I think the maintenance issues are why most people bail on Ducati's. You've figured out what makes Ducati's 'tick'!:) You're so meticulous on ALL of your vehicles! It's a real treat to watch you work, you do take the 'long road' for your projects. Kudos! Semper Fidelis
Several desmodromic valve adjustment videos make this seem like its such a laborious endeavor. You make it seem quite easy and I think I am ready to take it on. The only real difficulty seems to be the closing shims. Thanks.
Actually, the camshaft already have a mark on the center.. OA - OS - VA - VS, it is Italian for Horizontal intake, horizontal exhaust, vertical Intake and vertical exhaust. If you need to do it again :) . For the shims, you can use some fine sandpaper, attach it to a plane surface and wear some material with a "8" movement, rotating 90° the shim from time to time. Oh, and ALWAYS replace the half rings on Ducati, they really tear and sometimes break inside the shim. They will work, but it is not good to have a broke half ring I believe. They also add a 0.02 mm or so to the stack when new. Good and clean work 👍
Dude I think you just sold me on Ducati and L-twins. I had no idea the cylinder heads were that convenient to get to. This actually looks easier than my Yamaha, no frame to get in the way of torquing the cam cap bolts!
This is great, just bought a 2014 multi 1200 and my only worry was really just wondering if the desmo service was within my wheelhouse. This is definitely something I can take care of, and I'll likely use this video as a guide when the time comes. Much appreciated
well done video. The "half rings" is an interesting term since every other engine i have worked on calls them "keepers" as the Keep the valve in place. thank you for the detailed video.
great video! I have done this only 1 time on my Monster and went step by step following the shop manual for my 1200S. I was very nervous and was actually surprised when the bike started up and ran perfectly; it just takes patience and double-check every measurement. My bike is now at 32K mi and its due a valve check again. Just ordered my shim kit from EMS and decided to upgrade to their MBP Retainers. My oem retainers are getting worn and need cleaning up a bit so I decided to just get new ones and upgrade while Im at it. Thank you for letting me watch...... it gives me confidence seeing how someone else approaches this project.
That was just so good to watch. Thank you for showing so much detail and easily explaining all the steps. I pick up my new Multistrada 950S GP in about 2 weeks, but I think I'll be leaving the valve adjustment to the pro's at least while its under warranty. This video also gives me the understanding why the valve service is costly, not outrageous like some might think, given the long intervals between services. Again thanks for a very informative video. Cheers from downunder...
Best video I've seen so far explaining the process in full detail. I've done this on plenty of quads and dirt bikes in my life but they're easier to take apart to get down to the valve covers. I guess that's the only scary part to me about the project on the multi. The 100 parts to remove before you see the motor haha.
I love watching you do the valve checks very informative & invaluable information for the DIYer & I don’t even own a Ducati in the middle of doing my valve checks on my Kawasaki GTR1400. Thank you for your time & effort I’m sure you will help many others. Take care
The tear down on this was certainly easier than on the GTR1400. I did that job on the GTR this past spring and the most difficult part for me was getting to the valves and dealing with the ridiculously little space above the valve cover. That does not appear to be a problem with this bike.
Thanks a lot for the great video and instructions. I did the desmo service for my Ducati 2014 model successfully. Though 2014 model has some slight changes. I also successfully reset the Desmo Service light with the software and the cable you suggested. Thanks again. Cheers
Just saved this video. I’m interested in the 1200 and will be watching to compare the maintenance on it to the valve adjustment service on my 996. The 996 is pretty simple, just a bit tight with space for getting into the valve area. Thanks for taking the time to make these videos. I have enjoyed them. You have some great projects! I like your 1198, but am just a bit jealous of your 300zx twin turbo. That is an amazing car for it’s time, and still looks beautiful today.
You are a hero! I have a Scrambler and a 950S. I've been watching videos on doing the clearances and belts on the 2V Scrambler as it's out of warranty now, and it looks simple enough. I thought the 950 would be way too much to do myself, but it just looks more of the same. A healthy stock of RC cars seems to be key, which I already have in the corner of my garage 😅😅 Thanks so much!! 👍👍👍
This is not a job I could do, so thank you for this tutorial. I have learned that my best move is just taking said bike to the dealer and paying for the service.
Great video, this is a life saver for all the Ducati loving DIYers. Can you add a complete list of all the stuff required to complete this procedure (tools, cleaners lubricants.. etc). Thanks
Go to Ducati tool rent !!! Guy rents out a COMPLETE !!!! kit for doing the valves !! Measuring tools , work sheet, feeler gauge, sonic meter for belt tensioner and a full set of shims !! 110 bucks to rent the kit and 9 dollars a shim !!!😆😆😀😀🏍🏍🏍🍺🍺
Great video series, thanks. Do you know what to do to stop valves falling into the cylinder if you have to remove all the camshafts and all 8 closer shims at the same time? All of my closer shims are out of spec and I need to measure them all together.
Amazing video, makes me think I could possibly do it 50% of the time. By chance do you know what specialized tools you need and where to get them that you cant get at harbor freight?
A very well presented video showing the principles of valve shimming. Is it possible to rest the camshafts in place and press them down when confirming the replacement shims new clearance rather than bolting the camshaft bearing caps back in place, just in case the shim doesn’t work out to be correct and needs changing.
