The timing belts setup should be done with a specific Ducati factory tool. There are,however, well-proven methods you can use, with a minimum of common sense, to safely accomplish the task.

DESMODUE (TWO-VALVE TWINS)

The most common tool is the 5 mm hex-wrench (the most useful is the L-shaped one). Hold the belt with your fingers and tension it acting on the tensioner (17) you beforehand loosened, and keep it in position. At this point the hex-wrench should loosely fit between the timing belt and the pulley (19). You can double check using 4 and 6 mm hex-wrenches: the first one should have free play, the second should not fit.

useful advices:

1)    handle the belts with care, avoiding any contact with fluids other than water,

2)    operate only at perfectly cold motor, possibly letting it rest overnight,

3)    change timing belts at 15.000 Km intervals. That money is surely well spent.

4)    always check the pulleys' (16) (19) free play, since most of the crashes is due to them (let alone the ones due to an incorrect tensioning)

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