by Ed Milich
And breakage will destruction bring
Replace them fast when yours display
Signs of dry rot, cracks or fray
Otherwise, you're bound to see
A desmodrome catastrophe
Sparks and Smoke and sickening sounds
As valve heads smash through piston crowns
A dark deluge of Duc debris
And chunks of Dago metaullurgy
Which drive the owner to dementia
And smash your top end into polenta
So don't be a tightass with this crucial piece.
Spend the 40 bucks a piece
To replace your drive belts regularly
Else is false economy
Your Duc's your mount. Maintain it wisely
To tension up your belts precisely
Save your dimes and nickels for
The $250 Ducati belt tensioner
Or to tension drive belts in a pinch,
Just check belt to pulley clearance with a 5 mm Allen wrench
So remove your cycle from arrears
Replace drive belts at twelve thousand miles or every three years
It’s bound to be clutch service time
Unbolt the cover. Fascination!
A gnarly clutch crud accumulation
With shop air, blow a mighty gust
And fill your lungs with asbestos dust
Unbolt your plates and flange and springs
And see what damage racing brings!
File the basket grooves with care
To help it not to stick in gear
Insert the Barnett friction plate
And then with steel ones, alternate
Be careful you don’t crowd too much
Into the basket of your clutch
To the pack, this strict adherence
Allow five mm clearance
Check throwout bearing carefully
Ensure it’s greased and turning free
If not, then spend the bucks and sigh
Ducati makes your paycheck die!
Your bike now shifts with grace and class
Go out and spank some japbike ass!