You're the man. This is great. I am in the market for a bike and started my journey with the Multi 1200s... then shied away due to fears of maintenance, cost, and potential electrical issue. Ended up looking at the 1200GS --> FJR1300 --> FZ1 --> Ninja 1000 --> KTM 1190.... and now i've come full circle back to the Ducati upon seeing that the maintenance is manageable. I own a BMW car shop, so it can't be much worse than that, right? Right?! lol
@@PracticalEnthusiast made the plunge and bought a 2013 MS with 13k miles. Hoping the valve adjustment goes well. Currently getting snow in NJ 🤦🏼♂️ just want to ride
@@TheSundaeDrive nice work! You'll be so happy with it once warm weather comes back around. We have snow and ice here now too and I'm really itching to go ride.
I put some plastic pipe down the oil wells when I did mine if those keepers fall in your in a world of hate, great job ,I go slightly higher on exhaust side as they get coked up
Great video with the detailed explanations and I liked the music as well. Got me through my own valve adjustment on my 1200 Multi; I'm about to reassemble and check my intake side on the vertical cylinder this evening! Cheers, and keep up the great content!
Interesting adjustment procedure. Basically these shims change in size slightly over time as the engine runs? Seems more precise than the type of adjustments I'm used to.
The metal does expand a very small amount when it heats up, so that's why they specify a range that the valve clearance gap should be within. The reason you have to check the clearance every so often is because the valvetrain wears ever so slightly over time (or if you don't change your oil, it might wear quite a bit!). Typically the valves wear their seats down in the cylinder head causing the clearance to shrink.
A trick to not letting the valve drop into the cylinder when doing the closer shim, take a the hose from a compression gauge or use a leak down tester and hook up to shop air to pressurize the cylinder. It will hold the valves closed while you do what you need to do. Also, this reminds me of valve adjustment on Kia engines. Their shims are bucket shaped but the math is all the same.
So I don't know the terminology but on the forward cylinder the two arms on the bottom cam seemed to be in a different position (parallel to the ground) when it looked like they should be between the valves and the shims? Also was it a problem that the top cylinder intake cam was 180 degrees from the position when it was removed?
You have great attention to detail! The bottom arms are the opening rockers for the exhaust cam. When the cam is installed, they lay between the cam and the shims. Since the cam is removed, they flop down parallel to the ground (gravity). You have to make sure to position them correctly when reinstalling the cam. As for the cam position being different on install, it doesn't matter on a desmo engine. The cams are at "rest" for about 180 deg duration and don't need to be installed in a particular orientation. You align them to their appropriate orientation when installing the timing belts, which I'll cover in a future video.
Ah ok. Yeah it was hard to tell from the video angle where they were positioned once the cam was installed. I have a scrambler 1100 so would like to be able to perform the clearance check once due but don't know if I'm up to it.
im guessing you marked the cams before taking the belts off? im getting mixed up on how to get the engine back to "normal" once the reshim is complete. mark cams to know what direction theyre facing (that makes sence0 but how do you know where the pistons are at pre- belt removal
Man. Yes, this is tougher than regular valve adjustment, but it's not rocket science. People talk so much about how you HAVE to take it to the dealer for this. I don't think it's a stretch for someone who can manage regular valve jobs to do this themselves. Thanks for the great video.
Bless EMS Duc and California Cycle Works 🤣 Great video. I haven’t dug into my HyperRetard yet. All my experience has been with 2v Multi’s. Like building a ship in a bottle, whew 😥 These 4v look much easier. Thank you….you now reside on FIX MY OWN SH*T video list. Excellent! Subscribed!!!
Just going to get inside an ST2. It's been sat for 12 years. Not going to try a start until belts checked, clearances measure, new oil/filters etc. Any advice from anyone out there? I've rebuilt a few Audi and Toyota engines. Thanks in advance. This video was awesome.
I am about to shim the valves on a 2001 750 Ducati monster. For the first time. A little overwhelming. Where can I buy a shim kit from for that motorcycle?My closing shims are between .0015 and .002. Intake opening is .004 exhaust opening .003 on the horizontal cylinder. Intake opening is.0025 exhaust opening is .005 on the vertical cylinder. what would you consider the sweet spot that I should be aiming for? these are all standard measurements not in metric.
Thanks for sharing! Will help me alot . Though the "closure shim measuring tool" seems quit pointless to me as you already know you are going to abstract 10 mm from the measurement?
The closer shim measuring tool might seem useless at first, but what it tells you is whether or not the shim has worn on the inside mating surface. While that's not a common occurrence, it is possible! It's always good to double check. 👍
@@Kongzi93 the closer shim tool isn't only for the exhaust valves. Both intake and exhaust valves have closer shims. Closer shims have the inner void present which requires the tool to measure the thickness of the shims. The video must not show that point well enough, sorry!
Hey man great video! One question, what's the logic behind setting to the upper limits vs the lower limit? I watched a different video and he was setting the valves to the lower limits.
Thanks! I went for the upper limit here (larger gap) because damage rarely results from having too large of a valve clearance. Also, clearances tend to decrease as an engine wears or has miles added. So, being on the larger gap side of things is the safer side to be on. If you're chasing optimum performance and are less concerned about maintaining long service intervals, then it would make more sense to target the lower limits.
