Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > Sport Touring: ST4 / ST3 / ST2 > Measuring Valve Clearances

[ColinF]

My 03 ST4S is getting its 6K service and its the 1st time I've worked on it.

Am following LT's manual which generally seems great but I'm having trouble holding the closer spring down and measuring the clearances.

The belts and the throttle bodies are off.

I can understand why its recommended to have another set of hands but as that's not really an option at present I was wondering how you guys do it when alone.

I've been using a large screwdriver to apply pressure to the closer finger and then trying to check clearance with other hand.Managed the vertical inlet valves but trying to do the others seems challenging .Any tricks of the experienced......handy tools to make up or adapt??

Half of the difficulty is just trying to see whats going on.....where the feeler needs to fit.....where the cam should be etc....I haven't even looked at the horizontal head yet.
I'm sure it would be easier if I was more familiar with whats going on in there, and after I've pulled the cams to check the rockers it will probably make more sense but for now.........????

Would appreciate some advice. Thanks.