woo hoo ... now I have a 375cc single!
 

Just when I was thinking all was well in my world, I find myself riding 25 miles back last night mostly on one cylinder. Was reluctant to fire on both when I started it and a quick check of the exhaust temperatures confirmed the then front one was not firing (often). It did start to clear after a while but kept cutting out.

Now, having checked the connector on the fornt coil only a couple of weeks ago and sprayed silcone stuff in it (Wurth), and checked on the road last night to make sure the connector was pushed together - not that I can get to it easily because I have a modified V piece that covers it - I am not sure what I am expecting to find. I guess removing the coil and cleaning refittingwould be a first move. Are these blighters expensive (and usulaly in stock)?

[Edited on 6-5-2005 by HW]

If your bikes under warranty they'll be replaced FOC Henry.

Have you had them swapped already? or is this the first time? reason I ask is there is a new version of coil now which should fix the problem, so far so good on mine anyways.

what bike is that a 649 :lol::lol:

Hope that it is sorted quickly

This is the first time. Does this sound like the symptoms everyone else is experiencing?

I am just going to go and see if there is anything obviously amiss, and if not then I will get on the blower to Italia.

I asked before if the pic I posted was of the coil (to confirm what everyone was on about) and it was you who said it was. But ... how do I tell a new type from an old type and if it's the connector doesn't that mean a wiring change too? My bike was registered Oct 2003 (18 months old), so does that mean it definately has the old type?

Oh .. I meant to add ... at least the 20A fuse didn't blow last night. One problem at a time, form an orderly queue please!

[Edited on 6-5-2005 by HW]

Ok .. did I mention that maths was not my strong point?

Make that a 375 then.

Well mine's an 04 and that had the old type, so I say you have them too, to be honest I haven't really looked at the difference, the only thing I have noticed was the cable was different.

Like you say though you could just try reseating all of the connections, when I was at JHP on Tuesday they put some grease around the plug cap on the front pot while I was there also and sprayed it up with silicone also, I guess to be on the safe side.

As I'm a very kind chap & allways wanting to help out DSC'ers. I'll take your machine off you hands in exchange for this 325 single I picked up in Goa last week.

[Edited on 6-5-2005 by 748mart]

HW... Try Ducati leeds... £110 for the new coil if they have got one in stock.... Think i might have had the last one but give them a go 01274 591620 speak to John....

Good luck mate :cool:

I think I'll pass on the exchange for the 325 single ... at the moment. :)

This is the state of my coil - is it supposed to be an insulating material under that crud or is it metal? Looks like it's jus come off the Titanic!

Very wet in there too.

Hopefully I would get it on warranty anyway. Bike is not that old.

Bit of a bugger ... I will contact local dealer in a moment and pray because I was going to come to Congleton on Sunday and I also have a track day at Cadwell on Monday

:(

I'd say that's fooked Henry

Don't beat about the bush do you mate! Let a bloke down gently ....

:P

I think I'll clean it up, dry it and see how it goes. Trying to get hold of part dept at Italia now. :sniff:

[Edited on 6-5-2005 by HW]

That looks very similar to Deeseereds knackered coil DL showed me last week...

take your camera and post a pic of differences between old useless one and modified version please. is it possible to get this kind of stuff posted onto the technical area of site??

I don't, nay can't do subtle ask Lily :D

I will, on Sunday. :eureka:

It lives anyway. Cleaned with WD40 (for cleaning purposes before Shazaam pounces on me about that!), and then a rag down the hole (left the spark plug in place) ... it came out covered in rusty crud. Sprayed some Wurth Silicone stuff in and then cleaned the connector the same way.

Starts and idles fine, and goes like the clappers (scared a few pheasants half to death)

Not sure whether I should still be hassleing Italia for a new one or not. It is obviously very corroded, and if there is a new type then I should really have one. (always got to have the latest thing!)
:D

I agree that we should have stuff posted on the technical section.



[Edited on 6-5-2005 by HW]

Glad it's working, I'd be tempted to give it a good ride for 30 mins to an hour, or maybe just leave it running for a good while, mine starting breaking down after it was really hot....

Might be worth cleaning the plug as I am sure it's probably fouled up a bit with not firing etc also.

Good point. The only reason I didn't take the plug out was because I couldn't see down the hole. With the colour of the rag when I ran it down the hole I was concerned about possibility of pushing crud into the hole when I put the plug back in.

Just spoke to Italia. If it fails then they will replace under warranty. Water ingress and corrossion is not something he seemed concerned about if it is still working. I am going to take it for a run this evening, and again tomorrow, and if it still causes grief after being cleaned up then they will replace it. Either way, I should be fit and on the road for Sunday and Monday.

I am thinking that if even with the modified V piece in front of it it gets that much water in there, then prehaps some kind of flap over it to keep the crap out might be in order.

Cheers for the advice guys.

Being from Electrical background, I'd say that the R&D department in Ducati were probably on half term when the coil was designed, or perhaps they just waved it through with a half hearted glance at the material.

No doubt someone will advise as to why the following won't work (Shazaam or even KeefyB super spark:D)
as with lots of transformer and motor windings (which are subject to high temp), why not put a liberall coating of Shelac on the plug pack (coils) before replacing them in the hole?:eureka:

or would that rob the manufacturer of repeat business?

FYI - AA geezers have a habit of carrying three different types of the same plug packs for Renault, Audi/VW, and some other vehicle I can't remember the name of. Apparently Renault have the same problem with their system.

What took you so long Alan?

I see Henry has joined the OSC :lol:

Yeah I thought I would use it for a day or two as Alan was kind enough to send it. :)

You'll know if it's all working OK if I turn up on Sunday lunchtime.

Actually, I will probably have moaned on about it some more here before that anyway! :sing:

Was wondering why the hell that sleeve is not stainless? I smeared red rubber grease around the o-ring in the hope of keeping water out but I think regular preventative maintenance will be the answer for the future.

Been for a ride this evening for about an hour and all seems fine. It's business as usual again I think.

:sing::burn:

Popped into Ducati Bristol this afternoon to pick up some fairing decals and an oil filter, and, having read loads on here about the new bikes cutting out on the front cylinder, I had a look at a couple. Amazed that all that electrickery is so exposed! Why can't the vee piece cover it up, like it does on the 748/996? I know the old bikes have a (fairly) similar set-up, but I've not heard too many problems with misfires on them. Certainly never any coil-related probs on either my 748 or 750SS.

Can't see that the new bikes woiuld ever be satisfactory for an all-year-round, park-it-out-in-the-rain kinda guy like me.:(

I put a Casoli carbon V piece on fairly early on which is modified to cover the coil. THe std one has a convenient cut out to let the water spray off the front wheel straight in there. Almost as if they had a test bike with that on to allow them to get to the coil and thought it was a good idea to make them all like that!

Trouble is ... water has still got down past the seal and the sleeve has got corroded. When I took the plug out the outside was soked in rusty crud. Surprising really as it was serviced in Oct last year and garaged over the winter. Must be from me cleaning it ... I shall have to be more carefful where I point the hose in future (don't use pressure washer before you ask) and clean it occassionally.