600ss Timing/Idling/Clutch issue??!

Discussion in 'Supersport (1974-2007)' started by superdiscount, Aug 23, 2012.

  1. Hi All

    New to the thread so first of all, it's bloody nice to meet you all, hope your ducs are running ok and treating you well!

    I've recently purchased a 95 600ss which is a sweet little bike with loads of character and plenty of guts.

    First thing I did was bleed the clutch out and get that working properly..just hydraulics I guess.

    Now, I still have 2 issues.

    1) I can hardly ever find neutral at the best of times. (could be worse)

    2) After running the thing for five or ten minutes the motor insists on running at about 3,000 rpm when the vehicle is stationary (in first, no neutral) with the clutch in or, any gear for that matter I think. If I let the clutch out a teeny bit and find the biting point the revs drop ( I guess they would) and the bike returns to normal idle. Once the bike gets up to speed though it does not run well, I'm assuming because it's over revving itself again??! It feels very lumpy as if i have left the choke on full???!!

    The neutral problem has always been there. This morning I lubed up the joints between the left foot gear lever and the joint that actually goes into the side of the bike and took this but apart to do it. When I put that section on again it may have been slightly differently set but I can't imagine this would have affected it as all this does is select the gear.

    I'm wondoring if it's a clutch issue or a timing issue??!


    Any thoughts??!!!
     
    #1 superdiscount, Aug 23, 2012
    Last edited: Aug 23, 2012
  2. Hi good choice of bike. Finding neutral is shall we say is an acquired art. The clutch stack height is fairly crucial at 38mm.

    As for the fast idle problem it could be splits in the carb rubbers allowing air in where they shouldn't be.
     
  3. Hi and welcome to the forum

    My SS never had neutral apart from between gears :-/
    I always found it hard to get into neutral at a standstill try doing it before you stop

    Mine decided to rev at 3000 at a standstill like the choke was on it turned out to be valve stem seals

    They are fantastic bikes full of quirks
    Mirrors being one of them

    Have fun they make you grin
     
  4. Hmm sounds time consuming and expensive?! My kwaka never did this!!
     
  5. It cost me back in 2010
    £130 for that and my belts done at
    Motivation Gloucester
     
  6. Boring kwaka then :)
    This is the start of your love/hate Ducati relationship you didn't think it was going to be a walk in the park did you :)
    That's why we own one
     
  7. My lasting memory of my stepfather was his constant whingeing about how uncomfortable his old ducati was! Interestingly the 600ss is much more comfy than my kwaka and more importantly doesn't feel like it'll slide out from under me on the wrong bend. I can actually feel the road. Def. a superior machine just need to get these little niggles ironed out *reaches again for spanners and manual, checks balance on credit card*
     
  8. Welcome to the party ! Ducbird has pretty much summed it up, there are some annoying quirks with Ducs and you have just found some of the common ones, but you have also just written about the reason why the quirks are worth living with, they do handle beautifully ! Mine never find neutral either, getting the clutch perfect will help, but most owners will find neutral before the bike stops, it just becomes habit.
    Enjoy :upyeah:
     
  9. Hi,

    My bike does the same, after a few mins it revs to about 2.5-3k and i do as you do, pop it in gear and open the clutch a bit, always works and has done for the last few years.

    All part of the charm :upyeah:
     
  10. The finding neutral issue becomes easier over time, and as has been mentioned the "trick" is to pop it in to neutral just before you come to a stop. After a while it will become second nature.

    As Viv posted this is the start of the love/hate relationship that is Ducati ownership, but that's why we are here to offer words of comfort when it goes pear shaped.
     
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  11. Once your sorted they don't cost that much to run fool proof really
    I could never ride mine to it's full potential but she always felt planted and got me out of many scrapes
    Your only side affect will be trying to put it back in the garage without going round the block one more time :)

    Look out for the mirrors they like to view the Tarmac regularly
     
  12. On the left side of the bike if you look at the carb, you will see a small metal tag at the rear of the carb, just above the inlet manifold rubber.......operate the choke lever and you will see the tag go 'in'.......push the choke lever off, and the tag should come out....when it has, give it a small pull with a pair of pliers and see if it comes out a bit more.....

    .....if it does, then a couple of drips of WD40 should help......it is the connecting 'bar' between the two choke units on each carb.

    If you have a look from the right side, you can see the other end....again, a couple of drips where it is held on the carb......Also you can see the white nylon slider which the end of the choke cable goes in......the round bar this is on can also get grubby......WD40 again.

    While you are looking from the right, make sure the choke cable outer is clamped tightly.

    You could also try turning down the throttle stop screw (idle speed) a bit.....if it is too high, it can cause the idle to 'hang'.

    AL.
     
  13. Great Al this is good advice. Not sure where the carbs are am presuming I have to remove a cover somewhere?!

    Also idle screw...hmm not sure where is either. haynes manual arriving in post anytime soon !
     
    #13 superdiscount, Aug 24, 2012
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2012
  14. No need to remove anything....you can see the carbs on top of the inlet manifolds either side.

    PS...I don't trust Haynes manuals.......If you need the workshop manual and owners handbook, I have them uploaded for which you will need a link via a PM to me.
    AL
     
  15. I've found the carbs and the the choke cable. Does anybody know where the tickover screw is..(ish)!!
     
  16. Ok lie on your back with your head by the front cylinder and look up towards the tank.

    The idle speed screw is up between the carbs. You'll need a long screwdriver to reach up to make the adjustments
     
  17. Don't confuse the tickover screw with the carb balance screw......You can tell the diffrence because the carb balance screw is up much higher and difficult to see.....

    ....the tickover screw is roughly in line with the throttle cables and the balance screw isn't.

    Don't give the tickover screw too much alteration....you want an idle speed of say, 1000 - 1100 rpm.

    And......wear something non-melty with sleeves on if you are doing it on a hot and running engine.....I have got an effin huge scar on the underside of my forearm from a burn from the exhaust pipe.


    AL.
     
  18. Having the same high tickover issue with my 900SS... :mad:

    Had a fiddle with the idle before the probs, raised it a little when I got back after a ride - had to give it a few turns back and forth for the revs to change?? (In hindsight I SHOULD have blipped the throttle a few times to settle the carbs, I was in a hurry to shut the bike down again before the neighbours shot me. :biggrin:)

    Now - it will start & idle ok when warm, after I get the the first stop the revs wont drop below 3k?? Have checked the inlet tube nuts are tight, new manifold rubbers fitted afterwards, mixture screws checked & fine?? All cables are free to move (should shut back down anyways with the push/pull cables?? New valve seals fitted last Winter?? Am running out of things to check??

    How does the idle adjust screw work the carbs/carb mechanism? When I tweak the screw back out a little the revs drop - but they surge back up when the bike is next ridden??

    Im thinking the adjustment mech is sticky/trapped as it seems to come back to two different idle's, IE normal and high?? (confused...) :frown:

    Has anyone got a set of CV38's apart so I can see the adjustment mech please? :upyeah:
     
  19. Al - I cant find the pic of that remote idle adjustment cable thinger you made? Such an item would make my life a LOT easier at the mo... :)
     
  20. Wot? This you mean?

    P1010143a.jpg

    P1010142a.jpg

    My knob.jpg
     
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