@@PracticalEnthusiast , WOW thanks for the quick response! I just bought an 1098s and I'm about to do a full service on it. Been watching your whole 1198s series and probably will do mostly everything you did with yours.
Hero Honda Splendor a small segment bike launched in India since 1999, could run upto 3 lac kilometres without adjusting valve tappet or engine seals or even clutch plates. It is still in production till date and it is one of the world's highest selling motorbike and also ranked as the worlds most reliable motorbike.
I think on my ST4 it was easier to do the adjustment with the head removed. It was impossible or uncertain what you were measuring when doing the opener shims on the exhaust valves. The timing belts are a piece of cake though, not sure why so many people are scared of those.
The ST4 uses the same (I think) desmoquattro engine as the 996 that I used to have. It's very difficult to access the shims on the vertical cylinder, but on the 996 it wasn't impossible. It does however make you want to never to do it again and sell it. Hence why I sold mine. :)
Hi from the uk 🇬🇧 👍🏻 awesome videos and very descriptive, I’ve watched a lot of the Multistrada but yours are so clear to follow so thank you. I’m about to do the belts on my 2013 model at 13,000 miles and wonder d if I need a locking tool for the cam shaft pulleys or I can do as you’ve shown by marking the belts position on the pulleys, line up the marks/notches and simply swap belts and then do the hertz tension etc? Your advice would be awesome. Ps whereabouts in USA 🇺🇸 are you? Regards, Howard
Hi Howard, thanks for the comment. You don't need the locking tool at all. I'd recommend getting some long, angled needle nose pliers like I've used in following video (th-cam.com/video/f15vvgCm1Mg/w-d-xo.html) to assist in aligning the cam sprockets when refitting the belts. Definitely mark the old belts before removal. I'm located in Overland Park, Kansas, USA.
One more question, is it really necessary to transfer the marks on the old timing belts to the new ones? Seems like the belt position would be irrelevant so long as the cams are in the correct position amd the engine is at TDC? In addition, do I need to put the engine at TDC for each cylinder when installing the new belts? Meaning the vertical cylinder is at TDC to install it's new belt and then rotate to place the horizontal cylinder at TDC to install its belt? Maybe I'm over thinking?
Great video series, really appreciate the effort put in to these. I was wondering though if you ever need the crank locking tool at all? I guess you worked around the crank turning tool by putting in gear and turning the rear wheel.
@@PracticalEnthusiast Thank you for the quick response. Appreciate it .. it's great to be able to do fairly major jobs without having to fork out a bunch for special tools. Did you also figure out how to reset the 15K mile service light at all? I wonder if a VAG tool would be able to communicate with it. It would be interesting to try
First of all - good job! What did you use to seal the cams and the cover gasket, some silver material? What’s very surprising to me is that your clearance had “disappeared” for the most part. I haven’t done a ton of valve checks, but I have never had a case of decreased clearance. Valve seats get carbon buildup and shims, rockers and cams wear a bit. All that should be leading to increased valve clearance over time. Which has always been my experience. I can’t imagine how a clearance would shrink over time.
Thanks! The sealant I used is Permatex Ultra Grey, but most any RTV will work fine. Not sure how the tight valve clearances happened. Sometimes it's caused by the previous mechanic throwing in the closest shim they had, which makes it on the tight side. Sometimes the valve stem stretches, other times the valve seat recedes. Who knows, all you can do is put it back to spec!
how often does a desmo service need to be done? My Multistrada 1200 was done at 21000km, it now has 41000 on it and 8 years since the last. Should it be done due to time since last?
so i have a 2022 v4 streetfighter, im assuming its pretty much the same process. Yes? Should i plastigage the bearing caps? any recommendations? just a bit nervous, because its a different ballpark than im used to.
Can the valve check be done without removing the timing belts, obviously if you have to re-shim they will need to be removed but for just the checking clearances can you leave the belts on and just check the shims at top dead center
Hello! I am a Tesla and BMW auto body tech and I have the 2019 MTS 950S which I do the regular oil and brake service. It seems that the engine is similar . I’d like you teach me how to do the desmo service.
No, it just means something else in the valvetrain has worn which is normal. Typically it is either the valve seat wearing or the valve stretching. Shims, rockers, and camshafts really shouldn't wear which is why it is important to change your oil and perform valve clearance checks on schedule.
Can anyone comment on clearance measurements? I heard you want much tighter ranges than Openers: .13 - .18 mm / Closers: .05 - .10 mm. More like closers should be 0.02mm and openers 0.05mm? Setting them this low will keep them from going out of spec fast?
oh i have an idea why. its says "Because the Ducati Supersport has a four-valve-per-cylinder engine and Desmodromic valves, there are sixteen clearances to check. If an opener is out of spec, it’s common that the closer is, too, per the manual." so i check the top and make the changes and do the same on the horizontal cylinder on the same positions. like you. top left and buttom right from the video view
I was just recently quoted by a place called mosites motorsports in pittsburgh. They quoted 2500. So I asked for all the parts. Then they tried to scare me saying it takes 3k worth of specialized tools to do the job. All I saw in every video ive watched are allen wrenches, screw drivers, and sockets. Told them get lost on that. Took the parts and will do it myself. What an absolute scam. Mines a non DVT bike, its even EASIER than this.
