2v adjustment advice

[Cloner]

Agree with Speeddog.  Replace half-rings in pairs.  And definitely get the tool.  You can measure without it, but it's much easier to make a mistake.

However, if you've got all the shims removed for measurment....and they're all loose...might as well get a set of MBP collets.  They don't break as easily as the factory half rings and they don't flatten like the factory bits, either, which generally means the bikes holds its adjustment better.  You can get those from MBP or Ca-cycleworks or wherever fine Ducati parts are sold.   

Lots of good advice in this thread!

Cloner
ABQ, NM

[ducpainter]

Agree with Speeddog.  Replace half-rings in pairs.  And definitely get the tool.  You can measure without it, but it's much easier to make a mistake.

However, if you've got all the shims removed for measurment....and they're all loose...might as well get a set of MBP collets.  They don't break as easily as the factory half rings and they don't flatten like the factory bits, either, which generally means the bikes holds its adjustment better.  You can get those from MBP or Ca-cycleworks or wherever fine Ducati parts are sold.   

Lots of good advice in this thread!

Cloner
ABQ, NM

Personally I think they're a waste of money...

I'm cheap.

[EEL]

Also, if you've got loose closers get new shims from EMS Duc. Theirs are harder then the stock ducati shims and dont mushroom. If you pull your OEM shims and look inside with a magnifying glass, you'll notice a lip has formed on the inside ridge of your OEM shim. Just like your half ring gets smashed down on one side, the closer shim forms an indent on the retainer seat. This also affects clearance.

Mike at EMS duc has been providing shims at a cheaper price than Ducati for years and at a better quality and they're only 8-10 bucks a piece.If you want to bullet proof your valve adjustment interval - get EMS shims with MBP collets after 20k miles on your bike, then you dont have to worry about :

1) broken half rings which when replaced, will change your clearance by the next interval (once they smash down)
2) which way the half rings go (MBP collets are one directional)
3) clearance changes on half rings (MBP's are high grade steel and dont dimple)
4) mushrooming on closer shims (resulting in clearance changes)

Considering how much people spend on random bits of useless carbon fiber, I'd rather spend a 125 bucks on collets and max 40 bucks on new closers, actually extend my maintenance intervals (not a fictitous interval increase that ducati mentions) and not have to worry about the BS noted above

I don't consider myself cheap, I consider myself frugal..

[K3V1N]

Thanks again for all the advice!

I was in contact with Mike at EMS and he was super helpful. I received the 10mm measuring piece Saturday. I'm now measuring my closers and am surprised at how different the measurements are compared to what is marked on the side.

To the point where I want to measure everything again tonight before I order closers and half rings.

If the bike was anything other than a 620 that I commute, take on trips and will most likely replace in a year I would definitely have gone with the MBPs.

I do have one question I'm measuring with a very nice inches caliper and converting everything (iphone). Is this going to cause any issues as long as I keep my numbers straight?

Also does anyone know a good site or have good advice on how to make sure the half rings get put back in correctly?

I know that the cuts have to go a curtain way and there is a flatter side but I'm going to have to figure that out since I forget from my last adjustment.

[junior varsity]

I have been told to use a special magnet tool to remove or place them and draw a grid on paper with labels, put them in the correct up/down orientation into their "box" while you are working.

A tool like this:



From here:
http://desmo-valvola-servizio.com/?page_id=46