My Monster tech log
September 21, 2004
Rear tire to be replaced; going again for a
Metzeler MEZ4 160/60...
August 5, 2004
Removed alternator cover and resealed with silicone
RTV to fix oil leak (details see notebook); oil changed at about 18400
miles
July 19, 2004
Started the 18K maintenance (actual mileage: 17800). Replaced the headlight (high beam was dead). I'm putting
the records of my valve adjustments now on my Monster site. Did my oil change
at approximately 16200 miles (just before my Crater Lake trip), so I'm waiting a bit to do the next one.
May 16, 2004
Couple of updates: after my Morro Bay ride, I had changed my rear tire (mileage roughly 13800).
And before I left on my Joshua Tree trip, I also replaced the front one (mileage 14000). Both are Metzeler MEZ4's. Also, before my trip
to the Carrizo plain, I replaced the chain. I felt this as a major improvement - the old chain was clearly badly
worn out - now the bike is running like new. I am also using chain wax now to lube - Maxima as per Chris Kelly from Ca-Cycleworks...
February 4, 2004
Hurray! I almost finished the entire 12K maintenance - including belts replacement and valve adjustment.
Was a nice learning experience, with some scary moments, but quite satisfying. I started to keep a written
log in a notebook, as it finally occurred to me it is not very practical having to type in into a PC being crouched
underneath the bike in my parking garage. So probably there won't be too many entries here in the near future -
however I do intend to put some of my documentation (took many pics and notes) in a more structured manner
online some day. The mileage on the bike when I was done was 12150.
December 14, 2003
Decided to do as
much of the 12K maintenance as I can myself (valves and belts are the most
ambitious - I might have this done by someone this time; we'll see). What I did
today:
cleaning, chain lubing
replacement of air filter - the old one was a little dirty, not
dramatically, so I kept it and plan to clean it later on
wanted to check/replace spark plugs - noticed that I need DEEP 16mm sockets
for this!
filled up clutch fluid reservoir - contained consderably less
fluid than the brake reservoir, which seemed in spec with the level mark
clutch lever is making squeaking noise - tried to lube it but without much
succes; found howto on ducatisuite.com
and it's put on the to-do list now
checked brake pads - it turned out that they're still
far from worn out; it's a little hard to see, but with flashlight and lots of
crouching it works
still to-do: fuel filter replacement, chain tension check/adjustment
cleaning, chain lubing
December 13, 2003
Had the problem with my Monstrack right side mirror again - somehow managed to catch the glass;
called Kevin from Monstrack, he'll look after it on Monday - they seem to have a new and better compound now...
November 30, 2003
Oil change at 11650 miles; when using pitbull (had to buy new one after old one got stolen out of the garage!), I
found I can just manage to put the oil pan underneath so that I don't have to screw around anymore with messy improvised contraptions.
In order to remove the oil screen, I had to remove the bellypan (the drain and the filter are accessible with the bellypan in place). Oil screen looked
fine - cleaned it up a bit; have to be careful with the bolt that needs to be removed to access the oil screen - it got somewhat stripped. Need to buy
adaptor bit to be able to use the torque wrench on this bolt and on the drain plug.
Did some other stuff sich as lubing chain, cleaning et cetera. Have put the rear fender back in place because it
better protects against bad weather splashes
October 8, 2003
Oil temperature sensor problem was just electrical connector which had come loose - fastened it
October 3 - 5, 2003
Went on trip to Sequoia - topped the oil; passed the 10000 mile mark on the way!
Cleaned up the bike after the trip but when I was finished I noticed the oil temperature sensor wasn't giving a reading any more:
weird electrical problem due to water/moisture? Will check it out...
September 27, 2003
Monza bellypan from Spareshack arrived; installed it right away
September 16, 2003
Got a pitbull rear stand at Zoom Cycles - lubed chain (as I do this quite regularly now, I'm not going
to mention it here any longer)
August 29, 2003
Oil change (mileage is 8600) - everything went pretty smooth; used a K&N oil filter with hex bit
August 14, 2003
I had ordered a 'fender eliminator' bracket from Evoluzione and installed it today
August 6, 2003
Rear tire completely worn out after my Mammoth Lakes trip, so borrowed Jurgens pitbull
and took off the wheel; brought it to Road Rider in San Jose, bought a Metzeler MEZ4 and had it installed
there. Reinstalled wheel, cleaned the rear and relubed chain...
July 31, 2003
Replaced the stock mirrors with the nice looking Monstrack ones. The thread of the brackets didn't match the mirrors though (left and right switched), so I had to
switch the brackets - this worked out but the thread is now so that the pressure of the wind may loosen the mirror
arms - had a problem with this during my first freeway ride but have it seriously tightened now
July 20, 2003
After Laguna Seca and several shorter rides, I've added another 600 miles to the bike, so it was time to clean it up
and relubricate the chain
July 8 - 10, 2003
Had the 6000 mile maintenance done at Munroe in San Francisco (6307 miles on the odometer) - costed me $450 + a hassle to
get the bike there and back - next time I'll have to look into
checking the valves myself. Also, my rear tire starts to look a little worn out...
June 7, 2003
Mileage is about 5600, so it's high time for an oil change (5000 miles since the first change - due to the Moab trip)
Used the DML faq and some other stuff from the Web, as well as my shop manual as instructions; everything went smooth, except for
the oil filter removal - the 'cup' wrench they gave me at the Sunnyvale dealer didn't work (not enough clearance - idiots), so I adopted the messy Neandertal
approach using a screwdriver. Couldn't get the oil screen out for cleaning because I needed a weird 14mm hex wrench
that I didn't have (why are things never easy?) but as the manual said you only need to do it every other oil change I left it
Put in a little over 3 liters of oil, went for a short ride and checked the level a couple of times
May 29 - June 4, 2003
Did my trip to Moab (2400 miles) - no mechanical problems whatsoever, just lots of bugs to clean off! The chain
was a bit noisy in the end, but after cleaning and relubricating the noise was gone. Topped the oil on my way back
May 17, 2003
Cleaned the whole bike (bought some stuff at the BMW dealer in Mountain
View), relubricated chain
Added small 'eyeball' mirrors onto the big mirrors
Topped the oil as the level seemed rather low - went to
the Ducati dealer in Sunnyvale to buy oil (dino - Honda GN4, next time I'll look
on the Web for some oil suggestions) and also the other stuff (filter, filter
wrench, washers,...) I'll need for an oil change
April 12, 2003
Passed the 2000 miles mark - I lubricated the chain -
don't have a rear stand yet so this required some fiddling (moving the bike
forward and back). Topped the clutch fluid reservoir (with DOT 4 brake fluid) as
the level seemed low to me; maybe it's just the pain-in-the-ass eyeglass which
is really hard to read
Cleaned the bike (using some degreaser to get rid of most dirt, and afterwards water + shampoo)
Mileage is 2016
March 14, 2003
At about 1400 miles, I found a nail stuck in my rear tire (of course right in the center) - when fiddling with
it, I could hear the air escape, so I pushed the sucker back in and rode the bike to Motostrano in
Redwood City to get a new tire. Got a new Dunlop 208...
February 4, 2003
First 600 miles done, first service at Ducati dealer
(Sunnyvale) - $300 (duh)
January 11, 2003
Bought my yellow/black 2002 Ducati Monster 620 i.e.!
Got it brand new at the Honda/Ducati dealer in
Sunnyvale, VIN is ZDM1RA2K02B014619
Insurance: Pacific Specialty Insurance Company (part of McGraw
group), reasonable deal