About 3 months ago my dash cracked for no reason,it wasn't hit or anything like that. A crack just formed and it just stayed as one.went out today and parked the bike up when back home,no new cracks when I last looked. went out about 3 hours later to find new cracks and some very small ones starting. Only thing I van think of is the heat???? Anyone seen this before????
it is frustrating and it happens across many models without apparent reason but (as you guessed) it is the effects of expansion and contraction on a fairly brittle substance over time. Would you say bike is exposed to particular extremes of temperature just recently?
And that there is your answer. Double bubbles act as magnifying glass and cause the clocks to either crack or melt. Or both. And with the weather as its been this past week this is the end result. I've mentioned this problem on a number of occasions before on here.
Mine developed a small crack whilst touring in Spain on a very hot day. I don't have a DB screen so just heat can do it. My aprilia actually melted the plastic on the corner of the clocks with a DB screen so they do make it worse.
My D16 cracked a couple of months ago, fine when I put bike away, cracked next morning. Managed to get a second hand case, six screws hold the case together, then small screws inside hold dash unit in place. Sadly you can't get the acrylic out of the front case to repair.
shocking this is.now that I know what it is im not too concerned but still pretty crap aint it.do the standard screens cause this too???
I'm not sure i believe the double bubble theory to be honest. Other causes have been given as type of cleaner used etc. when mine went it wasn't after a particularly hot sunny day. Spoke to JHP and they've had a number do it.
I've seen the double bubble crack/melt clocks for years now. My ex-next door neighbour had it happen to him twice.
I still don't think there's definitive proof. You're neighbour had a DB fitted, his screen cracked twice, can anyone prove that wouldn't have happened with a normal screen ? I find it hard to believe that in the UK a DB screen will focus the "awesome" power of the sun and cause the screen to overheat/crack. I've had a DB screen on my 998 for eleven years and all plastic/acrylic is fine. On the later 1198 the dash manufacturers changed the screen to flat where before it had a bend at the bottom, must have been a reason to go to the trouble of retooling to produce an item which otherwise looks identical. The acrylic is clearly stressed, and heating/cooling/vibration causes it to crack, my money is on cheap shite materials. Life is too short to do an experiment checking temp differences between DB and standard. Sadly the bottom line is they crack and can't be repaired only replaced. Hopefully mine wont crack again (the original lasted four years).I'll looking at whether you can cut out the acrylic, buy a CF cover, glaze that, and fit it over the top as sadly the acrylic is in a plastic sandwich on the dash case and so can't be removed should it happen again. Almost forgot, was also told they'll thicker acrylic in the later ones as well.
it is quite strange as it doesn't cracked while out in the sun,the cracks appear hours later after being parked in garage.steves description also sounds like its happened while in garage.
Yes, mine cracked overnight in the garage. I've no doubt its due to heating and cooling rather than vibration/potholes. I just had the one crack, rather than a number, so am inclined towards flaws in the material.
My dash also used to mist (as does the replacement ) don't know if this is a factor or not. The double bubble theory could be correct and worsen things. Who knows. The annoying thing, given that it is fairly common is that Ducati aren't interested. I contacted them and was basically told "out of warranty, speak to your dealer about buying a new dash". They should at least be able to supply replacement cases. I've contacted the dash manufacturers and will report back (not holding my breath)
The misting issue was covered by warranty (although I was told basically "they all do that, even when changed") the cracking would have also been covered but mine didn't go for over four years so can see they wouldn't be interested, although speaking to dealers its quite common. Annoying part is that the dash is fine, its purely an external screen.
mine also mists up,few more small cracks after todays rise.lol.ill not see anything it carrys on like this.
What about having some new fronts made up. The cost is all in the design and making of moulds etc but it can be done. A guy on one of the aprilia forums went that route after his cracked. He just needed decent numbers of takers to make it happen. A suprising number came out of the woodwork when asked. Even if they were £50 each that's still cheaper than clocks.
Mine seems different to yours Luke, as I ended up with just one horizontal crack which grew. Good call Spoonz, may be an option, but that is also why I've contacted the manufacturer in the hope they may be able to make some fronts. Also hence my idea to see if I can make something using the CF covers readily available, they're already the right shape etc, so combined with the original front may be able to make something up.
