Final Drive Chain Maintenance Precautions
All Models and Model Years (Except XDiavel)
Service Repair Bulletin SRV-SRB-18-030
Date:
To:
From:

November 8, 2018
Dealer Principal, General Manager, Service Manager, North American Dealer
Network
Richard Kenton, Technical Director
Eric Bradley, Technical Training and Publications Manager

Dear Dealers,
The bulletin is to present comprehensive information for the proper maintenance of the final
drive chain installed on the entire Ducati range. The following recommendations ensure top
performance and a long life of the chain.

Table of Contents
Construction and designation

Page
2

Cleaning the chain

5

Lubricating the chain

6

Checking the chain

8

Checking the sprockets

11

Tensioning the chain

12

Changing the chain

14

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

21

1/21

Final Drive Chain Maintenance Precautions
All Models and Model Years (Except XDiavel)
Service Repair Bulletin SRV-SRB-18-030
Construction and Designations
Chains installed on Ducati models are roller chains designed according to ISO/DIN/BS
standards. These chains are made up of alternating internal links and external links,
connected by pins.
The internal links (3) are made of two plates fastened to each other through two bushings (2);
each bushing houses a roller (1).
The external links (4) are made of two external plates fastened to each other through two
pins (5) and four O-rings (6). The O-Rings have a twofold role as they not only hold the
lubricant but also prevent any foreign objects from entering the pin-bushing area.

This type of chain is characterized by two key parameters:
 pitch length
 link internal width
A standardized 3-digit numerical code is used to indicate these two values (for example: 415,
420, 428, 520, 525, 530)

NOTE
For the Regina chains, different references are used compared to international coding
standards.

2/21

Final Drive Chain Maintenance Precautions
All Models and Model Years (Except XDiavel)
Service Repair Bulletin SRV-SRB-18-030
According to the international coding standard, the first digit is the chain pitch (P), defined as
the distance between centers of two consecutive pins

Chain pitch is calculated by multiplying 1/8 inch by the first of the three numbers punched on
the link (520)

P = 1/8” x 5 = 5/8”
The chain displayed is manufactured with a 5/8” pitch
To obtain pitch in centimeters, multiply the obtained value in inches by the conversion factor
2.54: P = 5/8” x 2.54 = 1.5875 cm ➔ 1.59 cm
Below is a table summarizing chain pitch values
Regina standard

International standard

Chain Pitch

54 – 90 – 124 – 125 – 126

415 – 420 – 425 – 428

1/2” = 1.2700 cm

135 – 136 – 136.2 – 137

520 – 525 – 530 – 532

5/8” = 1.5875 cm

138 – 138.2

630 – 632

3/4” = 1.9050 cm

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Final Drive Chain Maintenance Precautions
All Models and Model Years (Except XDiavel)
Service Repair Bulletin SRV-SRB-18-030
The second and third numbers are the internal width (W) of the chain according to the
international coding standard. The higher the number, the higher the distance between the
two internal plates
Internal width is calculated by multiplying 1/8 inch by the second and third digits (520) after
adding a decimal separator between the two digits (2.0 – 2.5 – 3.0)

W = 1/8” x 2.0 = 1/4” = 1/4” x 2.54 = 0.635 cm
For a 530 chain, pitch is the same, but width is different
For example: W = 1/8” x 3.0 = 3/8” = 3/8” x 2.54 = 0.952 cm
WARNING
Changing the internal distance between the links will change the space available for
the teeth of the sprockets. It is always mandatory to ensure that the chain and
sprockets installed have the same pitch and width rating
It is not possible to install a 520 chain on 530-pitch sprockets or vice versa

4/21

Final Drive Chain Maintenance Precautions
All Models and Model Years (Except XDiavel)
Service Repair Bulletin SRV-SRB-18-030
Cleaning the Chain
Statistically, it has been found that the average service life of a final drive chain is about
20,000 km, only if it is periodically maintained in accordance with the instructions given in the
Owner's Manual of the motorcycle.
To ensure top performance and long life of the chain, follow the instructions relating to
washing, lubrication, inspection and tensioning of the chain described below.
The cleaning of the chain is crucial for its life. Use a jet of water to remove any mud, soil, sand
or dirt build-up and immediately dry the chain using compressed air, blown from a distance of
at least 30 cm.
In case of Off-Road use, there may be excessive wear of the links due to the contact with the
chain guide shoe. The friction could in fact cause chain overheating that would alter the heat
treatment of the links making them particularly fragile. In extreme cases, the link failure will
likely occur vertically on the link. The transverse cracks start from the base of the link and then
extend until they affect the seat of the pin.

NOTE
Avoid the use of steam, fuels, solvents, hard brushes or other methods that may
damage the O-rings. Also avoid direct contact with the battery acid as it could cause
small fractures of the links.

