[748sfromSD]

I'm going to be changing out the belts on my 02 748s and gonna TRY to adjust the valves. I called a local Ducati service shop that also sells parts and they want $68/belt. Sounds a little steep for a belt. Does anyone here know of any company/shop/website that sells discounted (not MSRP) Ducati OE parts. Is there an aftermarket company that manufactures these belts? Would anyone here oppose non OE parts? I checked ebay and some sellers are stating that the 916/996 belts are the same as the 748 belts, but they have different part numbers. Can someone clear this up for me?

Please save the flames on the "you own an expensive bike, so pay for it.. yada, yada." I'd rather save my money on parts like this so that I can spend it on upgraded parts or have a nice steak at the local butcher shop. Thanks for the help/input that anyone can give me.

Ricky

 

[paulo57509]

You can try California Cycleworks. They have Bucci belts for about $30 each. I haven't heard any bad stories about them. Some will say it's false economy running anything but OEM belts, but it's your machine and your money.

http://www.ca-cycleworks.com/shop/catalog/ducati/maint.html

I would however, stay away from anything other than a Bucci or OEM belt. Just my opinion.

I believe that all 4-valve engines use the same belts.

 

[loony888]

+1 to that, chris at ca cycleworks runs a great shop and offers good advice and tips too, bucci belts are probably the only real alternative to oem belts in my opinion also.

 

[OldBaldy]

LP lists the Kevlar Bucci Ducati belts for $13.46 each....but I dunno if they have any in stock. Never had much luck with LP in the past.

http://www.lockhartphillipsusa.com/rs/showProduct.cgi

 

[Desmo_Demon]

I'm right in the middle of a valve check/adjustment and belt change on my 2002 748. I'm going very slowly with it, as I'm in no rush, and it isn't the most enjoyable thing in the world to do. Do yourself a favor and pull the cams and check the rockers. I'm replacing at least two opening rockers. Also, shims are expensive. The local Ducati dealer charged me $17 for one closing shim. I just placed an order last night with www.emsduc.com for two more closers, as they are significantly cheaper than the OEM parts. Also, to check the closing shim thicknesses, you'll need to buy a measurement tool....such as the one the EMS Duc has. As for belts, the 2002 uses different belts than the pre-2001 because of the changes in the heads. I haven't bought belts, yet, but I'll probably call Chris at California Cycleworks and ask him before I go to the dealer. I, also, think ~$68 is a bit steep per belt.

 

[748sfromSD]

Chris @ CA Cycleworks replied to my email, he says that Bucci doesn't make belts for the 02 748(s), as they have "ST4" heads on it. Looks like I have no choice but to go OE. Desmo_Demon, what repair manual are you using with these repairs/adjustments? Where are you getting the recommended shim thickness from? This is my first attemp at doing this myself, so I would like to make sure I have all the correct specs/info.

 

[Desmo_Demon]

Desmo_Demon, what repair manual are you using with these repairs/adjustments? Where are you getting the recommended shim thickness from? This is my first attemp at doing this myself, so I would like to make sure I have all the correct specs/info.

I'm using the Haynes manual and several online sources....including other members on this board and a few others. I've also gotten input from my local dealer's mechanics. I've heard nothing but great things about LT's manuals, but I haven't bought one, yet....

http://sky.prohosting.com/ssnyder/maintenance2.htm

Once you learn how to take the measurements of your valve clearances, you have to remove the existing shim that needs to be changed, meansure it, and then get another shim that is either thicker or thinner than the one you have so that the clearance with the new shim is within the spec range that you are trying to obtain. The concept and measurements are not too difficult, but it is a little time consuming. This is my first time doing a 4V engine, but I've done a 2V. To prepare myself for the 4V, I actually picked up a spare set of heads, dirt cheap, to practice on. Turns out, the shims in the heads that I've used so far, have practically paid for the heads themselves.

I hope this helps some.

Oh yeah.....

Chris @ CA Cycleworks replied to my email, he says that Bucci doesn't make belts for the 02 748(s), as they have "ST4" heads on it.

Interestingly, when I went to get the replacement rockers for my bike, I looked up the part numbers on the official Ducati parts manual, and when they ordered them, they came up as "ST4" rockers on the computer and were marked as that on the boxes that they came in.

 

[loony888]

all desmoquattro engines (excluding RS type race engines) share the same rockers. there have been plenty of changes in the plating and the vendors doing the work but they are all interchangeable.

 

[bubbazenetty]

LP lists the Kevlar Bucci Ducati belts for $13.46 each....but I dunno if they have any in stock. Never had much luck with LP in the past.

http://www.lockhartphillipsusa.com/rs/showProduct.cgi

Actually they are $35 each from LP.