600 Mile Service Question

[lilmonster]

I don't know if the belts are supposed to be part of the service. To hear him, they go over the entire bike and check everything. They did the 7500 miler, I pulled the lower belt cover off the other day just to look at it (11000 miles now). The belts are loose enough that the cam can be rocked back and forth slightly becuse of the slack. Is this properly adjusted? Doesn't seem right to me if timing is supposed to be so critical.

[Craig Thomas]

My 600 miles service is coming this week.  I asked that a battery tender cable be installed along with a 14T sprocket.  (Hope the sprocket is a good thing to be doing.)

[Langanobob]

So maybe I'm dense, but I don't think I got a clear answer.  Is the Belts being "harmonically" balanced apart of the 600 mile service or not? 

I just  downloaded a 696 owner's manual from the Ducati website and according to it, a belt tension adjustment is not due until the 7,500 mile service.  The "harmonically balanced" term that your dealer used is not quite right.  The tension in the belts is important, and to determine if it's correct,  Ducati uses a sonic tester to measure the frequency of the belt vibration when it's plunked like a guitar string.    So it's really a sonic or acoustic tension test, not harmonically balance.

Even though Ducati doesn't require it (for the 696's at  least, I'm not sure what bike you have or if it's different for other models), I think it's been shown that new belts stretch a significant amount during the first 1000 miles or so and it is not a bad idea to check the tension again around that time. 

[Holden]

Stupid question time:

The manual says that the 2nd service (the one after the 600 mile service) is the 7500 mile service. Is this really right? I could've sworn my dealer said something like 3500 for an oil change. 6900 miles just seems like a long time to wait...

Hold me.

[Craig Thomas]

Stupid question time:

The manual says that the 2nd service (the one after the 600 mile service) is the 7500 mile service. Is this really right? I could've sworn my dealer said something like 3500 for an oil change. 6900 miles just seems like a long time to wait...

Hold me.

You will definitely be changing the oil before that 7500 mile service.  Oil change isn't really a "service".

[Holden]

Ah. Thanks lots.

I topped up tonight and noticed the old oil is pretty dark brown compared to the new oil. Bike has 2200 miles on it. I suppose an oil change is in order!

[be350ka]

The 696 manual says that the belt tension is to be checked at the 7500 mile service.  The 600 mile service consists of:

• Changing oil and filter
  
• Check brake and clutch fluid levels
  
• Check tire pressure and wear
  
• Check brake pads for wear
  
• Check chain tension
  
• Road test the bike
  

ALSO!!!!!!!  Next to where it mentions checking the valves, checking the belt tension, cleaning the air filter, checking the throttle body synch, and checking the clutch disc pack it has this......(1).

And this (1) has a note which reads:  "Operation to be carried out ONLY at the specified distance intervals!"

So, IMO, and it seems DNA, you should ONLY check what is required for each interval when you reach that milage.  IMO, if something goes wrong you are covered since the manufacturers recommended maint schedule was followed to a "t".


Oh, and dont forget that there is another note that mentions that service intervals are a matter of milage or time.
This time reference leaves me somewhat confused since I will probably not reach 7500 miles with in one year of my buying the bike.  Does this mean that I need to have the 7500 mile check performed at one year even if the bike only has 5000 miles at that time?  If that is the case and your usage doesn't vary from year to year, you could end up doing the 37000 mile check at year 5 with only 25000 miles on the bike. 

I can understand changing the belts every two years since they "could" become brittle, but checking the valves every calender year when you only put another 4000 miles on the bike seems excessive.

[Raux]

I think this goes along with DNA's claim that all new Ducatis come with 50% less maintenance. It seems some of the dealers didn't get that memo.

[He Man]

The valves are part of a mechanical system that wears with use. If there is no use, there should be no wear.
Belts on the other hand are organic and wear with respect to time and use. so they should be changed accordingly.

the 600 mile is still a very important service. It ensures that the bike is properly put together and everything is running correctly. experience counts in this area. but thats not to say a duc dealer means a good tech. its kinda like looking for a doctor for your child i guess, you want the best for your kid and youd like to talk to the doc before you let them treat your kid for whatever illness.