tech. questions
 

1. does anyone know the torque setting for the rear wheel nut on the chain side (I know it is not 115Nm as stated in early workshop manual)
2. I saw an article once on setting the cam belts without using proper workshop tool (ie pull belt tight, mark line then press belt down certain distance below line and tighten adjuster)
Can anyone tell me what the distance is ?

If i remeber right its 176Nm wheel side & 156Nm chain side !
From the 998 factory manual !

If you look on the Ducati.com web site it lists all the torque settings for the wheel nuts etc:frog:

Thank's for torque settings, I never noticed them on the ducati site.

I have always done the servicing on the ducati's I have owned inc. cambelts, valve clearances etc. without any problems, but if anyone knows the correct tension for the belt's I will use that instead of a measurement.
I believe I got the measurement idea from an article written by someone that had been on a ducati maintenance course ?

The method I used to use for checking belt tension is to set it so that there is 3mm of belt deflection between the cam pulleys.
Wind the tension up tight, scribe a line across the top of the belt on the rear belt cover, then back the tension off until you get 3mm of deflection using "moderate" finger pressure.
It's worth tensioning the belts tight, turning the engine a couple of turns to settle the belts, then setting the correct tension to.
Always set the tension going down from tight. If you go too loose, then tighten them up and go down again.
The tension pulley should be turned anti clockwise to apply tension.
Depending on the tensioner you use, then use the above method as a check/calibration.
I use a Snap-on unit now and use button 4. The gauge suggests using 5 but that sets it too loose.