What happens in Vegas ... crashes and burns in Vegas. Goat, I'd hate to have a bike with a SSSA and eccentric adjuster ... what a dogs breakfast that whole deal is!
Both my Ducatis have the SSSA and I love them. No messing around the aligning the wheel for the chain, it just works. The old 600/620 SS race bike had the original swingarm and we replaced it with the lighter ally one, and both of those were miles out on the wheel alignment marks! I ended up buying a laser guide in the end but it still took loads of faffing to get it right. Once you understand how the eccentric works, it's easy. And you only take the wheel off to change the tyre - no need to remove the axle or anything else! One nut and you're done.
Actually...in this case the problem was resolved in a safe and airworthy manner with minimal disruption to the flight departure time.
Yes indeed. The problem with this is: I don't reckon it was "right" in the first place. Hence, if I baseline the ride height at its current value and then adjust back to that setting after adjusting the chain, I will be replicating the values of the previous owner. Is there a "neutral" setting that resets the values to a baseline start point?
I would set the eccentric to 5-6 o clock, put the chain on. Tension it to 4-5. Then use a ride height gauge to set the height. I wouldn't check or be interested in the height the previous owner had it at.
Fit my first ever new chain on my SSSA myself a couple of weeks ago. Such an easy job with the hub spanner to move it forward or backwards
The owner's manual doesn't give a value only says maximium distance between the centres of the eyes is 285mm and the maximium amount of thread showing is 5 threads. The suspension setting reference I found suggests 2 threads for the R and 4 threads on the Bayliss. Andy
I agree that just because it was set like it was when I got it then it must be right. I understand what you say but the final position of the eccentric will be wherever the correct chain tension is set. You can't "tension to 4-5" as it will be where it achieves the correct chain tension. Then, use a ride height gauge to "set the height"...yes, but, what IS the height?
Andy, I don't think that it is that simple. The distance between rod end eyes and threads showing are not fixed at a certain value. The rod ends are adjustable to take into account the variation in height due to rotation of the eccentric due to chain tensioning or gearing changes. They are therefore likely to be different from one bike to another. What I need is a baseline. Say: set rod length to X Put eccentric at 6o'clock (without chain) Then, measure ride height. Fit chain and tension to correct value. THEN re measure ride height and adjust to baseline setting using the rod adjustment. Kinda...
It's the nature of the eccentric hub as you adjust it anti clockwise to tighten the chain you decrease the ride height. Andy
Richard, I have access to the 1098RS workshop manual so when I next fire up my desk top, I'll get the figures on front and rear ride height and post them. Sadly the desk top is upstairs and I am still confined to the sofa with my lower back in spasm so it'll be later tonight. Andy
Is that a significant change to ride height? It's just that my 848 has no ride height adjuster.......
Not sure how to answer your question. Many riders of bikes with a sswa don't change the ride height when they re tension the chain and they don't really notice any difference on the road. With something like the 1098R which can spend much of it's life "making progress" it's probably something you would notice more on the edge. I certainly do notice a difference on my track bike but that has been set up pretty aggresively. Andy
1098R Owners Manual Pg 63 Fig 46 states: "Before changing the standard setting, measure the reference value (H, fig. 46)." Helpfully, the mythical "H" is nowhere to be seen... despite it saying: "The standard ride height setting is the result of rigorous testing carried out by our technical staff. Modifying the the ride height is a very critical operation, and can be dangerous if carried out by untrained persons"
That's interesting, I don't ride on the track so haven't noticed. It would be good to understand how much the full rotation of the adjuster changes the ride height - Ducati obviously decided it wasn't needed on my 848 Evo but is on the larger bikes, suggesting the larger bikes are more sensitive or it was a cost down on the 848
Cer Certainly cost is a factor but it is probably as you surmise, a difference in focus has a lot to do with it. You can get an adjuster for the base 848 for relatively not a lot of money so it might be worth trying if you are interested. Just remember to take a measurement that you can repeat before you do any change. Andy
Now this is getting silly. Just looked in the Ducati 1098R Service Manual and it says:"The centre-to-centre distance between the two ball joints should be 169 mm." In the Owners Manual it says: "The length of the tie-rod (2) between the centres of the two eyes (1) should not exceed 285 mm" That's a difference of 116mm. It must be wrong. I measured mine while it was out and the centre to centre distance is 175mm. NO WAY it could be 285mm ever. Che pazzo!
285mm is the max measurement for the 999S that I own. Odd that it would be the same as for a 1098R. And at what point should I start believing that eccentric adjustments and SSSAs are better? Cos ... I ain't there yet
