Hi from Manchester. Only been biking for a short time and couldn't resist what looked to be a decent 1998 ST2. Slave cylinder failed on the ride home but managed to limp back. Oberon unit fitted but hasn't fully solved the problem so new hose and decent master cylinder ordered. Next ride out the rear brake pedal fell off, found it but pivot pin lost so new one ordered. Was a pretty slow starter but failed to start yesterday so have done all the checks and the starter motor is goosed :-( .......... Ah well at least I'll get to know the bike petty well as I do almost all my own repairs and maintenance and I really enjoy the ride....When it goes !
One job at a time mate and when it's sorted u will fall in love the good thing is that parts are readily available for most models and there is a ton of specialist knowledge around. It is however one of those bikes where one little issue turns into 3 if left!
There is a possibly useful list of known ST2/ST4 problems here: Common problems, symptoms and remedies - DucatiWiki Slave cylinder is definitely a case of "they all do that, Sir" - and that applies to Ducatis, not just STs. Interestingly there is some mention of starting problems, but not the starter motor itself, more the question of getting power through to it via sidestand cut-out etc. On a positive note, the old air-cooled engines of that era are quite solid (although I don't know whether the "oil galley plug back-out" problem can apply) and I don't see any mention of leaking fuel tanks!
Thats right, if you need parts just look on the side of the road, various self ejecting items can be readily found.
Bits fall off now and again. I just lost my brake lever toe piece. Invest in thread lock. Its all part of the fun.
Everything you have found are pretty typical faults, but don't worry, that's about as bad as it gets. Is the starter motor definitely shot? I suspected mine when I bought my 900 ss ie, but it turned out to be a poor earth to the engine. Where the negative lead connects to the engine there is a little tiny point where it attaches to the engine. This point also itself screws into the engine (it's like a bolt with a stud on it) so it's worth unscrewing that, cleaning it, putting it back with silicone grease, then cleaning up the earth lead and the seat on its earthing point. With a fully charged battery it might be the cause. Even hot my SS churns over strongly after that. A Motobatt battery also helps. Leaking tanks depend on model, the Ss tanks are steel and provided there is no water in the they last well, the ST2 tanks I believe are plastic. I believe you can buy a kit to replace the brushes on the starter motor, but it's a fiddly birth of a job. The air cooked (pantah) engines are extremely strong and very reliable. Whilst not immune, they font suffer from the gallery plugs backing out, or the clutch nut bs king off as much as the 4v engines.
hi. "Only been biking for a short time" realistically means that should you have bought any bike in the st2 price bracket that the learning curve you are now going through, will have happened with any bike and trust me theres a lot worse you could have bought for the same money. so congratulations on the st2,theyre a very misplaced model nowadays,a hidden gem for the money and well worth getting to know. as for the faults i should imagine previous owner had the clutch slave problem and re bled it and sold it on,it doesnt just happen over one night. the oberon is the standard fix and most will have it on. due to the clutch slave i imagine the bike hasnt been used regurly and this has allowed the battery to lose its puff n stuff,just take it off and give it a proper full charge,when fitting back its a good idea to make up an external socket connection to it so battery can be charged and charge rate monitored,without taking the fairing apart. a good thing to keep eye out for is a "12v oil change pump",cheapo one off ebay is good enough,thisll also make it easy to do oil changes without a fairing strip,makes for a less laborious job which keeps up the inclination to actually do it. bits falling off your bike isnt a bikes fault,if its your bike then its your fault. its a very simple motorcycle and youll find it becomes very easy to know its entire workings,quite quickly,just take one step at a time.. atb n good luck.
New starter fitted, 996R master cylinder and lever fitted along with new braided hose and new slave cylinder.....Felt better but not right so clutch cover off to find plates badly worn and bearings knackered along with pushrod. New bearings and plates ordered and I'm looking for a pushrod.....Should have a running bike soon ......And not to forget the pivot pin....Sorted.
