Over the past few weeks I have been sufferring from limited clutch use. Basically, it is fine until the bike is up to temperature and then it is almost impossible to get neutral and the gear changes are really clunky. I have blown the dust out a couple of times with an airline, but after a day of riding it is back to the same old trouble. I understand that you have to be sparse with use of a dry clutch compared to others, but I am very concious of the fact and engage the clutch for no more than 5 seconds at the most. Am I over using it or do I need to get it replaced/adjusted. Second issue is that the dealer that I bought it from is miles away and the local one is over priced, useless and booked for months, sir. If I go to a nearby ducati specialist will it void the warranty .....which I still need as they (ducati) still need to sort the cutting out issue.... Any advice on the solution to the clutch problem or the warrany would be very welcome.
Thanks in advance to the DSC technical expertise!!!!!
I can't see that getting someone to look at the clutch is going to cause you any grief with the warranty. The only issue with that is having the service booked stamped by a dealer for the main services.
Regarding clutch use ... if you cannot get neutral and gear changes are really clunky then it is likely to be dragging (as being the opposite to slipping if you need a description). That is likely to be air in the hydralics so that the air compresses being easier than making the clutch operate. As Scottch says, you might need to bleed it. Difficult to see how air would have got in there, unless the level in the reservoir is very low, the bike has been on it's side, or the seals are leaking. Take a look in the reservoir and check the level. Also check around under the slave on the left side of the engine just in front of the sprocket cover and see if it damp with clutch fluid at all.
This has been voiced before with the 749/999's. It's usually air in the clutch hydraulics. Bleeding it will usually cure it. Bleed the system at the slave cylinder, and then finish off by bleeding at the master cylinder. There's a small hex headed screw in the reservior. Crack it and pull the lever in slowly, hold it and close the bleed screw, and let the lever out. Do that a couple of times and it should be OK.
A Quick Update: I Took the bike to the Local specialist, Top bloke, and he found that it was a faulty master cylinder. He changed it there and then...which is brilliant as the bike is back and feels great. The part would have been a warrany item if done at Ducati.....what are the chances that Ducati will refund me the cost of the part if a ask them.
I'm sorry to have to break this to you but the reason that your problem was solved with a new master cylinder is because the clutch fluid got changed along with it. The clue is that the problem is temperature-related and first occurs when the engine gets hot. The fluid had water in it and would boil down near the slave cylinder, producing a pocket of steam that produces the same clutch-dragging behavior that air in the line does.
Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air readily so you should only use fluid from a sealed container and make sure that the bike's fluid reservoir is tightly sealed. The water is heavier than the fluid so it sinks to the lowest point in the system down near the slave unit. This area sees engine heat directly and the water boils when it gets above 212°F.
You often need to disassemble the line at the slave to remove the water that collects. The slave geometry makes it hard to flush the water out.
Shazaam!
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