This is my first Ducati with a dry clutch, and with the open clutch setup. I must admit it sounds amazing but I'm concerned it may be too rattly. With the bike in gear, the clutch disengaged and a spin of the back wheel it sounds very "loose". I've not had chance to check the manual for the minimum plate thickness but is there any other tips on telling when it's ready for a service? Thanks Haydn
You might have wear in the hub or the outer clutch bell. If it's a steel clutch then they are noisier (and they do sound like a bell ringing!!!)
Probably is fitted with original steel drum/steel plates. The outer tangs of the plates and the corresponding touching faces of the 'slits' in the drum end up with a larger clearance as a result of wear but you could still find that the plate surfaces are well within tolerance.
As Chris says, check the tangs of the plates and the outer drum you should see the wear, if the drum wears to much it can get notches in it and make the actuation a little rough. Steve I was a bit disappointed when I changed my clutch as it was so much quieter.
I agree with Dave - Mines been noisy since day one. I did take a look inside and everything looked OK to me - So I guess is a sound you just have to get used to. I think most of the noise comes from the tangs on the edge of the plates that fit into slots in the basket. Once these wear the clearance increases and so does the chattering noise, especially with the steel ones.
If it's your 1st Ducati, then it'll be so noticeable after your previous bikes. Chances are it's perfectly fine. Enjoy it, I love the sound personally.
You can swap for aluminium basket and driven plates to reduce noise or to eliminate noise completely you can fit an extra friction plate at the base of the basket. it's a non std mod but it works.
My 916 has a steel clutch and is very noisy, my Monster has the aluminium setup and is much less noisy (but getting noisier), when my 916 clutch is finally shot and I've got no more spares then I will fit an ally version but only for the weight reduction, I'm not too bothered either way by the noise. If you rigidly follow Ducati's wear limit for the basket to plates clearance you'll be forever buying new clutches. As long as it works OK I would leave it but the steel setup is always noisier than the ally.
I hate clutch rattle. I run with the OEM clutch covers even though both my bikes have 48t STM slippers (waits for Nelson to say summit).....:tongue: I ran with a carbon cover on the 1198 for a while until a fellow knocked me over on it. It collapsed like a crisp packet. Steel OEM for me.
Thanks for the replies. I check the clearance between friction plate and basket and it's just within the Haynes manual tolerance. I suppose she will rattle like a gooden for at least another year. I personally love the noise as all my previous ducatis have had a wet clutch. I'm still undecided on whether to keep the standard look with the OEM cover, around £50 on eBay for a mint one or go for the Ducati Performance vented one. Hmmmmmm.
Just so you know, I don't get any clutch overheating issues with my OEM cover on during track days or long weeks in the alps. I'm an average rider. i.e competent but no track god.
I've read on the monster forum tonight that a few people run the stock clutch cover for the OEM look and crash protection but use spacers instead of the gasket to allow a little more rattle volume. Sounds like a good idea but has anyone tried it?
