Rocker wear
 

Thought it might be interesting to run a pole to see how many bikes have suffered damage to or had to replace rockers. If you vote yes or no can you put at what mileage, what oil you use, and how often you replace your oil and filter.

I've had 3 Ducati's with low mileage, been lucky so far.
Change oil and filter about every 2,500 miles.
Using mobil 1 fully synthetic car oil.

[Edited on 28-3-2005 by S.P]

MY 01 748, bought new.

Rockers first examined at 38400 miles.

1 opening rocker replaced; remainder all fine.

Oil used: Motul 300V fully-synth 15/50.
Earlier in it's life oil was only changed at stock 6000 mile intervals (and didn't seem to do to much harm TBH). However, have increased oil-changes to 3000 miles now the old girl's got a few miles under her belt! :P

also MY 01 996S - never needed any and checked 2nd & 3rd years services but I have only 7600 miles. Only ever used shell advanced, serviced every year.

[Edited on 28-3-2005 by ziggi]

Ditto my '01 996S. Just had 12,000 mile service (early as have only done 10,500) and didn't need any - probably will next time now that I've said that.

Y2K .. ALL rockers replaced over 3 services ...... I have 7 of them here a souvenirs ... always serviced correctly .. some are just made of chocolate ...:(

98 model 748... All rockers replaced at 12k service,full service history.Ducati Manchester are adamant that the problem is caused by revving the engine as soon as it starts,thats why theres so much variance in how long they last,let it warm up on tickover = longevity.
Why is there no way to reface rockers?

97- 748, just had all rockers replaced at 16K head rebuild.

Now v. anal about the startup process

Guys, it all depends on who does the servicing. Ducati's service shedules dont require the cams to be taken out. This is the only way to check for rocker wear. Most dealers wont take them out unless you specifically ask them to do so. Nelly for example always checks them. When i went into Chris Clarks a couple of years ago they had never heard of rocker problems!

As regards replacing rockers, you either get a good un or a bad un. Mine is treated well, never raced from cold, 300 miles oil changes etc buit it still needed 3 rockers last time.

That's keen...

:)

888, 24000miles,oil change every 3000miles,all rockers perfect:D
Apparently the T8 doesn`t overly seem to suffer from rocker wear,don`t ask me why,but they just don`t.

Good oil is very cheap compared to rockers!

serves me right for looking :rolleye:

I will never look at a thread on this subject again it's making me paranoid :rolleye:

Another thing is knowing the bikes history from new, how it's been treated, serviced etc.

I've only had mine since 12K (13 months) Some are lucky enough to own from new so have a bette idea of how they're treated, and also what effects oil / starting process etc has on rocker wear.

I believe the problem rose with rocker wear around '97 when there was a take over and the plating was outsourced for the first time.

It's also believed to be worse in 748's due to the revvier nature of the engine (or in Dibble's bike, just because..)

'99 748 bip, 3yrs old at the time. Replaced 2 openers at 9k miles. Always used FS 15w50 new every 2k or so, so that helped. A few more had a good bit of greying on them. :sniff:

ST4 7000 miles, no rockers replaced

ST4s 19,000 miles, no rockers replaced

996 SPS 2 rockers changed at 10,500 miles.

Bikes ran on Shell Advance 15/50, changed at 3000 miles, bikes warmed up sensibly, although i didn't own the SPS from new so can't comment on the first part of its life.

[Edited on 28-3-2005 by BDG]

W reg 996, 8 rockers replaced and one cam lobe polished!

Youch!

:(

T'is with Nelly right now so hopefully won't need anymore ...

[Edited on 28-3-2005 by TP]

Yup. Had 2 changed at 18k miles, been worn for a while by all accounts. 1998 748.

'52 748R from new, no rockers at recent 2 year service at JHP.
Motul 300 v at 1000 mile intervals. but just moved to Amsoil which i will change at 3000 mile ntervals. Always warm up for min' 90 seconds.

'00 996 got it at 1400 miles old, oil changed every 2500 miles, none required in 15000 miles of ownership.

'02 998 is now 7000 miles old and has never needed any, oil every 2500 miles.

'9? 748SP track bike, history not known, checked at Nellys and needed one immediately and three others will need to be replaced at next big service as they are bruised.

Always run Shell Advance 15/50 in the 996 and 998 but am using Motul 300V fully-synth 15/50 in the 748 as it was the only one in the local bike shop with 15/50 rating.
Just changing it at the moment as I am trying to cure an oil leak :) but hope to do it after every two trackdays anyway.

Never rev the bike too hard until the dial started to move on the temp guage though, pedantic but its seen me well with the 996 and 998.

2002 M750ie, 16,000miles in 21 months - all ok. Now sold
2004 M1000ie 6000 miles, all ok
1998 900ssie engine in the tricolour: 6000 miles since going in this bike, all ok.
All above regularly serviced, oil & filters changed at 3000 miles

BUT:
2001 M600: 18,800 miles, no service history - 2 rockers just been replaced:o

so it can go racing:D

Intresting stuff really is starting to look like good start up is the key.

and from new!

obsolete information

[Edited on 10-9-2005 by Ericsson]

'99 748Bp

10 000 miles just had 2 opening rockers replaced.

Shell Advance or Rock Oil synthasis 15W50 used max every 3 000 miles, always careful with startup since I bought it 2 years ago at 6 000 miles.

Baines reckon there is a lot of varience in rocker quality depending on the supplier.

Has anyone tried extralube ZX1 or a simular 'friction reducer' addative?

Sorry, should be 6000km (~3700miles). Still bad though.

Thought it was that mate, but yes 3700 is about the worst yet. Bad luck.

The 996 had 2 rockers replaced at 18,500 miles, one was only slightly marked. 4D

I guess we've had enough replies now to get a reasonable picture.

Hard to draw any cast-iron conclusions but a couple of things spring to my mind.


1. I didn't see much evidence for the "748's are more prone cos they're revvier" argument.

2. It would seem that extra-frequent oil changes, and, indeed, the use of 15/50 synthetic, whilst in themselves no doubt "good things", do *not*guarantee to prevent rocker failure.

3. Likewise with extra-careful warming-up procedures.


Maybe how you ride, even with a hot engine, has got something to do with it. Spend a lot of time around "the red zone"? :lol:

I reckon variable batch quality in the rockers looks like the biggest single factor.

What do youse guys think?

Here's a picture of a flakey rocker............

It's one of the cutaway engines on display in the Bologna museum:o

It does seem to be a quality control issue or design fault? or as someone said they are just consumables. Never the less you would wish to get more than 3700 miles out of a set. Good advert for Motul 300V fully-synth 15/50?

I know that the 999 has a redesigned engine but the principles are the same, are there any recorded failures of rockers on that bike yet?

Just read this thread,what is everyones preferred starting procedure ?.If its found to prevent rocker wear,i'm all ears...

mogwai the above link tells you all you need to know.

Cheers 'nut.

Just had first 6000 mile service done at Cornerspeed, fantastic service !

Bike sounds like a new machine, no more rattles or knocks. Nice one Neil !


It needed just one rocker but a new clutch and a couple of seals were also required.


Delooney

What oil you using mate?

I think oil is key if you can get past the idea that all "synthetics" are equally as good, they are not.
Motul and Amsoil are Ester based lubricants which are in a differnet league from a chemistry point of view. Read up on the science of the film strength of these. Forget the marketing and read the science.
And still change it regularly

I believe Neil (Cornerspeed) only use Shell Advance 15 -50w.

Trust the experts !

Delooney.

ok im just going over my bike before the summer kicks in and droped the oil and found-----