You can push a small rubber hose through the spark plug hole to keep the valve from falling in.

The hose is a good idea. Or, rig up a clamp that grabs the valve stem. That's what I do. You will need a good magnet to grab the keepers, and a flathead screwdriver for your "special tool" 

Thanks all,

It looks like 2 might be out of tolerance..... on differnet cams of course.

when you are this far into it do you just bite the bullet and put all of them in to the adjusting clearence(0.18 to 0.23 mm) rather than leave them in the checking clearence(0.10 to 0.25 mm) spec.

Do all of the ducati dealers, Delano, moto, and silverback do shim exchanges?

U know if u did this on sunday, we cud all come over and watch after breeakfast at The Local  ...

Or we should have a valve adj session , we all bring our bikes and do them together  [moto] ... I got 2 that need it ... im not sure if i shud ... I may need adult supervision ...  or pay someone to do it 

I opened mine up last spring and put feeler gauges between the gaps.  What I found was I couldn't really tell what level of resistance was right for an accurate measurement.  I've read some say it should feel like putting it through pages of a phone box.  Well how big a phone book and at the bottom or top?

Practically speaking what does valves that are off a bit mean? 

I'm sure it will still be apart Sunday. Come on over and I'll make you flapjacks and

Bacon?!  Might be worth the trip now.

all:
Mo is stopping by sunday morning some time after 9. everyone is welcome.

bad news is it will take  special tool to retime the cam belts..... .

Quote from: Major Slow on February 20, 2010, 04:50:53 PM
all:
Mo is stopping by sunday morning some time after 9. everyone is welcome.

bad news is it will take  special tool to retime the cam belts..... .

I will be there as well if that's alright with you 

Quote from: minnesotamonster on February 20, 2010, 06:04:17 PM
I will be there as well if that's alright with you 

Flapjacks and