Cold weather valve adjustment - Ducati.ms

jobslob · Dec 21st, 2011, 7:24 am

I'm looking to do a valve adjustment the Winter and was wondering if the cold weather would cause any issues with the measurements. I'm in NY and will see temps go below zero... although I doubt I would be in my unheated garage in that weather.

I would think the components would shrink somewhat which would change the gaps. It may be that the parts are small enough that the small percentage in change wouldn't cause a problem but thought I would ask to be sure.

thanks, Dan

stryder · Dec 21st, 2011, 7:49 am

Wait 'til spring.

SS904 · Dec 21st, 2011, 7:57 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by stryder

Wait 'til spring.

I agree, if only because at 0 degrees you'd be shivering too much to get a good measurement! That, and it would suck if your fingers got frozen to the engine and you had to chew your arm off to escape...

Is your garage detached? I have a two car attached garage that is unheated, but it is still warmer than the outside temps. I have a little space heater I use if I need to be out there. By the time it gets that cold the bike is under a cover, on the stands and hooked to a battery tender until spring!

tonered · Dec 21st, 2011, 9:55 am

I did mine between Christmas and New Years last year. Not fun, even in a warm-ish but unheated garage. Of course, I'm about 1,500mi out from an service. So, it looks like that will happen in an equally cold early February. I think I will finally buy a space heater or maybe extend the service a bit.

To your point, the difference between 60F or so and 30F is much smaller than the running temps probably close to 200F in the head.

Have a good one.

jobslob · Dec 21st, 2011, 2:42 pm

Thanks for the input. I really don't want to wait until Spring because of the time the bike would be out of commission. Its hard enough getting through the Winter here with out riding; waiting even longer would might be too much. Plus I might feel rushed to get it back on the road at that time which could lead to mistakes.

I'm wondering if Ducati had some nominal temperature range for their recommended gaps. It would seem like that if there was a significant difference in measurements at warm vs. cold temps that would be reflected in the hot (operating) temp. So if we were to set the gap at 0.003 when cold and measured it again when warm and got 0.002 (assuming the gaps shrink at warmed temps) then we'd be too tight at normal operating temps.

The reality may be that I'm over-thinking this and as long as I set the gaps somewhere near the middle of the range I'd be ok.

**Chuckracer** · Dec 21st, 2011, 2:55 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by jobslob

The reality may be that I'm over-thinking this and as long as I set the gaps somewhere near the middle of the range I'd be ok.

This. I think the only part that would really be affected by the temperatures would be the finesse required at the feeler gauge...and the
numb fingers from ice cold tools, etc.

I'm bringing sub-assemblies inside the house to work on this winter but any motor work will wail till it's warmer. I'd suggest a rainy weekend this spring.

The carcass...

Fork shims all laid out...

tonered · Dec 21st, 2011, 3:08 pm

Yes, the clearences change while running due to thermal expansion. The amount they open or close up is dependent on the metalurgy of the parts and their dimensional relationship. The beauty is that we really don't need to worry about it. The recommended clearences take this into account. A few degrees at ambient temps, considering the size of the gap we are measuring isn't significant.

It took me 20hrs to do the first full service. I've compressed that through repetition, but I still take two days just to be relaxed about it. The best thing I have done is switch from doing it on a weekend to be ready for a Monday commute to taking a Thursday and Friday off. Then, there planty of time to do the work, test for leaks, and slap the fairings on before heading out into the commute.

So considering the size of the task, I wouldn't worry about missing any primo riding weather.

Have a good one.

tonered · Dec 21st, 2011, 3:10 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuckracer

This. I think the only part that would really be affected by the temperatures would be the finesse required at the feeler gauge...and the
numb fingers from ice cold tools, etc.

I'm bringing sub-assemblies inside the house to work on this winter but any motor work will wail till it's warmer. I'd suggest a rainy weekend this spring.

The carcass...

Fork shims all laid out...

Hey, that's not a Duc! LOL.

Happy Holidays, Chuck-E-Racer. =)

Have a good one.

**Chuckracer** · Dec 21st, 2011, 5:23 pm

It's not?? Oh crap...who let me in here anyhoo!??

Thanks Tone...Merry Christmas to you and yours too!

jobslob · Dec 21st, 2011, 5:50 pm

I could probably get it done in an extended weekend under normal conditions, but this being my first attempt and other extenuating circumstances (a small baby that I seem to be spending a lot of time with... not that that's a bad thing) lead me to believe it will take a couple of weeks to complete. Plus I haven't checked the rocker arms for flaking so they could (hopefully not) need to be replaced which might take a week or two to turn around.

Chuck brought up taking subassemblies into the house. With everything off the bike to get to the engine how much more work would it be to remove it completely? I can see needing to remove the exhaust, chain, un-bold the swing arm, and some wiring... that doesn't seem like too much. Then I could get it in a nice, warm basement and have easy access to the horizontal cylinder.

thanks again for the input.