In the same boat. My V2 has been died for the last 3 months. Can’t justify the cost they wish to charge pretty much £2500 in the UK. I’m about to take it apart today and do it myself. Strip measure order the parts kits and required shims then put it all back together
Im waiting till 30,000 km then I will have the belts (recommended by Ducati) and shims changed at the same time. I ride the bike hard so change the oil every 5000km to keep the wear down. Dealer price to do this is high so maybe I will give it a go😬
I'm lost. The shims you replaced all had the right measurements. What is wearing in there that changes the dimensions and causes to tick? Why not replace the part thats wearing? Why not replace everything in there since its open? This has to happen every 15k miles ir juat until you hear the ticking?
Checking and adjusting valves is not unique to Ducatis - every vehicle with an engine with "fixed" valve clearance should be inspected every so often. Ducati simply recommends checking it every 15k miles on this engine. The shims don't wear, but the valves can slightly recess into the cylinder head, causing the clearance gap to shrink. Wear on the top of valve stem, on the camshaft lobes, and in the rocker arms can increase clearance gaps. Frequent oil changes (3k miles) greatly minimize this chance of wear.
@@PracticalEnthusiast its just like any car or truck. Usually after 150k ish miles the rollers go bad and add wear to the tip of the lobes. Thats why I asked about changing everything in there since your in there. Every 15k miles though. Wow. I wonder why they havnt come out with better tech or a more stable design. Its still wierd how rollers or followers move into the vavles. They dont do that on anything else I've heard of. So you basically have to be a mad scientist of a mechanic or be rich to afford the service on a ducati. Damn! I rode. 2010 yesterday and almost baught it. Im glad i didnt. Its heart breaking because it was so good...
I finally realised why I can find so many used Ducati's around me.
A lot with the mileage before needing the valve adjustment and timing belts lol
If nothing else, this gives guys an appreciation of what a long, tedious job the techs are doing to earn their daily bread. Well done!
Hm.. daily bread for £1k ? I wonder where their eat that bread ? In the Parliament ?
a well seasoned tech could probably do a valve adjustment in half the time if not faster then book... so
I think the maintenance issues are why most people bail on Ducati's. You've figured out what makes Ducati's 'tick'!:) You're so meticulous on ALL of your vehicles! It's a real treat to watch you work, you do take the 'long road' for your projects. Kudos! Semper Fidelis
Thank you for the nice comment. I'm glad to hear you appreciate these videos!
Several desmodromic valve adjustment videos make this seem like its such a laborious endeavor. You make it seem quite easy and I think I am ready to take it on. The only real difficulty seems to be the closing shims. Thanks.
Actually, the camshaft already have a mark on the center.. OA - OS - VA - VS, it is Italian for Horizontal intake, horizontal exhaust, vertical Intake and vertical exhaust. If you need to do it again :) .
For the shims, you can use some fine sandpaper, attach it to a plane surface and wear some material with a "8" movement, rotating 90° the shim from time to time. Oh, and ALWAYS replace the half rings on Ducati, they really tear and sometimes break inside the shim. They will work, but it is not good to have a broke half ring I believe. They also add a 0.02 mm or so to the stack when new.
Good and clean work 👍
you beat me to it! was gonna say oversized can be brought down with some p1000 or finer wet paper backed by a piece of glass from a photo frame.
Possibly one of the finest TH-cam motorcycle maintenance video series out there!! Thanks!
Dude I think you just sold me on Ducati and L-twins. I had no idea the cylinder heads were that convenient to get to. This actually looks easier than my Yamaha, no frame to get in the way of torquing the cam cap bolts!
You just put me of Ducati's for life 😅😅😅 Great work though you have more patients than I could ever manage👍
Hah, I can understand that! Luckily this procedure is only every 15k miles. My 996 needed it every 6k!
Sod that lol ,I only do 2k per year so I'll have the V4 long before this needs doing lol
This is great, just bought a 2014 multi 1200 and my only worry was really just wondering if the desmo service was within my wheelhouse. This is definitely something I can take care of, and I'll likely use this video as a guide when the time comes.
Much appreciated
well done video. The "half rings" is an interesting term since every other engine i have worked on calls them "keepers" as the Keep the valve in place. thank you for the detailed video.
great video! I have done this only 1 time on my Monster and went step by step following the shop manual for my 1200S. I was very nervous and was actually surprised when the bike started up and ran perfectly; it just takes patience and double-check every measurement. My bike is now at 32K mi and its due a valve check again. Just ordered my shim kit from EMS and decided to upgrade to their MBP Retainers. My oem retainers are getting worn and need cleaning up a bit so I decided to just get new ones and upgrade while Im at it. Thank you for letting me watch...... it gives me confidence seeing how someone else approaches this project.
That was just so good to watch. Thank you for showing so much detail and easily explaining all the steps. I pick up my new Multistrada 950S GP in about 2 weeks, but I think I'll be leaving the valve adjustment to the pro's at least while its under warranty.
This video also gives me the understanding why the valve service is costly, not outrageous like some might think, given the long intervals between services.
