condensation in instrument cluster- fix?

[J.P.]

06S2R1k: past warrenty.
Both gauges have moisture in the dials. Seeing previous posts about pulling them apart gives me hope.
Anyone know where to look for leaks and tips how to seal them back up? How bout drying? Flood w/ Nitrogen?(just kidding)
I silicone greased the connector a while ago- no good.
Thanks guys!
J.P.

[clubhousemotorsports]

good question this will be the death of many ducatis in the coming years I am already seeing the new style dashes so corroded on the inside the dashes are failing.

At 750ish for a new dash that you know will do the same we can only hope the aftermarket comes to the rescue. ducati does not seem to care, mhe900 dashes are so bad that if you ride in the rain at all you will get water in them. soon enough you will not be able to buy them either.

[Capo]

It's actually sealed quiet well, the 'glass' is bonded, there is a rubber gasket between the two halves and the screw holding it together has a dam around it to prevent water running inside, the cable connector also has a gasket. This should be effective in keeping water out.
There are two vent holes in the bottom (that would also function as drains), to allow the cluster to breath.

The most common reason for the condensation is that the outside temperature drops below the dew point of the air within the cluster, it depends on how 'humid' the conditions are, followed by a lowering in temperature. When the conditions are met, condensation occurs.

High voltage transformers that breath, have a silica gel desiccant element on the vent to absorb moisture, this is both visible and easy to change, a similar (but less obtrusive) arrangement connected to the vents of the cluster would be a solution where condensation condusive conditions are prevalent.

I would suggest you remove the cluster and take it to a warm indoor environment overnight.

[J.P.]

True- this happens when the cluster heats up- ie. Every Time I Ride It.
I hope the after market considerers the immobilizer circuit stuff as well.
Didn't know there was weep holes- seems like something to seal as well.

[Capo]

The cluster should be open to atmosphere to allow for the expansionand contraction of the air withinn due to temperature changes.
I'm thinking along the line of a glass capsule 'bout the diameter of a cigarette, an inch or so long filled with a desiccant, the vent holes are about 4mm dia and could have some tubing fixed to them leading to a Wye and then the drier. This would remove moisture from the air and if you used a desiccant that changes colour when saturated, you'd know when to change it.

[clubhousemotorsports]

LOL
I am thinking that if the design cannot survive in elements it is designed to function in, then it is a poor design.
"This should be effective in keeping water out."
I agree but when you get calls from customers complaining that they cannot wash their bikes or even ride in the rain without bagging the dash there is a problem.

But then I am not the one selling dashes to ducati

In the past there were a lot less issues with corrosion in instrumentation , sure once in a while  916 tach may have fogged but the bike ( and usually the tach) still functioned. I have replaced newer electrical components much more often than older bikes.

Used to be ducati's had a reputation for crap electronics, I do not think it was deserved.
Times have changed and as the bikes evolve they are growing into that reputation, I hope the trend reverses itself.

[J.P.]

Ok- so the question is: why have none of my other 13 or so motorcycles, most of which lived outside uncovered, not had gauge issues.
My '73 guzzi still doesn't leak, that's what I take when it rains.
Guess it's common for the dash style?

[clubhousemotorsports]

As capo aludded to the newer dashes seem to need to be more vented probably due to the electronics needing to shed heat and condensation from hot cold cycles.
that's all i can think of.

IMHO the dashes today have been a mistake on ducatis part reliability wise. As it was with rectifiers in the 90's ducati knows this is a problem but it dragging their feet on fixing it.

[2001cromo]

IMHO the dashes today have been a mistake on ducatis part reliability wise. As it was with rectifiers in the 90's ducati knows this is a problem but it dragging their feet on fixing it.

+1 I completely agree with this statement and think that the newer style dash (which is a core component to the bozomobilizer) is the Achilles heel of the system.

I've personally swapped out about 6-7 dashes on one bike! And I've seen countless others go bad.

I hope that the Seimens electronics are able to put this problem behind Ducati...

[Howie]

+1 I completely agree with this statement and think that the newer style dash (which is a core component to the bozomobilizer) is the Achilles heel of the system.

I've personally swapped out about 6-7 dashes on one bike! And I've seen countless others go bad.

I hope that the Seimens electronics are able to put this problem behind Ducati...

Dash and immobilizer issues have a lot to do with me not replaing my bike.  I wonder if a couple more well placed vent holes will help.

[DuciD03]

I am thinking that if the design cannot survive in elements it is designed to function in, then it is a poor design.
"This should be effective in keeping water out."
I agree but when you get calls from customers complaining that they cannot wash their bikes or even ride in the rain without bagging the dash there is a problem.

1+, +

Ducati seems to pride itself in good design and they use the best components; ie the breaks; metals etc are all good quality.  Good design should have timeless aesthetic appeal, be durable and make good economic sense; ie I'm buying a top quality bike therefor I expect good reliability and durability that will last awhile and should especially be so with critical components on a motorcycle. 

One solution is to remove the gauge cluster and bring it indoors and leave it on the window sill on a sunny day or 2 and let it completely dry out.  I took mine appart to find the seal was creased and leaking.  I also wonder if you attached some longer pieces of hose ie 4" to the holes if it would help keep some moisture out but still let the cluster breath?

[944SSie]

Not that it makes anyone feel better about this, but the advertised MotoGP dash on the 1098/848 as well as the headlights on those bikes fog up regularly, or least mine does if I head off with temps below 50.  1098 owners have been told that no damage occurs to the unit and to live with it.  Replacement dashes fog up just as well as the old ones.

Oh yeah, an early batch of voltage regulators stranded riders as well.  The more things change, the more things stay the same.

[dragonworld.]

Heh, I've had my dash apart (M1000DS) a dozen times, trying various ways of resealing it and even taping a couple of small bags of silica gel to the inside of the cluster to no avail. 

And yep!! Ducati dont want to know squat about it, but are happy to quote a replacement price for the unit. 

[scott_araujo]

Are these lit with LEDs or real electric bulbs?  if it's LEDs then maybe a small vent hole on the bottom and a small bulb inside the cluster just to provide a heat source.  It would still fog but at least it would also clear out.

Scott

[CapnCrunch]

Remove your cluster.

place into oven and bake on warm for 5 hours.

.