Chain Adjusters - should they slide freely?

[Janky59]

I searched around the forums but I didn’t see info relating to my my direct questions.
I’m doing some winter tinkering and got to the swing arm.
The chain/axle adjusters in the box section - they’re very tight in their cavities. I can understand some drag in movement but these are really tight.
If I thread in the long bolt and grab it with my hand I can’t get it to budge.
Before I take a hammer to things: is this typical?
Should I leave them alone?
If I should take them out, do I clean/file/work them until they slide to and fro with some slight drag? It makes sense to leave alone the faces that take axle tension.

D057CDEA-6BFB-4FA7-9104-FEB7FA0F5980.jpeg (187.16 KiB) Viewed 11715 times

And what does the circled bolt do? To limit the travel of the adjustment bolt?
I’m struggling to understand it’s purpose.
Thanks all.

[Mc tool]

They should slide reasonably freely , like you should be able to move it with a bolt as you describe. Might be dirt , might also be that someone has got a bit ham fisted and damaged the edges of the slot ......maybe dress it up with a wire brush ( dirt ) or a file for flattening off dings . If someone has either not used a washer or the wrong one (over?)torquing up the axle could damage edges of slot.

[Janky59]

Thanks for the insight MC, I got them out tonight. Some spacers and washers, then hammer and drift got them out. There aren’t any burrs turned up or significant dirt; the extrusion sides just an interference fit to the slides. They will go in maybe a half inch freely, then tighten up.
I’m going to take the adjusters to work and skim the sides with an end mill. Shave like .003”-.005” off each side.
Neither adjuster had the bolt #33 shown above. Nor were the holes tapped, just a smooth bore. Chalk it up to another Ducati mystery.
I see that sometime in its history someone flipped the tapered wheel washer. It was oriented correctly when taken apart. Could be better, not as bad as some.

[Mc tool]

I wouldnt trim the extrusions ,I think its far more likely that the sides of the tubing have been "moved " inwards and trimming the extrusion will only make this deformation worse . Maybe someone torqued up the axle without the extrusions fitted , I have seen worse happen after a big day . If they are still stiff after a good clean and dress up ....Id live with it , taking metal off isnt the answer

[paso750]

I'm with Hamish. I wouldn't modify that part. I wonder if the reverse installed conical spacer could have dented the swingarm.

[Janky59]

I haven’t shaved them yet. I guess I’ll scratch that idea if you guys think that’s not a good path.
Both sides have the same amount of stiffness it seems to me so I don’t think a reversed conical spacer is the root of it for the sprocket side.
Nevertheless, I’ll know I’ll have to give the wheel some extra “umph” when I need to move it forward for a tire change.

[Mc tool]

I guess its just one of them things you sometimes discover when you buy a used vehicle .......no control over its past owners actions. Bit of a pita but with a good o ring chain you wont be doing much adjusting .
I met the previous owner of my Paso at a bike rally . He expressed surprise to see it so far from home ( as he put it ) as he had sold it because of the usual deteriorating wiring issues, and the fact that no one , inc the local Ducati mechanic ,could correctly diagnose and fix .
Me fix though .......heh heh heh that fixed the sawn off little smart arse..........come over and start telling me my 1st Ducati was a pile of shit.