Overdue service interval.... - Ducati.ms

Queestce · Aug 18th, 2011, 11:40 pm

Hey everyone,

My monster is sitting on 20,150km. Obviously she is due for a 20,000km service, I'm just waiting for some parts to arrive as I'm doing a bit of that service myself. Anyway, I wasn't going to do a lot of riding before getting the service done, as obviously it's already a little overdue... The oil is 2400km old, the belts are 4000km old, brand new tires and pads, fluids are all new etc.

I've now got a "reason" to ride about 400k's tomorrow, which would push it up to about 20,500km. I wondered, how bad an idea is it to go over a service interval by ~ 500 km. Obviously knowing the belts, and a lot of other bits are all fresh is nice, but what about valves and the like? It all rides, and sounds perfect

I'd much prefer to take the Duc and scenic twisty route than drive the cage but I don't want to bring it to harm...

Cheers for any insight,

Tk

CAlexio · Aug 19th, 2011, 12:01 am

the service intervals are a suggested amount, and a very conservative interval at that. Imagine the sheer variables involved, temps, revs, air quality, city vs hwy usage... the possible variations are infinite. What about an engine that covers 6000 miles in 6 months, vs one that takes 6 years to do the same?... the older engine definitely needs a belt change for example as the belts could have dried out, gaskets could have dried out etc etc.

The engine doesn't have a magical moment when things go badly, but the 6000 mile was ducati's CYA number. Different engines are built to different tolerances, so some can go much longer. If you have fresher belts (the only item that can just go-off suddenly if the rubber is in really bad shape, go have fun with your bike. Use common sense, your bike will be no different after 500km, or even 2500km extra. It's a guideline, not a hard and fast rule.

Queestce · Aug 19th, 2011, 12:08 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAlexio

the service intervals are a suggested amount, and a very conservative interval at that. Imagine the sheer variables involved, temps, revs, air quality, city vs hwy usage... the possible variations are infinite. What about an engine that covers 6000 miles in 6 months, vs one that takes 6 years to do the same?... the older engine definitely needs a belt change for example as the belts could have dried out, gaskets could have dried out etc etc.

The engine doesn't have a magical moment when things go badly, but the 6000 mile was ducati's CYA number. Different engines are built to different tolerances, so some can go much longer. If you have fresher belts (the only item that can just go-off suddenly if the rubber is in really bad shape, go have fun with your bike. Use common sense, your bike will be no different after 500km, or even 2500km extra. It's a guideline, not a hard and fast rule.

Appreciate that advice mate. I can definitely see what you mean that the 10k interval is guideline and how a bikes been treated in between is a pretty big variable. I know at least over the last 5000k's the bikes been maintained fastidiously, but I only bought it at 15,000km... Anyway, I'm sure it will be fine, will be great to have this service done though. I wan't limitless riding again!

Cheers mate,

Tk

**CDONA** · Aug 19th, 2011, 2:22 am

I pushed mine 2 k miles extra due to lack of nearby dealer/service. I didn't hammer it much during its third service interval and it was only valve check and air cleaner service that was needed. No issues.

Decreasing Dave · Aug 19th, 2011, 11:12 am

This is good info as now I don't have to feel so bad about being 900 miles over my 7,500 mile valve service.

Need to get it done anyway, just don't know if I'm capable to do it myself without support.

Dave

CAlexio · Aug 19th, 2011, 8:51 pm

belts aside, when you bring your bike in for service ask the mechanic how many shims he had to add or replace, and how much your valves were out of spec. it's a valve "check"... you'll find that often everything is perfectly within spec, especially if you aren't stressing the engine on a regular basis. so, again, you can go past your intervals. also ask about TPS and see if it's off.. again, often little to no adjustment is required.

one thing I've heard, so I can't confirm, that ducatis new 7500 mile intervals don't mean anything has changed within the engines... it's just they realized it was a good marketing move and that added/more frequent revenue which dealers had to give away was worth having the customer perceive the bike as more durable/less maintenance intensive. Talked to some ducati mechanics who told me this, but again, this part I can't confirm.

Queestce · Aug 20th, 2011, 1:43 am

Hmmm, interesting points CAL. In any case I went riding and both myself and bike survived once again so I cant complain! That almost wasn't the case though... What an "exciting" ride, 3 bloody close calls in almost as many minutes. Anyway once again thanks for all the advice everyone. Gotta love this place, questions never go unanswered!

Tk