the_adam
24-04-2012, 08:19 AM
I'm asking about a problem that appears to have fixed itself here, just because I don't really trust it not to go wrong again :chuckle:
Background to it is that the bike had been running badly on the second half of my commute every day (so after about 20-30 mins, once things were completely warmed up or possibly just because this is where the traffic always is!). It would occasionally stutter when riding at lower revs, just lose power briefly but then carry on running as before. I think it would also do this at higher speeds, but it was much less noticeable. At the same time I'd often get either a hissing noise from the left side of the airbox (sounded similar to a quick release of air from a tyre), or occasionally a mechanical clicking noise from the right. I also found the exhaust was pooping a lot more with engine braking and getting the occasional random backfire, I haven't made any changes but assumed that the fueling was somehow slightly out and just wanted setting up properly
One day last week the bike refused to leave a petrol station. Starter motor was turning over but the bike wasn't starting up. My first thought was to check the fuses (I don't know why, but it's nice and easy to check :)) Having removed the ignition one and reseated it the bike started up fine. So all happy and I got home, just assuming that it had just been a loose fuse and everything was fine. I had an incredibly near miss with a car later that afternoon which really made me forget about it
Then on sunday the same thing happened, except my fuse trick didn't work this time :D It seemed to be a fuel starvation problem, it would run fine with easystart sprayed into the cylinders but then cut out again immediately afterwards. Fortunately I happened to be at the house of someone with a van and after we failed to get it working Ducati John kindly agreed to find time for it yesterday. He found nothing wrong at all, although by the time we got it to him the bike was mysteriously running again - I was only having trouble when the bike was fully warmed up so decided it was worth getting it checked over anyway. Whatever he did while checking it seems to have cleared the problem for now, it managed a long test ride yesterday without any trouble and it's been fine on the way to work this morning (will see how it is through traffic tonight...).
I'm just curious what could have been/be causing it...seems to me that something that shouldn't be there was expanding as the engine warmed up and partially blocking the flow of fuel, which was also enough to stop it firing when starting from warm. Just hoping that whatever it is has been permanently dislodged now :)
Background to it is that the bike had been running badly on the second half of my commute every day (so after about 20-30 mins, once things were completely warmed up or possibly just because this is where the traffic always is!). It would occasionally stutter when riding at lower revs, just lose power briefly but then carry on running as before. I think it would also do this at higher speeds, but it was much less noticeable. At the same time I'd often get either a hissing noise from the left side of the airbox (sounded similar to a quick release of air from a tyre), or occasionally a mechanical clicking noise from the right. I also found the exhaust was pooping a lot more with engine braking and getting the occasional random backfire, I haven't made any changes but assumed that the fueling was somehow slightly out and just wanted setting up properly
One day last week the bike refused to leave a petrol station. Starter motor was turning over but the bike wasn't starting up. My first thought was to check the fuses (I don't know why, but it's nice and easy to check :)) Having removed the ignition one and reseated it the bike started up fine. So all happy and I got home, just assuming that it had just been a loose fuse and everything was fine. I had an incredibly near miss with a car later that afternoon which really made me forget about it
Then on sunday the same thing happened, except my fuse trick didn't work this time :D It seemed to be a fuel starvation problem, it would run fine with easystart sprayed into the cylinders but then cut out again immediately afterwards. Fortunately I happened to be at the house of someone with a van and after we failed to get it working Ducati John kindly agreed to find time for it yesterday. He found nothing wrong at all, although by the time we got it to him the bike was mysteriously running again - I was only having trouble when the bike was fully warmed up so decided it was worth getting it checked over anyway. Whatever he did while checking it seems to have cleared the problem for now, it managed a long test ride yesterday without any trouble and it's been fine on the way to work this morning (will see how it is through traffic tonight...).
I'm just curious what could have been/be causing it...seems to me that something that shouldn't be there was expanding as the engine warmed up and partially blocking the flow of fuel, which was also enough to stop it firing when starting from warm. Just hoping that whatever it is has been permanently dislodged now :)