Oil change alarm

Discussion in 'Technical Help' started by dogrose748, Jun 30, 2012.

  1. Hi everyone, i'm new to this forum but not new to Ducatis,anyway i decided to change the oil and filter on my 97' 748 BP. drained the oil took off the filter and took out the oil pick filter. magnetic sump plug looked ok,[no debris].Oil pickup filter clean [no particles or flakes of chrome from rockers].Checked the old oil in the drain pan,no
    bits in that either.So i did one more check which was to check in the sump plug hole[this is where it gets technical] with my little finger up to the second didget i felt around, and to my alarm detected a foreign object with my finger.I managed to fish it out and saw what looked like the end of a broken spring,but on closer inspection
    it looks like one of those half ring wire collets from the valve rockers:eek: Now my questions are,is it possible that one of these could drop out? and could it make its way to the sump?.The bike was running fine before i dropped the oil,I've had it since new,i've done oil,filter belts,coolant,myself. but not the valve clearances,[they were done by a local Ducati dealer]. Could it have been in there from the factory?Any advice or technical knowhow would be gratefull. P.S. I have only done 10,000 mls. on this bike. cheers Dogrose.
     
  2. Hiya

    Very possible it is a half-ring, have you got a pic please?

    VERY easy to drop these down a hole in the cylinder head so possible somebody may have "lost" one in the past & replaced it with another - meaning the engine is safe to use - but you wont know if any are missing if you dont check them?

    Possible one may have not been fitted correctly & pinged out - the valve can be held in place with one collet, but if this one comes out then you drop a valve, & that aint going to be pretty... :wink:

    For whatever reasons & my own piece of mind I would be keen to check all collets are intact & in place before I ride the bike again, best get it looked at. :upyeah:
     
  3. Cheers for the rapid reply 470four, i already decided to contact Ducati John in Leeds to do the valve clearances before changing the oil. I will try to get a pic of the half ring,
    if i can master the technology. the half ring measures about 8mm.dia. and is not a true half ring if thats a better description.
    Thanks again :upyeah:
     
  4. Here are some pics of the offending item... DSCF3172.jpg DSCF3171.jpg DSCF3170.jpg DSCF3169.jpg DSCF3168.jpg

    DSCF3172.jpg

    DSCF3171.jpg

    DSCF3170.jpg

    DSCF3169.jpg

    DSCF3168.jpg
     
  5. Thats a collet alright! Thankfully still in one piece...:upyeah:
     
  6. If you are going to check the valves out then start with the vertical cylinder.

    It looks like a new split ring to me. No signs of bedding in where it has been pinched between the groove in the valve stem and the step in the closing shim.

    So my guess is it was the one that got away! I always put som duct tape over the oil drain holes when doing the vertical cylinder. Let us know your findings.
     
  7. Cheers for that Billy, will let you know what Ducati John finds when he does the clearances.
    Dogrose
     
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