Okay guys need your 2 cents.
I checked around here for an answer but i didn't get an exact answer to what i was going thru.
I ride my 620 ie as a daily driver for the last few years (bought it in 05). and i had been been out of town so the bike sat for 2 weeks. i went to start it up and this is what happened. bike powers up like normal the usual tach sweep whirring of the fuel pump. I hit the starter and the bike clicks and does not start. The pump whirrs again and i hit the starter and it clicks. I tested the battery full 12v and tested the amperage off the charts. I push start and it starts right up. rode around the block and shut her off and then it started back up. Yay! so i let it run for a bit, shut her off again same thing click and the then the pump whirrs. Damn!
Im going to check the connections and check the volts at the solenoid and the starter wire tomorrow. If i don't get any answers there im going to take out the starter and check the brushes n shit. My R/C hobby has taught me alot about electric motors. but if you guys/gals have any inputs please let me know.
I'm going to sit down and be depressed for a while.
P.S. 35,000 miles and 3 years of perfect riding and no problems till this.
QuoteI'm going to sit down and be depressed for a while.
I don't know too much about the electrics. But I do know that either you own your Ducati or your Ducati owns you so don't get depressed man...
You should definitely check the solenoid before tearing the starter apart, which requires pulling the left side cover. And you can check the starter by jumping the solenoid. There are some post around detailing this if you need help.
I think there is a relatively detailed electronics write up that was under the FAQ section of the old website so you might want to check into that.
I would suspect a solenoid first.
A 620 I was working on would sweep the gauges, spin the pumps, & light up the lights, but would not start. Just the click. It wouldn't even push start.
Got a new battery, and it's all good.
Sometimes when the battery is going south, it will have enough juice to power some stuff but not others. In my case it was enough to power everything, but the spark.
Just food for though.
Good luck.
Quote from: DarkStaR on September 01, 2008, 07:24:13 PM
A 620 I was working on would sweep the gauges, spin the pumps, & light up the lights, but would not start. Just the click. It wouldn't even push start.
Got a new battery, and it's all good.
Sometimes when the battery is going south, it will have enough juice to power some stuff but not others. In my case it was enough to power everything, but the spark.
Just food for though.
Good luck.
I just reread his post and saw that he said it is clicking. So +1.
The symptoms lead to a bad or undercharged battery or perhaps a bad connection at the battery or engine to frame ground. You say the amps are off the charts. How did you do this test? You would need to either do a load test or a conductance test which requires equipment most DYIrs don't have. 12 volts is also an undercharged battery. 12.6 volts or higher is fully charged for a conventional battery, 12.8 or higher for an AGM battery like the one in your bike.
Easy shade tree way to eliminate the battery is jump start the bike with a known good battery. The bike now starts? Your battery is either undercharged or bad.
Its not the battery because......
I jumped it with a batter charger/jumper...no avail
I then quick charged it for an hour...nope same shit different button press
The push start works every time and it runs great, does not hesitates from a low battery like when your alternator goes bad on your cage and your battery is starting to give.
Also when i checked the voltage it was @ 12.6 (thats what i mean when i said 12v)
I'm sure its a starter but i have to get off work to start tinkering with it, Im crossing my fingers hoping the the starter just needs a rebuild. I do ride it alot i would say it was my primary. But for now my civic is going to have to do for now.
And thanks every one for your input
If you haven't already, jump the solenoid (big wire to big wire). If the bike cranks it is the solenoid. Still doesn't crank? Apply voltage directly to the lug on the starter. Make sure the bike is in neutral since you are bypassing all safeties. If the bike cranks the starter is good, the problem is high resistance between the solenoid and starter, most likely where the cable connects to the starter. Disassemble, clean, reassemble. Caution: The lug on the starter is fragile and you do not want to break it.
Well good news bad news and dammit news....
So i tinkered around finally yesterday after work.
So the good; its not the starter
The bad; its the solenoid that needs to be replaced
And the Dammit; its $91 bucks and will have to be special ordered.
So if you know where i can get one cheaper please fill me in, if not I'm going to search the net my self. [bang]
I wish I remember which one, but I believe you can use one from one of the common Japanese bikes. It was around $40 buck.
If you look hard enough, it will save you $$$.
Here ya go, one of our sponsors. Same solenoid except for the connectors. No big deal to make it work. Call Chris and he will tell you all you need to know. Besides the $avings, the solenoid will get to you much quicker.
http://www.ca-cycleworks.com/shop/catalog/ducati/elec.html
Thanks Howie already ordered it and it is already on its way. I will see how easy it would be to switch the pins or just cut and splice which might be cheaper. And i guess a big thanks to the guys over at CA Cycle works always the cheapest and fastest shippers around.