Gents, I'm wondering if removing the front wheel is going to get me into deep doodoo. I know i can avoid some charges at the dealer if I bring in the wheel versus the bike. I just don't want to open up a can of whoopass trying to save $75. I do not have the proscribed torque wrenches that tell you exactly the torque pressure. I do have the workshop manual in pdf for my 2000 ST2. I will also watch as many youtube vids as I can find on removing the front wheels on Ducatis. The other reason that I'm wanting to avoid riding it over to the dealer is that I have let the tire get down to wire and the dealer is a good 100 away. Thanks in advance for your thoughts. Rusty Corona, CA
If you're ever going to adjust the rear chain you'll want a torque wrench to re-tighten the wheel spindle, so use the $75 to buy it.
I'd say so. If you haven't done it before, getting the calipers on and off can be tricky. Especially if you don't know you should push the pads apart to get them (the calipers) back on. And you really need to torque the axle clamps and calipers to the correct setting. Track dayers like us could do it blind folded but if it's your first time...... daunting maybe.....
@Rusty Halverson Do you have front or rear paddock stands? Obviously you have to get the front wheel off the ground. You can use main stand but bike is front heavy so the rear wheel will need pulling down or car jack from front of motor(remove fairing which is a pain on st series). Before you do that slacken off caliper bolts, fork bottom pinch bolts and axle nut. Remove calipers(I hang from handlebars with stretchy straps), remove axle. Wheel is out with a wiggle. I always put axle back in forks and use a car axle stand to support bike while away. Ps. DON’T use a front paddock stand without a rear stand. Very simple job but can be a bit awkward getting wheel back in, so get a mate to help if poss. or a few bits of thin wood to get the wheel to line up with axle. Lever the pads open before refitting calipers. Make sure everything's done up and pull brake lever a few times to close pads back up.
Hi Rusty, hows it going? If your carefull you can get a trolley jack on the horizontal exhaust without removing body work. You really need to get a torque wrench. If you over tighten the axle pinch bolts the hollow axle will distorts. Any job on a ducati really needs a torque wrench you'll do more damage than what you save without.
