Service Ducati Parts Ducati Parts Service Home Contact Back to Clutch Basket



Flywheel Installation Instructions   --   #4


1.  Place bike on swing arm stand and remove fairings

2.  Remove the following:
     a) drain the oil
     b) counter shaft sprocket cover
     c) clutch slave cylinder
     d) oil lines that feed to the left engine side cover (if applicable)
     e) trace the alternator wires and timing sensor wires and disconnect both plugs
     f) some applications will require the removal of the kickstand safety switch
     g) mark and remove the gear change lever
     h) drain coolant and remove hoses from the side cover

3.  Remove the 13 cover bolts with a 5mm allen wrench. Mark and remove them in order, as they are different lengths.

4.  Remove the side cover (some persuasion may be required, BE VERY CAREFUL, the cover is easy to break, and you may need to LIGHTLY rap on the edges in several spots with a PLASTIC hammer).

5.  Catch any oil that is draining out -- this is the perfect time to change your oil.

6.  Remove the nut and washer from the end of the crankshaft. You will need to use an impact wrench and hold the rotor with your hand to prevent the crankshaft from turning.

7.  Before you remove the flywheel, remove the 8 bolts that attach the rotor to the flywheel. Note the timing mark on the flywheel face (behind where the nut was) and its orientation to the notch cut in the crankshaft.

8.  Remove the flywheel and large starter gear as an assembly. The center sleeve, roller bearing, and thin washer may or may not come off the crank with the flywheel. In any case do not loose any of these small parts.

9.  Lay the flywheel face down on a table or bench and remove the thin washer, starter gear, roller bearing and center sleeve. Turn the flywheel over. Thread 4 of the rotor bolts into the flywheel and drive the sprague ring and clutch out of the flywheel using a plastic hammer. Note the direction the sprague ring and clutch are installed.

10.  Thoroughly clean the ring/clutch assembly and then install it into your Nichols' flywheel - tapered side of the ring first and with bolt and dowel holes properly aligned. When installed correctly, you cannot remove the sprague clutch from the assembly.

11.  Install the dowel in the correct hole and attach the rotor to the flywheel assembly with the 8 bolts. Clean the bolts removing all Loktite residue and install with blue loktite torqueing to 8 -10 NM or 12 FtLbs.

12.  You have been supplied a spacer with your flywheel. You may or may not need it. Here is how it's determined. Look at the center spacer which came out of your engine. Does it have a flange? If yes, you do not need the supplied spacer. If your spacer has no flange, you will install the spacer between the flywheel and the sleeve.


13.  Lay the flywheel rotor side down on a bench or table. Insert the large starter gear into the sprague, rotating the gear will facilitate this. If you have a sleeve with a flange install it now flange side against the aluminum flywheel. If you have a sleeve without a flange, install the spacer against the aluminum flywheel and then the flangeless sleeve. Next install the roller bearing and thin washer. Put a dab of grease on the thin washer to keep it in place.

14.  Now you are ready to install the flywheel/rotor/starter gear assembly onto the crankshaft. You need to align the timing mark on the flywheel face with the notch on the crankshaft. Make sure the starter gear stays in place and you should be able to turn it in the free-wheel direction once installed.

15.  Clean the threads on the crankshaft and install the washer and nut using red Loktite and torque to 190NM or 140FtLbs. If you have purchased our flywheel nuts install one and torque it properly, then install the second. Once again, make sure you use red Loktiteon both nuts.

16.  Before you install the side cover, make sure the water pump shaft is aligned correctly and all gasket surfaces are cleaned and properly coated with sealer.

17.  The remainder of the reassembly is the reverse of the first 3 steps.


THROTTLE RESPONSE WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY QUICKER WITH THIS FLYWHEEL. BE SMOOTH WITH YOUR THROTTLE APPLICATION.

Thanks for purchasing our flywheel.

Jon Nichols