Welcome to NESR! Most features of this site require registration, including replying to threads, sending private messages, starting new threads, and uploading files. Click here to register.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 27

my 749 is sick :(

  1. #1
    that guy darkduc7's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Georgia, VT
    Posts
    1,466

    my 749 is sick :(

    so, i have what is a "common" idling problem on my '05 749. it likes to stall when you pull in the clutch and chop the throttle to stop at lights, ect. the bikes come very leaned out from the factory to pass emissions here in the usa. so the fix is normally to adjust the CO's at idle, and sync the throttle bodies, maybe a TPS reset. some bikes require the cams to be degreed/ valves adjusted.

    i bring the bike to my dealer so they can hook up their fancy smancy computer, and they inform me that they cant get the correct mixture on my horizontal cylinder, and the hydrocarbons are sky high in just that cyl. they said this indicates worn valve guides or valves extremely out of adjustment. the quoted price to investigate was astronomical, so i picked the bike up and tore it apart at home.

    so far ive found all valve clearances on the loose side, with one exhaust closer clearance grossly loose. hopefully i can adjust this and solve my problem, but this will all be a learning curve for me, ive never adjusted valves on a 4V ducati, just 2V. plus, i dont know how to check for worn valve guides...just wiggle the valve stem??

    the bike only has just under 6k on it, and i know its due for a valve job. but im rather discouraged as this has been going on since like 2k miles...if the guides are bad, im not sure what i'll do, but i will be more than disgusted.

    anyone have any experience working on these bikes and can give me some pointers? what do high hydrocarbons mean? exhaust buildup in the cyl? air leak? should they have done a leakdown check? tips for adjusting valves on a testastretta motor?


    edit: sorry mods, just realized i should have maybe put this in bike maintenance, feel free to move if needed.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Last edited by darkduc7; 09-12-10 at 05:25 PM.
    CCS/LRRS EX #226
    LOW DOWN RACING

    Current stable:
    2008 hyper 1100
    2007 crf450r
    2009 yz450f
    2008 sikk mx 125 minimoto

  2. #2
    First name on the shit list.... SVRACER01's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Farmington
    Age
    46
    Posts
    16,968
    Wirelessly posted (HTC EVO "DROID" : Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 2.2; en-us; Sprint APA9292KT Build/FRF91) AppleWebKit/533.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/533.1)

    Youre gonna have to pull the head to check the guide clearance.
    Take the valves out and measure the OD if the valve stems and the ID of the guides.
    If they need replacing you can do it with a hot plate at home.
    You'll need a driver (a drift might work, but the proper tool for the job in this case would be best).
    Get the head hot on the hot plate and just drive out the old and drive in the new. Should be pretty easy. With that said ive only done it on heads that this has been done to thousands of times.
    If you plan on continuing to do this kind of work then you might as well get a valve spring compressor while you're at it. It's like a big C clamp with a bucket on the end so you can get the valve keys in and out with a magnet.
    It's gonna take some time, but it will go A LOT faster the more you do it. Definitely doable though depending on how mechanically inclined you are.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    When I start my KTM in the morning, rules are broken. Its inevitable...
    01 SV650S (RC51 eater)/07 690SM /03 300EXC/14 XTZ1200
    TRACKS:Firebird/NHMS/VIR/Calabogie/California Speedway/NJMP/MMC/NYST/Palmer/Thompson/Club Motorsports

  3. #3
    First name on the shit list.... SVRACER01's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Farmington
    Age
    46
    Posts
    16,968
    Wirelessly posted (HTC EVO "DROID" : Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 2.2; en-us; Sprint APA9292KT Build/FRF91) AppleWebKit/533.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/533.1)

    Oh, you'll need a micrometer and an ID tool.

    If you're gonna have the valves in your hand checking runout wouldn't be bad idea either.

    If this seems like too much for you to handle then just pull the heads and bring them to a shop or a machine shop and have them do the hard stuff.

