Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > 998 / 996 / 916 / 748 > Some service history questions

[marcusjames]

Looking to get into Ducati ownship (have a wanted ad in the market place).

I've seen a real varied bag of bikes for all sorts of money. A main dealer 3 year old 748 with low mileage, for top money and down to a 916 on a 97 with a spotty history.

Is it true that the belts fray when left ? Apparently even if I find a 00 bike with 3k miles but it hasn't had it's yearly service then it will probably have problems. Does this sound believable ?

Would it be better to get a 00 bike with 15k miles but history over a 00 bike with 3k miles and only first service done ? I suppose the first would leave money in the bank but I also don't want to be living in the workshop on my weekends off.

Thanks for any advice.

[Gizmo750]

My yr2000 996 has the belts done every year even though I only do about 2,000 miles if I am lucky.

Just my opinion but i wouldn't touch anything without a full ducati (or specialist if out of warranty) service history.

[bradders]

I'd say history is more important than miles as such, as long as its not due a monster service when you buy it! Also, either Duc dealer and/or specialist only - no Nonda dealers stamps!! Oh, and lots of old bills.

I think also general condition, if its done a fair amount of miles but looked after its probably a fair bet.

(and no I'm not biased)

[marcusjames]

Thanks guys.

Just to be sure, what are the service intervals. I think it's 10k or 12 mths with belts every second service. Is that right ?

Is it true that if belts break then Ducati would honour a rebuild if the service history is kept up with a main dealer even outside of the warranty period ? I suppose a Ducati specialist is the next best thing. Are there any in Kent ?

[Mackster]

Hi mate to a fellow kent owner. Call Tecmoto, they can give it a full inspection and advise you of what if anything needs doing. They are great guys who really know what their doing. They will also come and pick up and drop off your bike !

Paul

[Henners]

.. welcome to DSC.

Service intervals on the models you're looking at are annual or every 6,000 miles, whichever comes first. Belts should be changed at two years or 12,000 miles if in warranty or every year if out - a form of insurance really. The annual service is important because engine oil and brake fluid deteriorate with age, seals dry out and tyres flat-spot if left sitting in the one position. As said before best to buy with full history. Apart from that just let the engine tick over when first starting from cold to allow the oil to reach the rockers. Be warned - Ducatis become a passion

[bradders]

intervals are intrim 6k/12ths, main (belts etc) every 12/24mths. Oil every 3k/6m is probab;y best as well. But, as earlier post, I would (and do) change belts each year regardless, not much extra ££ anyway.
PAul

[Shazaam!]

It's critical that the cam belts be replaced every 12,000 miles. Space limitations on Ducati's require the use of smaller diameter pulleys that cause the belt to flex more than large pulleys used in automobile engines. Further, Ducati uses a small diameter back-side belt-tensioning idler pulley arrangement that causes the belt to flex in the opposite direction on each revolution. This design approach results in an even greater angle of belt flexing, requiring the use of a stronger reinforcement fiber to prevent fatigue failure. The original drive belt design often failed before the first 12,000 mile replacement interval so Ducati switched to a Kevlar fiber reinforced belt. These are interference engines, which means that a belt failure results in a catastrophic collision between the piston and valves.

[paulk]

The Ducati dealer stance on this is:
Main services are 6k or two years and then 12k or two years. The belts should be changed a minimum of every two years regardless of mileage.
If your main services are more than a year apart you should have intrim services at twelve months irrelevent of mileage.
Just do a search on 'rockers' and you will see one of the reasons you need a full service history on 748/916/996.

[DAVE HARRIS]

I own a 916 1998 with 25000 miles on the clock and about another 5000 which were not recorded due to speedo cable failure, during that time annual mileage has varied from 14000 down to around 2000, regardless of mileage I have always changed the belts at 6000 miles or 1 year whichever came first. The bike has been maintained by the same mechanic since new, last year I had the cams pulled and checked and they were perfect as were the tappett gaps etc, annettes 996 sps has done nearly 30000 kilometres and apart from an engine blow up early on (probabley due to sustained high revs on track days ) the only repairs on the engine were worn rockers.
From our experience bikes that are used regulaly seem to fare a lot better when it comes to engine wear than bikes only used occasionally which probabaly stems from oil draining away from high friction surfaces during long lay ups and ducatis notorious cylinder head oil feed design(Improved on testastretta engines 998 onwards).
The only week point I have discovered is front wheel bearings which only seem to last 12000 mile or so.
The trade off with higher mileage bikes is the rear shock will be worn and other chassis parts like wheel and steering head bearings may need replacing sooner.

In my opinion a higher mileage but well maintained bike is a worthwhile consideration and will not automaticaly mean higher maintanence costs.

best of luck

dave