Throttle blocked at full throttle - CRASH
 

Hi all,

2 weeks ago i suffered a crash with my 1995 916 biposto... while accelerating from a stand still to 1st, 2nd gear at maximum and then 3rd i noticed the bike was still accelerating although i returned the twist grip back to its normal position. I tried to unblock it, but finally i crashed on the right side, bike sliding for 50 meters while at full throttle till it finally stopped after 20 secs. The clutch was completely damaged, but the bike started at first key... throttle came to normal again....

since then i really don;t know what happend and why the throttle remained blocked at max. the first thing i thought was the cable being to loose. I replaced the cable and the twist grip assembley, but i'm still curious if this is really the problem. Checking on the net i found this:

__________________________________________
Ducati North America, Inc.

Model: Ducati 916 Years: 1994-1995

Number Involved: 1,316
Dates of Manufacture: Not yet available
NHTSA Recall No.: 97V221
Vehicle Description: Motorcycles.
Description of Defect: The throttle control linkage pin was not lubricated properly.
Consequence of Defect: The engine throttle can bind and not return to proper idle.
Corrective Action: Dealers will lubricate the throttle control linkage pin using grease containing molybdenum disulphide.
Owner Notification: Owner notification schedule has not yet been provided.
Note: Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ducati at 1-973-839-2600.
_______________________________________________

Does anybody have any idea about this notification, is it real and what exactly does it reffer to?

Has anybody experienced this problem before?

Regards
Cipi

Flicking the kill switch may have helped???

Not much help now I agree.

Know that, but i still hoped throttle will come back again

Anyway, what is the throttle control linkage pin?

And what could have caused the blockage, that's the main question i have now

regards,

not a lot of help, but on a bike that old it could have been many different things, i would check through the entire throttle system, throttle, cables, throttle bodies and all linkages.

If you've replaced the throttle cables and it now works as it should - I would say that is your answer.

That would have been my first guess. Even when cables seem OK, the throttle won't return, and just by fitting new ones, the throttle snaps shut.

If it works ok now, I would say you've cracked it.

Just check it and lube the cables regularly, and you know what to do if it happens again.

:)

I had the throttle stick open on my 996 (99 year) last year, with fortunately less severe consequences.
Mine was to do with the linkage between the front and rear cylinders, result was that when I shut the throttle, the cable returned ok but just hung slack and the throttles stayed wide open..
Cheers
Martin

That would scare the 'kack' out of me and every time I rode the bike again untill I was 100% satisified the fault was understood and sorted!

I remembered posting a link for UK recalls - so I had a hunt about and there appears to have been a recall for this in the UK, link here:

http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/apps/rec...6BB9002691 B7

and the details:
================================================== ====
Vehicle Recall Details

Reference : RM/95/004
Manufacturer Ref :
Make: DUCATI
Model : 916 and 748
Launch Date : 03/08/1995
Numbers Involved : 228
Build Start Date :
Build End Date :



Details

Concern : THROTTLE MAY STICK IN OPEN POSITION

Description : The teflon bushing may slide out of the throttle cable housing and allow the throttle to stick in the open or partially open condition.

Remedial Action : Recall the affected machines and replace the original throttle cable with a quality assured example.
Vehicle Id : From 005054 (916)
From 001238 (748)

================================================== ====

Perhaps dropping a line to Ducati UK with your details might be worthwhile - to see if there has been any updates (if nothing else).

Good luck - Frank

When you picked the bike up off of the floor, was the throttle still stuck open?

The strange thing it's the bike ran on the right side at full throttel till it suddenly stopped (probably lack of gasoline?). I raised it up to vertical position and started and throttel cable returned to normal!!!!

I really don't understand... cable was indeed loose (by pressing the small button to hold it accelerated did absolutely nothing), but can the losse cable get tight somewhere in the twist grip location and produce this thing?

@urban996: The linkage sticked like that at the wide open position? How did you fixed it, lubrication?

Just one thing: After stopping the bike the linkage returned to it's normal position? Before fixing it it looked like it was jammed?

