Motorcycle Case

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikv1iLN9OKHvnttsblQNc2NftUmxt_EH0c7uSucWXMzz_2yeb5fZSj-nzGlIXqKvFJHsJMtlv828LMRwYBiSLNNUZPW0BKEpycN-Rsoagf-GCjx5N-Gz_I9woRJ4Akg-2NMuZBgKgDsvc/s1600/gt1000-oil-change.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikv1iLN9OKHvnttsblQNc2NftUmxt_EH0c7uSucWXMzz_2yeb5fZSj-nzGlIXqKvFJHsJMtlv828LMRwYBiSLNNUZPW0BKEpycN-Rsoagf-GCjx5N-Gz_I9woRJ4Akg-2NMuZBgKgDsvc/s320/gt1000-oil-change.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>Changing the Oil and Filter - Ducati 1000DS Engine</b><br /><div align="left">  We often rant about motorcycle owners who bring their rides to the dealer   for the most basic   maintenance tasks rather than doing it themselves.    </div><div align="left">  The ranting has boxed me into a figurative corner, so to speak, when it   comes to maintenance on my own bike.</div><div align="left">  So I'm calling my own bluff (is that possible?) by   personally taking on the all-important first maintenance task on the GT1000:   the 600-mile oil and filter change.</div><div align="left">  After looking things over, I figured that an oil and filter change on a Ducati GT1000 should   be a relative piece of cake and it is, but there are some issues that I   discovered which made me yearn for the guidance of a good shop manual -- you   know, the one that doesn't yet exist for the GT1000?  </div><div align="left">  Without   it, I am basically flying blind on any and all maintenance or customization   projects.  And since the GT is such a   new-to-the-market bike, there isn't much in the way of help that can be   offered by my fellow GT owners   either.</div><div align="left">  When my heart bought the bike, my brain wasn't thinking about a shop manual.    But since I'm an inveterate tinkerer (my wife was ready to have me committed   on more than one occasion after I purchased a new motorcycle and proceeded   to completely tear it apart in the garage to make sure it was put back   together according to my QC standards), it sure would be nice to have some   written guidance that at the very least would inform me of the correct   torque settings for the   many nuts and bolts.</div><div align="left">  But, never one to fear a job that might necessitate the purchase of new   tools, and in the interest of science, I dove right in.</div><div align="left">  The GT1000 uses the same 1000DS (dual spark), two-valve, air-cooled engine   found on several other Ducatis, including the Multistrada 1000, the Monster   and, of course, the other Sportclassics.  </div><div align="left">  I could probably buy the shop manual specific to one of those bikes, which would at least provide a minimum of   information about the shared engine, but I've been holding off, hoping that   the GT1000 CD-ROM based shop manual will become available sooner, rather   than later.</div><div align="left">  I must confess that I did get some basic information via a couple of pages   from what appears to be a Haynes shop manual, faxed over by a  fellow  Mid-Atlantic Ducati   Owner's Club member.  The pages describe the basics of a 1000DS oil and filter change, and they indicate that in   addition to changing the oil filter, the tubular-shaped oil pre-filter screen   that should also be removed and cleaned at each oil change.  More on   that in a bit...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhop6ixEKScKwPcVzUYScCiHYtFuxydv2j-nY96fuMjrFIt_nR-JHVtzRwJSz-YHBRJYsCbbCq-WCbw0KfZbs_ia3RQ-bijADUi4lzvDdG5q2ujMkCNLGarHT_swnbTcQ5e6SjnyM_X5VM/s1600/oil-filter-wrench.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhop6ixEKScKwPcVzUYScCiHYtFuxydv2j-nY96fuMjrFIt_nR-JHVtzRwJSz-YHBRJYsCbbCq-WCbw0KfZbs_ia3RQ-bijADUi4lzvDdG5q2ujMkCNLGarHT_swnbTcQ5e6SjnyM_X5VM/s1600/oil-filter-wrench.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xQlMLA_JUPvC-TzJJUlYs2rY8r54RSz3PsDjXmPPOt7danYp-hDy3_kwuQ-dHbtAe6mOuX2Akit9bBSs3l_Inisqr7gEX0w0MGju3wsK_nlHk0Ozxd3Iqhp_YZZGsGwuPNtdeSgK1jo/s1600/tools.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xQlMLA_JUPvC-TzJJUlYs2rY8r54RSz3PsDjXmPPOt7danYp-hDy3_kwuQ-dHbtAe6mOuX2Akit9bBSs3l_Inisqr7gEX0w0MGju3wsK_nlHk0Ozxd3Iqhp_YZZGsGwuPNtdeSgK1jo/s1600/tools.jpg" /></a></div><div align="left"><br /></div>One   of the nicest things about changing the oil on the GT1000 (and, I assume,   all of the other Ducati models using the 1000DS engine) is that the oil filter   hangs right out in the open on the bottom of the engine on the right-hand   side.  <br />Whether this exposure helps or hurts the off-road pretensions of the Multistrada, I don't know.    Actually, I guess one could say that maybe the oil   filter doesn't hang right out in the open, but the top 1/8 or so of the filter   hangs out enough to grasp and remove.  <br /><div align="left">  Easy, that is, if you have the right tool for the job, which brings us to <i>  problema numero uno</i>.</div><div align="left">  Of course, of the 5 different oil filter hex end cap oil filter removal tools I have collected over   the years, not a single one would fit the strange Ducati 74mm diameter   oil filter with the eight-sided hex top.  </div><div align="left">  I searched all over, looking for a tool that would fit, but without success.  I ended   up using a modified version of the "universal" oil filter friction band grip tool   (don't know what else to call it; it's the tool with the orange handle in the photo   above) I had on hand.  </div><div align="left">  A few days later, I did   find the correct   hex end cap tool at Pro Italia for $10.95,   which seems like a slightly exorbitant price, but I suppose it's not bad actually, considering   the rarity of the thing.  </div><div align="left">  Ironically, it's labeled "Made in USA" by a company called Vector, part number 17030.   I have not been able to find a company called "Vector", even when   searching through the Thomas Register, but I did discover   that this oil filter wrench (and possibly the same oil filter) is commonly   used by Moto Guzzi owners.  </div><div align="left">  If anyone knows of another source for this   oil filter wrench, please drop us a line at the email address noted at the   end of this page.  UPDATE: see suggestions for oil filter wrench   sources in the <a href="http://motorcycle-case.blogspot.com/">Visitor Comments section   below</a>.</div><div align="left">  In any case, the small diameter metal band grip wrench shown above actually   works fine -- in fact, I've now discovered that for gripping, removing and   installing the new filter, the band grip wrench works better than the Ducati   hex cap tool (photo directly below).  It's also pretty much the only tool   that will fit on the original factory larger-diameter filter, because the thin band   of the strap easily fits between the filter and the engine casing that   surrounds 7/8 of the filter body.  </div><div align="left">  By the way, don't forget the rubber gloves!  I use the heavy-duty,   pre-formed type found at Home Depot, but mine recently wore out and I'm   using these el Cheapo dishwashing types (photo above), found in the local   grocery store, until I can replace them with a better pair.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkTrq3Sryzqeau1XRYQ4haWZe0MEvDIzV99tAbw_AosI5hKF6mx2bXM0HxvjE_pmiqRSKXZDgI3RmhdjJz0hBPBHwPavgluULn4ly0RPyauPAO4qWpXv2N-GptCueubsROz9Zyxj2s_c/s1600/ducati-oil-filter-wrench.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkTrq3Sryzqeau1XRYQ4haWZe0MEvDIzV99tAbw_AosI5hKF6mx2bXM0HxvjE_pmiqRSKXZDgI3RmhdjJz0hBPBHwPavgluULn4ly0RPyauPAO4qWpXv2N-GptCueubsROz9Zyxj2s_c/s320/ducati-oil-filter-wrench.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="eightptfont">Ducati 4A filter and special filter end cap removal tool.</span></div><div align="left">  By the way, while I was looking for the correct oil filter wrench, I also   found a couple of others that work.  The Klein Tools "Grip-It"   universal strap   wrench (6", part number S-6H) shown in the photo directly above is also made in the U.S.A. and it fits the   smaller diameter, 4A Ducati oil filter.   </div><div align="left">  It has a grippy   rubber-like strap, but all the pressure is put on the tip of that pot-metal   handle against the oil filter body, so this wouldn't be my first choice to   unfasten a stuck filter, because I think all that pressure on one point   might collapse the filter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQiUX1dW_rYD5_gyF8HjSmWitEsOH-PfLNCacPbNFrOYlZgxWdlEtWunv96b_NLSfSutZ5OmIPDB_MjsMweWNU3M3KgX_NJLSXpkykA9yttrNT-tYfXKtSRX-oSRPH8LSpQmKX2nYJdJA/s1600/kd-grip-wrench-closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQiUX1dW_rYD5_gyF8HjSmWitEsOH-PfLNCacPbNFrOYlZgxWdlEtWunv96b_NLSfSutZ5OmIPDB_MjsMweWNU3M3KgX_NJLSXpkykA9yttrNT-tYfXKtSRX-oSRPH8LSpQmKX2nYJdJA/s320/kd-grip-wrench-closeup.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="eightptfont">K-D Tools universal 3-Jaw oil filter wrench    works only one way: to remove the filter, but not replace it.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRyzG5qJjAjRgs-GpZHImhzjhAzmUGDDvrLfkZqKhXRUQO_jI8rK3Cx_1IwUI2dUJEuSFMx1qgdMm07pq_AWebiqmLtiXRVEyMn5cOptyhgZSbe9_Dybv2E3VD58_v_eACRVgv1PcWEk/s1600/kd-grip-wrench.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRyzG5qJjAjRgs-GpZHImhzjhAzmUGDDvrLfkZqKhXRUQO_jI8rK3Cx_1IwUI2dUJEuSFMx1qgdMm07pq_AWebiqmLtiXRVEyMn5cOptyhgZSbe9_Dybv2E3VD58_v_eACRVgv1PcWEk/s320/kd-grip-wrench.