Special pre-delivery operation required:
Horizontal and vertical head nut tightening check
SuperSport 950 Model Year 2021 (all model
versions)
Service Repair Bulletin SRV-SRB-21-032
Date:
To:
From:

April 29, 2021
Dealer Principal, General Manager, Service Manager, North American Dealer
Network
Richard Kenton, Technical Director
Dan Schwartz, Service Area Manager

Dear Dealers,
We would like to inform you that following some isolated reports of possible coolant leaks
from the head-cylinder coupling area (at low mileage and in any case before the first service),
we kindly ask you to check the tightening torque of the horizontal and vertical cylinder head
fixing nuts as we believe that an initial and unexpected settlement of the nut-stud bolt-headcylinder coupling may occur on a particular lot of engines.
This exceptional operation must be carried out during pre-delivery operations, i.e., before
delivery of the vehicle to the end customer, on all SuperSport 950 Model Year 2021
motorcycles that have not been delivered yet and before frame number
ZDMVABDSXMB001648.
We would also like to inform you that new cylinder heads are now being installed where the
contact surface of the nuts to cylinder head have been stripped of paint, therefore, starting
from the frame number shown above, this check will no longer be necessary.
WARNING
If the motorcycle has already been delivered and there is a coolant leak from the
cylinder-head gasket, it will be necessary to replace the gasket Part no. 78610961A, as a
simple tightening will not solve the problem.
Cylinder-head gaskets
Part no. 78610961A

Ducati North America
www.ducati.com

1292 Reamwood Ave.
Sunnyvale CA, 94089
Tel +1 650 933 9800

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Special pre-delivery operation required:
Horizontal and vertical head nut tightening check
SuperSport 950 Model Year 2021 (all model
versions)
Service Repair Bulletin SRV-SRB-21-032
Special Tool
Ducati North America will auto-ship the adapter tool to tighten the horizontal and vertical
cylinder head nuts without removing the fuel tank and timing belts.
The necessary tool is the following torque wrench adapter (14 mm flat), which is readily
available on the market. This tool will be sent free of charge to dealers as soon as made
available from DNA’s source, arrival in June 2021. Due to the timing of availability, we ask
dealers with in-stock and/or sold vehicles to also source your own tool.

WARNING
When using this type of adapter, it is necessary to apply a different tightening torque
from the prescribed specification (60 Nm) as the lever arm is different. Use the below
indicated formula and reference example for calculating the correct tightening torque
depending on the adapter/torque wrench used:

Where for example:
 R = tightening torque to be calculated and applied
 T = prescribed tightening torque (60Nm)
 L = length of the used torque wrench
 A = extension length

Ducati North America
www.ducati.com

1292 Reamwood Ave.
Sunnyvale CA, 94089
Tel +1 650 933 9800

2/8

Special pre-delivery operation required:
Horizontal and vertical head nut tightening check
SuperSport 950 Model Year 2021 (all model
versions)
Service Repair Bulletin SRV-SRB-21-032
The figure shows an example (for reference use):

R= (T*L) / (L+A)

R= (60*31) / (31+7.5)

R= (1860) / (38.5)

R = 48.3 Nm

WARNING
By varying the inclination angle of the adapter, the tightening torque to be applied
varies. Therefore, use the adapter by orienting it ONLY as shown in the figure while
using the above indicated formula:

Service Solution
1. Position the bike on the rear paddock stand.
2. Remove the seat.
3. Remove the RH (1) and LH (2) side fairings (see “Sec. 05 – Fairing – Fairings” of the
Workshop Manual).

Ducati North America
www.ducati.com

1292 Reamwood Ave.
Sunnyvale CA, 94089
Tel +1 650 933 9800

3/8

Special pre-delivery operation required:
Horizontal and vertical head nut tightening check
SuperSport 950 Model Year 2021 (all model
versions)
Service Repair Bulletin SRV-SRB-21-032

4. Remove the bulkhead (3) and the horizontal (4) and vertical (5) cylinder belt cover guards
(See “Sec. 09 - Engine - Cylinder head assembly: timing system” of the Workshop Manual).