I tell you why, mine seems to operate completely normal, both springs and linkage rod are in perfect condition and nothing seems to squeek or be at lista bit jammed...

@andyb: I stood for a while and really thought about the whole thing. Cable was really loose (details bellow). I accelerated into 2nd till max and while turning the throtlle at max i felt something like a click or i don't know in my right hand. then the throtle became blocked and stayed like that while the bike flipped on the right side, slipped for 50 meters, ran for a few seconds till it stopped. somebody helpped me put the bike up and on the sidestand and then i started it just as a test... and everything was back to normal...

Please give me any idea, i know i replaced the cable, but i'm still afraid as Iconic 944 said that it can be something else...

By the way, is there any difference between a 1995 916 and a 2000 748 both bipostos throttle / injector body assembly?(including all rods, injectors, TPS etc)

[Edited on 11-4-2006 by CipiVTS]

Yes, the linkage itself was stuck, the throttle cable was fine (I bought a replacement but never needed to fit it). I spoke to Nelly, he suggested tweaking the white nylon adjustor nut on the linkaga near the rear cylinder, said sometimes it moves slightly and catches, and I also sprayed a ton of WD40 in thers at the springs etc and worked the throttle back and forward. In my it only stuck when it was more than half way open - either something was catching at full throttle opening, or the return springs/linkage were crudded up. Eventually it freed itself and hasn't been a problem since.
Good luck
Martin

this is exactly the type of thing that would make me sell the bike that day... personally if a bike did that to me i'd have toreplace the whole throttle mechanism etc, or simply sell it.

crash
 

dont like to upset u further after the crash but if the bike has been on its side, and revving its nads off, expect the main bearings to be shagged after a few more miles!

Hi,surely as the mains are only splash fed ,they would survive a short run on the side.The bigends however being presure fed,wouldn't like being run on air,however as the oil pickup is on the righthand side,there's still a chance that there was enough oil covering the pickup to supply the oilpump.Still fingers crossed! Steve.

The same thing happened to me when riding back from picking up my brand new 748. I blipped the trottle to change down as I filtered through heavy traffic and it stayed open:o

How long does it usually take for symptoms of damaged bearings appear?

Had a partial throttle stuck crossing to Germany last year, the inner plastic of the throttle cable, the plastic sort of shroud, had a broken piece of about 1 cm and this slid around the cam on full throttle, effectively putting strain on the cable as if throttle partially open.

Was not until I closed the throttle that I noticed a perfect 85 mph on level road cruise control, soon hit the rev limiter if you pulled clutch in...lol

Took a few mins to find and sort at side of Autobahn !!

Reminds me ........Nelly new throttle cable !!

:sing:

Cipi

If it makes you feel any better it's not just a ducati that can do this to you.

A few years ago I was offered a go on a triumph 955 which I declined as I only had tpf&t and the bike was nearly new. Several miles down the road the owner and bike stopped at a T junction. As he accelerated away the throttle stuck open and he went straight on into a stone wall and wrote the bike off.

Lucky escape for me? You bet:D:lol:

main bearings
 

It was about 1000 miles after my bike had been on its side the dreaded washing machine sound could be heard, and after strip down the left hand side main bearing was absolutely knackered, i believe Old Yella has had this happen also!

Hope this won't happend. I changed the oil since then and did only 100km. Are there any signs of damaged bearings in the oil.? Mine looked normal (had 3000 km)

thanks

dave, think this was the problem in my case as well. I changed the cable immediately and all the throttle assembly just to be sure.

From now on i'll make sure to keep the cable freeplay within standard limits..

Yep, same as Chris but RHS.

Laid it down at Hall Bends and didnt turn it off straight away as I was looking to get back on and go but must have been horizontal for too long and burnt the bearings out, found lumps of the fibre bearing runner in the oil pump housing after it started knocking its tits off two weeks later :(

I did only 200 km since then and it's still ok. I will wait for it to happen...

is there anything i can do to trace this (appart from stripping the engine) ?

