Service Advice, Oil, Rockers

Discussion in 'Technical Help' started by micro-monkey, Mar 21, 2015.

  1. Hey

    My 996 is due a minor service of which i always do myself. I dropped the oil and it all looks good, only thing is was that there were a couple of flakes in there and when i mean a couple that is all. Strainer was clean apart from 1 flake. Now i did a full service two years ago and since then have completed less than 1k miles, on the full service i adjusted the clearances, replaced two openers and so forth. I know i should really strip the top down to check but what would you do, am i worrying too much. When i had to change two openers last time the flakes in the oil were pretty large and obviously chrome. This time i cannot say whether or not they were chrome or aluminium as they were tiny and could be remnants of the old rockers that flaked before.

    Belt wise i have ducati kevlar belts of which i am running to 4 years (currently just over 3) as two years is BS in my eyes. They look perfect and the red writing is still evident.

    Oil i use castrol power 1 fully synthetic 10w 40 but am thinking of running 15w 50 shell advance ultra.

    Advice would be great and i know its better to be safe than sorry.
     
  2. I suppose it all depends on your paranoia.Ive had two openers replaced over the winter.This was done with a valve check.I cant say that I had noticed anything obvious in the oil or strainer beforehand.I think the best thing to do is change oil and filter regularly,let the bike warm up before ragging it but most of all get out and enjoy it!.
     
  3. Motul 300v 15/50 is a popular choice.
     
  4. yeah i plan to enjoy it this summer but not clicked with the twin yet even though had it a few years. I always warm to 70 degree C with no revs before riding and honestly never give it the beans even then. Still think i will take a look. Will be a right pain if i have lost another rocker so soon.
     
  5. Valve clarence should be checked every 6k, you have another 5k of ignorant bliss! At your current rate that's 2020.

    Switch to the Motul as some very experienced heads recommend it over 10/40.

    Did you get the old rockers sent to Newman cams?
     
  6. Yeah i know the interval is 6k but i dont know, i am a doom and gloom kind of person and flaking will be on my mind. No. last time i used ems ducati in the states exchange service, my old damaged ones + cash for rechromed ones so they should be ok as i researched long and hard into the chroming process they used. I do have some other damaged ones from when jhp serviced the bike long ago so worst case i will send off 4 for stellite pad welding. I have read the 10w 40 v 15w 50 debate and am 50/50 on it, i see pro's and cons to both but with how little i use the bike, i would think a thicker oil would coat the cams, rockers better when left standing but obviously will be slower to reach the top of the engine at start up than the 10w 40, I can get both grades for £25 for 4litres.
     
  7. Lucky you, I paid double that.

    With you on the paranoia, I've only had my bike since Nov and have very little history. Dropped the oil in January and found a few bits like you have. But I've asked about and thought long and hard and not slept. Came to decisions:
    I don't know if oil screen has ever been checked so bits could have been there a long time.
    Geoff@Baines told me it sounds "tight".
    10 1/2k on clocks so will need valves checked in spring 2016 when belts will be 30 months old.
    Most riders will just check them every 6k miles.

    I would love to check the rockers but don't have the skills (@andyb and @cranker will be happy to know I'm not going to be attempting this, yet) or the finances to pay Geoff to, the bike will just have to be ok till next spring, by force of my will if nothing else.

    So, I'm hiding my head under a big pile of coats and hoping it will be alright. I have used the oil Geoff@Baines recommended and give her about 5 mins tick over before I ride off and then I ride very gently to start with.

    End of the day, it's a bloody bike, it should be ridden. That's what I keep telling myself.
     
  8. This was mine:
    [​IMG][​IMG]
     
  9. That was like mine two years ago, shiny quite large, heavy looking flecks, obvious chrome from the shine. This time, they were tiny, thin and more of a matt finish and so i may be worrying too much, one fleck and i think shit. I think i may just buy some oil and recheck next feb when the belts will be replaced at 4 years old. My 996 has over 20k on it now and has been a reliable old bus apart from that. You are right, thinking of stripping every 1k is ridiculous, i should just ride.
     
  10. Please bear in mind I know sweet FA.
     
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