5. Remove the battery (if installed) and the battery mount to reach the horizontal head fixing
nuts on the left side of the vehicle (See “Sec. 09 - Engine - Removing and refitting the
complete engine” of the Workshop Manual).

Ducati North America
www.ducati.com

1292 Reamwood Ave.
Sunnyvale CA, 94089
Tel +1 650 933 9800

4/8

Special pre-delivery operation required:
Horizontal and vertical head nut tightening check
SuperSport 950 Model Year 2021 (all model
versions)
Service Repair Bulletin SRV-SRB-21-032
6. Using a felt-tip pen, certify the current tightening of the nuts (nut, washer, and cylinder
head).

7. Using the torque wrench with the adapter, tighten ALL the horizontal and vertical cylinder
head fixing nuts to the tightening torque previously calculated.
WARNING
When tightening make sure the torque wrench can rotate freely and is not
hindered by other components (e.g., drive belts or pipes) causing incorrect
tightening. Be careful to prevent applying undue force on any surrounding
delicate components.

Ducati North America
www.ducati.com

1292 Reamwood Ave.
Sunnyvale CA, 94089
Tel +1 650 933 9800

5/8

Special pre-delivery operation required:
Horizontal and vertical head nut tightening check
SuperSport 950 Model Year 2021 (all model
versions)
Service Repair Bulletin SRV-SRB-21-032
8. Using a felt-tip pen of a different color, certify the new tightening only if the nut has
rotated.

9. In order to allow Ducati to collect your analysis and for warranty processing, fill out a
Youtech service request attaching photos of the certified nuts before and after tightening
(4 photos, 1 MB minimum, like those shown in the picture below, whether the nuts have
rotated or not).

Horizontal head
Right-hand side

Ducati North America
www.ducati.com

Vertical head
Left-hand side

Right-hand side

1292 Reamwood Ave.
Sunnyvale CA, 94089
Tel +1 650 933 9800

Left-hand side

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Special pre-delivery operation required:
Horizontal and vertical head nut tightening check
SuperSport 950 Model Year 2021 (all model
versions)
Service Repair Bulletin SRV-SRB-21-032
10. Install the battery mount (See “Sec.09 – Engine – Removing and refitting the complete
engine” of the Workshop Manual).
11. Fit the horizontal (4) and vertical (5) head belt cover guards and the bulkhead (3) (See
“Sec. 09 - Engine - Cylinder head assembly: timing system” of the Workshop Manual).

12. Fit the RH (1) and LH (2) side fairings (see “Sec. 05 – Fairing – Fairings” of the Workshop
Manual).

13. Fit the seat.

Ducati North America
www.ducati.com

1292 Reamwood Ave.
Sunnyvale CA, 94089
Tel +1 650 933 9800

7/8

Special pre-delivery operation required:
Horizontal and vertical head nut tightening check
SuperSport 950 Model Year 2021 (all model
versions)
Service Repair Bulletin SRV-SRB-21-032
Warranty Reimbursement
A labor time of
under warranty, including:

corresponding to flat rate tables 1-999-133 will be reimbursed

to tighten the horizontal and vertical cylinder head nuts
to compensate for filling out the Youtech request.




In the event a coolant leak is discovered, and it be necessary to proceed with the replacement
of the cylinder-head gasket Part no. 78610961A, provide the information with photos of the
leak in the Youtech request. Once pre-authorization has been provided in the Youtech, the
following operations are already available in the flat rate tables for submitting warranty:




Replacement of horizontal head-cylinder gasket: 1-999-017
Replacement of vertical head-cylinder gasket: 1-999-016
Replacement of vertical and horizontal head-cylinder gasket: 1-999-015

For questions about this Service Bulletin,
please contact your Service Area Manager.

Ducati North America
www.ducati.com

1292 Reamwood Ave.
Sunnyvale CA, 94089
Tel +1 650 933 9800

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