New owner questions - Ducati.ms

DAllisonfan · Nov 1st, 2011, 8:27 am

Hi I just bought my 796, it is my first ‘real’ street bike (I have used my dual sport MX bikes in the past for street riding). I have some questions that I have searched for and not found clear answers or no answers for (probably stupid new owner questions)

First how the heck do you adjust the chain on this bike? I am used to the Jap MX bikes and the owner’s manual does not tell you anything, not to mention any torque value.

Second is it save to use my battery minder with the battery in the bike (still hooked up), or should I disconnect the battery every time I want to hook up the battery minder?

Third what the heck is with the center light on the top of the dash board flashing for a few hours after I shut down? I can find nothing in the owner’s manual about it.

Last one the owner’s manual says to turn off the fuel petcock, but I’ll be darned if I can see one, am I just blind or looking in the wrong place?

Thanks for the help, can’t wait for the stupid snow to clear so I can actually ride it! Yeah it’s my luck pick it up Friday and we get the first snow in 60 years in October here in NJ Friday night into and all day Saturday, tell me I don’t live by Murphy’s Law!

Thanks for helping the new owner

vroooom · Nov 1st, 2011, 9:53 am

third: that's the anti-theft device on the bike.

psycho_drama · Nov 1st, 2011, 10:00 am

yes, battery tender is perfectly safe to use.

DAllisonfan · Nov 1st, 2011, 10:07 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by psycho_drama

yes, battery tender is perfectly safe to use.

Safe to use while the battery is still connected and in the bike (key switch off of course), correct?

Liberator · Nov 1st, 2011, 10:55 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAllisonfan

Safe to use while the battery is still connected and in the bike (key switch off of course), correct?

Correct. Had mine hooked up all last winter and no prob whatsoever.

Torque values for those chain tensioner bolts are 31 Nm (someone confirm that for me since it's a critical safety bolt). I pulled that from a table calling those "Chain tensioner eccentric screws"

Someone here mentioned the quick way to tension. Loosen those bolts, rotate the chain guard until you get the chain tension you want, then tighten bolts to spec. I guess that's the easy way to do it without the special tool.

DAllisonfan · Nov 1st, 2011, 11:20 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liberator

Correct. Had mine hooked up all last winter and no prob whatsoever.

Torque values for those chain tensioner bolts are 31 Nm (someone confirm that for me since it's a critical safety bolt). I pulled that from a table calling those "Chain tensioner eccentric screws"

Someone here mentioned the quick way to tension. Loosen those bolts, rotate the chain guard until you get the chain tension you want, then tighten bolts to spec. I guess that's the easy way to do it without the special tool.

Thanks!

DosHypers · Nov 1st, 2011, 12:11 pm

the quick way is to loosen the bolts at the back of the swingarm, and pull down on the chain gaurd and that will tighten the chain

DAllisonfan · Nov 1st, 2011, 12:31 pm

I assume all of you guys have the shop manual/service manual, since the owners manual is useless, do I have to go thought my Ducati dealer or is there someplace else to get it (I have had no luck ‘googling’ it). Also what was the cost?

Seven9Six · Nov 1st, 2011, 2:39 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAllisonfan

I assume all of you guys have the shop manual/service manual, since the owners manual is useless, do I have to go thought my Ducati dealer or is there someplace else to get it (I have had no luck ‘googling’ it). Also what was the cost?

No such a thing as a paper service manual for a HM 796. You'll have to buy a BOOTLEG CD service manual off the internet. Just Google it.....pay for the download...and read it on your computer.

By the way...that red light flashing drove me nuts too. Now i feel like a fool for asking why it was blinking for a few hours and then go out.
Welcome to the forum.

DAllisonfan · Nov 1st, 2011, 2:49 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seven9Six

No such a thing as a paper service manual for a HM 796. You'll have to buy a BOOTLEG CD service manual off the internet. Just Google it.....pay for the download...and read it on your computer.

By the way...that red light flashing drove me nuts too. Now i feel like a fool for asking why it was blinking for a few hours and then go out.
Welcome to the forum.

Thanks, I did not trust the download thing, last thing i need is a virus on my machine (less time to ride!).