Took the flakes to St.Neots and they said don't worry about it as its normal for dukes to have little bits like that (chrome) in the oil and as they said they looked OK 280 miles ago, they did say they could flake at anytime though but even so they recommend I just push on changing oil regularly.
its a brave man that rolls that die and takes the bet because bad stuff happens when the chrome layer peels off the rockers - its there for a reason. in your case, nobody apart from a wing and prayer can prove that those flakes have not come off your rockers and its a question of whether you can live with that niggling doubt perhaps im paranoid and someone will duly tell me to can it but id rather be paranoid in this case given the consequences of getting the bet wrong
Yeah I agree I could get them to check it again or just take it to Ducati in Cambs and get them to inspect them. I did think it odd that they said not to worry about it but they are well respected experts
They are happy to check them again (at St.Neots) but they did suggest I just wait until next valve check.
I would trust St Neots over Ducati Cambridge on this matter to be honest. But, that's a call you have to make. St Neots have been working with Ducati's for many years... Ducati Cambs, well, they sold Audi's. Of course - their tech/mechanic could have acre's of experience with older Ducatis... Perhaps.
You will get some material including flakes of chrome when you change the oil and it can come from (and appear from ) other parts not just the rockers. I would feel fairly safe in the circumstances you describe but problems sometimes can be not far away. My 748R engine managed to drop a main bearing and be close to problems with the big end bearings after just 5,000 miles. It is a gamble but the top end is less likely to give trouble mileage wise and\or be easier to rectify than having problems with the main bearings or crank. Which means a complete engine strip. Some engines last well and others don't and that seems to be the Ducati gamble. Not all engines are put together equally, sadly quality control at certain times was not Ducati's strong point. I have had two engines that have "expired" beyond their time, but I still love the breed at least it has soul.
Yeah I do trust St Neots over Cambs Ducati as they have been working on them for years, I'm going to take it back to St.Neots as they said they would have a listen to her (as that's a sign of chrome failure) to see if they can hear anything. It's a tricky one as obviously if you see chrome flakes (albeit not huge amounts) they must have come from somewhere, and even if the rockers appeared fine 280 miles ago one could have started to break up as they can go at anytime. I'm going to take it back for them to have a listen to it as you can hear a difference to the engine noise if one/sum have failed and I do think I can hear a slightly more 'tappetty' sound when riding but maybe they (all 748s) all sound a bit like that (it's my first duke and 748). For piece of mind I could ask them to open her up and check again, but they all seemed to agree that as its not ridden loads they'd leave it until next valve check (2 years). I'll see what they say when they've have a listen and then decide. I havent got money to burn so obviously don't really want to spend out on another inspection 280 miles after the last.
Unfortunately I would be very surprised if anyone can tell by the sound whether any chrome has come off a rocker, I had five replaced and there was no difference in sound, when the chrome flakes it is such a small difference to the tappet clearence. Steve
I say don't let paranoia spoil your ownership experience. I found chrome flakes in my oil despite yearly good quality oil changes and felt the bottom had dropped out of my world. Took bike for a service and the mechanic showed me photos of rockers which were fine. Engines create a little bit of swarf. Same with the paranoia of 2 yearly belt changes. If you've ridden regularly and not thrashed it why junk 3rd generation Kevlar reinforced belts after 2000 miles? I've pushed my belts to 4 years and they have come off looking brand new. Each to their own though.
The flakes could even be a 'hangover' from previous failures, hopefully clear at the next change if so. You could remove the screen filter occasionally and check for flakes without changing the oil (lean the bike over to the left whilst removing it) and remember with Ducatis all that glitters certainly isn't gold. As for hearing a flaked rocker, WTF is that all about?...
They reckon that if the chrome has gone you'd the engine can sound different, I suppose a bit more noisey. I reckon they'd have to be pretty fucked for that to be the case though.