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Final Drive Chain Maintenance Precautions
All Models and Model Years (Except XDiavel)
Service Repair Bulletin SRV-SRB-18-030
Lubricating the Chain
Once the chain has been washed and cleaned, proceed with lubrication.
Lubricate the chain at least every 400 km or more frequently if the motorcycle is used in
conditions of high ambient temperature (40°C) or after long trips on the highway at high
speed.
Lubricate the chain without waiting for it to cool down after use, so that the new lubricant can
better go through the internal and external links and enhance its protective action.
Do not use the motorcycle immediately after lubricating the chain as the lubricant would still
be fluid and it would hence be ejected outwards by centrifugal force, possibly staining with oil
the rear wheel or the rider footpeg.
The pin-bushing area is the critical point where the greatest stresses occur due to high
operating loads and high temperatures. These stresses will reduce the anti-wear effect of the
oil film present on all parts of the chain.
Lubricant
Bushing

Pin

The O-Rings present in all OE chains of the Ducati models play a twofold role as they hold the
lubricant and prevent foreign objects enter the pin-bushing area.
In case of poor lubrication, you might experience the following symptoms:





reddish areas (due to oxidation)
squeaks and noise
stretching
stiffer joints

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Final Drive Chain Maintenance Precautions
All Models and Model Years (Except XDiavel)
Service Repair Bulletin SRV-SRB-18-030
Lubrication is very important as it:






reduces friction and heat build-up
keeps the O-Rings soft thereby avoiding cracking and consequent failure
protects against oxidation of metal parts
increases drive efficiency
increases the service life of the whole drive system

Chain can be lubricated according to either of these two methods:
A.

Lubrication by brush:
When using a brush, apply a film of oil throughout the length of the chain; then use a
clean cloth to eliminate any excess oil.
WARNING
Use mineral oil SAE 80W-90 or specific chain lubricants. Ensure that they do not
contain any additives that might damage the O-rings.

B.

Lubrication by spray:
1. Position the bike on the rear paddock stand
2. Quickly spin the rear wheel in the direction opposite to the direction of travel
3. Spray the lubricant inside the chain, between internal and external links, at the point
immediately upstream of the sprocket meshing point. Due to the centrifugal force, the
lubricant (made fluid by the solvents contained in the spray) will expand in the area
between the pin and the bushing, thereby ensuring perfect lubrication
4. Repeat the operation by aiming the lubricant spray pattern on the central part of the
chain in order to lubricate the rollers and on the external plates

5. When lubrication is completed, wait 10-15 minutes to allow the lubricant to spread on
the internal and external surfaces of the chain and then remove any excess lubricant
with a clean cloth
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Final Drive Chain Maintenance Precautions
All Models and Model Years (Except XDiavel)
Service Repair Bulletin SRV-SRB-18-030
Checking the chain
The chain should be frequently inspected to ensure that there are no stiff joints, missing or
damaged O-rings, or other worn-out components (especially the closing link).
The wear of a chain can easily be checked by measuring its stretch.
If the chain stretches beyond the expected limits, the mechanism will become unreliable, the
pitch will no longer be accurate, and the chain could jump on the next tooth of the sprocket
and cause breakage and other damage.

NOTE
Before measuring, it is necessary to properly clean and lubricate the drive chain.

8/21

Final Drive Chain Maintenance Precautions
All Models and Model Years (Except XDiavel)
Service Repair Bulletin SRV-SRB-18-030
To inspect the final drive chain, follow the procedure below:
1. If the chain is installed to the motorcycle, tension the upper or lower branch by engaging a
low gear and turn the rear wheel, respectively, clockwise or counter clockwise. If the chain is
not installed to the motorcycle, it is necessary to position it on a horizontal surface, fix it at
one end and tension it by means of a weight of about 20 kg applied at the opposite end
2. Using a millimeter precision gauge or ruler, measure the distance between centers of two
pins separated by a number "N" of links.
NOTE
The number “N” of links can be calculated by counting the pins. The number of
pins “N” to be considered for the measurement depends on the type of chain.

9/21

Final Drive Chain Maintenance Precautions
All Models and Model Years (Except XDiavel)
Service Repair Bulletin SRV-SRB-18-030
Ensure that the measured value does not exceed the maximum acceptable length specified in
the table below:
Regina
standard

International
standard

N
(number of pins)

Maximum
acceptable length
(chain with O-Rings)

54 – 90 – 124 – 125 – 126

415 – 420 – 425 – 428

23

29.5000 cm

135 – 136 – 136.2 – 137

520 – 525 – 530 – 532

16

25.6500 cm

138 – 138.2

630 – 632

16

30.0780 cm

The chain must be changed if measurement exceeds the maximum specified length.
In addition to measuring the length, a visual inspection of the plates, pins, O-rings and
bushings can be carried out to check chain wear.
If any of the following are present the drive chain must be replaced:


cracks on the plates



cracks on the pins



spinning pins



damaged O-Rings



scratched rollers

10/21

Final Drive Chain Maintenance Precautions
All Models and Model Years (Except XDiavel)
Service Repair Bulletin SRV-SRB-18-030
Checking the sprockets
In order to guarantee top performance and a long life of the chain, it is necessary to
frequently check teeth wear on both sprockets, their profile and thickness and replace them if
required. Sprocket teeth wear can be identified with a visual inspection because worn teeth
are typically shaped like a "hook".

When installing new sprockets, it is necessary to turn the rear wheel and inspect for side
clearance or runout issues. A misalignment could trigger axial thrusts on the internal link
of the chain, which can be detected by lateral wear of the teeth of the sprockets.

NOTE
A new chain installed to worn or damaged sprockets will wear or become damaged