Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > Supersports: SS / SuperSport / Supersport 950 > stiff crutch

[stephen hall]

My 900 ss 94 has done 19,000 miles now and apart from a little off at rockingham, my fault, Only cosmetic damage, has not given any serious probs. she tick,s over a nicely and goes like stink when given the berries. The clutch however has just started to squeak when the engine is fully warmed up and there is a noticable although very slight resistence to going into gear, just a bit stiff really. the tangs are over the max and have been for ages. never troubled up to now just rattles a lot. The rear shock aint been touched since new but has been adjusted quite a bit, I like to play around with it. The handling is a bit off noticed on track days ect so what would be advised to get her back up to top notch and would any expense be worth it. I could let it go and get something else? it is mostly used for track days and i do notice the lack of power she aint ever going to keep up with some of the newer stuff but can i get the handling right up there i.e. service/ replace the rear shock have the forks worked on, manxton recon they is to stiff on there web site what is the advise let it go spend on her? I have the interest and a love of the old girl but dont want to spend shed loads and never get it handling top notch. I also have a 916 sps which i got set up by francis williamson, if you know him then you know he knows his stuff and before he sorted it out it was like riding a bouncy castle so shall i do the 900 as a project any ideas advice would be greatfully appreciated .thanks scratching his bonce Steve of Gosport....

[Steve M]

I put a Maxton rear spring on mine and it made it loads better.
As for the performance, I find that while the bike feels plenty quick enough (for me) on the road, on the track it feels slow. At Cadwell the DD 600's weren't all that much slower on the straights, if I only used 7000 rpm it was about the same and although revving it to 8500/9000 it would go past fairly easy , the 99* bikes still flew past. Also while is steers and handles well, it is much harder work that the newer bikes. If I were you and doing lots of TD's I'd get a 99* (which is just what I'm thinking of doing - or an S4R)

[Derek]

Check the bearing in the pressure plate. That could be causing the squeek and may also be the cause of clutch drag. If it is seizing it will cause the pushrod to spin with the clutch, which will in turn spin the slave cylinder piston, then the seals will go.

[Loz]

A wet crutch, if allowed to get dry, will end up stiff and uncomfortable.






I'll get me coat.