Two weeks ago I had my new to me '05 S2R 800 Dark serviced by a local Ducati shop in the DC area.  The bike was overdue for its 6k service (almost 10k on the bike), so they replaced the belts and said the valves were within spec so no shims.  I was a bit underwhelmed as they left a screw out of the clutch coffin cover and it spilled hydraulic fluid all down the side of the bike during its ride home in the back of my truck (wish I had noticed that before I drove 30 miles home ).  They replaced with some generic screw that the tech used a sharpie to make black  .  They also wouldn't help me find part numbers and order a front and rear re-spring kit.  They told me to just figure it out on line - but that is another story all together.

Long story even longer.  The bike runs fine, but seems to idle a bit low (<1000 rpm).  However, I have now put three tanks of gas through it since the service and the gas mileage is horrible - like 30-35 mpg.  I was getting 45 - 50 mpg before the service and I put 4 or 5 tanks through it before taking it for service.  The bike has had the udder removed and the stock cans cored. There is a small exhaust leak where the exhaust bracket weld cracked (maybe a 1/4" long and barely wide enough to slip a piece of paper in).  I plan on replacing the exhaust, so I have just left the leak.  I thought it smelled like it was running rich before the service, but now it is ridiculous.  I have not pulled the plugs to see how rich.  Also, the cold start lever has to be pulled more than half way back to get any increase in idle speed.  Any ideas why the drop in gas mileage?  Thanks for any input.

I usually do my own wrenching, but don't really have a place to work right now and wanted the first service to be done right.  So much for that idea.....

hope you didn't get any fluid spilled on any painted surfaces....

There was fluid on the side of the tank and some on the frame.  I wiped it off as soon as I unloaded the bike and I haven't seen any paint issues.  Luckily, most of it ended up on my frame slider as my bike was slightly leaned to that side when I strapped it down in the truck.  I would have been seriously PO-ed if they had stripped my paint for me.....

i don't think you will notice any paint issues immediately....more of a down-the-road thing i think   

My S2R 800 has had it's service and the shop adjusted valves and everything to match the open air box and no-cat pipes. I have had the exact same problems as you. My understanding is that the rich condition is better than what was before, better for the engine, but a little less good for the mileage. Cruising speed gets the same mileage, but spirited rides results in lower mileage - which is kind of ok because the engine runs/breathes better. The idle will suffer under the rich adjustments, but I'm ok with that because I would rather have it run well at hard rides than on idle AND there will always have to be a choice - we can't have both.

I understand and would be OK with a slight decrease, but a 35% drop is a little much I think.  It has dropped both cruising and around town.  I'm not too worried about it though as I will be adding an exhaust and pods in the next few months and will have it re-tuned.  I will also be taking it to Ducpond from now on......

Thanks for the input.

Check to make sure your fuel lines aren't kinked or pinched anywhere, sometimes that can happen when the tank is set down.

No kinks or pinches in the lines coming out of the pump. Both of the "bleed" and "drain" lines were kinked, but looked like they had been kinked for awhile. Tried my best to unkink those and they are draining now. Also found another tech screw-up! The tank was not clamped down to the proper clamp point, but the clamp bail was simply wedged under the ignition key rubber fascia.  Small point but annoying. 

Thanks for the tip.

Any other ideas!

Dude, sounds like you found a very very bad Ducati shop!! That's stunning! 

I say hurry up on the repipe and box and tune.  Running lean causes heat and wear issues, but running overrich causes wear and carbon and later blowby issues.  Better to run well.

Yeah, 35% is way wrong. My consumption increase was about 15% at worst. Another shop sounds like the way to go 

Quote from: Smokescreen on September 24, 2008, 02:00:00 PM
Dude, sounds like you found a very very bad Ducati shop!! That's stunning! 

I say hurry up on the repipe and box and tune.  Running lean causes heat and wear issues, but running overrich causes wear and carbon and later blowby issues.  Better to run well.

Yeah, I'm trying to get on DucPonds schedule ASAP - looks like it will be at least two weeks out.  Going to call the bad shop and pregnant dog....

I was originally getting about 50mpg when I got my bike, it was WAY lean.  I retuned it and it runs great but now gets 42mpg.  Nothing as bad as what you're seeing.  And the fact that it's idling that low isn't right.  Most of them are spec'd for 1100-1250 or so.  Under 1000 and you might not get adequate oil pressure at idle.  You could give them one chance to make it right but I'd find someone who knows what they're doing.

Scott

Quote from: scott_araujo on September 25, 2008, 10:49:44 PM
I was originally getting about 50mpg when I got my bike, it was WAY lean.  I retuned it and it runs great but now gets 42mpg.  Nothing as bad as what you're seeing.  And the fact that it's idling that low isn't right.  Most of them are spec'd for 1100-1250 or so.  Under 1000 and you might not get adequate oil pressure at idle.  You could give them one chance to make it right but I'd find someone who knows what they're doing.

Scott

I called the shop and spoke to management.  I gave them the opportunity to respond to the little issues (clutch res screw, tank not properly clamped) and the tuning issue.  The said they would take care of the screw and let me bring the bike in for a free re-tune on their exhaust gas analyzer.  So as soon as I get back in town, I'll have them re-tune and then take it to DucPond for the suspension set up and another re-tune if the first shop can't get it right this time.  Thanks for all the responses - I'll post an update once I take it in.

Brad

Well I took it in yesterday to let them make it right and we will see.  I just finished putting 90 miles on it on my ride out to DucPond and I'll put another 90 on it riding home for the respring.  I will tell you one thing, I'm not going back to that other shop (Speeds) again.  Their most experienced Ducati tech quit and I watched another guy quit while I was in the shop.  Something is not working at Speeds.  Long story short - they said they didn't need to adjust anything, but the tech cleared two codes.  When I asked what codes were tripped, the receptionist wouldn't tell me and said she was too busy to check.  Her response was to call her back later and she would find out.  Bad service.....

Yeah. Maybe find a different shop. Never heard anything bad about Duc Pond before but maybe they are having issues if they're losing techs like you say.