Top End Refresh

BTD

I pulled my heads+cylinders off to check and freshen up with new gaskets, seals and rings. This is the first Ducati engine i've ever taken apart and would appreciate any suggestions:

-a few of my rockers are showing wear so i'm gonna redo them all. Recommendations for refurbishing/exchanging or buying new? Preferably in the US? (reasonable $$$ too.....Electraeon rockers seem awesome, but way too expensive. Lol)
-I read that MBP collets are a must' upgrade and worth the $$$. Where to buy?
-gasket kits......aftermarket sets ok?
-ring set for stock 94mm pistons?

The cams and their bearings look good so I was going to clean the carbon, check for cracks and lap the valves. The wrist pins and bottom end feel good so I don't plan on going any deeper. Anything else recommended for these engines?

sagot

Check your valve to guide play.

Foggy 888

I recommend using Megacycle Cams http://www.megacyclecams.com to refurbish your rockers.

Mr.R

Mike at MBP has a thread on this forum.
I find him very good/fast to deal with and as has been posted highly recommend his collets.
I fit them to all of my motors. 😁

Steve R

BTD

Thanks for the suggestions so far!
-I read in another post about Cometic gasket kits being a good and economical substitute for OEM but I can’t find anyone selling them for my bike. Any ideas?
-anyone used non-OEM (Wiseco, JE, etc) rings on stock 94mm pistons?

BTW, sagot, Valve guides are all good. Thx.

Mr.R

I bought Cometic gaskets direct from Cometic in the USA.
I spoke with them over the phone, they were good/easy to deal with.

Steve R

BTD

Mr.R wroteI bought Cometic gaskets direct from Cometic in the USA. I spoke with them over the phone, they were good/easy to deal with. Steve R

Yeah, I looked there but there was no listing on their US website. I'll try calling. Thanks.

Mr.R

Most of the 851/888 gaskets are exactly the same as the later 916 items, that Cometic have listed.
You'll probably need to know the size of the gaskets that you require.

Steve R

BTD

Mr.R wroteMost of the 851/888 gaskets are exactly the same as the later 916 items, that Cometic have listed. You'll probably need to know the size of the gaskets that you require. Steve R

I called Cometic and they said the only gasket they had that would work was a 96mm bore head gasket (PN= C8564) My bores are 94mm so I called Athena Gaskets US and they have a 94mm top end kit made to Ducati OEM specs (head gasket is 1mm thick)

BTD

I sent my rockers to Mike at EMS and he is very professional and honest; I highly recommend him. Thanks for the tip Steve R.
He also sent me the MBP retainers but then we realized that the retainer grooves in my valves weren’t deep enough for the MBP’s. My valves are 33/29mm with 7mm stems and ~5.60mm diameter grooves. Apparently MBP’s only work on later (1992+) valves with ~5.15mm grooves. I’d really like to switch to the MBP’s so does anyone know if I can send my valves out to be safely machined or ground down to the ~5.15mm grooves? Or do I need to buy later style valves?

got2Lev8

Mr.R wroteMost of the 851/888 gaskets are exactly the same as the later 916 items, that Cometic have listed. You'll probably need to know the size of the gaskets that you require. Steve R

BTD wroteI called Cometic and they said the only gasket they had that would work was a 96mm bore head gasket (PN= C8564) My bores are 94mm so I called Athena Gaskets US and they have a 94mm top end kit made to Ducati OEM specs (head gasket is 1mm thick)

I find it odd that you cannot order the correct head gaskets from Cometic. Many of us have purchased gaskets multiple times from them. Here's a link to an older thread that contains part numbers for said gaskets. http://www.ducati851and888.com/showt...88-Head-Gasket

Robert

BTD

got2Lev8 wroteI find it odd that you cannot order the correct head gaskets from Cometic. Many of us have purchased gaskets multiple times from them. Here’s a link to an older thread that contains part numbers for said gaskets. http://www.ducati851and888.com/showt...88-Head-Gasket Robert

Yeah, I called Cometic directly so I only know what they told me (maybe I talked to the ‘wrong guy’??)
I already ordered an Athena Top End kit from Brooks Barn in England (PN- P400110600888/1) so hopefully it all fits together properly. Now I just need to sort out my MBP/valve stem lock groove problem and I should be good to go. Thanks for your help though.

BTD

Update- I ended up buying some used valves with the deeper collet grooves so I can now use the MPB retainers instead of the stock wire ones. I've been researching valve clearances and was wondering if the same specs are recommended for MBP retainers versus stock retainers? I realize the MBPs are harder and extend future valve adjustments but I'm wondering if people set clearances on stock retainers expecting them to crush' a tiny bit?

PS. $38 bucks for 8 Suzuki GS650 friction discs from eBay!! Thx again Steve R

griff851

Valve clearances are for cam timing and thermal expansion to ensure correct running clearance on bearing surfaces. Just set as normal.