Pictures MBP Collets

[j911brick]

I took these pictures during a recient valve adjustment just in case somebody had never seen these type of collets (like me). The other picture is whats left of the stock collets. Keep in mind that you have to use special shims for these collets. I bought the shims and collets from Ducatimike @ http://www.emsduc.com/

[RichD]

Sorry to see the crumbs.., but congrats on the MBP purchase.

I hope nothing (keeper groove?) got "chewed" on by the broken collets.

Looks like you got lucky

[Mike931]

Originally Posted by j911brick

I took these pictures during a recient valve adjustment just in case somebody had never seen these type of collets (like me). The other picture is whats left of the stock collets. Keep in mind that you have to use special shims for these collets. I bought the shims and collets from Ducatimike @ http://www.emsduc.com/

Mike look very similiar. No apparent damage to the valves. Of course I would like to update to MBP valves but I'll stay stock for now.

I did, however, order MBP collets and modified shims from ducatimike at EMSDUC.com also!

[JEC]

Does installing the new collets change the clearances? That's something that I've wondered for a while. I plan on getting some at my next service. I just wouldn't want to carefully assemble the whole thing and discover all my closers were off or something stupid like that.

[j911brick]

Originally Posted by JEC

Does installing the new collets change the clearances? That's something that I've wondered for a while. I plan on getting some at my next service. I just wouldn't want to carefully assemble the whole thing and discover all my closers were off or something stupid like that.

Yes it does change the clearances. You basically loose your baseline so you have to do you valve adjustment from scratch. It pretty much doubles the time it takes to do the (first) valve adjustment. But it also reduces how often you have to do adjustments.

[grendels_arm]

It seems the main advantage of getting the MBP collets is that it saves you from replacing half rings and adjusting the corresponding valves. I've heard that when things "bed in" on regular old bikes that you usually don't replace many shims anyway. So I guess it's the half rings that are the real culprits for changing out shims all the time. If I knew I would keep my Ducati for some some time I'd buy a shim kit and the MBP collets. Maybe if I get a 998 one day or an R. Are the collets needed even for Testastretta motors?

Does replacing rockers change the clearances or all rockers the exact same?

[galaxy]

James, how did you come across, or figure out all your retainers were broken?? Was it discovered during a normal valve adjust or were there problems that led you to investigate??

[j911brick]

Originally Posted by galaxy

James, how did you come across, or figure out all your retainers were broken?? Was it discovered during a normal valve adjust or were there problems that led you to investigate??

Pretty much. I knew the valve adjustment was way over due, and I had a problem with the bike, so I planned on a valve adjustment. I ordered up the shim kit then I started to tear into it to see what I was up against. The first assembly I took apart was the top intake and I thought the half rings were kinda odd since they weren't really "half" at all. I called Mike back the next day and we talked about the broken rings. Since ALL the intake rings were broken I decided this was sort of an "issue" with this bike and I decided to try and circumvent any future problems. The stock rings obviously weren't working, and for as much work as it takes to do a valve adjustment, I felt it was worth the risk to try to make an improvement. I didn't even know what the collets looked like before I started. My impression now is that they are of much higher quality than OEM, more material, and they look to be harder than the stock collets. I'll admit, when you first look at them they don't look like much since they are so small, and you kinda wonder where you money went. Even though it added significantly to the expense of the job, and it made for alot more work, I feel the effort was worth it because now the valves, especially the closers, should not go out of adjust so much. I had some closers out of adjustment by .022", and that is huge!

[j911brick]

Originally Posted by grendels_arm

It seems the main advantage of getting the MBP collets is that it saves you from replacing half rings and adjusting the corresponding valves. I've heard that when things "bed in" on regular old bikes that you usually don't replace many shims anyway. So I guess it's the half rings that are the real culprits for changing out shims all the time.

Does replacing rockers change the clearances or all rockers the exact same?

I tend to agree. From what I have seen, it would seem that the stock rings are soft, and brittle (if that's possible). I think they get hammered into submission and deform, so you loose your adjustment. If you can keep them from breaking, you could reuse them with better effect, assuming you could actually get them back in the same exact way they came out. When you do your adjustment you'll see that is pretty hard since they are not marked "top" or anything, and when you remove them they drop or get twised up in your fingers and you'll never be able to keep track.

Yes, changing rockers will almost always change the adjustment. If it doesn't its just luck.

[grendels_arm]

Originally Posted by j911brick

I tend to agree. From what I have seen, it would seem that the stock rings are soft, and brittle (if that's possible). I think they get hammered into submission and deform, so you loose your adjustment. If you can keep them from breaking, you could reuse them with better effect, assuming you could actually get them back in the same exact way they came out. When you do your adjustment you'll see that is pretty hard since they are not marked "top" or anything, and when you remove them they drop or get twised up in your fingers and you'll never be able to keep track.

Yes, changing rockers will almost always change the adjustment. If it doesn't its just luck.

So therefore you only need to remove your half rings if they are bad or need to adjust the closers? So say you make your measurements, some are off, you take off your cams to check for flakers, you discover 1 or 2, plus some half rings. I'm just making this up... Anyway so you basically have to wait for the collets (stock or MBP ones) and rockers, everything back together, measure clearances again and then order shims if you don't have the kit. Geezo flip.

Is the Testastretta easier than the older motor when it comes to valve checks, half rings, etc?