hair more and perhaps that will help you get that screw out fully and slide that upper triple right off. There is two screws, one for the left and one for the right, so figure out which one you need to adjust. They are located right above the lower tripple if I am not mistaken.
ok i thought i was going nuts but you posted the same thing in two different places.
haha.. as you can see I am desperate
yea stuff like that is frowned upon here. delete one of them please.
don't think you shouldn't have to remove that screw
loose should be good enough
have you used penetrating oil around the fork tubes and center clamp?
i use a 2' wood 2x2 so i can smack the backside of the top tree from down by the front tire
I just tried some simple green in all the good spots and it didn't seem to do much. I don't really have access to hit it from down by the front tire like you said. I still have my headlight on which is blocking it. I'm hitting in on the side where the fork is. I'm stuck on how to get this triple off. Something is definitely keeping it stuck in place. Does anyone know how to get the ignition assembly off? If you look in the first pic, there are 2 brass nuts. I'm not sure how to remove those. Getting this off should help me get that center clamp nut out.
I think I found the two screws for adjusting the handlebar turning. If I want to the bars to turn more to the right (if sitting properly on the bike), which screw do I adjust?
I thought the triples were held together by the special-tool-requiring nut... the thing that the pinch screw keeps from turning.
Quote from: nedliv on September 22, 2012, 10:21:51 PM
I think I found the two screws for adjusting the handlebar turning. If I want to the bars to turn more to the right (if sitting properly on the bike), which screw do I adjust?
If you found them, it should be self evident. if not then keep looking otherwise step away from the bike.
Quote from: Dirty Duc on September 22, 2012, 10:34:21 PM
I thought the triples were held together by the special-tool-requiring nut... the thing that the pinch screw keeps from turning.
that only holds the bottom triple to the frame. the ppinch bolt is used to hold the top triple to that fancy headtube nut.
Run the center clamp bolt back in until it's out of the way, but not tight.
Get the weight off the front wheel, a frontstand that lifts at the bottom triple is best.
Quote from: He Man on September 23, 2012, 02:18:22 AM
that only holds the bottom triple to the frame. the ppinch bolt is used to hold the top triple to that fancy headtube nut.
Shows what I know. I haven't taken that apart yet.
I also got confused by this beeing posted in two places ???
Anyway, do you still have the hedlight and headlight "U" bracket on? In that case, it could be either the "U" bracket pins / bushes beeing stubborn, or the steel wire bracket thing holding the ambient pressure sensor holding the top triple back.
Does that thing circled in red have to be taken out, how would I do that?
That part is connected to the headlamp reservoir. Autozone sells a vaccum kit pump kit so you can drain it before you remove it. It runs on DOT3 fluid which can strip paint if it touches your wheel, so be careful. Once you drain the fluid, you have to take the stabilizing fluid out of the gauges too. Its like a compass to stabilize the needle, same procedure as before. After that its a pretty simple task of just disconnecting the headlamp wires and then using some WD-40 and drill to remove the top triple.
^^^ Thanks!
@ O.P.
I don't mean to discourage you, but maybe you should get someone who knows what they're doing to help you out, show you where everything is, and how everything works.
I'm guessing you also don't have a repair manual. Might want to look into getting one.
you dont need a repair manual, just a hand vaccum pump and my instructions. I didnt just shoehorn a EVO1100 motor into S2R1000 without knowing a thing or two about changing triples. You know how many ccs i had to take out of my gauges before i could remove it? 2,000cc. thats a 2Liter of coke man. Give me a break. [roll]
i'm thinking i might have to install these clip-ons above the triple. this thing is too difficult to get off. and if I install on top of the triple there will be some extra room such that the clip-on clamp will not be fully wrapped around the forks (since I can't lower the triple that much)
Quote from: He Man on September 23, 2012, 05:28:07 PM
That part is connected to the headlamp reservoir. Autozone sells a vaccum kit pump kit so you can drain it before you remove it. It runs on DOT3 fluid which can strip paint if it touches your wheel, so be careful. Once you drain the fluid, you have to take the stabilizing fluid out of the gauges too. Its like a compass to stabilize the needle, same procedure as before. After that its a pretty simple task of just disconnecting the headlamp wires and then using some WD-40 and drill to remove the top triple.
25 seconds in...
Get yourself a new map (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgvyparsP0c#)
Quote from: nedliv on September 23, 2012, 06:10:26 PM
i'm thinking i might have to install these clip-ons above the triple. this thing is too difficult to get off. and if I install on top of the triple there will be some extra room such that the clip-on clamp will not be fully wrapped around the forks (since I can't lower the triple that much)
dont' do that.
seriously, find a local guy who knows Ducs. you need an assist on this.
Whoever takes the next step on your clip on install, will have to remove the headlamp - behind it there is access to the "mini U bracket" which is what keeps you from removing the top triple. The "mini-U" is bolted to the larger U-bracket.
