Date:         Mon, 25 Jun 2007 22:30:11 -0700
Reply-To:     Matthias Kuster <matthiaskuster@VERIZON.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Matthias Kuster <matthiaskuster@VERIZON.NET>
Subject:      Re: Gear driven, timing belts, chains, etc. NVC
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2007062600493447@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

Word that. My Duc is my most reliable beast, followed by a
mechanically restored Alfa 164 and off course, the Subievanagons. The
Duc just needed 2 tappets slightly sanded 4kmiles ago. Time to
recheck however. Runs like a champ. Classic case of lack of competent
mechanics.

Matthias
On Jun 25, 2007, at 9:46 PM, Karl Mullendore wrote:

> What rock have you guys been sleeping under? :-) Ducati has been
> continually
> using desmodromic valvetrain for years. Some kinda linkage?? How
> about two
> rocker arms, one opens, one closes, both running on the same
> camshaft, so
> they can't possibly get out of sync. And they still use this today,
> works
> great. BTW, the bevel-gear shaft? Gone, MANY years ago, like the early
> '80's, replaced by a wonderfully reliable two-belt system.
> Something about
> Italian metallurgy, but my 1992 907ie has always had the valves
> spot-on
> every time I've checked them in the past 30,000 miles. In fact, the
> bike has
> not needed anything other than oil changes, tires, and a chain, in
> addition
> to the regular tune-ups and belts.
>
> On Tue, 26 Jun 2007 14:01:11 +1200, Andrew Grebneff
> <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ> wrote:
>
>>>   Ducatti had a desmodromic valve train..One tower shaft driven gear
>>> between the cylinders with some kinda linkage to both open and close
>>> each valve...no springs..
>>
>> Yep. Imagine what happens ig the open & close cam settings
>> interfere with
>> one another... no wonder Ducatis are normally buggered before the
>> warranty
>> period runs out (a local used-bike importer refiuses to touch 'em
>> for this
>> reason). I wonder why Ducati dropped desmos...