Again thanks for a very informative video.
Cheers from downunder...
Best video I've seen so far explaining the process in full detail. I've done this on plenty of quads and dirt bikes in my life but they're easier to take apart to get down to the valve covers. I guess that's the only scary part to me about the project on the multi. The 100 parts to remove before you see the motor haha.
Late to the party here but just wanted to say thanks - this series inspired me to do this maintenance on my 2011 - great job on all your videos!
I love watching you do the valve checks very informative & invaluable information for the DIYer & I don’t even own a Ducati in the middle of doing my valve checks on my Kawasaki GTR1400. Thank you for your time & effort I’m sure you will help many others. Take care
The tear down on this was certainly easier than on the GTR1400. I did that job on the GTR this past spring and the most difficult part for me was getting to the valves and dealing with the ridiculously little space above the valve cover. That does not appear to be a problem with this bike.
@@alanhassall Considering a Multistrada as my next motorcycle maybe in a few years time. Take care
Thanks a lot for the great video and instructions. I did the desmo service for my Ducati 2014 model successfully. Though 2014 model has some slight changes.
I also successfully reset the Desmo Service light with the software and the cable you suggested.
Thanks again.
Cheers
Just saved this video. I’m interested in the 1200 and will be watching to compare the maintenance on it to the valve adjustment service on my 996. The 996 is pretty simple, just a bit tight with space for getting into the valve area. Thanks for taking the time to make these videos. I have enjoyed them. You have some great projects! I like your 1198, but am just a bit jealous of your 300zx twin turbo. That is an amazing car for it’s time, and still looks beautiful today.
Excellent video. As a new owner of a 2018 Multi 1260 Pikes Peak, this gave great insight.
You are a hero! I have a Scrambler and a 950S. I've been watching videos on doing the clearances and belts on the 2V Scrambler as it's out of warranty now, and it looks simple enough. I thought the 950 would be way too much to do myself, but it just looks more of the same. A healthy stock of RC cars seems to be key, which I already have in the corner of my garage 😅😅 Thanks so much!! 👍👍👍
The RC cars are critical to success. :)
This is not a job I could do, so thank you for this tutorial. I have learned that my best move is just taking said bike to the dealer and paying for the service.
I'd bet this job becomes even more fun with the Diavel's DVT engine.
Great video, this is a life saver for all the Ducati loving DIYers. Can you add a complete list of all the stuff required to complete this procedure (tools, cleaners lubricants.. etc). Thanks
Go to Ducati tool rent !!! Guy rents out a COMPLETE !!!! kit for doing the valves !! Measuring tools , work sheet, feeler gauge, sonic meter for belt tensioner and a full set of shims !! 110 bucks to rent the kit and 9 dollars a shim !!!😆😆😀😀🏍🏍🏍🍺🍺
nice work , great when you can do this by yourself
Thanks for making the video. I am a DIYer and this will help me decide if I would want to buy a Ducati.
Great video series, thanks. Do you know what to do to stop valves falling into the cylinder if you have to remove all the camshafts and all 8 closer shims at the same time? All of my closer shims are out of spec and I need to measure them all together.
Hello P.E.
Where did you buy the Box for the Desmo Service?
Thank you for your answer. Deni😁
Very well done tutorial which reaffirmed why I don’t want a Ducati anymore…😏
Thanks for a very helpful and well done video! I'm preparing to dive into my 2011.
Amazing video, makes me think I could possibly do it 50% of the time. By chance do you know what specialized tools you need and where to get them that you cant get at harbor freight?
Nice film. Great bikes to work with I go back to the 70's as a matter of course..
A very well presented video showing the principles of valve shimming. Is it possible to rest the camshafts in place and press them down when confirming the replacement shims new clearance rather than bolting the camshaft bearing caps back in place, just in case the shim doesn’t work out to be correct and needs changing.
Thank you! I'd recommend bolting the cams down to take the measurement. The clearance could be inaccurate without the cams secured.
Me following along with some difficulty until 17:48 "remove the half-ring": WTF - mechanic take my money!
You're the man. This is great. I am in the market for a bike and started my journey with the Multi 1200s... then shied away due to fears of maintenance, cost, and potential electrical issue. Ended up looking at the 1200GS --> FJR1300 --> FZ1 --> Ninja 1000 --> KTM 1190.... and now i've come full circle back to the Ducati upon seeing that the maintenance is manageable. I own a BMW car shop, so it can't be much worse than that, right? Right?! lol
You're totally right. It's not bad at all!
@@PracticalEnthusiast made the plunge and bought a 2013 MS with 13k miles. Hoping the valve adjustment goes well. Currently getting snow in NJ 🤦🏼♂️ just want to ride
@@TheSundaeDrive nice work! You'll be so happy with it once warm weather comes back around. We have snow and ice here now too and I'm really itching to go ride.
I put some plastic pipe down the oil wells when I did mine if those keepers fall in your in a world of hate, great job ,I go slightly higher on exhaust side as they get coked up
Great video with the detailed explanations and I liked the music as well. Got me through my own valve adjustment on my 1200 Multi; I'm about to reassemble and check my intake side on the vertical cylinder this evening! Cheers, and keep up the great content!
I just wanted to say thank you. This was just a fantastic video! SAVED!
