Removal of timing gear covers

[Chchadder]

I'm cleaning up the engine a bit since Ducati only warrantied the heads for the shoddy engine paint and left the rest of the bits to look like absolute sheeeit.  Little by little I am going to VHT it black.  I pulled off the valve access covers last time and stripped them, and tried to do the same to the timing gear covers as well.  It seems like they are bonded on there rather than just having the gasket.  Does anyone have any experience removing these? I don't really want to get into pulling out anything that shouldn't be pulled out, as the description on the parts sheet says "cap with bearing."   That little bit alone makes it seem a bit more of a job than just pulling off the valve covers.

The parts sheet only shows the parts explosion from the other side, but they are the left side engine covers stamped with Ducati with a vertical orientation.



I could do it with them on the bike, but sanding all those little lettering grooves would be a PITA, and I'm worried the stripper might compromise the gasket/bonding.

Any suggestions are welcome!   

[Duck-Stew]

Ok, here ya go.

First off, they've got a gasket under them (#18 in the diagram) so you may want to buy new ones (they're cheap). 

1)  Remove all 4 bolts.
2)  tap in a 'rotary' motion as the aluminum extends into the cylinder head and it's a tight fit.  I use the rubber end of a 'T' handle M5 wrench.  (this is the point where you may rip the gasket.  My success rate with gaskets is about 40% re-usable.  YMMV)
3)  rotate and pull the cap out of the head. 

       Being careful as there is a small washer on the end of the cam(Very important) that likes to go run and hide! 

Might not have them on your bike as I think about it more....  Could be an older bike thing.

4)  mask up the bearing and paint/strip/what-have-you away.
 (might also want to put some tape on the cylinder head hole as it will be sitting open for a while.

Done it before.  Not hard.  Stainless bolts look great on black valve access and cam end covers BTW...

[Chchadder]

Thanks Stu!  That's exactly what I needed to hear!  I'll see if my local shop has the gaskets in stock tomorrow and hopefully tackle it before the weekend.   

Been thinking about the stainless bolt kit for a while now.  Taftamos is putting together a Ti kit, so may wait and see what his prices look like.  The one from Jeff is pretty inexpensive though, so may stick with the stainless route.

[Duck-Stew]

Sometimes they get 'caught up' in the bore of the head as you're rotating and pulling to remove.  Don't force them out by pulling hard on them!  Gently work them back in, and try again.

All this is FHE btw...  And sometimes that little washer (which I *really* don't think is on your bike BTW...) will stick to the bearing inner race and since it's the same size as the inner race, and color...it 'hides' there in plain sight.  Until, that is, you're not looking and then it makes a break for it and then rolls under the bench, the gnomes grab it, space aliens teleport it to somewhere orbiting Neptune....   (you get the idea.)

good luck.  Again, not hard just a couple little pointers is all.

[Chchadder]

Any difference as to which way to rotate?  Looking at a closeup of the exploded diagram, is it the piece after the bearing?  That looks like a clip of some sort, so maybe I don't have the washer.  I'll watch out for it anyway...

[Duck-Stew]

Any difference as to which way to rotate?  Looking at a closeup of the exploded diagram, is it the piece after the bearing?  That looks like a clip of some sort, so maybe I don't have the washer.  I'll watch out for it anyway...

Rotation?  Either way, no difference. 

Clip is to retain the bearing into the end cap. 

I *really* think they did away with the washer on your 695, but if someone else looks at this thread with a different bike....I wanted them to be aware that it's a possibility for thier model 2V bike.

[Chchadder]

Sweet.  Thanks bro!

[Chchadder]

Tried tapping in a rotary motion, even tried a little pounding with a rubber mallet.  It won't budge.  I'm thinking that when Ducati Soho replaced my heads (and left all the little bits still nasty) they used some Ducatibond rather than the gasket for the timing cap.  For some reason they prefer the goop to gaskets.  Any further advice?

[Duck-Stew]

Tried tapping in a rotary motion, even tried a little pounding with a rubber mallet.  It won't budge.  I'm thinking that when Ducati Soho replaced my heads (and left all the little bits still nasty) they used some Ducatibond rather than the gasket for the timing cap.  For some reason they prefer the goop to gaskets.  Any further advice?

Can't say why they would do that Chchadder...  The gaskets are next to nothing for them to buy...  Perhaps they were out of stock?!?  Anyway, try gripping it with your hand and see if it will rotate with constant pressure on it as opposed to temporary pressure of a rubber mallet.

[Chchadder]

Will do.  I went ahead and stripped the paint off it while it was still on the bike.  At least its halfway to where I want it now...  The valve covers are about to go in for their second baking of the VHT coat and look NICE!!

[Chchadder]

No dice on constant pressure by hand.  Of course there's not much to grab onto, but I gave it several minutes of solid pressure. 

[He Man]

+



+



and eventually...



all it needs to be is 100 degrees outside and its almost like time traveling.

[Chchadder]

Yeah, we've been down that road before...