I agree with the advice to get help - at least when things come back together - making sure everything is alligned and torqued properly. Triple tree/front end work is kind of serious. That goes for installing the brake and throttle too.
Quote from: stopintime on September 25, 2012, 02:24:13 PM
Whoever takes the next step on your clip on install, will have to remove the headlamp - behind it there is access to the "mini U bracket" which is what keeps you from removing the top triple. The "mini-U" is bolted to the larger U-bracket.
I've had these thingies off several times and it's easy. Just fold a shop rag so you've got the edges of the flat part of the "mini-U" well padded and then clamp some vice grips on so they are standing straight up. With just a little muscle you can lift it up and over that little stud. No problem. Don't worry, you won't bend it.
I agree with the advice to get help - at least when things come back together - making sure everything is alligned and torqued properly. Triple tree/front end work is kind of serious. That goes for installing the brake and throttle too.
^^
that's some good advice
I still do not understand why you are trying to remove the top triple tree....
Take the front wheel and fender off, loosen the fork clamping bolts from the upper and lower trees, slide the forks down enough to put your clip-ons on, and reverse to reassemble. A 30 minute job tops.
Quote from: MashBill on September 30, 2012, 06:18:42 PM
I still do not understand why you are trying to remove the top triple tree....
Take the front wheel and fender off, loosen the fork clamping bolts from the upper and lower trees, slide the forks down enough to put your clip-ons on, and reverse to reassemble. A 30 minute job tops.
this is more difficult
you still have to disconnect the light from the top triple. you have to suspend the front. and you risk potential front end problems if you don't reinstall properly. and if you don't hit the exact mark on lifting the forks back up u change your handling
no i would never do it that way
i disagree, dropping the triple is a way better method.
If you can draw a straight line with a ruler, you can line up forks on a triple. Aside from that, all you need to do is release a few bolts. You do need a 2nd hand though.
i dont know which light you are talknig about, but its a much easier process. However, the main drawback is that you need under the tree stands, which most people dont have.
ok. tell me how dropping the triple is easier that taking off the top..
You still have to disconnect the U-bracket from the top.
you have 6 bolts bolts for the lower and upper vs 3 bolts for the top triple
You have to raise the front vs not raising the front
You have to realign the front end vs no realign the front end
If you take the wheel off, you have to remove the calipers, fender, wheel and put it all back together vs... not doing all that.
again, how is it easier?
Quote from: Raux on October 01, 2012, 05:57:41 AM
ok. tell me how dropping the triple is easier that taking off the top..
You still have to disconnect the U-bracket from the top.
Not sure why, again im on a older bike. if the 696 is different then thats why i said depends on what bike ( i wrote light by accidnet) you have.
you have 6 bolts bolts for the lower and upper vs 3 bolts for the top triple
1 extra minute of your life doesnt make it harder, and i have 4 bolts on the lower, not that it matters, im using power tools.
You have to raise the front vs not raising the front
if you dont have a triple stand, you dont have a triple stand. end of story. if you do, then whats the 5 seconds it takes to level teh front instead of doing it while the bike is leaned?
You have to realign the front end vs no realign the front end
not hard, There are ref lines to raise or lower your forks or you can just stick to the stock height by lining the top of the fork to the lip of the triple. Not hard at all.
If you take the wheel off, you have to remove the calipers, fender, wheel and put it all back together vs... not doing all that.
i dont take the wheel off, i take the calipers off ( and blast all the dust off while im in it) and drop the fork and wheel as a combo. I use my foot to jam the tire to keep it straight, slip on the clip ons, then pick up the fork bottoms stick it up and then hand tighten the triple. Align and fully tighten.
again, how is it easier?
Ive removed the triple plenty of times until i got a triple stand. i can drop the forks and install them significantly faster than removing the top triple.
The only time i found it easier to remove the top triple is when the speedometer is on the front wheel, then its more cumbersome because that line is really short and you are fighting with the line to get enough to slip the clip on.
if you set your bike up for clip ons already, then that means there are no clearance issues and droping the fork is easier because you dont have to remove anything aside from fender and brake. just slip them on. otherwise the gauges need to come off and u need to mess with ur steering stops again.
but this is all a moot point if u dont have a triple stand.
on the 696. the top triple...
5 bolts. two on the lower triple for the light, 2 on the upper triple around the forks, and 1 at the steering stem.
on my setup, 3 (my dash mounts to the top triple with a custom mount)
I'm just done both, and for someone with little experience and equipment, the top triple is so much easier.
well then bring the beer and we'll have a clip on face off simultaneous with a beer chugging contest.
[beer]
i meant for someone with a lack of experience ;)
someone with experience can do either IMO. and make both easy.
Quote from: He Man on October 01, 2012, 11:18:03 AM
well then bring the beer and we'll have a clip on face off simultaneous with a beer chugging contest.
[beer]
you do know I live in Germany right. ... you'll have to come to me for the beer contest... Liters ok with you :D
dont start with that metric crap.
I drink by the gallons!