Hi Folks, First time getting the 748 belts changed and valves checked. Garage just phoned me up saying that the finish on one of the rocker arms was flaking and it had the potential to send bits of metal into the engine. A quick google search shows me that this is not a rare occurrence. But it's likely to cost £135 for a new rocker arm and the labour to fit it. So best part of £200 I reckon. Clearly bits of heavy metal knocking about the engine is bad news, but this sounds like its bits of chrome which should just get pulped right??? Dunno, what's the thoughts, should I live with it or get it changed? Cheers
You wont get large lumps of metal in the engine but it will wear the cam lobes and eventual you will need a cam as well, as FE has mentioned Newman will re-manufacture at about £35 each, last I heard was about a two week turn around. Steve
as above plus try a search on this Forum - I put in flaking rockers and got 31 references :- http://ducatiforum.co.uk/google.php...arch.php?searchid=148&ref=&ss=4834j1989172j14
Oh Yeah1 Fair point. I think I was still in shock and wasn't thinking straight. I'll give it a read :smile:
Your in shock, I had 5 genuine Ducati rockers replaced and a cam a couple of years ago, all part of the old Ducati experience. Steve
There is always these Electraeon Super Rocker Arms For Ducati Motorcycles. But they are not cheap, fitted a couple of sets and the quality is fantastic
As Birdie says, you are lucky if its only one. I also had 5 replaced at the first service i had done when i bought the bike. Now that really was an experience that needs to be forgotten.:biggrin:
Fair play, that's what they said at the shop "you're lucky it's only the one". Although when I bought it I knew I should budget at least £500 every two years for this and that, I did what I usually do and saved feck all. I like the idea of a new finish and newman cams are just up the road from me, but I don't have the confidence to take them out myself. Guess I'll just have to have a stiff drink and stump up. Going to ride through France and Spain on it during June so I need to make sure it's straight.
Leaving it is not really an option, you really need to fix it. There are several ways to do this, my preference is get them reconditioned by Newman cams as this is a permanent fix so you don't need to worry any more - I've had 9 fail before going down the Newman route. New rockers are expensive, if you want OEM rockers then used ones can be found on ebay etc. for a similar price to Newman reconditioned and despite being used they may be good (they've lasted this long!). I've got a load of good rockers, some new, some used if you're stuck for one or want to go this way. The Electraeon maybe good but they're bleeding expensive, but probably no more than OEM parts.
My mate and I both put our 748's into JHP for a top-end shim check some years ago... His was a 2000 BP E, mine a 1999 748 BP... He needed 7 new rockers due to chrome wear, I needed none... Not sure if it was a manufacture issue with the slight age difference to the bikes; or that someone once advised me to do an oil and filter change every 1000 miles... Bob
Bob, yours was a 99 (I assume reg in 99 rather than model year 99) which was most likely built in 1998, before the component supplier change after which the majority of rocker issues occurred. This was acknowlege by Ducati and was due to poor manufacturing QA at the new supplier. The 2000 bike was most likely built in 1999 which was right in the period when the rockers were at their worst. The issues did not occur as much in bikes built prior to 99 with the original component supplier and after 2000 Ducati discovered the problem and changed supplier again, post 2000 built bikes are also less likely to have the flaking. The problem can affect all MYs however, particularly if oil changes and clearances are not maintained correctly
More info here Sigma Performance - Rockers - Who needs 'em? When we polled this problem on Ducatisti out of close to 170 reports, more than 2 rockers changed was very much not normal although 1 or 2 bikes had as many as 7. By far the commonest response (nearly half the poll) was 1 or none, with 916s having the lowest occurrence and 748s affected mostly in the 99-00 MYs but not significantly affected outside that period. 996s had the highest proportion of affected bikes which coincides with the supplier issues that Ducati admitted to. FWIW My MY02 is up to 33k miles on the original set and when last checked approx 3k miles ago were in good nick. The problem has been and is overstated (if the maintenance regime is/has been good) but that is no compensation if you have had the misfortune of replacing 5 of them.
Picking it up tomorrow. Belts changed, one valve adjusted and one Rocker done. I don't know the bill value yet. Anyone want to guess?
