I hate mysteries.

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nervous

Original Poster:

24,050 posts

230 months

Friday 30th September 2016
quotequote all
Hello you lot,

My bike is being a st head. Can someone help me, please?

I rode out to a mates the other night on my Ducati and when I came back to the bike a few hours later it wouldn't start. When you turned the key it would power up and you could hear the fuel pump priming but it was just clicking, you know- like you get when the batteries dead, even tho it was showing 12.2. I popped it on charge over night but still wouldn't start so I went and got a new battery and fitted that.

That didn't work.

So, I took the fairings off and noticed that it is what I think of as the starter solenoid but what Ducati call the start contactor which is loudly clicking so after I tried tapping it as you would with any other relay type thing, I eventually track one down at a Ducati dealer who for the bargain price of 60 quid sends me a new 3 quid part.

Here's where it gets annoying. I just fitted it and the bike started. Hooray, right? No. No hooray. Because, paranoid creature that I am, I then turned the bike off and turned it back on again and we're back to the clicking. And the no starting.

What's happening please? I don't understand. Can anyone suggest to me what on earth is going on here please?

Hope you're all well by the way. What lovely weather etc we'be been having etc.

Ok enough of the pleasantries. Can some one fix my bike now please ? Thanks.

moto_traxport

4,237 posts

221 months

Friday 30th September 2016
quotequote all
You could buy it a new battery or keep purchasing other £3 parts until eventutally it's not even a Ducati any more.

moto_traxport

4,237 posts

221 months

Friday 30th September 2016
quotequote all
Apparently they are hard to start due to the high compression so ordering some dished pistons or extra thick head gaskets might work?

moto_traxport

4,237 posts

221 months

Friday 30th September 2016
quotequote all
Or, more seriously, corroded earth wire / connection?

Superhoop

4,677 posts

193 months

Friday 30th September 2016
quotequote all
I was going to tell you about the random cutting out when taking left handers on my 848 Evo, and how there were two relays next to each other by the battery, and replacing both cured my issues.... Then I looked at your profile and saw you had a Desmo and realised my answer was not worthy!!

nervous

Original Poster:

24,050 posts

230 months

Friday 30th September 2016
quotequote all
Superhoop said:
I was going to tell you about the random cutting out when taking left handers on my 848 Evo, and how there were two relays next to each other by the battery, and replacing both cured my issues.... Then I looked at your profile and saw you had a Desmo and realised my answer was not worthy!!
I've had exactly that issue on my previous Ducatis- especially the 1098 which is the same arrangement as your 848- and as a result it's the first thing I tried. Sadly, it's not that. Thanks for the thought though, it's greatly appreciated.

And I don't own it. I'm just keeping it clean for the bank manager.

nervous

Original Poster:

24,050 posts

230 months

Friday 30th September 2016
quotequote all
moto_traxport said:
Or, more seriously, corroded earth wire / connection?
That's what I thought too but it all looks fine. Thanks for the suggestion tho. I appreciate it.

nervous

Original Poster:

24,050 posts

230 months

Friday 30th September 2016
quotequote all
I don't believe this. After typing all of that I've just discovered that the connection to the starter motor looked connected but was actually not (the boot was covering it). It's only bloody running. I never ever ever get this lucky with this sort of thing. I must be about to get flying AIDs or something. Must be.

Jazzy Jag

3,422 posts

91 months

Friday 30th September 2016
quotequote all
two of my mates had a 916 and 600 monster and had similar problems after trying to restart following a fuel/fag stop.

Both had fried voltage regulators which caused subsequential damage to battery and other bits

nervous

Original Poster:

24,050 posts

230 months

Friday 30th September 2016
quotequote all
Jazzy Jag said:
two of my mates had a 916 and 600 monster and had similar problems after trying to restart following a fuel/fag stop.

Both had fried voltage regulators which caused subsequential damage to battery and other bits
My last two 1098s did exactly this. Evil bd things.

I can't believe all I needed to solve this problem was get thoroughly depressed, use all my biggest swears, come here and beg for help thereby making myself look even more of an idiot and also be a lot more diligent in my checking. Seems simple now I've done it.

bd. Thanks for your help everyone. I'm so relieved. For now.

crofty1984

15,858 posts

204 months

Friday 30th September 2016
quotequote all
Have you tried not buying Italian bikes?
Anyway, is there a way to shove a screwdriver across the big contacts of the starter relay? If it turns over at least you know it's not the starter.
I think I have a spare relay in the garage you're welcome to. It's not a duck part but I don't know if you could bodge it in temporarily for diagnostic purposes.

crofty1984

15,858 posts

204 months

Friday 30th September 2016
quotequote all
nervous said:
I don't believe this. After typing all of that I've just discovered that the connection to the starter motor looked connected but was actually not (the boot was covering it). It's only bloody running. I never ever ever get this lucky with this sort of thing. I must be about to get flying AIDs or something. Must be.
Oh look, reading!

nervous

Original Poster:

24,050 posts

230 months

Friday 30th September 2016
quotequote all
THIS is why I pay you the big bucks.

Wedg1e

26,801 posts

265 months

Saturday 1st October 2016
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Maybe you'd be better off with something reliable, like a Deauville.

nervous

Original Poster:

24,050 posts

230 months

Saturday 1st October 2016
quotequote all
Wedg1e said:
Maybe you'd be better off with something reliable, like a Deauville.
Yeah? Well, maybe you should shut your face. Did you ever think about that? Hmm?

That's right, Wedg1e-Man. I AM dangerous.

crofty1984

15,858 posts

204 months

Saturday 1st October 2016
quotequote all
nervous said:
Yeah? Well, maybe you should shut your face. Did you ever think about that? Hmm?

That's right, Wedg1e-Man. I AM dangerous.
Nervous am. The one. Who knocks.

Anyway, paying me big books is no good, have you ever tried to trade an Encyclopedia Britannica in against a motorbike?

nervous

Original Poster:

24,050 posts

230 months

Saturday 1st October 2016
quotequote all
crofty1984 said:
Nervous am. The one. Who knocks.

Anyway, paying me big books is no good, have you ever tried to trade an Encyclopedia Britannica in against a motorbike?
It'd probably leak less in my fking van, mind.

Wedg1e

26,801 posts

265 months

Sunday 2nd October 2016
quotequote all
nervous said:
Yeah? Well, maybe you should shut your face. Did you ever think about that? Hmm?

That's right, Wedg1e-Man. I AM dangerous.
You don't scare me, I've seen the shirts you wear.

Y'see, I'm like an elephant, I never forget a shirt.

crofty1984

15,858 posts

204 months

Sunday 2nd October 2016
quotequote all
nervous said:
It'd probably leak less in my fking van, mind.
Is that the van with the mattress in the back?

nervous

Original Poster:

24,050 posts

230 months

Sunday 2nd October 2016
quotequote all
Wedg1e said:
You don't scare me, I've seen the shirts you wear.

Y'see, I'm like an elephant, I never forget a shirt.
Blimey. That is quite the memory. thumbup