Crank Tool

[hackers2r]

I am wondering if anyone can tell me the size of the uber secret crank tool used in valve adjusment.  I will be doing my valve adjusment very shortly and have heard it really isn't necessary to buy this tool.  If possible, please provide the specs needed to turn the crank.  Thanks.

[He Man]

its really just a circular pipe with 2 teeth in it ( i think 2 atleast) and hooks onto the crank to spin it.

it isn't necessary to buy the tool. but it really does make life easier, especially if its your first time doing it.
if you are dead broke. then you can get away without buying it, but if you have the spare cash, it wouldnt hurt to buy it.

aside from the tool, its also nice to have the motion pro degree wheel, but you could easily just cut one out of a cardboard box and  protractor it.

if you are doing without the tool, then you will need to put your bike in 6th gear and turn the engine via the rear wheel.
the disadvantage to doing this is, when you are lining up TDC, youll be shuffingling around, and its annoying to have to tap tap tap it into place, where with the tool, you are right next to the timing dots on the alt side.

[scott_araujo]

The expensive tools for this cost around $65.  Less expensive ones cost around $25.  Totally worth the $25 for sure.  You could make one but you'd have to machine it.

http://www.mbsmfg.com/duentuto.html
http://corsair-industries.com/parts/Ducati%20Tools/Ducati%20Engine%20Rotating%20Tool/Like a good rear stand,
http://www.ca-cycleworks.com/shop/catalog/ducati/img/kl_crankshaft_tool.jpg

I have the cheap one.  Less expensive, takes up no room, and works just fine.  Like a good rear stand, I couldn't imagine not having it.

aside from the tool, its also nice to have the motion pro degree wheel, but you could easily just cut one out of a cardboard box and  protractor it.

Type 'degree wheel' into google if you need one.  There are plenty to download. 

Scott

[mitt]

I made one like this:

[TAftonomos]

I've got some spare Ti laying around...

I wonder if I could whittle that out with my lathe.  Unsure how I'd make the end of it though....I need to find/buy/steal a mill....BAD

[Monsterlover]

I always just zip a bolt into the end of the crank with the impact and just use a ratchet and socket to turn the crank over 

[theducatikid]

if you are doing without the tool, then you will need to put your bike in 6th gear and turn the engine via the rear wheel.

It's really simple to use this method IMO.  There's no big advantage to the tool that I know of, but I'm cheap and don't like to buy special tools unless I have to.

[scott_araujo]

It is SO easy to turn the engine just a teeny tiny bit with the tool, get it exactly where you want it.  Also, you can leave it in neutral and on the side stand, makes it a little easier to get to the belts when you're working on them.  If you're setting your cam timing (like I have) I wouldn't dream of trying it without the tool.

For just belts and/or valves, you can get by with turning the rear wheel but the tool makes it all much easier. 

Scott

[He Man]

id get the tool either way. if your adjusting your valves for your first time now, chances are youll do it again...and again.

[scott_araujo]

Also for adjusting valves...

Checking them is easy to do, just get the engine to TDC for the cylinder however you do that.  If you need to adjust them, it's much easier to remove the belts for a few reasons.  
1) You can rotate the cam back and forth easily by hand to make sure it's not binding.
2) You can rotate the cam back and forth easily by hand to slide the rocker arm to the side when you need to swap out a shim.
3) You can leave the piston at or near TDC for extra insurance against dropping a valve into the cylinder when the collets are off.

I re-learned this the hard way last time I did my valves.  I was sitting there trying to rotate the engine back and forth to slide the rocker arm over, wondering why I didn't remember it being so hard the last time.  Then I remembered I had removed the belts last time.

Scott