Saving the Duck

Finally getting some time to work on the bike.  Managed to remove the swingarm so some deep cleaning can be accomplished and the swingarm can be refreshed and renewed. Retaining/locking bolt finally out! Before Picture.

Engine is all back in together - no extra bits or pieces left over.  All is good. Now we are focusing on removing the rear swingarm to evaulate the condition of the bearings and to clean all of the accumulated detritus from behind the front sprocket. Seems like the clutch slave cylinder has been leaking, that leakage combined with chain lubrication created a bit of a mess. The Ohlins rear shock is back Cogent Dynamic and has been freshed up with new seals and a heavier spring. After the rear has been put back together with fresh grease and bearing we shall turn out attention to the forks and steering head bearings.

The right hand exhaust opening rocker on the horizontal cylinder has a small flake, which is foreshadowing future problems.   Zoomed into the area in question. Closeup of the flaking opening rocker. See my highly specialized top of stroke locating instrument? The right hand intake opening rocker on the vertical cylinder also appears to have some flaking occurring. Will be sending both opening rockers off to EMS . Exhaust Opening Rockers - Vertical Cylinder Intake Opening Rockers - Vertical Cylinder Summary of shims and rockers replaced. Eight closing shims and one opening shim.  I was able to swap two two of the closing shims around and decrease the total number closing shims used from the shim to from eight to six along with one opening shim, cost $9.00 per shim. Two opening rockers exchanged at EMS, $69.95 each, plus shipping. $  63.00 for  nine shims $139.90 for two rockers $  21.00 for shipping ================= $223.90 

The horizontal cylinder shims have been checked.  The openers were all within LT Snyder's parameters, but the closing shims were too loose on the intake and too tight on the exhaust. There appears to be a small flaking portion on one of the opening rockers. All of the closing rockers appear to be free of flaking.

Pushed the bike up on the workbench back at the first of April.   Finally removed the airbox and exposed the throttlebodies, which is where I'm stopping tonight.  Oil drain line for the airbox.  Need to replace or trim split end just a bit.  Probably won't be able to source new. Placement of the drain line on the left side.

After multiple delays, I finally began the tear down process. The ST4S is much easier to strip down than the Honda ST1300.  Hopefully the valve check and belt replacement will go as smooth as the tear down. I have placed an order for the required tools and shims with www.ducatitoolrental.com .  I've got four weeks to replace the belts and adjust the valves once the tools arrive.  Also ordered some belts and gaskets from Ca Cycleworks. I have the 2003 version of LT Snyder's Demo maintenance book, but there is a multitude of resources on the web which do as good of job (if not better) of explaining the process.  The Ducati tool rental website also has a good set of instructions with some pictures . Still need to remove the air-box and relocate the throttle body assembly in order to access the valve covers.