First major service - Ducati.ms

GMP · Jun 8th, 2009, 8:27 am

Almost done with my 7.5K service. My valves were all well withen spec, but the cam belts were scary loose.

I mean like flopping around off the tensioner rollers loose. My bike has 7K on the clock and I advise you guys to check the belts before this and perhaps more often, I know I will from now on. The belts themselves look great and there was very little debri or dust under the covers. Most of the work in doing this service is taking everything off to get to the heads, the actual checks/adjustments are not rocket science.

heffergm · Jun 8th, 2009, 5:54 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMP

Almost done with my 7.5K service. My valves were all well withen spec, but the cam belts were scary loose.

I mean like flopping around off the tensioner rollers loose. My bike has 7K on the clock and I advise you guys to check the belts before this and perhaps more often, I know I will from now on. The belts themselves look great and there was very little debri or dust under the covers. Most of the work in doing this service is taking everything off to get to the heads, the actual checks/adjustments are not rocket science.

Interesting about the belts. When I get through my second set of tires I may just have the first service done then (~6000 miles).

I'm with you on the valves. My days of doing my own valve checks are gone... it's not the check that's the issue, it's the getting all the crap off!

STICKER · Jun 8th, 2009, 6:29 pm

Just had mine done about a month ago, 12000klms up here. My valves were within spec as well. Tech guy said you really have to ride her hard to need adjustments. Timing belts were ok as well. Will keep an eye on them though.

mountainrider · Jun 8th, 2009, 7:21 pm

Mines due. I'll be taking advantage of the very next wet weekend to check it all out.

Did you use the guitar tuner or the allen wrench method to tension the belt properly?

2low4nyc · Jun 8th, 2009, 8:55 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMP

Almost done with my 7.5K service. My valves were all well withen spec, but the cam belts were scary loose.

I mean like flopping around off the tensioner rollers loose. My bike has 7K on the clock and I advise you guys to check the belts before this and perhaps more often, I know I will from now on. The belts themselves look great and there was very little debri or dust under the covers. Most of the work in doing this service is taking everything off to get to the heads, the actual checks/adjustments are not rocket science.

hiow much does the first service cost and what exactly do they do ?

GMP · Jun 8th, 2009, 10:21 pm

I used guitar tuner software and a mic on my laptop for the belts, took a half hour tops. I'll be checking this at every oil change as its very easy and a failed belt means disaster. For the valves I used the "loaded gap" method, wher you depress the closer rocker and measure the opener clearance again, the difference between the two being the actual closer clearance. I don't bounce off the rev limiter often, prefering the midrange, so things were in good shape.

To have this done is about $600 -$700 here. I had no intention from the start of paying these dealer fees, and made it clear that if my own work was not acceptable I would not be buying the bike. Its not that hard, just a little different, and lot of parts come off. Every bike has a learning curve, once you do it, its a lot faster the next time.

2low4nyc · Jun 9th, 2009, 6:08 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMP

I used guitar tuner software and a mic on my laptop for the belts, took a half hour tops. I'll be checking this at every oil change as its very easy and a failed belt means disaster. For the valves I used the "loaded gap" method, wher you depress the closer rocker and measure the opener clearance again, the difference between the two being the actual closer clearance. I don't bounce off the rev limiter often, prefering the midrange, so things were in good shape.

To have this done is about $600 -$700 here. I had no intention from the start of paying these dealer fees, and made it clear that if my own work was not acceptable I would not be buying the bike. Its not that hard, just a little different, and lot of parts come off. Every bike has a learning curve, once you do it, its a lot faster the next time.

how often o u have to pay these very big mainenence fees?

heffergm · Jun 9th, 2009, 7:36 pm

Is everyone generally sticking with 7500 mile intervals (major service), as opposed to that or 12 months, whichever comes first? The manual would have you believe the major service needs doing at 12 months regardless of mileage.
Given that I'll probably only put about 4000-5000 miles on my bike over the summer, that'd mean I'd be due for the major service come next year if I go by the 12 month schedule.

GMP · Jun 10th, 2009, 8:55 am

From what I've been reading, and was noted by a few Ducati techs, is that the 7500 mi vs. 6000 mi interval is simply a marketing tool. Many techs will still personally recommend 6000 mile intervals. The only issue with time coming into play as I can see it is with the rubber timing belts possibly aging, applicable to bikes that sit a lot. Your use sounds about like mine, so you will hit the milage first. I got my bike exactly a year ago and I'm just under 7K miles. I'll do the service next spring with a belt and plug change when I hit 12K to 15K, but at a convienient time. I WILL check the belt tension a couple times before that though. The valves do not worry me, if they were going to tighten up they would have done so in the first 6K. Like was said it depends a lot on how you ride it. To many cops around here looking to take my money to flirt with the rev limiter every day.

DIY, you save a ton of cash, get to know the bike, and also find other little potential problems that a dealer tech may overlook. For exampe I found a bare spot in the harness wrapping that could have chaffed a wire, and several loose fasteners.

MattMan · Jun 12th, 2009, 2:11 pm

I just had my 7500 mile service completed on my hypermotard on Tuesday by a dealership and got taken advantage of. I called three different dealerships here in SoCal including the one I purchased my bike from and got quotes ranging from $980 to $650. I verified that the dealership who quoted me $650 did everything that needed to be done and that that price included parts. Well needless to say when the work was completed they gave me a bill for $850. The service manager told me that the $650 was just for labor and that all of my valves were out of adjustment (more labor). That being said, my question for Member GMP is how did you know what to do for your service and how to do it. I am interested so I won't have to take a loan out for my next service.