Temperture needle behaving erratic Ducati 916 bp

After a weekend away with the bike I noticed the front headlight bulb had blown. When I returned home and on the way to work I noticed the temp gauge behaving abnormal. The gauge would normally settle above 140 when warm and rise. On the way to work, I noticed the gauge drop below 140 after it was warm and stay down nearly returning to cold, yet the bike was at normal temperature as I had covered some 10 miles of motorway.
Later I took the panels off and cleaned the bike. I noticed the battery levels were low again, having been topped up only a couple of weeks previous. I then thought there might be a regulator rectifier issue. I Posted on the ducatisti forum and with some suggestions and thinking again. Decided to disconnect the connector to the rectifier. Below you can see that under the plastic connector there has been a build up, indicating a dirty connection. I cleaned the connector and recharged the battery. The battery was registering 12v1 and thought this was a bit low. I replaced the front headlight bulb and rear brake light switch that was faulty. The brake light switch could have been draining the battery. This did not cure the issue
so i took apart all the connectors in the headlamp and removed the clocks. I have now found out that the regulator rectifier was faulty as it was cooking the battery. I noticed readings of 17volts which was too much for the battery. I have fitted another one of another bike which has three wires on the connecter. Although still working as it should regulating the voltage.

Now the bike seems to be behaving correctly. The temp gauge moves in a normal fashion.

Le Touqet France for gbriders dday drive out 12 13 June 2010

Scottoiler the right way to stop loosing oil when its not working

I have just moved the scottoiler to a new place. The picture is of the new position. I had noticed the rear wheel was covered in oil and the bottom of the plastic pipe had come away from the body. With no vacuum the oil just poured onto the rear chain. I heated up the plastic pipe which made it soft and pliable. Then pushed back fully on the brass spigot on the reservoir. Now the Reservoir canister is positioned in a new place independent of the frame. The vacuum pipe is fully on and should not come off again for a while.

Before it was cable tied to the frame where the frame sticker with numbers is. Now I have the bracket supplied with the scottoiler kit. I cable tied the breather and vacuum pipe to the injectors. You can see the silver bracket under the scottoiler reservoir and to the carbon rear mudguard tidy.

Piper cross filters the right way to install

After posting on the Ducati forum and contacting the company direct. James at Piper cross confirmed the air filters should have the black part upper so that the air hits this part of the air filter first. I guess this will make it harder to know when the air filters need cleaning but as there is two different filters types glued together i will go with their decision. see below for the pictures of the filters turned around. I had to separate the plastics that hold the filters. turn around the filters and click together.

Piper cross air filter which way round

I have just fitted piper cross filters to my 916 and wonder if there should be a correct way to install. if you go to the site the dark side of the filters is supposed to catch the main dust and the colured part is extra fine. this made me think that i should place the darker side up so the air is hitting this side first??

Vinny

Ducati 916 bp dry clutch basket rattle clatter no more

I have attached a video taken of the bike. Since replacing the clutch plates, steel plates and the housing, there is no clutch rattle to hear. It seems strange that every Ducati has the rattle but I guess as the parts are all new there is no play and the noise has gone. You can hear the bike start and before on one of the previous videos you could hear the clutch rattle, now with the clutch lever pulled in there is no noise from the clutch are.

Vinny

Ducati 916 bp dry clutch basket rattle clatter

Took the time to start a service on my 916 bp and need to investigate the clutch which is making a graunch noise when warm. Also I was suprised that the clutch is not slipping. If you look closely in the picture you can see that the plates are mushrooming and deformed. I guess this is making the noise and at times makes it difficult to change gear when warm. I have ordered a clutch basket and bought some clutch plates 19020013A which includes the metal plates also.

A couple of days later....If you look at the pictures you can see how deformed the clutch plates are. I managed to take out the plates clean the basket by filing the burrs off. Then turned the plates around. With all the clutch back to gether it is working fine with no noises. This is only a temporary fix untill i fit the new clutch plates 19020013a, 19810271a clutch housing (basket)plus bearing that fits in the end plate, bushing 7025016a