    Good luck, let us know how it goes

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Last edited by SVRACER01; 09-12-10 at 05:44 PM.
    When I start my KTM in the morning, rules are broken. Its inevitable...
    01 SV650S (RC51 eater)/07 690SM /03 300EXC/14 XTZ1200
    TRACKS:Firebird/NHMS/VIR/Calabogie/California Speedway/NJMP/MMC/NYST/Palmer/Thompson/Club Motorsports

  4. #4
    Lifer Kurlon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Waterboro ME
    Age
    46
    Posts
    13,520

    Re: my 749 is sick :(

    Good news, you have a Ducati, no need for a valve spring compressor. : )

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  5. #5
    First name on the shit list.... SVRACER01's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Farmington
    Age
    46
    Posts
    16,968
    Wirelessly posted (HTC EVO "DROID" : Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 2.2; en-us; Sprint APA9292KT Build/FRF91) AppleWebKit/533.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/533.1)

    I wasn't sure, never seen the inside of Duc motor

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    When I start my KTM in the morning, rules are broken. Its inevitable...
    01 SV650S (RC51 eater)/07 690SM /03 300EXC/14 XTZ1200
    TRACKS:Firebird/NHMS/VIR/Calabogie/California Speedway/NJMP/MMC/NYST/Palmer/Thompson/Club Motorsports

  6. #6
    that guy darkduc7's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Georgia, VT
    Posts
    1,466

    Re: my 749 is sick :(

    Quote Originally Posted by Kurlon View Post
    Good news, you have a Ducati, no need for a valve spring compressor. : )
    yup!

    svracer01, thanks for the advice.

    yeah, ive got all the right tools for the most part, but this will be my first head removal endeavor on a duc if i choose to do so. i also work as an aircraft mechanic, so i have access to some experience machinist guys.

    is it reasonable for me to think i might just grab onto the valve stem with the rocker pressure relieved from them and wiggle the valve to check for looseness? i really am undecided as to just try adjusting the valves and hope they are the culprit or removing the whole head. im going off my dealers hunch right now on the guides, thats all. nothing else definitively points to valve guides...is it really worth removing the head to check them, or should i just adjust the valves and try it out? the valves alone are kind difficult....

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Last edited by darkduc7; 09-12-10 at 06:05 PM.
    CCS/LRRS EX #226
    LOW DOWN RACING

    Current stable:
    2008 hyper 1100
    2007 crf450r
    2009 yz450f
    2008 sikk mx 125 minimoto

  7. #7
    Lifer Kurlon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Waterboro ME
    Age
    46
    Posts
    13,520

    Re: my 749 is sick :(

    Adjust the valves first. AFAIK the closer on the exhaust should be set to almost 0 clearance. If it's loose at low throttle/low RPM it'll run like shit and no amount of tweaking the mix will cure it.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  8. #8
    that guy darkduc7's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Georgia, VT
    Posts
    1,466

    Re: my 749 is sick :(

    Quote Originally Posted by Kurlon View Post
    Adjust the valves first. AFAIK the closer on the exhaust should be set to almost 0 clearance. If it's loose at low throttle/low RPM it'll run like shit and no amount of tweaking the mix will cure it.
    i hope you are right! it makes sense. the only reason ive mentioned the guides is because my dealer was convinced they were the issue. other than that, im not sure i wanna dig that deep without exploring less invasive adjustments.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Last edited by darkduc7; 09-12-10 at 06:29 PM.
    CCS/LRRS EX #226
    LOW DOWN RACING

    Current stable:
    2008 hyper 1100
    2007 crf450r
    2009 yz450f
    2008 sikk mx 125 minimoto

  9. #9
    Goodbye Sweet Dreams BLACK SQUIRREL's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Somewhere between Has Been and Never Was
    Age
    52
    Posts
    4,003

    Re: my 749 is sick :(

    or you could just NOT chop the throttle at stop lights

    Problem fixed

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Zip Tie Alley Racing #444


    Signature edit by Tricky mike

  10. #10
    that guy darkduc7's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Georgia, VT
    Posts
    1,466

    Re: my 749 is sick :(

    Quote Originally Posted by BLACK SQUIRREL View Post
    or you could just NOT chop the throttle at stop lights

    Problem fixed
    Yeah, been doing that all summer. Sick of that solution.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    CCS/LRRS EX #226
    LOW DOWN RACING

    Current stable:
    2008 hyper 1100
    2007 crf450r
    2009 yz450f
    2008 sikk mx 125 minimoto

  11. #11
    Posting Freak
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    New Hampshire
    Age
    52
    Posts
    850

    Re: my 749 is sick :(

    pretty crazy to have valve guides be gone at six thousand miles. Does it smoke at all when you first start it?