What are the damaged parts after such an incident? and what are the costs?

regards

You can drop the oil and check for bits of fibre bearing runner in it, you will know it when you see it, and also flakes of bearing and shell where they are being pummelled to bits, if the oils not that old and theres no bits in it then strain it to be sure and put it back in and buy a lottery ticket - in fact buy me one too ;) , I used to change every 1500 miles anyway on the road or three trackdays on track.

Damage to me was the main bearings but while it was apart I replaced every bearing in the engine and gearbox, might as well while its apart I believe.

The full set of bearings aint cheap and neither is the head gasket set and seals as its worth replacing the seals/o-rings while its apart too.

If you do the work yourself it will be cheaper but if you have an expert to oversee the work then its easier than struggling like a gimp without the knowledge of how to do the squish and shim the crank and gearbox shafts.
The man knows who he is that I owe for this, big time!
Then theres the time off work, the lost income, it would probably work out cheaper to have the engine rebuilt by someone who knows what there doing AKA Cornerspeed if your near enough or any of the other shops that look after DSC members bikes and are recommended on here.

This is obviously worst case scenario, but from experience, Ducatis dont like running while there on their sides, sorry.

Laid in a pile with the bike 20 yards away and a bang on the head dont help :P

And you cant spell either, its ****ed :lol:

Had it happen to me once - in a race at Snetterton, no explanation, couldn't find a fault, never happened before or since.
Made the end of Revetts straight interesting I can tell you :lol: Couldn't locate the kill switch quick enough for my liking.

Hi,

1000km after the fell on the right side i think the problems appeared.

After riding ~200km today at speeds ~150-200kmh i have 2 problems:

1. After 2-3 km at 200+ kmh the clutch lever went completely dead. I had to pump it a couple of times to make it functional. After riding for a few more km it went again dead. I had to stop ena bleed it. Put some more fluid, and the lever started operating as normal. 10 more kilometers later it went dead again (releases only very close to handlebar). What could it be?

2. while aproaching home and riding at slow speeds because of the clutch thing i heard a rattling sound coming from left/bellow the tank while accelerating. I stopped and revved it at idle, but i could hear the sound any more. It can be heard only while riding and only when accelerating. I can compare the sound to the one of the sewing machine... Is it the bearings??

The oil pressure light didn't lit up yet...

:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(

HELP

Sounds like the slave cylender is leaking mate !

As for engine noise I have no idea !!!!

Cylinder is not leaking, i checked it. Also i have the newer model type of cylinder.

Still no answer on the noise thing... HELP:borg:

doesnt sound good mate, its a common problem on most bikes

a mate dropped his r6 leaving a pub car park ( sober i add ) and sat on the floor laughing ( we all joined in ) he picked it up and carried on. 200 ,iles later his bottom end went whilst cruising on a dual carriageway, he wasnt laughing then

hope you get it sorted,wheres your nearest ducati dealer and how bigs your credit card

Hi guys,

I removed the clutch, checked the pressure plate bearing and it moves freely and ok .So it might be the poor quality fluid i have used. Can anybody explain how to properly flush the hydraulic fluid from the clutch system \??


For the other noise, i removed all the plates from the basket in order to hear something at idle (it'so fooking loud). With the plates removed i could still hear the mettalic sound that scared me before. After checking i found the primary driven gear was missing 2 teeth.

I replace it with a used one just to start it again and check for additional sounds, till i will have the chance to order the set of gears.

Nop other sound yet, how do the big end bearings gone sound like???


As i know 916 is running 2:1 primary drive ratio (31/62 gears). Can i fit the 996 32/59 ones cause i heard the 2:1 ratio makes the same teeth fall in the same place every time straining the gears and finally breaking them.

Will the 996 ones fit? What would be the benefit? What are the cons?

Regards

Are you running a foam over-mouth filter in the air-box?

I had the same thing happen at the end of Pembrey Straight. I Hit braking marker fine, bike kept accelerating. Ran out of bend, then ran out of run-off.

The JHP filter I had in the air-box had broken down and jammed the butterfly wide open.

No, i used to in the past, but i switched to BMC side ones this year. Thanks anyway