Cracked Frame

[Iconic944ss]

I really could cry right now.

Been slaving away for the last week - day and night, fitting Dyna Coils, rebuilding a set of 41mm FCR's from scratch (that I was told would be an 'easy' conversion - pah!) and a minor service as well, all in the run up to Cadwell.

Did a trial install of the FCR's this afternoon and I've found a gaping crack in the frame.

Only saving grace is that its in a 'non-stressed' area - its on the top tube on the weld area where the small bosses are attached to hold the tank restraining front plate.

Oh well, maybe I can show the nice Ducati people at Cadwell and save some time going to a dealer :(

F

[crust]

have read a few threads over the years about Ducati still replacing SS frames after a good few years

got to be worth a try

:) Crust

[skidlids]

My DD bike developed a crack in that area, I scratched awat the paint, filed into the crack with a trianguar file then pooped around a local company with the Earths disconnected and they welded it up there and then. Quickly painted over it to stop ir rusting and been using it for DD like that for a couple of years now

[andys 900ss]

One of my swim team mates works for Rolls Royce as a quality welder. When he saw the welds on my Ducati frames he couldnt believe it! He was shocked how poor they were.

Be good to see you holding that box of beer at Cadders again Frank at the Cornerspeed Disco ;)

Andy

[Jasper]

Sorry to here that Frank.You still riding at Cadwell?If not,you can use mine,we are in different groups

[Nattyboy]

Sorry to here that Frank.You still riding at Cadwell?If not,you can use mine,we are in different groups

And what would he want to use that old nail for ??! lol !!!

[Jasper]

And what would he want to use that old nail for ??! lol !!!


So that he could prise off the Top Yoke plaque and sell it to the wannabees??;)

Along with the engine etc

[Gaz 748]

My DD bike developed a crack in that area, I scratched awat the paint, filed into the crack with a trianguar file then pooped around a local company with the Earths disconnected and they welded it up there and then. Quickly painted over it to stop ir rusting and been using it for DD like that for a couple of years now

Same here, had a 97 900SS, had it welded up and painted, no problem.

[Iconic944ss]

Cheers Jasp - thats the good olde DSC spirit, marra.

I'll be taking my SS anyway - but would love a spin on your 888 anyway since I've never ridden one at all.

Ickle celebration here as my SS has just fired up with the new FCR's and Dyna Coils fitted - she sounds a bit menacing even at tick-over now.

Neighbours were well impressed at 2am - but tough, I'm on a tight schedule: they might need ear plugs for later on ;)

JD and Ginger mixer is not the best drink I could think of but all that was available.....

CHEERS !!!!!

Flat Slide Frank

[Steve B]

My 94 900SS suffered the cracked frame problem and Ducati replaced it even though it was more than 5 years old at the time.

But I had to take it to a franchised dealer and pay the labour - quoted at 10 hours!

They were rather disappointed when I wheeled it in with only frame engine forks wheels swingarm handlebars and front brake, and said they could not do it same day even though it was booked in.

I was very disappointed to receive a bill for over £100 for what should have been an hours job, they had the cheek to charge me for a new soft link for the chain, and they rang me demanding it was collected immediately otherwise they would charge me storage.

Take it to a decent welder mate - the official route is not worth the hassle.

and don't even ask about frame numbers!
DVLA - how much!!! DIY - cheaper - the official route is not worth the hassle.

Steve.

[boski69]

Mate of mine welded my frame. Not a problem since. The official route is defo too much hassle what with waiting for a frame to arrive from Italy and everything else. It makes me wonder how many SS's are riding around out there not knowing the frame is cracked. I wouldn't have spotted mine if I hadn't stripped it down for powder coating.
Cheers Brian.

[Iconic944ss]

Thanks for the replies guys - I now tend to agree about the D-I-Y route.

I asked one of the Ducati tecs at our Cadwell trackdays and he basically said that if I didnt have a full dealer service history, then I was probably on a hiding to nothing.

FSH on a 14 year old bike ??? Not that likely, really.

Anyway - piccy of the crack attached - need to have a think (over winter probably) about how best to sort it.

Cheers - Frank

[AL900SL]

Interesting one Frank. All of the others including mine had the crack on the other side of the frame and had the latter mountings for the locking clasp.
I had a fantastic response from Iain Rhodes at Ducati UK and my SL at the time was 7 years old and he did not ask for any service history. I just took it along to JHP, where John took a picture and three weeks latter I had a new frame deliverd to the door. I think as a result of one of your replys to my original post. Give a go and who knows.
Cheers Allan R

[Red-Duc]

being aware of the cracked frame issue on the ss i have generally checked mine out now and then, after reading this thread I though it would be a good time to check again !!!!!!!!
No cracks in stress points but a crack in the steering stop next to the weld, So to repair this do I remove the stem to save heat getting in to the headstock bearings

[ziggi]

I wonder if this is mileage related because, so far, i've not got (or seen) and cracks but i'm always looking. Normally the cracks go around the weld or stem out from the rivet on the frame number plate towards the weld. This is different from all the others i've seen but you can see it's hairlining to the other side.

Hope you get it sorted Frank. I've got some other pics of the same problem. Do you want me to post them up?

Or is it because you've been doing too many wheelies with heavy landings? :D

[Ozz]

I know when I was looking at getting a superlight a few years back I was told by a few people that the theory was that the cracking was due to wheelies.....

[ziggi]

Ozz, that's interesting because I rarely wheelie my superlight where as I used to wheelie the 996 a bit. The previous owner was an old bloke (and didn't look the wheelie type) who didn't use the bike for years so maybe it's true.

[adk]

Be interesting to know if 600's suffer with cracked frames as much as the bigger engined SS's. Must be doing quite well to get one of those to wheelie - but I could be wrong!

[Steve B]

My 900 frame cracked at around 5 years and 35000 miles.
It was more of a hair-line mark in the paint on the top tube about 2 inches from the headstock, which I noticed after a good thrash back from Donington one evening.
The previous owner may have done the odd wheelie in the first 5000 miles, but it has not done one since.
I must confess to having done the odd stoppie or two, which does bend the rear shock lower mounting bolt and probably causes a fair bit of stress around the headstock area.

At 13 years old and 50,000 miles I treat it more gently these days, - heading to the Island tomorrow night for a few days to catch the Senior Manx GP, and maybe a steady?? lap or two of the Mountain course.

Steve

[Iconic944ss]

Cheers Guys,

Zig - I've never wheelied my 900 ever! About two inches of airtime over the mountain at Cadwell is the only time the front gets light with me on board.

Seems mine is a bit of an unusual failure so, I might persue it a bit more in case its something DUK might want to know about.

Red-Duc;
Crack near the steerer stop could just be paint cracking (hopefully) - Might be an idea to repack the lower bearing after any repair is done if you go down that route - might be an idea to ask you repairer?
I remember seeing it can be done with the bike intact and simply earthing the frame (Skidlids post? DD frame repair)

Good luck all - Frank

[Zimbo]

My money is on hard braking being the cause of most failures. I imagine that, under hard braking, twisting forces will act on a fulcrum at the bottom of the headstock, causing the tubes around the top to be in tension, and it seems the SS frame strength around that area is marginal in these circumstances, so some fail.