Are the standard spark plugs iridium? Have you tried a set of standard spark plugs? I have read about strange issues solved by reverting to standard spark plugs.
Never did get a response to my question about setting the iridium plugs to standard Ducati gaps. Not something you should do of course. Iridium plugs come pre gapped to a larger gap than standard, which should give a fatter spark than standard. Some say iridium should be set to an even larger gap, giving an even fatter spark. I am using them at the factory preset gap and they work perfectly, starting easily, idling nicely and with great throttle response.
You're really lucky to have a mate who's an ex Ducati tech helping you. Also to have advice from among others, people like Derek and mechanico Lee, both of whom are brilliant fault finders. Even if it turns out that the new starter motor is not the solution, then at least that's one thing eliminated and I'm sure with the help you're getting, your bike will soon be running fine
Hi Guys, thanks again for the feedback, regarding the iridiums - gapped as supplied yes was advised to make gap slightly bigger and also tried standard plugs, sadly no difference, but again once fired up she runs well so I eliminated the plugs and moved on. Yes lucky to have Kenny although his involvement with Ducati was historical his enthusiasm and knowledge is great, he is a little stumped with this one as I am too and I am hopeful when the new starter arrives all will be good, I will let you know how this develops and will provide a string of events once sorted, many thanks again, its great to have so much feedback and sorry I left a question unanswered, Paul
Hi Steve, I chased the supplier today, sadly they had to "import" the starter in, said it would be about 10 days which is around Wednesday this week, I'm hopeful it will arrive this week and perhaps have it in at the weekend, I will keep you posted asap..Paul
just caught this thread. i had something very similar going on with mine. it would bump start no prob but wouldn't of the starter, it would turn over well but no spark during cranking. new starter sorted it. i considered the brushes but the insulation on the winding's looked poor. hence i replaced the whole unit
Starter motor delay apparently its coming from the States and the bad weather has delayed the delivery, "they" say Monday, keep my fingers crossed, slightly annoying when the weather is used for delays, when I live where I do you manage or you get left behind, could be worse perhaps could have happened during summer....Paul
Starter motor arrived today, excellent! think its been round the world but looks good well you would expect it to look good...its brand new after all, anyways it will be Sunday before I get it in, will keep you all posted..Paul
Gentlemen, friends and fellow bikers well its been a journey, no need to go over old ground but guess what? the sound of my Multi with full termi's is now back annoying all my neighbours from a far...so the new starter motor all the way from China (via USA for some reason) was "attached" today with great - well reservations and quiet optimism. Once ready for pressing the starter Kenny leaned over pressed the button and she - she just burst into life didn't even need any cranking and its still cold up here although we were in my garage, warmed her up to operating temperature turned it off and then fired it back up - straight of the button "bliss" its just awesome, tried a few starting scenarios and she just kept firing up well well life's not so bad after all. So what sense can be taken from this episode, here's my thoughts. First I want to say that even if you have excellent cranking speed it doesn't mean the starter motor or brushes aren't goosed, I was lucky Kenny McShane ex Ducati (10 yrs ago) and techy up here in Aberdeenshire was with me on the journey, he too was puzzled by the cranking speed and that's why we checked other things first, I will come back to this. Ducati Leeds who have been excellent (John in parts) said from day one its the starter motor, I had reservations but John said that he/workshop had experience historically of this and was extremely supportive in trying to help me. Antony at Avanti checked my ECU for free (amazing service and what a great guy) as Kenny was worried about whether it was a dp ecu as the bike is decat and full termis are on, Antony also was very helpful and gave some fresh ideas to look for, my ECU was perfect and it was the dp one. Yes we changed the starter switch, we changed the tps sensor, we changed the engine temp sensor, upgraded the starter motor lead and earth changed to a lithium battery, checked the sidestand switch too well things were getting desperate and generally checked as much as seemed possible but still no good, she just didn't want to start, as mentioned in previous posts she would always start eventually but no good really as it took an age 4/5/6 cranking cycles... Back to the starter motor, the lithium battery gave such good crank speed that we felt the starter was good, and we got sparks from the iridium's but they were weird as in intermittent and appeared weak, we simulated a bump start and this proved useless too - we syringed fuel into the plug holes and this got her fired up but, I couldn't take a syringe and fuel with me on a run!!! as we continued it became, well not desperate but anxious shall we say, I made the call to John (Ducati Leeds) again about the starter motor he was so helpful guys in the end I went for an aftermarket one from an independent supplier as it appeared to me perhaps this is what Ducati use anyway that's just my opinion but at half the price (£175) it was a no brainer. Slight delay in getting the starter but once fitted it just burst into life, I haven't taken her for a blast as yet but so far all is good, once I have been out on a run I will update this post but all is good and hopefully just as soon as possible I will be able to get her out....thanks guys for your support and help. Its always easy to be happy with an ending like this but the forum and input from others has been great and this is worth sharing, Kenny up here is available too (just contact me) and he has been invaluable, yes lucky indeed, how would I have got on without Kenny - well not very well that's for sure...signing off ...Paul
excellent. wish i had seen this thread earlier, its a v.simple diagnosis for a really weird symptom. (once you have seen it before and worked it out)
yip, i went trough this for several years with my fugly, intermittent at first but got progressively worse until it eventually gave up the ghost, where it wouldn't restart right in front of a competitors garage. nice. once pushed back to my gaff it took us an age to get to the bottom it. if it happened again with the same symptoms i would be confident i cold diagnose it in seconds. does it bump start? does the starter work and and spin over correctly but no spark? will it spark with plugs removed, rear wheel of the deck and spun by hand in gear? if so, new starter.
