The Superlight is unwell
 

So, out on the SL for a little blat around the country lanes yesterday evening, strange 'crunching' sort of noise then rear wheel locks solid. Skid sideways up road at x mph (where x is a large number), pull in clutch, coast to side of road.

Manage to get into neutral (so gearbox not seized) but ominous 'dead' click when pressing starter (only the once....)

2 hour wait for recovery (at least it didn't rain)

I'm not very technical (understatment) so what's gone wrong ? Belt snapped ? Piston ring(s) ?

Answers on a postcard please

:o Crunching noises not good....

Best bet is to whip the belt cover inspection plates off to see if the belts are in tact.

If so, try putting it in gear (2nd/3rd) and spinning the rear wheel to see if the pistons are free in the bores (not seized).

Then have a look at the state of the oil. Filler cap off and lean the biek over towards you. Use some kind of dibber to get a bit of oil and run it between your fingers. Any grit?

Further than that and you'll need to drain the oil. Might be worth doing so and whipping the l/h crankcase off to check alternator etc.

Good luck! If it has gone tits-up then it could be a good time for a 944 or Testarossa heads! :D

Cheers,

ali

Ohh No...

Gutted for you BC.

Could be crank or the dreaded alternator lock nut maybe????

Time to find a good local Ducati expert me thinks.

Good luck - Frank

Thanks for the comments chaps

I get the SPS back from Baines Racing tomorrow - looks like the SL will be taking it's place in the workshop....

Now, where are those mortgage application forms ......

Sorry to hear the bad news :( Hopefully it wont be as bad as it sounded .

Update for anyone interested

Well, it WAS as bad as it sounded. Baines Racing have stripped the engine and one of the high comp pistons has broken up and taken the engine with it.

So a used (but lower mileage) standard 900 engine is going in.

You've got to laugh haven't you !

Damn , thats bad luck :(

Bugger!!!

Any idea what caused it, are you just having bad luck mate, how many miles has the bike done should we Superlight owners worry??:puzzled:

Sorry to here about the bad news I have been watching this post for some days, hope you manage to get it sorted.

Regards
Pete

Damn, thats bad luck.

Not heard of this before on an SL - hope it isnt a common fault.

SOunded like good leverage for some upgrades though!!!

Good luck - Frank

Thanks again for the comments chaps.

I'm not desparately upset about it and I don't think other SL owners need worry. The old girl had more than 28000 miles on her and had been fitted from new with high compression pistons and other engine / suspension mods and had been used, erm, 'enthusiastically' by the owner.

I've no complaints, these things happen sometimes to higher mileage Dukes.

Baines are fitting a fully serviced (but standard) 904 engine so I'm sure it'll be good as new when I see it again.

So you're a happy bunny again then, Beancounter? :sing::sing:

Again ?

Phew, I was nearly selling mine to you then BC if impending doom was on the way, but should have another 17K miles of pleasure before I hit 28K :lol: on my current rate of use thats about 8 years away:D
Glad you are getting it sorted mate, mind you red uns are more reliable as well as faster ;););)

Cheers
Ian

[Edited on 22-4-2005 by Ian900SLV]

:lol::lol::lol:

Don't worry about it. Most Beancounters are flatliners, in my experience. ;)

Ian, I still want your red one !

Ruth, what's a flatliner ? should I be worried ?

p.s. I saw the destroyed engine at Baines Racing on Saturday morning - what a mess ! Piston, barrel, valves, even crankcases totalled. Yugh.

strange...

I personally know of several carbed 944HC kits in the US that have over 30-40,000 hard miles on them each with no problems. one guy recently upped it to the BCM 966HC kit because the 944HC kit was so rock solid. It's a beast!

You said that the HC piston etc. was all broken up. Did they look into what caused this? Wish/hope they can find the root cause.

[Edited on 28-4-2005 by edwyun]

Sorry to hear this BC.

I had to replace my engine on the 900SS so am feeling for you. Knowing the approximate price for a second-hand engine I'm not surprised that you aren't too pi$$ed off - certainly cheaper than a service for a 4V motor!

"enthusiasticly ridden" :o

Humpf :puzzled:

erm......it wasn't an insult mate !

Don't suppose you'll be wanting this season's upgrades then? ;)

Hmmmmmm....was thinking about those !

I would still like the bits but you can imagine I've spent a fortune recently.

Let me have a little think - maybe I'll have the discs and the oil temp kit, but not the wheel or the carbon ?

Damn....wanted the wheel though...

No problem, let me know. :frog:

Anay Marchi's going by any chance :puzzled:

Only a rear Frank (couldn't get a front)

3 spoke in gold, very nice

If I decide not to have it I guess Lee could let you know ?

Oh yes, nice and gold too! :D

Here is my lonely front Marchi....



Frank

Frank, do you want the 3 spoke rear to go with your 5 spoke front, or do you want to offload the front ?

Not much point us having one wheel each !