Once you've done a Desmo service, Ducati's aren't that hard to own really. I sure love the attention to engineering that went into these.
Do you recommend the digital caliper at 19:35? What brand? Also could you have used the caliper to measure the previous shims?
Interesting adjustment procedure. Basically these shims change in size slightly over time as the engine runs? Seems more precise than the type of adjustments I'm used to.
The metal does expand a very small amount when it heats up, so that's why they specify a range that the valve clearance gap should be within. The reason you have to check the clearance every so often is because the valvetrain wears ever so slightly over time (or if you don't change your oil, it might wear quite a bit!). Typically the valves wear their seats down in the cylinder head causing the clearance to shrink.
A trick to not letting the valve drop into the cylinder when doing the closer shim, take a the hose from a compression gauge or use a leak down tester and hook up to shop air to pressurize the cylinder. It will hold the valves closed while you do what you need to do. Also, this reminds me of valve adjustment on Kia engines. Their shims are bucket shaped but the math is all the same.
So I don't know the terminology but on the forward cylinder the two arms on the bottom cam seemed to be in a different position (parallel to the ground) when it looked like they should be between the valves and the shims? Also was it a problem that the top cylinder intake cam was 180 degrees from the position when it was removed?
You have great attention to detail! The bottom arms are the opening rockers for the exhaust cam. When the cam is installed, they lay between the cam and the shims. Since the cam is removed, they flop down parallel to the ground (gravity). You have to make sure to position them correctly when reinstalling the cam.
As for the cam position being different on install, it doesn't matter on a desmo engine. The cams are at "rest" for about 180 deg duration and don't need to be installed in a particular orientation. You align them to their appropriate orientation when installing the timing belts, which I'll cover in a future video.
Ah ok. Yeah it was hard to tell from the video angle where they were positioned once the cam was installed. I have a scrambler 1100 so would like to be able to perform the clearance check once due but don't know if I'm up to it.
im guessing you marked the cams before taking the belts off? im getting mixed up on how to get the engine back to "normal" once the reshim is complete. mark cams to know what direction theyre facing (that makes sence0 but how do you know where the pistons are at pre- belt removal
Man. Yes, this is tougher than regular valve adjustment, but it's not rocket science. People talk so much about how you HAVE to take it to the dealer for this. I don't think it's a stretch for someone who can manage regular valve jobs to do this themselves. Thanks for the great video.
It may not be rocket science, but it is rocker science. 😎
Hi, thank you for your video. Do you know where i can get the shims kit online? Is there the measuring bit inside the kit as well?
Yep - check the video description for a link to the shim kit. The closer measuring tool is included in the kit.
Is oil change also done with a desmo service ? My oil need changing and already have an appointment for a desmo service.
Bless EMS Duc and California Cycle Works 🤣
Great video. I haven’t dug into my HyperRetard yet. All my experience has been with 2v Multi’s. Like building a ship in a bottle, whew 😥
These 4v look much easier.
Thank you….you now reside on FIX MY OWN SH*T video list.
Excellent!
Subscribed!!!
Awsome video! Thanks a lot! When was your first valve check? How many kilometars ?
Just going to get inside an ST2. It's been sat for 12 years. Not going to try a start until belts checked, clearances measure, new oil/filters etc. Any advice from anyone out there? I've rebuilt a few Audi and Toyota engines. Thanks in advance.
This video was awesome.
Boy!!! I am glad to see you CAN do it..but i am gonna stick with the dealer doing it for me :)
Hey Buddy Love Videos . Where is the starter on this bike? if you know.. I think I need to change mine
I am about to shim the valves on a 2001 750 Ducati monster. For the first time. A little overwhelming. Where can I buy a shim kit from for that motorcycle?My closing shims are between .0015 and .002. Intake opening is .004 exhaust opening .003 on the horizontal cylinder. Intake opening is.0025 exhaust opening is .005 on the vertical cylinder. what would you consider the sweet spot that I should be aiming for? these are all standard measurements not in metric.
Nice video hopefully you do the same with the 1198 if possible, special attention on how to remove the shims and put them back together. Cheers
Thanks for sharing! Will help me alot . Though the "closure shim measuring tool" seems quit pointless to me as you already know you are going to abstract 10 mm from the measurement?
The closer shim measuring tool might seem useless at first, but what it tells you is whether or not the shim has worn on the inside mating surface. While that's not a common occurrence, it is possible! It's always good to double check. 👍
@@PracticalEnthusiast but still you don t need this tool, just abstract 10mm
@@Kongzi93 how would you measure the depth of the inner cavity? The shim has an inner cavity, which is the purpose of the tool!
@@PracticalEnthusiast if you say so. But why only on the Outlet Valves. Are they different shape?
@@Kongzi93 the closer shim tool isn't only for the exhaust valves. Both intake and exhaust valves have closer shims. Closer shims have the inner void present which requires the tool to measure the thickness of the shims. The video must not show that point well enough, sorry!
Excellent step by step guide, and well documented thank you for making and sharing 👍🇬🇧
Hey man great video! One question, what's the logic behind setting to the upper limits vs the lower limit? I watched a different video and he was setting the valves to the lower limits.
