Valve shim adjustment - when?
 

How many miles did your 999 go before it needed a shim change and which shims needed changing?

6'000 miles

You dont really change a shim. They are nothing more than round discs that sit between opening and closing rockers and every valve, both inlet and exhaust.

They are made in different thicknesses and are fitted to achieve a valve clearance. A variety of things wearing or not, can affect the clearance, not least of all them not being right from day one!

So you would first measure the clearance you have on each valve. compare that to what the gap should be, then either add a thicker or thinner shim to replace the existing one, to achieve the corrected gap................

Does that help?

Kinda like.......... changing a shim:D

I am interested to know if generally the testastretta heads require less frequent valve shim changes than the 9xx/748 series.

It has been suggested to me, by a dealer, that it is not really necessary to even check them until about 12000 miles on the 749/999 series. Also, on the older series I thougt it tended to be the vertical exhaust shims that required changing first. Is it the same with the new heads?

Could be that bike mad is the only to have shims changed as early as 6000??

In my last 92000 miles on Ducatis (36k on 750SSi, 56k on 748), I think I've had shims actually changed twice, once on each bike.

If my shims needed doing at 6k, I'd be concerned about the engine. I'd be checking rockers.

Theres nothing wrong with checking the clearances anyway. I think the lubrication system in a testastretta head is far superior to the old 4 valve/2 valvers and has eliminated the flakey rocker thing!

Whilst they are checking your valve clearances.......the natural progression on from here is to have the cam timing checked as well!

This is aimed at any of the Ducati specialist workshops/mechanics/dealers on here.....how long does it take to check the valve clearances?

Also, service schedule states they need to be checked every 6k miles. Is that OTT or are they likely to need adjustment? My bike is out of warranty, but due a service shortly.

I had mine done during its 2yr jobbie..........3000 miles!!! along with the cam timing............I believe several were altered! and the cam timing was around 4 % out on all 4 cams! Although to be fair the tolerances are quite large!

Had this conversation with my dealer today. My bike has now covered 6000miles, but in March the belts will be due. Question was, do I have the valves checked soon and bring the belt change forward; as it would be daft not to change them while it was apart, or go over the schedule and wait until March and have both done then.
Conclusion was, as long as I was not planning on putting more than a few thousand miles on before March it would be ok to leave. This decision was helped by the fact that the bike came from them new, and they knew that all the service schedule was spot on to date.

Thats almost eactly the position I will be in, in about a months time. Glad I am not the only one who has received this advice:)