Nearly a disaster

[BigOz]

My bike is being serviced by Alec at Ducati Proteam and he found one of the fixed tensioning rollers had failed and the belts had been badly damaged. That was nearly a nasty accident.

Photos on Ducati ProTeams Facebook page.

Andy

[steeevvvooo]

Saw the photos. Looks like it could have been nasty.

Out of interest, how old were they and how many miles had they're done? I assume they were pretty much within service limits knowing you.

[BigOz]

1 year and 4200 miles

[gary tompkins]

Very serious issue - that engine would have been trashed if the belt snapped. If the tensioner roller failure turns out to be a common fault, Ducati should investigate and possibly organise a recall? Looks like Alex hasn't seen evidence of this on other new shape monsters.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/1503214_712391358779756_2053725145_n.jpg

[utopia]

I think I saw the correct pics, but there's lots on there.
That does look well chewed up.
I'd say you were probably very lucky that it didn't let go.

I had a belt issue on my 750 when I first got it.
Due to a faulty lower pulley, the outer edge of the belt teeth had been shaved away, causing the belt to move outwards and start bandsawing its way through the cover.
The casing was full of belt dust and those belts had been replaced, by the local ducati dealer, only about 200 miles earlier.
Another few more miles and a piece of cover would have dropped off and fallen into the teeth, jamming and possibly snapping the belt.

My belt covers are the ones with the little inspection covers, and I now regularly remove them and peek at the belts, just for reassurance.
And open belts just make me shudder.

[zhango]

That's why I like these on my bike.
http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq355/zhangopb/Picture165_zps6347df80.jpg

[utopia]

All things considered, those are about the best belt covers I've seen, Zhango.
Rizoma ???

Nice clutch cover too.

[Nickj]

I had a belt issue on my 750 when I first got it.
Due to a faulty lower pulley, the outer edge of the belt teeth had been shaved away, causing the belt to move outwards and start bandsawing its way through the cover.
.

Had that too, and a belt snapped on another motor at 6K. Went straight across the belt and was a very clean break, messy :(

Lucky to have picked that up before disaster struck

[zhango]

Yes Rizoma but I removed the silver anodising chemically and polished them. They do stay clean as well.
Clutch cover and pressure plate - MPL from eBay.

[gary tompkins]

Alex said on facebook the tensioner broke up spitting it's ball bearings out. These got trapped inside the cover making a real mess of the belt. Few more miles and it could have been game over.

[Yorkie]

My SuperSport 900 project:

http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a615/Yorkie13/Ducati%20Monster/Ducati%20750SS%20Project/photo70_zpse43bda68.jpg (http://s1286.photobucket.com/user/Yorkie13/media/Ducati%20Monster/Ducati%20750SS%20Project/photo70_zpse43bda68.jpg.html)

My Monster:

http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a615/Yorkie13/Ducati%20Monster/DSC_01591_zpsf3879c33.jpg (http://s1286.photobucket.com/user/Yorkie13/media/Ducati%20Monster/DSC_01591_zpsf3879c33.jpg.html)

Just so I can see the belts!! However the Monster's belts are nearing 4 years old and I am considering a set of new ones.

Yorkie

[pompone]

Alex said on facebook the tensioner broke up spitting it's ball bearings out. These got trapped inside the cover making a real mess of the belt. Few more miles and it could have been game over.

I have seen this happening as well, the cam tensioner was just the middle and outer part without the ball bearings. Makes you wonder..

[BigOz]

I have seen this happening as well, the cam tensioner was just the middle and outer part without the ball bearings. Makes you wonder..

Have you seen it on a new shape Monster before? Alec mentioned having seen it before on an older design.

[pompone]

Have you seen it on a new shape Monster before? Alec mentioned having seen it before on an older design.

Yes I think so. If I remember correctly was the vertical cylinder

[Unit 18]

Parts ordered today Oz and was talking to Craig and he's not come across that either.
They haven't got the rollers in stock and should be with me by Tuesday, sorry for the delay.
Al.

[BigOz]

Parts ordered today Oz and was talking to Craig and he's not come across that either.
They haven't got the rollers in stock and should be with me by Tuesday, sorry for the delay.
Al.

That's not a problem, give me a call when it's all done and I'll make sure I've got the cash ready for you.

Andy

[MrsC_772]

Mine has done it now! Aargh! Won't have it for the weekender :cry::mad:

Bike was at Snells for a service today. Having heard nothing by 4.30 I phone and Tom breaks the bad news that when they removed the belt cover the belt tensioning rollers were knackered, ball bearings had got out. He reckoned I was lucky that the belts hadn't gone, causing more damage. :eek:

I did suggest raising this further up the tree (Ducati UK/Bologna) as I didn't think such a significant part should just go like that - ok, so I do a few miles, but it's not like I really thrash the bike hard.

Sadly they won't be able to get and fit the parts in time for me to pick the bike up and take to the weekender. :(

Anyone got a spare little Monster they could lend me? (Happy to pay for insurance).

We thought this year might be the first weekender with neither of us in the naughty corner!

[slob]

Couldn't Snells lend you a demo model for the weekend?
The rollers are essentially just a pair of bearings, which are manufactured to a price, so unfortunately a small number will always fail prematurely.
I'm off to the garage now to see if I can get a bike working by Friday... or face further fines :-(

[MrsC_772]

Will phone Snells in the morning to see if their 696 demo bike is available - Andy's first suggestion when I told him, but wasn't thinking straight when I spoke to Snells (other stuff on my mind at the mo not helping).

Fingers crossed you get your bike sorted in time.

[Dirty]

I'm off to the garage now to see if I can get a bike working by Friday... or face further fines :-(

Don't forget you have a working bike available.................. :chuckle:

[Albie]

Hope you get sorted Eleanor. Fingers crossed for you.

[MrsC_772]

Spoke to Tom at Snells again this morning.

While my bike won't be fixed by tomorrow, he had some good news which means neither Andy or me will need to reserve space in the naughty corner! All will be revealed tomorrow ...

[jonzi]

If it's a panigale, bagsy a go

[MrsC_772]

No, it's not a Panigale - as I said, I won't be in the naughty corner!

[Black Bob]

... neither Andy or me will need to reserve space...

Sigh....

... neither Andy nor I will need to reserve space...

:D

p.s. Would have lent you the Monster.

[MrsC_772]

Well nitpicked BlackBob - I was dithering between me and I. I have a horrible feeling my bad grammar may just have cost me £1 for the air ambulance ...

[slob]

Great news!

...1200S obviously

[Flip]

So going on from this, have Ducati given anyone any service time limit on the rollers (which as Rob says are just pairs of bearings through bolted)?

Or even given an idea why (if) it seems to be a problem on the later bikes only?

I know for a fact the ones on my 1997 900 have never been changed but they look and 'feel' fine with no play or 'notchyness' and I've looked through my factory and Haynes manuals and can find no mention of changing them as a service item- does anyone?

[Dirty]

I've heard of them being changed but only as a precaution on high mileage bikes. Looks like they may have bought a duff batch somewhere.

[Unit 18]

So going on from this, have Ducati given anyone any service time limit on the rollers (which as Rob says are just pairs of bearings through bolted)?



The later one's are a different design.
I have changed another roller since but it hadn't fallen to bits like Oz's.

[gary tompkins]

I've heard of them being changed but only as a precaution on high mileage bikes. Looks like they may have bought a duff batch somewhere.

Or the factory switched to cheap, poor quality parts in attempt to cut manufacturing costs

It would'nt be the first time Ducati have pulled this trick