When you now when you need the Valve adjustment?

[monsterjoe]

Hi guys, been riding for 7 months now, M620 2005, yesteday i did the tailchop myself and i was like mmm...ok valve adjustment, mmm
my bike is 8000 miles now, ive read you need the valve adjustment at 12,000 or so, but instead of the miles, what are the symptom of a ducati who needs the valve adjusment....


sorry for the lame english, not my first language

[Slide Panda]

Were the valves checked at 6000?

Symptoms can vary - but usually poor/rough running is the most common.

[PhilB]

It's a preventive maintenance item.  If you wait for symptoms, your bike will not last as long.  Look in your owners manual and see what your interval is.  It's probably either 6000 miles or 7500 miles.  Either way, get it done.  Ducs (and Italian stuff in general) need to be maintained pretty close to the schedule.  If you do, they'll do you right.  But they do not respond well to neglect.

Once you're past about 30 or 40K, you can extend some of the maintenance intervals (depending on how you use it, of course).

PhilB

[monsterjoe]

thanks a lot, the bike is runing about 8000 miles, i bought it with 5500 so i dont think the valves are done, thanks for your responses, let get that valves check'd

[Slide Panda]

Yeah - get them checked. Usually adjustments are needed at that first check as things are still taking their final positions between the first (600 mi) and 2nd (6000 mi) check. After that adjustments are needed from time to time, but they trail off as the bike gets miles - usually. My 900 needed one opener shim adjusted a hair during it's 30,000 mi check.

[Speeddog]

If you run it long enough, it will become hard to start.

If you keep running it, it will eventually fail to start, as it's got no cranking compression to speak of.

Because there's been enough seat/valve face wear that the opener clearance is actually *interference*.
So the valves are held open a bit, so no cranking compression.

I've had a couple bikes towed in that way.

[ducatigirl100]

I've got oil ....like really a lot of oil on my plugs  ( horizontal cylinder only)


piston rings or valve adjustment needed    

[PhilB]

Could be the valve guide seals.  That's what wears on mine; I replace them about every 50K.

PhilB

[Howie]

A clogged  crankcase breather valve can cause this, so can an oil level that is too high.  Symptom wise, blue smoke on deceleration or after idling, such as taking off after a long stop light indicates valve guides or guide seals.  This can be checked at your next valve adjustment.  Blue smoke when on the throttle indicates rings. 

[ducatigirl100]

tank's  I was close to the problem 
I
'm overhauling the bike this winter so I'll take no chance rings and valves just to be  sure ...never did it before, sound's fun   

well  I have blue-grey smoke when I decelerate 
and I'm about at 48 000Km   so...It's time 

Now I have to take my bike appart into pieces and do my "total rebuild plan " ( full tread may come soon  )  I don't know why but I get a great satisfaction from that fact

[ducpainter]

You're gonna choke on the price of Ducati rings.

Cheaper to get a set of high comp pistons w/ rings.

[ducatigirl100]

You're gonna choke on the price of Ducati rings.

Cheaper to get a set of high comp pistons w/ rings.

I tugh those where in the range of 100-200$ each 
Du you have a reference   company / model ?  I have a 1995 monster 900c

[ducpainter]

I tugh those where in the range of 100-200$ each 
Du you have a reference   company / model ?  I have a 1995 monster 900c

Talk to ca-cycleworks. I believe you'll find that OEM Ducati ring sets are more than you're thinking.

[lazylightnin717]

OEM rings are crazy.

You're better off finding a complete used top end with pistons/rings included than buying new sets of rings.

[Speeddog]

I tugh those where in the range of 100-200$ each 
Du you have a reference   company / model ?  I have a 1995 monster 900c

Complete set of OEM rings ~$320.

Complete set of high compression JE pistons, with rings, pins, clips ~$320