How many rockers for me?
 

OK , my 748E has gone in for main service today (38500 miles). I've explicitly asked for the rockers to be checked out. To my certain knowledge the shims have never been changed either (it has been properly serviced at the correct intervals by people who know what they're doing, though).


Whassa betting?

I'm quite optimistic myself; the bike runs fine, and the oil has been carefully examined at each change. If it needs more than one rocker I'll be very disappointed.

Mate, I hope it's none, it's what you deserve for putting that many miles on it.
:burn:

what oil do you run ?

Motul 300W 15/50 fully synth.

two then.

Well you'll be the first to know, keefer! :)

Towards the end of the week, I expect.

Does my oil choice not meet with your approval, then?

[Edited on 25-10-2004 by moto748]

We will find out if the oil is what the bike needs at the end of the week

Hope you have no rockers but thats being hopeful :D

wow thats some miles!! I will go for 4 depending when it was last serviced.

Last owner put 26500 miles on my 748. Pulled the heads last winter. Only needed one rocker surprisingly. I'm tempted never to investigate again, it can only get worse.

Well I just got a text telling me,

And the result is......




























One opening rocker only.


I suppose I can't complain!

god! I was a mile away... but chuffed for you pal..

What about the supposed design fault then?

38,500 miles and only one rocker !! :P

So why did i need 2 after 6000 miles then:mad:

Makes you wonder if the bikes that are used more often don't have as much trouble on start up due to oil draining down?
On my SS I always spin the engine over with the kill switch off untill the oil light goes out before starting it.

That could be part of it

Also, my bike has only a passing acquaintancewith 10000+ rpm.
Which may help.
And being careful with a cold engine.

Well I got it back at lunch-time from Louigi Moto. Hefty-ish bill, but reasonable considering what's been done: head bearings re-packed with grease, radiator soaked in coolant sink to remove road crud, water drained out of petrol tank :rolleye: , replacement throttle assy. fitted, the one new rocker, etc etc.


A couple of interesting points emerged. Needed a replacement "rocker plate": the plate at the side of the rockers with the counterbore that carries the 4 pivot pins, if you know what I mean. One pin assembly had trepanned the plate away quite badly. I don't know how much they are new, but a 2nd hand replacement was fitted for a fiver!

Only one solitary shim was needed.

The camshafts were mint, with the Parkerising treatment still visible, even on the working surfaces.

And, most surprisingly, the engine is apparently a "Bip", not an "E". Although it has "E" cycle parts (tank, shock, fairing fixings (replaced with Dzus). i didn't realise the engines were different, but I'm told the Bip engines are better built than the "E's". So I suppose that's a good thing. Although it's a 2001 model. Whatever engines they had handy on the production line, I suppose.

What was the total damage on the bill? (if you don't mind me asking)

Heard a lot of good stuff about Rich at Luigi Moto (some of it from the horse's mouth itself, lol) - so looking at taking my bike to him some time soon.

I'm not that familiar with the 4 valve engines but was the rocker pin that marked the end plate the same one supporting the dodgy rocker? For the pin to wear the plate implies that it was rotating with the rocker, which may also wear the holes that it fits in in the head. Just a thought.

Chris> Will U2U you later.

Chris> U2U sent.


Derek> it's not actually the pin itself that wears away the plate: the wear is a much greater diameter than the pin. I'm afraid I'm not sufficiently familiar with the innards of the engine to be more precise. It might be the rocker itself. Or summat...

I'm hoping to change to an ST4 for next year so no doubt I'll find out about these problems sooner or later. :o

how does that work then?? with the kill switch off my 748 won't do anything :puzzled:


And mine needs rockers or a rocker at the next service :(

[Edited on 29-10-2004 by Nigel C]

steve m could you please explain the logic behind your post ??? :puzzled:

The two valve bikes dont have the same problem with rockers as the four valvers. Ducati say it was a faulty batch of rockers and because its not safety related they wont do a recall. I've never come across a two valve duke thats needed new rockers.

Depending on how your kill switch is wired it may be possible to turn the motor over on the button without it starting. Some people do this to get oil circulating around the engine before they actually start it. Doesnt work on my bike cos the kill switch cuts all the engine electrics.

To be honest i would say that unless the bike has been standing for some time then its not worth the effort.

I think with the four valve bikes you either get a good one or a bad one. Mine didnt need any rockers till past 18,000 miles when it needed three. I know of several bikes that neeed rockers at less than 5000 miles.