Thanks! I went for the upper limit here (larger gap) because damage rarely results from having too large of a valve clearance. Also, clearances tend to decrease as an engine wears or has miles added. So, being on the larger gap side of things is the safer side to be on. If you're chasing optimum performance and are less concerned about maintaining long service intervals, then it would make more sense to target the lower limits.
@@PracticalEnthusiast , WOW thanks for the quick response! I just bought an 1098s and I'm about to do a full service on it. Been watching your whole 1198s series and probably will do mostly everything you did with yours.
Great video with great explanations
Hero Honda Splendor a small segment bike launched in India since 1999, could run upto 3 lac kilometres without adjusting valve tappet or engine seals or even clutch plates. It is still in production till date and it is one of the world's highest selling motorbike and also ranked as the worlds most reliable motorbike.
Hello! Nice video. Do you know valve clearance for scrambler 400 2018? Thank you!
I think on my ST4 it was easier to do the adjustment with the head removed. It was impossible or uncertain what you were measuring when doing the opener shims on the exhaust valves.
The timing belts are a piece of cake though, not sure why so many people are scared of those.
The ST4 uses the same (I think) desmoquattro engine as the 996 that I used to have. It's very difficult to access the shims on the vertical cylinder, but on the 996 it wasn't impossible. It does however make you want to never to do it again and sell it. Hence why I sold mine. :)
@@PracticalEnthusiast I always pulled the head on my 996 bikes. So much easier!
@@retiredandroaming Do you replace the head gasket also then?
@@Servingsince not really necessary but, yes, I used to replace them. And the belts.
I didn’t see any RTV put back on. Did you use any?
Hi from the uk 🇬🇧 👍🏻 awesome videos and very descriptive, I’ve watched a lot of the Multistrada but yours are so clear to follow so thank you. I’m about to do the belts on my 2013 model at 13,000 miles and wonder d if I need a locking tool for the cam shaft pulleys or I can do as you’ve shown by marking the belts position on the pulleys, line up the marks/notches and simply swap belts and then do the hertz tension etc? Your advice would be awesome. Ps whereabouts in USA 🇺🇸 are you? Regards, Howard
Hi Howard, thanks for the comment. You don't need the locking tool at all. I'd recommend getting some long, angled needle nose pliers like I've used in following video (th-cam.com/video/f15vvgCm1Mg/w-d-xo.html) to assist in aligning the cam sprockets when refitting the belts. Definitely mark the old belts before removal. I'm located in Overland Park, Kansas, USA.
Amazing!
You miss one small step and you’re in deep shit!
I want a Ducati but this service regiment is scary 😅😅
Thank you 🙏
One more question, is it really necessary to transfer the marks on the old timing belts to the new ones? Seems like the belt position would be irrelevant so long as the cams are in the correct position amd the engine is at TDC? In addition, do I need to put the engine at TDC for each cylinder when installing the new belts? Meaning the vertical cylinder is at TDC to install it's new belt and then rotate to place the horizontal cylinder at TDC to install its belt? Maybe I'm over thinking?
Great video series, really appreciate the effort put in to these. I was wondering though if you ever need the crank locking tool at all? I guess you worked around the crank turning tool by putting in gear and turning the rear wheel.
Nope, I didn't need the locking tool.
@@PracticalEnthusiast Thank you for the quick response. Appreciate it .. it's great to be able to do fairly major jobs without having to fork out a bunch for special tools. Did you also figure out how to reset the 15K mile service light at all? I wonder if a VAG tool would be able to communicate with it. It would be interesting to try
@@turbo97semax that's for sure! And yep, check out this video on how to reset the service light: th-cam.com/video/vKV5wgtL0AY/w-d-xo.html
First of all - good job! What did you use to seal the cams and the cover gasket, some silver material? What’s very surprising to me is that your clearance had “disappeared” for the most part. I haven’t done a ton of valve checks, but I have never had a case of decreased clearance. Valve seats get carbon buildup and shims, rockers and cams wear a bit. All that should be leading to increased valve clearance over time. Which has always been my experience. I can’t imagine how a clearance would shrink over time.
Thanks! The sealant I used is Permatex Ultra Grey, but most any RTV will work fine. Not sure how the tight valve clearances happened. Sometimes it's caused by the previous mechanic throwing in the closest shim they had, which makes it on the tight side. Sometimes the valve stem stretches, other times the valve seat recedes. Who knows, all you can do is put it back to spec!
Buenas Cómo enciendo la Multistrada 2015 después de colocar el código pin y que no haya que colocarlo más..Para que sea más rápido encenderla Gracias
Not as bad as I thought. In fact, I think removing all the stuff to get to the valves is more of a pain.
Great video and very nicely explained.
Great video.. Definitely not a noobie job. I will leave it to the professionals. Also 29:50 don't forget to take the masking tape off :)
how often does a desmo service need to be done? My Multistrada 1200 was done at 21000km, it now has 41000 on it and 8 years since the last. Should it be done due to time since last?
This is an excellent presentation, great job.
so i have a 2022 v4 streetfighter, im assuming its pretty much the same process. Yes? Should i plastigage the bearing caps? any recommendations? just a bit nervous, because its a different ballpark than im used to.