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  12. #12
    that guy darkduc7's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Georgia, VT
    Posts
    1,466

    Re: my 749 is sick :(

    Quote Originally Posted by Ryno View Post
    pretty crazy to have valve guides be gone at six thousand miles. Does it smoke at all when you first start it?
    no smoke, in fact it runs fine all the time except for stopping at a light. the revs fall and....it dies.

    im not convinced theres anything wrong with the guides...

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    CCS/LRRS EX #226
    LOW DOWN RACING

    Current stable:
    2008 hyper 1100
    2007 crf450r
    2009 yz450f
    2008 sikk mx 125 minimoto

  13. #13
    that guy darkduc7's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Georgia, VT
    Posts
    1,466

    Re: my 749 is sick :(

    heres what i found when i checked my valve clearances:

    horizontal cyl (supposedly the problematic one):

    intake side, openers .006 on both
    closers .008 on both
    exhaust side, openers <.002 and .002
    closers .012 and .013


    vertical cyl

    intake side, openers .006 and .005
    closers .008 and .009
    exhaust side, openers .004 and .005
    closers .010 and .013

    ive heard that .002 to .005 is optimum for all, but im going to do more research. even if some of them are within the wide factory spec, i'd like to get all of them to best-case, so then i can at least eliminate this as the cause to my idling issue. hopefully it just plain fixes it.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    CCS/LRRS EX #226
    LOW DOWN RACING

    Current stable:
    2008 hyper 1100
    2007 crf450r
    2009 yz450f
    2008 sikk mx 125 minimoto

  14. #14
    ....................... PinHead's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2001
    Location
    Walpole
    Age
    54
    Posts
    5,465

    Re: my 749 is sick :(

    Look here.
    Might help you out some?

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    2018 Harley Road Glide
    2000 Ducati 900ss
    2003 Harley Softail Deuce

  15. #15
    that guy darkduc7's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Georgia, VT
    Posts
    1,466

    Re: my 749 is sick :(

    thanks, but my motor is a testastretta so different clearances apply

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    CCS/LRRS EX #226
    LOW DOWN RACING

    Current stable:
    2008 hyper 1100
    2007 crf450r
    2009 yz450f
    2008 sikk mx 125 minimoto

  16. #16
    Lifer Kurlon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Waterboro ME
    Age
    46
    Posts
    13,520

    Re: my 749 is sick :(

    Wow, LOOSE closers. I'd say you've found your culprit.

    Edit: Only problem valve guides in Ducs I can recall off the top of my head were some of the 2v motors recently, Multis were involved so either the 620 or 1000DS if I recall correctly, not all years.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Last edited by Kurlon; 09-13-10 at 08:02 PM.

  17. #17
    that guy darkduc7's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Georgia, VT
    Posts
    1,466

    Re: my 749 is sick :(

    Quote Originally Posted by Kurlon View Post
    Wow, LOOSE closers. I'd say you've found your culprit.
    yeah! i hope this fixes it. cant make it worse lol.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    CCS/LRRS EX #226
    LOW DOWN RACING

    Current stable:
    2008 hyper 1100
    2007 crf450r
    2009 yz450f
    2008 sikk mx 125 minimoto

  18. #18
    that guy darkduc7's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Georgia, VT
    Posts
    1,466

    Re: my 749 is sick :(

    kurlon, i was able to get a little wiggle on the valve stems without rocker pressure on them. is that normal?

    i would have been alarmed if it was just one or two, but they all seemed to have a little play

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    CCS/LRRS EX #226
    LOW DOWN RACING

    Current stable:
    2008 hyper 1100
    2007 crf450r
    2009 yz450f
    2008 sikk mx 125 minimoto

