Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > 998 / 996 / 916 / 748 > Rockers Again

[Ian_km]

Well, since I bought my 996SPS I've known that it needed a shim and belt service, was quoted between 500 and 600 on average from Baines (my local independant).

But..... the dreaded phone call '..it needs three opening rockers' 'but the cams are fine!'.

So three openers, seven shims, a few seals, gaskets, oil, filters, belts, s/h belt covers (carbon ones were fitted with inserts, apparently they are not recommended as if a bolt drops out the inset falls into the belts - major damage)...

...£951 with labour.

So, my real question is, what is Ducati's view point on rockers, they obviously know that there is a problem, but once out of warranty do they just shrug there shoulders

...but, it's going really well now so I'm enjoying it!!

Ian.

[Shazaam!]

Straight from the horse's mouth:

[Ian_km]

Thanks Shazaam, looks like I'm stuffed since Baines aint 'official', may still drop a letter into their head office since I work in the next building along!!

[rockhopper]

I think you might find that Ducati UK's stance will differ somewhat. My understanding is that they tend to pay for the parts only on out of warranty bikes but only if the bike has been fully dealer serviced from new.

[748IOM]

I think Ducati UK's service support is a joke, I've sent them many emails regarding these issues and they just seem to copy the same content back, its probably automated.

If the product is defective they should honour it simple as that.

[rockhopper]

There are two issues with rockers though. One is chrome flaking and the other is the rocker simply wearing away which Ducati argue is down to poor servicing!

I agree that there is a fundamental design problem with the four valve pre 'stretta motors and someone with some clout (and money) needs to take Duacti to court and get it sorted once and for all.

[ziggi]

I wish i'd seen that 3 months ago

[748IOM]

I wish I'd seen it before I got the Duke, could have been a totally different story. I may yet switch to Japs again come next year, hopefully before anything expensive happens.

Quite like the look of the new 2006 R6.

[mikesps]

My 996SPS needed three opening rockers replaced at the first service. I sent them to http://www.mbpducati.ca/ in Canada who charged USD 45 per piece to replate them. They use someone who repairs military jet engine parts to do the work if I remember right.

I imagine the rest of my rockers will need to go there soon.

Mike

[Nigel C]

this was the only bad thing in my 3 years of 748 ownership the realisation that my bike may need rockers replacing , the hope that it may be ok and then the phone call from the dealer with the bad news.
and the thought that every time i started my bike or gave it the berries to the redline i was actually causing damage to the rockers.
this is the only thing stopping me getting another 4 valve ducati as there is no garauntee from ducati that the problem is sorted or that they will take responsibility and pay up for any replacements no matter if the bike has been serviced by a specialist or a main dealer

having said that i understand the the 2 valve motors don't suffer this problem so when i get my next duke (which i will) it will be a 2 valver