Roller Bearings Inside Final Drive/Clutch Side

[Sagerider]

I just got done this afternoon installing a new clutch on my
1995 916 and just by chance I noticed something inside the final drive shaft
on the clutch side. I thought it was some cosmic debris until I looked closer and discovered that it was roller bearings. They look to be placed in one at a time with no cage just loose held in by grease. I never knew they were there and I am thinking they are not addressed in the manual. I will take a look in the morning to see if my 999r shop manual or the Haynes 916 series manual says anything about these bearings. I am guessing that they would support the clutch actuation/push rod that runs from the left side to the right. I wonder if there are anymore little surprises like this in there??
This could just be this model year or it could be all, does anyone know??
A big heads up on this one!! I am thinking if one or more got loose inside the passage way while installing the push rod it could cause some real problems with the clutch actuation and possibly damage or jam things up inside the passage way.

[Old Baldy]

A ball in the passageway would DEFINITELY not be a good thing.

[Hyperpasta]

Sounds like the roller bearing at the clutch end of the mainshaft took a shit!

Fish out the rest of the rollers with a magnet and the cage and replace it. Don't forget the seal. Also check the push rod for unusual wear. Then change your engine oil.

[Sagerider]

These roller bearings are inside the final drive about 1/4 of an inch and they look like they belong there. I don't recall seeing any way to put a cage type bearing inside the shaft passage. Keep in mind these bearings are inside the final drive shaft not outside. These bearings are not pieces and parts that found their way inside but definitely look like they belong right where they are.
I am really not looking forward to disassembling the clutch again just to verify that what I saw was really what I saw but if I can't find someone who can offer any more information it looks like I will have to. I am starting to question myself the more I think about it.
I installed a new push rod after slopping some grease in the bearings and gooed up the ends and shaft of the push rod with fresh grease but not overly so. Everything went in place easily and funtions correctly.
This is one of those times when a little conservatism could go a long way. I can see it now. After fighting with the bottom bolt that holds the rear shock
and ride height adjustment rod to remove the shock for a rebiuld all afternoon I get frustrated and ignor some weird anomaly that will bite me hard in the ass.
That bottom bolt absolutely refused to break loose. I used an impact gun, heat with a pen type torch, a two foot cheater bar and went through three 8mm allen sockets by twisting them up. I ended up drilling the damn nut/bushing out from the right side. Somebody is now going to tell me
the beotch is a left hand thread, tried that too.

[marvin]

I have three transmissions apart now, a 94 M900, a 92' 851, and a later model 748. they all have a caged needle bearing in the end of the shaft and an outer seal. Are you sure there is no cage?

[Sagerider]

I just could not stand it any longer and hauled my sorry ass out of bed early this morning and took the hike out to the shop and got both the Ducati Shop manual and the Haynes manual. I went through the clutch sections and there is nothing except a very poor photo of the end of the final drive shaft. There it was "The roller bearing". I looked in the engine section of the Ducati manual and found the section that addresss this bearing. It is there because it is suposed to be there. I never knew there was a bearing in the end of the final drive to support the clutch actuation rod. There is a seal on top of it as well. all is as it should be.
Evidentally there is a cage that holds the bearing together but I just did not see it. I really did not get all worried about it until after I installed the new clutch. I greased the bearing before putting the new actuation rod in and figured it was all good. Afterwords though I started thinking and the more I though the more concerned I got. I had a busy evening and could not get back to the shop and by the time I could it was freaken freezing outside, Montana is not kind in the winter.
The bottom line is I was freaking out about something that was OK because
I am an ignoramus when it comes to the finer points of working on my bike.
I think in the future I will trade off my before bed reading from Keith Code's Twist of the Wrist books to my shop manuals.
Thanks Guys!!
yes, I am a dumb ass.

[marvin]

Hey man, we all do that kinda' stuff!!

[Hyperpasta]

Your reaction is totally the norm!
When I read a post like yours it's always cool seeing the owner "Get It".
Learning can be costly or fun.
Fun is how I try to approach life's most daunting moments!
Hell, we only get one shot at this thing called life!