Popped my first cherry. FINISHED PHOTOS ADDED.

[Michael_Gannon]

And by cherry I mean engine.

[img width=500 height=375]http://www.ducatimonster.org/ImageFolio3_files/gallery/DML_Titanium_Member_Folders/Michael_Gannon/Vertical_Piston_Top_View.JPG[/img]

[img width=500 height=375]http://www.ducatimonster.org/ImageFolio3_files/gallery/DML_Titanium_Member_Folders/Michael_Gannon/Horizontal_Head_Removed.JPG[/img]

[img width=500 height=375]http://www.ducatimonster.org/ImageFolio3_files/gallery/DML_Titanium_Member_Folders/Michael_Gannon/Both_Heads_Removed.JPG[/img]

Now that I'm into my engine I've got a few questions. How do I remove the center cam belt pulley? If I removed it is it going to screw up the timing on my engine? If so how hard is it going to be for me to get the timing correct again?

Should I try to clean up the pistons? The are covered in black crap.

How do I removed that large black plastic nipple looking thing just to the left of the Vertical piston in the third photo?

Please check back to this thread because I'm going to be getting in to the engine more this weekend and I know more questions will come up. Some times I think the experts on here only read a thread once and then don't check back and it would be very helpful to me if I could just keep posting question in one place as they come up.

Thanks again guys. I'd never have the confidence to do this if it wasn't for this board.

[OfCorse]

I don't have the answers to your questions, I'm just curious what you're doing to your engine?

[Michael_Gannon]

Originally Posted by OfCorse

I don't have the answers to your questions, I'm just curious what you're doing to your engine?*

I have a 2001 m750 which is notorious for a base gasket leak. As you can see from all the staining on the engine I wasn't fortunate enough to escape the problem. So anyway I've got the engine out to replace the gasket and I think I'm going to paint the engine while I have it out of the bike. I'm a pretty anal person and those stains on the engine really get on my nerves.

[Norm]

All the pulleys come off with that special nut tool. You can make one if you're handy. There are timing marks on the cases to help you line up the pulleys when you reassemble. Assuming you're not changing pistons, yes, you should lightly wire brush the black goop off. The black plastic thing is your engine breather, I "think" it just unscrews, but the fact that I can't really remember means that it's not very difficult. When you reassemble, rough up the intake manifolds to a uniform texture, remove any seams, cut the vacuum bolts flush, & use a gasket to port match the intakes & heads. If your really ambitious, take the heads to a hot rod shop & get the seats recut. Also, check the seals & guides. In the really, really, ambitious catagory, install titanium valves & polish & cc the combustion chambers.

[quilici]

Just curious how many miles on that motor?

[Michael_Gannon]

Originally Posted by Norm

All the pulleys come off with that special nut tool. You can make one if you're handy.

Thanks for the in depth response. I consider myself handy but I don't have a welder so I don't know if that would limit my options.

Originally Posted by Norm

There are timing marks on the cases to help you line up the pulleys when you reassemble. Assuming you're not changing pistons, yes, you should lightly wire brush the black goop off.

That's good to know about the timing marks although I'll probably have to address this issue further when I actually get to the reassemble stage. No I'm not changing pistons. Do I need to be really worried about crud falling off and getting down into the engine if I use a wire brush to clean the pistons?

Originally Posted by Norm

When you reassemble, rough up the intake manifolds to a uniform texture, remove any seams, cut the vacuum bolts flush, & use a gasket to port match the intakes & heads.

Don't let my ambition fool you. I'm very new when it comes to this stuff. What exactly is the intake manifold? What seams are you talking about? Where are the vacuum bolts? "Use a gasket to port match the intakes & heads" ????

[Michael_Gannon]

Originally Posted by quilici

Just curious how many miles on that motor?

Not many, just under 4k.

[dan900sie]

Doooooooddddd............. [thumbsup]

[Michael_Gannon]

Here is another photo that better shows the damage done by the base gasket leak.

[img width=500 height=375]http://www.ducatimonster.org/ImageFolio3_files/gallery/DML_Titanium_Member_Folders/Michael_Gannon/Engine_Stains.JPG[/img]

[Michael_Gannon]

Originally Posted by duck-stew

Just mask off the cylinder mating surfaces, and the side cover mating surfaces, and have at it with a can of spray paint. *For the time/effort involved in removing EVERYTHING just to have the perfect paint job isn't worth it (IMO).

I don't plan to remove a lot more of the stuff on the inside of the engine I just wanted to paint the main part of the engine and the side covers seperatly in case I need to remove them again in the future. Same for the heads. I'll paint those seperatly incase they need to be removed in the future. As for removing everything, I just want to get a couple more little plastic things off so it's easier to mask.

Originally Posted by duck-stew

The drive pulley for the cam belts can be removed without screwing up timing. *The shaft that the pulleys attach to has a slotted key-way in it. *The timing issues arise when you pull the left side cover, and start playing with the gears over there.

Is the drive pulley the one in the center shown in the pics. I assume the other two that are on each of the heads are cam pulleys??? I did remove the one on the horizontal head without thinking. I was trying to get at the head bolt easier. After I removed it I thought "Oh Shit, I hope that doesn't fuck up my timing". I left the one on the vertical head attached. For now anyway.