intensive ST2 maintainance

[Ducxl]

greetings Ducatisti,

I'm a Duc owner since 2000.My 996 is WILD,built most of it myself,including Pistal re-machinings.THat tells a little of skill level.

My '02 ST2 i bought March of 2009 had 9k miles.It now has 14k miles and i know it needs maintainance.Currently the frame is removed/stripped.Wiring harness entirely removed to check thouroughly.My local Ducati dealer just cancelled my order for the service manual stating out of print.The ST2 is very similar to my 996 so i think i can WING it.

The belts posess ZERO tension.I mean silly flapping loose.Having tensioned 7 sets of belts in 21k miles on the 996 this ST2 loose condition is alarming.I use the Lowener/Ducati tension gage with proficiency and like it.I also discovered i'd (back in 2002) bought the conversion kit to use it on 2 valvers.Who'd a thunk back in '02...

What i desperately NEED is the SPECS.How do i position the gage on the ST2 belt and what is the gage setting,2.5 is the 996 spec.And on the 996 the gage positions between the DOHcams.Also,HOW do i lever the tensioner? Is there a special tool?

My valve clearances are consistent at .005"-.006" on BOTH openers and closers.

I'd also like to separate the swingarm(grease) but it seems a press fit.

THe bike had a gremlin where...on a day long ride it would occasionally lose ALL power.Always briefly for several seconds.It was startling to be on hard accell passing traffic and suddenly NO GO.

I haven't found and bad wiring yet.I DID dismantle the fuel pump and found piles of rust under the pump mesh pick-up as well as all over the pump base.Found a Split hose on the air separator.

I've been hanging around here lurking a few months contemplating my questions.
Can i get some assistance please?

Thanks

[va duc]

Pick up LT's maintenance book at desmo times for the 2 valve machines, lots of info on the ST@, it is a must have.
Also some good info here:
Main Page - DucatiWiki

[Ducxl]

Well that's a nice link,thanks. It states 2.5 on my tension gage but i still need proper positioning of my tension gage.I THINK i know how to position it,only about one clear way.

It'll be a long Winter.Timing belts,fuel pump service,fork/shock service at G.M.D. Computrack,spark plugs,tires,and a VERY thourough clean up.

[Desmo_Demon]

Originally Posted by Ducxl

I use the Lowener/Ducati tension gage with proficiency and like it.
.
My valve clearances are consistent at .005"-.006" on BOTH openers and closers.

I just use the 5mm allen wrench trick to adjust the belt tension and I shoot for 0.004"-0.006" on the openers and 0.000"-0.002" on the closers. This has worked well with my ST2 for 53k miles and several thousands more miles on our Monster, the other ST2, the Paso, and I even set my Bimota engine to them a couple of months ago after buying it.