Can the valve check be done without removing the timing belts, obviously if you have to re-shim they will need to be removed but for just the checking clearances can you leave the belts on and just check the shims at top dead center
Absolutely! I'm usually changing the belts anyway while I'm there which is why I've shown it that way.
This is best of desmo video..!!
Hello! I am a Tesla and BMW auto body tech and I have the 2019 MTS 950S which I do the regular oil and brake service. It seems that the engine is similar . I’d like you teach me how to do the desmo service.
At 29:19 what paste did you use?
Permatex Ultra Grey: amzn.to/3RjQfvu
Awesome job 👍🏻
If your shim measurement was 3.1 and it was marked as 3.1 meaning it wasn't worn, does that mean the incorrect shim was installed from the factory?
No, it just means something else in the valvetrain has worn which is normal. Typically it is either the valve seat wearing or the valve stretching. Shims, rockers, and camshafts really shouldn't wear which is why it is important to change your oil and perform valve clearance checks on schedule.
This doesn't see too terrible. I had a car that I had to do basically the same thing once a year.
I am curious - how much is the shim kit?
The kit is $225
Great job buddy!
hey i was just curious, where did you download/purchase the service manual for this bike?
So the valve has recessed into the valve seat that much?
Excellent video! Thanks! 👍🙂
in the 2015 and later versions don't that adjust the valves built into auto??
Where you find out this??
Great, but there are no shooting galleries in Russian. There are few videos on Multistrada 950 in our country.
Did you place silicone on both sides of the new valve cover gaskets?
I did in the half moon areas because they had it that way from the factory. Just a little bit though!
I see this bike is up for sale again on Facebook. If you don’t mind me asking, how much did you end up sell it for?
Yeah I saw that, not sure what's up with the quick turnaround. I sold it for $7400.
What is RTB Sealing? Is it just normal liquid gasket?
It's RTV sealant. I've linked to the type I used in the video description.
Can anyone comment on clearance measurements? I heard you want much tighter ranges than Openers: .13 - .18 mm / Closers: .05 - .10 mm. More like closers should be 0.02mm and openers 0.05mm? Setting them this low will keep them from going out of spec fast?
What is the part number and model of the timing belt?
Why did you only measure 2 of the horizontal cylinders closer shims instead of all 4 closer shims?
oh i have an idea why.
its says
"Because the Ducati Supersport has a four-valve-per-cylinder engine and Desmodromic valves, there are sixteen clearances to check. If an opener is out of spec, it’s common that the closer is, too, per the manual."
so i check the top and make the changes and do the same on the horizontal cylinder on the same positions. like you. top left and buttom right from the video view
Curious how many miles you had on it when u did this. I am at 19k and I have not yet checked.
It was at 30k miles.
Brilliant, very informative video thanks Shane uk 🇬🇧
Will the valve lash measurements be different, with timing belt on vs off?
Not at all.
@@jrexbrown hmmmm, all that belt pressure does not do any thing? well, i am going to check with belt off.
I was just recently quoted by a place called mosites motorsports in pittsburgh. They quoted 2500. So I asked for all the parts. Then they tried to scare me saying it takes 3k worth of specialized tools to do the job. All I saw in every video ive watched are allen wrenches, screw drivers, and sockets. Told them get lost on that. Took the parts and will do it myself. What an absolute scam. Mines a non DVT bike, its even EASIER than this.
In the same boat. My V2 has been died for the last 3 months. Can’t justify the cost they wish to charge pretty much £2500 in the UK. I’m about to take it apart today and do it myself. Strip measure order the parts kits and required shims then put it all back together
Typical dealer lying and scamming bas###ds !
@practicalenthusiast - I have a 2016 XDiavel if you wanna bust out a valve check video on it! LMK thanks
This allllmmmost looks easier than my 848, nice, that's good to know.
What assembly lube do you use?
Im waiting till 30,000 km then I will have the belts (recommended by Ducati) and shims changed at the same time. I ride the bike hard so change the oil every 5000km to keep the wear down. Dealer price to do this is high so maybe I will give it a go😬
I'm lost. The shims you replaced all had the right measurements. What is wearing in there that changes the dimensions and causes to tick? Why not replace the part thats wearing? Why not replace everything in there since its open?
This has to happen every 15k miles ir juat until you hear the ticking?
Checking and adjusting valves is not unique to Ducatis - every vehicle with an engine with "fixed" valve clearance should be inspected every so often. Ducati simply recommends checking it every 15k miles on this engine. The shims don't wear, but the valves can slightly recess into the cylinder head, causing the clearance gap to shrink. Wear on the top of valve stem, on the camshaft lobes, and in the rocker arms can increase clearance gaps. Frequent oil changes (3k miles) greatly minimize this chance of wear.
@@PracticalEnthusiast its just like any car or truck. Usually after 150k ish miles the rollers go bad and add wear to the tip of the lobes. Thats why I asked about changing everything in there since your in there. Every 15k miles though. Wow.
I wonder why they havnt come out with better tech or a more stable design. Its still wierd how rollers or followers move into the vavles. They dont do that on anything else I've heard of.
So you basically have to be a mad scientist of a mechanic or be rich to afford the service on a ducati. Damn! I rode. 2010 yesterday and almost baught it. Im glad i didnt. Its heart breaking because it was so good...