I agree. Thumbing the starter and easing the cold start lever open at the same time gave virtually instant starting every time with my 999
Hi and thanks for all of the suggestions. I have taken 2 videos and will see if I can upload them. Since I started the post I have drained off the petrol (Tesco super unleaded) and put some freshly purchased Esso unleaded in. I have removed both spark plugs again and they were both black and wet, so fuel getting through. Cleaned plugs and tried to start it again. It fires and sometimes runs fir a few seconds but won’t respond to the throttle being opened. Mmm can’t seem to upload a video file.
Thanks for the advice and I’ll get on the case in the morning. I may also invest in 2 new spark plugs for diagnostic purposes.
Hi all, please find attached links to the YouTube videos of my starting issue.... Spark plug test. https://youtu.be/FjFuut7WOwg Starting video 1 Starting video 2
That sounds to me like only one cylinder is catching. Just a thought, the fast idle is actuating both throttle valves isn’t it? It should do as it just applies the tiniest of throttle to open the throttle valves very slightly. I’m just wondering if the throttle bodies are slightly out of sync and one lags behind the other slightly, thus when the fast idle is actuated it’s actually only having an affect upon one throttle valve. Just a thought.
On watching the videos a few times i think you could be right, it does sound like just the one cylinder catching.
I agree, It sounds like a TPS reset and throttle body balance might be an idea. http://www.bikeboy.org/ducati4vthrottleb.html
Listening to the vids again it does sound like both cylinders firing in first vid but just the one in second vid(with that in mind i used to go to a lot of loud gigs in the past so it could be me)
They may both be firing but somethings stopping them from running. You have fuel, you have spark, which implies fuel/air mixture may be incorrect in one or both cylinders.
Hi, interesting link and something definitely worth investigating further with an independent Ducati specialist that I know
agree, it sound dead keen to start regardless of fast idle lever, so hopefully a look at those two (TPS and throttle balance) including air bleeds might do it. Has it stood unused for long? Also - looks like you are using NGK D9 family plugs? I would use an "8".