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="left">  Another oil filter wrench that works is the KD Tools Universal "3-Jaw"   wrench, part number 3288, which expands from 2.5" to 3.75".   It   has three arms that grip the filter and the more torque that is placed on   the wrench, the tighter it grips.  This wrench is usually available or   can be ordered in a local auto parts store.  </div><div align="left">  Note that it will only remove the filter, it does not spin the other way,   i.e., clockwise, to screw the filter back on!</div><div align="left">  OK, enough about the oil filter wrenches, let's get down to business.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidk32K52lGkid6C2gD-r5SMkE1zRvzFfkga9BbmyR_6GIuWWwgM_t6KqRuDJgAOb5E5S3aIywmHhsuqAuB85FbtjLXEcBWFow35sty2-Q-ddT1oJr9OZQX1A552Wx_J9PL99-bPiJCwiY/s1600/under-engine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidk32K52lGkid6C2gD-r5SMkE1zRvzFfkga9BbmyR_6GIuWWwgM_t6KqRuDJgAOb5E5S3aIywmHhsuqAuB85FbtjLXEcBWFow35sty2-Q-ddT1oJr9OZQX1A552Wx_J9PL99-bPiJCwiY/s320/under-engine.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="left">  The oil drain plug under the engine uses a 10mm Allen wrench, sometimes   referred to as a "hex key".  This plug, indicated by the red arrow in   the photo directly above, requires a crush washer, which must be   renewed whenever the plug is removed.</div><div align="left">  The photo above also shows the space between the oil filter, in this case   the narrower 4A, and the engine case, looking up from underneath the engine.    The yellow arrow indicates the cover for the oil screen, which is supposed   to be removed and cleaned at each oil change.  More on that later...</div><div align="left">  The blue arrow indicates another drain plug; I'm not sure what this one   does, I assume it drains the chamber with the oil screen (Note: see  <a href="http://motorcycle-case.blogspot.com/">visitor comments below</a>).  I did not   remove this plug, but if it is removed, it appears to have a crush washer   also.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKrtxjcruJ8wOoxWCkp7rMfLHmnCB04Mk8rO-vEzTwCzx7aMQKVRJhBiLu4cg7ryx5BVozvkj5IJa3oJ4hBBOfLFe0O7bc3nr2TXCfHOytIziEAx_SRwwowV0bIAuhckZcbrgPrTWvhc/s1600/oil-filter-screen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKrtxjcruJ8wOoxWCkp7rMfLHmnCB04Mk8rO-vEzTwCzx7aMQKVRJhBiLu4cg7ryx5BVozvkj5IJa3oJ4hBBOfLFe0O7bc3nr2TXCfHOytIziEAx_SRwwowV0bIAuhckZcbrgPrTWvhc/s320/oil-filter-screen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="left">  Here's another photo (directly above), looking at the right side of the   engine.  The oil level window can be seen and just below it is a yellow   arrow, indicating the hex cap for the oil screen.  The wire is attached   to the tip of the hex cap and is easily removed.  I think this wire   sends information about the oil temperature up to the dashboard.</div><div align="left">  <b><a href="http://motorcycle-case.blogspot.com/"></a>Oil Pickup Screen</b><br />It's obvious from this photo that the oil screen hex cap is difficult to   access on the GT1000.  The right side exhaust pipe is in the way.    I could not fit a box wrench or open end wrench up in back of the exhaust   pipe to access the hex cap, which I believe is either 21mm or 22mm,   relatively rare sizes for motorcycle fasteners.</div><div align="left">  If Ducati had only lowered the exhaust pipe by about a tiny 1/8", a socket   could fit over the hex cap, but noooo....  </div><div align="left">  I tried dropping the exhaust pipe by loosening the 10mm nuts that hold the   pipe on to the front cylinder.  This allowed me to fit a 12 point, 22mm   socket on to the hex cap, but either the socket is not the correct size or   the 12 points don't provide enough grip and/or the hex cap metal is very   soft AND it's really torqued down tight, because the socket immediately   slipped and bunged up the corners of the hex.</div><div align="left">  [UPDATE:  "The size of hex head to remove the oil screen on the Ducati   900 is 14 mm.  I found a socket type with a half-inch drive extension   is the best way to remove it."  From "S.B."]</div><div align="left">  Since I don't have the shop manual, I don't know how much torque to use on   the 10mm exhaust pipe nuts, but they came off rather easily, so I didn't   overdo it and will check them again once I learn the correct torque values.</div><div align="left">  At that point, I gave up and I have since ordered 20mm, 21mm and 22mm deep   six-point sockets and will try again next time.  I've asked around but   no one seems to have the answer to removing this cover, so if anyone can   provide any insight into this, please contact me via the email address at   the bottom of this page.  </div><div align="left">  By the way, the dealer sold me a special   crush washer for this cap also, and he reminded me that the screen should be   removed and cleaned at each oil change, so this is, apparently, an important   maintenance item.</div><div align="left">  This is (ironically I suppose) one of those reasons why I'd rather do it   myself than leave it up to an unknown mechanic.  I'd rather run into   these problems and figure out a way to get them resolved because -- and I   apologize in advance if I offend anyone -- I just don't trust that a shop   mechanic will take the time and energy to successfully resolve these type of   challenges.  </div><div align="left">  The double irony is that I didn't successfully resolve it myself, but I now   understand what is required to fix it and I will resolve the problem by the   next oil change, of that you can be sure.  I'd rather take the extra   time to fix the problem, unlike the owner who uses a shop to change the oil   and both the owner and the mechanic may not even be aware that this problem   exists or they may never get it successfully resolved.</div><div align="left">  In this case, if the screen really does collect large bits of metal before   they get to the filter, I want to make sure the screen is cleaned and not to   assume that the job has been done correctly.  The lesson here is that   if you don't change your GT1000's oil yourself, make sure you ask the   servicing mechanic some questions about the filter screen issue and the answers will either make you feel   comfortable that the job was done correctly or not.</div><div align="left">  <b>UPDATE ON OIL PICKUP SCREEN<br /></b>A visitor wrote "I just called my   dealership (DeSimone Ducati/BMW/Victory) and they said I should definitely   not be cleaning the screen on my own and it only needs to be done, at the   most, every 12,000 miles. Your thoughts?"</div>Interesting.... It's my understanding that the screen        (or "oil intake mesh filter")        should be cleaned at every other oil filter change.         Here's the information taken directly from the        Multistrada shop manual, Section D4, page 14; that bike        has the same 1000DS engine: <br /><div align="center">        <table border="2" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" id="table55"><tbody><tr>          <td>"Every two oil changes, clean the oil           intake mesh filter.          Unscrew the outer plug (3) with seal (5).           Unscrew the screws (B) and remove the guard           (A) before proceeding. Remove the spring (D)           to release the horizontal exhaust pipe           mouthpiece, unscrew the screws (E) and           remove the pipe (F) from the balance pipe           (G). Release and withdraw the mesh filter           (4). Clean the mesh filter with gasoline and           compressed air. Care must be taken not to           break the filter mesh. <br />Refit the mesh filter (4) and its seal           (5) on the plug (3) and tighten to the           specified torque (Sect. C 3). Remove the           filler plug (6) and fill with the           recommended oil (Sect. C 2). Fill until the           oil reaches the MAX mark on the sight glass.           Refit the filler plug (6). <br />Run the engine at idling speed or several           minutes. Check for oil leaks. Check that the           oil pressure light on the instrument panel           switches off several seconds after the           engine has been started. If this is not the           case, switch off and trace the fault. Switch           off the engine and allow several minutes for           the oil to settle. Check the oil level and           top up to MAX mark, if necessary. Refit any           parts you have removed."</td>         </tr></tbody></table></div><div align="left">  But I went back and checked the GT1000 owner's manual, page 64 in the   English language section, which claims that the "engine oil pick-up filter"   only needs to be cleaned once every 22,500 miles or 36 months:</div><div align="center">  <img alt="Ducati GT1000 Maintenance Schedule for Oil Changes" border="0" height="183" src="http://www.webbikeworld.com/ducati-motorcycles/gt-1000/oil-change/maintenance-schedule.jpg" width="500" /></div><div align="left">  If anyone has more information on this subject, please let me know.    Possibly the Multistrada's screen needs to be changed more often because the   bike could be used in harsher environments?</div>

Changing the Oil and Filter - Ducati 1000DS Engine We often rant about motorcycle owners who bring their rides to the dealer for the mos...

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