Been a bit lazy over winter, garage is a bit cold and I am nesh. In a nut shell, can you split the casings without taking the primary gear off. I need to rectify a loose oil gallery plug. Also, I know these days it is generally accepted putting the casing back together with sealer, but I would like to use gaskets (to try and get away with not re-shimming) does anyone still do them. Cheers Gaz
Yes you can, although you'll need to take a bit of care supporting the case/crank when dealing with the plug. Irrespective of whether you can get a new centre gasket (I didn't, but others on here seem to have sourced NOS), might be worth checking endfloats anyway - I found mine to be significantly out. If you don't want to go that trouble, could still leave gasket out, but reduce shimming accordingly - compressed gasket should be 0.3mm thick. Only down the road from you if I can help at all.
Gaz, I can offer my limited wisdom as I have recently split mine and will be starting a rebuild thread soon. Many use Threebond or similar when rebuilding, I spoke to Baines racing as someone here had mentioned they got a gasket years ago. They still do them and recommend as the gasket also performs as a baffle in the middle of the sump as its wide there. About £12 if IIRC so about the same as a tube of Threebond. Re the primary, you can take the cases apart without removing, however I bought a hydraulic puller which I thought I would need and in the end it came off with a wee crappy 2 leg puller and brute force. The trick is to get it under tension with the puller, then whack the centre of the puller with a dead blow hammer. The hydraulic puller only cost me £40 and hopefully will come in useful for something else! Hope that helps. I have done loads research as I am replacing all bearings and some other bits so if you have any questions re engine build others or myself may be able to help.
Thanks both. I think I have made a last minute decision to take the primary gear off, the main reason is I don't think I can truely say I have renovated a Ducati without doing this infamous procedure. Anyway, had a not very good quality puller and gave it a go, stripped the threads. I did manage to get 3 legs around the gear, but may be if I use a bigger puller this might not be possible. End float - Crank - Nil (Nil), Gear shaft 0.17 (0.15 max), Selector barrel 0.4 (0.25 max) so a bit out there. Need to call in a favor for a better puller, will keep you posted. Thanks for offer Hejira858. Cheers Gaz
When I did mine, Ducati John in Leeds was good enough to loan me the factory puller overnight. Might be worth a call?
Gaz, just get tension on it, then whack the end. My puller is well cheap and couldnt remove it without striking the end of it. The shock loosens the gear. Keep the nut on, just, so the gear and pulley doesnt fly across the room!
Got a puller coming for the weekend so will see how it goes. Friend says he would bring a couple of hydraulic ones so not sure about a whack on the end, will have to use some heat if needed. Hope they're not too big to fit. Will keep you posted. Cheers Gaz
I got a 10ton hydraulic puller. Legs were too big to fit, was grinding one down a bit when I decided to use the little puller. Not kidding, it will work with a few good hits with a nylon ended deadblow hammer. Heat might do it. I was surprised at how easy it came off when I did mine, it was on really tight.
Desmoquattro, Thanks for info and advice about a smaller puller. I will see how I go, I obviously will not be able to grind the legs down as the pullers are not mine. I know I might get slated for this but I don't plan on replacing any bearings (only 12k on clock) so don't want to hammer the crank too hard. Cheers Gaz
I've got a Ducati specific puller - It completely encloses the gear; just moderately tighten it and give it a good 'twat' (or three) with a big hammer and the gear pops off, good thing is that the gear stays in the puller so it doesn't fly across the workshop as with conventional pullers - many of which struggle to fit due to lack of space anyway. If you want to collect/use/return it or even bring your engine over for a one-trip-hit you're welcome to use it but I'd rather not be posting as it weighs a fair bit. I've also got a new centre gasket (and both side cover gaskets) that I bought for mine but then ended up doing the threebond thing if you're still looking...
Dukedesmo, Many thanks for the offer. Let me see how I go this weekend with the puller I am getting, I do have concerns about it fitting like you say. I will PM you about the gaskets. Cheers Gaz
Well it's off. Boy does it go with a bang, I had an 8T puller on 2 legs and gave it some heat inbetween pulls. I had hold of the puller when it let go and it threw my arm back and the gear hit the rubber mat I had put against the wall opposite. Stand well clear if you attemp this. Cheers Gaz
Good job, thats one of the toughest jobs. Satisfying isnt it? Can you do me a favour and check the part numbers of the two bearings for the cam lay shaft while you are in there? The right one seems ok its a roller but the ball bearing kn the left I am finding is the wrong size for the shaft. Cheers Ian
Ian, Yes it is satisfying. I had put it off for ages but as I said thought it was something that I should tackle. No problem checking the bearings, When do you need it by, next problem will be separating casing halves, presume heat again is your friend to soften gasket and a bit of a tap with rubber mallet, any tips welcome. Cheers Gaz
Gaz, I used a spreader on the base of the studs, along with a bit of wood to gently prise apart, it should seperate easily. Watch as theres shims etc which can fly out and its good to know where these have come from. I sorted the bearing issue. The ST cases I am using are slightly different and the bearing is not the same. I am gonna use a different layshaft. My engines gonna be a bitsa!
Am in. A bit of heat, took a while as the whole engine saps the heat out of the joint area, just enough so I could not touch it. Then a chock of wood in the cylinder bores and waggle waggle with another bit. Used a wooden wedge around the back of the engine just to help a bit and came apart OK. (Note to self - buy new wooded door stop). Pics to follow, thanks all for help Iam pretty chuffed about pulling this off. Cheers Gaz
Ian thanks. Photos as promised. The bit Iam pointing to is spring loaded, can anyone tell me what it is and was the spring holding anything in that may have fell out The dreaded plug. Top left of picture you can see the marks the gear made in my foam mat 1.5m away. I was not going to change any bearings but turning the pulley drive shaft (pic 2 top right) it seems a bit notchy so that might have to be an exception. Cheers Gaz