  19. #19
    Lifer Kurlon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Waterboro ME
    Age
    46
    Posts
    13,520

    Re: my 749 is sick :(

    I haven't had my hands on installed Duc valves personally, all the motors I have there wasn't much play side to side that I recall. I'm hoping to be assembling a head this weekend so I'll report what I find with it. I need to ream the guides a touch loose so I'll be working with a friend I trust and find out what he thinks.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  20. #20
    Development Rider scottieducati's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Waltham, MA
    Posts
    6,073

    Re: my 749 is sick :(

    I can't say I've heard of valve guides going that quickly but I have zero experience with that motor. My best guess is your clearances are the biggest issue, as weird as it sounds... how's your rectifier / regulator? Very common issue on some Ducati's that might just not be sending enough juices when the RPM's drop suddenly.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

    CCS/LRRS #83

  21. #21
    that guy darkduc7's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Georgia, VT
    Posts
    1,466

    Re: my 749 is sick :(

    Quote Originally Posted by scottieducati View Post
    I can't say I've heard of valve guides going that quickly but I have zero experience with that motor. My best guess is your clearances are the biggest issue, as weird as it sounds... how's your rectifier / regulator? Very common issue on some Ducati's that might just not be sending enough juices when the RPM's drop suddenly.
    yeah, ive had those regulator issues on older 2v's. this one checks good. thanks for the heads up though!

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    CCS/LRRS EX #226
    LOW DOWN RACING

    Current stable:
    2008 hyper 1100
    2007 crf450r
    2009 yz450f
    2008 sikk mx 125 minimoto

  22. #22
    that guy darkduc7's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Georgia, VT
    Posts
    1,466

    Re: my 749 is sick :(

    gettng closer on getting the valves adjusted...but ive lost two tiny magnetic half rings in the horizontal cyl head. FUUUUUUUCK.

    i had previously blocked off oil holes and all, so they cant go far...but ive searched for a combined 5 hours now and no luck. i hope i can get this finished before the 29th....

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    CCS/LRRS EX #226
    LOW DOWN RACING

    Current stable:
    2008 hyper 1100
    2007 crf450r
    2009 yz450f
    2008 sikk mx 125 minimoto

  23. #23
    that guy darkduc7's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Georgia, VT
    Posts
    1,466

    Re: my 749 is sick :(

    andd...its alive! rolled it out and started it just a few minutes ago. so happy it didnt blow up...i had it alllll torn apart, but apparently i did ok. it seemed to idle very solid, better than before. but that could be my imagination, and i need to test it at speed.

    cant wait to shake it down tomorrow, and maybe bring it to bomo on wenesday. weather is looking sweet!

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    CCS/LRRS EX #226
    LOW DOWN RACING

    Current stable:
    2008 hyper 1100
    2007 crf450r
    2009 yz450f
    2008 sikk mx 125 minimoto

  24. #24
    Lifer DuncanMoto's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Boston
    Posts
    4,890

    Re: my 749 is sick :(

    Quote Originally Posted by Kurlon View Post
    Wow, LOOSE closers. I'd say you've found your culprit.

    Edit: Only problem valve guides in Ducs I can recall off the top of my head were some of the 2v motors recently, Multis were involved so either the 620 or 1000DS if I recall correctly, not all years.
    Correct!
    I happen to have the 2003 ss1000ds with worn guides. It is a known issue for those engines.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  25. #25
    Posting Freak
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Posts
    734

    Re: my 749 is sick :(

    Quote Originally Posted by darkduc7 View Post
    gettng closer on getting the valves adjusted...but ive lost two tiny magnetic half rings in the horizontal cyl head. FUUUUUUUCK.

    i had previously blocked off oil holes and all, so they cant go far...but ive searched for a combined 5 hours now and no luck. i hope i can get this finished before the 29th....
    I assume you found the half rings? They can hint deep in there.....I know from experience.

    Please explain "magnetic"??- half rings!!

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Sick!!!!
    By KillBill in forum General Bike Related
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 01-21-09, 06:14 AM
  2. Sick
    By R7 in forum General Bike Related
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 10-22-08, 12:15 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •