Ducati Monster Forum

All -
This is my first post outside of my introduction - my name is Kevin and I'm in Virginia.

I've got an S2R 1000, and I just put a new clutch pressure plate on.  I didn't buy the open clutch cover yet, because I haven't decided which one I want, but I did leave the stock cover off so I could see my handiwork. 

Bottom line, it looks pretty cool, but it seems like the sound isn't quite right.  There is almost a metal on metal sound when I'm riding and I back off on the accelerator.  I know the dry clutch is supposed to be a touch noticable, I just wanted to know if what I'm hearing is what I'm supposed to be hearing.

Sorry this is so vague, I'm unable to phoneticize the sound...

Thanks,

Kevin

The sound is like a heavy tambourine?

Ducati signature sound according to most [moto]

I think it's a bit over the top, but I love the look.

Some guys have put spacers in between the engine cover and the clutch cover, to have just a little sound and to air the clutch.

There are also closed window'ed covers. http://www.matrixmotosports.com/products/ducati-type-i-window-clutch-cover (http://www.matrixmotosports.com/products/ducati-type-i-window-clutch-cover)

Kevin,
   I have an S2R as well with an open clutch and the metallic "clacking" sound you are hearing is normal.  Pure Ducati.  Post up some pics of your bike.  We like pics.  ;D 

It is fine you will get used to it.  I love it personally.  The only thing I am always paranoid about is perhaps a wayward shoelace or piece of pant flapping in there.

No almost - it is metal on metal.  It's the metal teeth of the drive plates rattling around in the basket.  AS folks have said, this is how it sounds.  You hear it more when you back off the throttle because you're just reduced the load on the clutch and the plates aren't being smashed against one facing of the basket

Unless you get a clutch pack that has teeth a little too big, and file them to *exactly* match your basket there's always a little play making the noise.  And even if you went through that hassle, the plate teeth wear eventually make noise.  Accept it, love it, and get a laugh when someone asks you if your bike is broken.

And where abouts in VA?  There's a pretty decent number of Monster riders and other Ducatisti in VA, though NOVA/DC Metro highest concentration.  No matter where you are pop into the  CAM local board  (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?board=20.0) and check out the goings on.   

First off, thanks for all the responses.  I'm astounded at how active this board is.

Next, funny about the laughing at comments about the bike being broken - I got one today, after having the cover off for only 10 minutes.  I kinda like the clacking sound, I was just a bit worried about the sound when I backed of the accelerator - based on the responses, I'm no longer concerned.

I'm in South Riding, VA.  Just South of Dulles Airport.  I've been to the CAM link and I plan on joining in a ride soon. 

I've got a few pics, but upon trying to insert, I'm just seeing some [msg] tags.  Some trick I need to know?

Thanks again for the responses.

Kevin

Okay, now that I've read the FAQ, I see how to post.  I know - RTFM - sorry.  I'll set up a photo account and get to it.

Kevin

If you want a quieter basket, you can purchase one from http://desmotimes.com/bestofthebest.htm (http://desmotimes.com/bestofthebest.htm)
I put in the black, hard anodized basket with the barnett clutch pack. The tolerance of his basket is tighter than stock and very quiet. While it will not stay that way since all baskets take a beating from the plates, it stays quieter for a longer time. I have a few thousand miles on mine and it is just a subdued rattle as opposed to what it was sounding like prior to the swap. After 10k miles, the pressure plate was pretty worn out also.

+1, although I've not noticed any wear in by pressure plate.

Also you'll come to love the sound of a dry clutch.  Outside of race bikes, it's rather unique.

Different basket and plate materials will make for different noise and different wear.  Steel components get more of a clang noise vs aluminum which doesn't resonate as much, giving more of a rattle. 

But, at 10K your pressure plate was worn out?  That really shouldn't be if you have a driven plate on the outside of the stack.  Driven plates are the ones with the teeth on the inside.  If you have a driven plate next to the pressure plate, then a drive plate won't contact it.  I've got a stock plate with 18K on it in my parts box that I could put right back into service and a SpeedyMoto w/ 10k on the bike that's just fine.

Sure at 10k the bearing needs replacing - but the plate itself should last a long time.


I know the area, used to work for AOL.  There's some CAMmers who live in that general area and people dfinietly head out that way going  to the twistys.  And there's the wednesday evening tire kicking in Arlington

A few months ago, I was meeting a friend at a local pub in Charlotte, NC.  I was cruising into an open parking space, next to a dude getting off a new Harley.  The guy had a temporary license plate on his bike and was dressed in new Harley gear from head to toe.  The dude stares at the vented clutch cover and asks -
"what's that and why is it making so much noise?"

I tell him it's my clutch, he asks me why there's holes in it, and I tell him that I used a hole saw to drill vents into the cover.

The dude then tells me "I don't think you're supposed to do that."

Okay - after a quick bath, here is a picture.  Sorry about the lighting - best I could so on short notice.
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3560/3337133824_ebd1cc7f72.jpg)

Thanks again for all the responses.

Kevin

Good looking Monster, Kevin.  Nice to have anoter Duc in VA!

nice pic...i'm thinking to do the same for my monster 695.  a quick question, for now could i take off the black plastic covers that cover the clutch on each side?  thanks.

I wouldn't unless you want liquid all over the ground.  To the best of my knowledge, the 695 has a wet multiplate system.

for really?? damn it....hey how difficult is it to rewire the crap attached on boths side under the seat of the monster 695?  anyone got diagrams that would be cool...thanks again

For REAL for real.

You mean the stuff under the side panels? Its not hard. Its just a matter of finding places to put them. Of course, then you're left with the brackets and stuff.

I spy with my little eye reflectors!  Give 'em the chop.

That is correct.  Any Monster below 900cc will be a wet clutch. 

That's a nice looking S2R you have there Kevin.  Thanks for posting the pic.

The 695 is a wet clutch.  Can't run it without clutch cover.  I'm guessing that you are talking about the timing belt covers.  Their plastic.  The clutch cover is metal.  A lot of people run their bikes without timing belt covers or with open covers.

Yep, it's the thin layer of black plastic on both sides, i can remove them right?

No.  There is no thin black plastic on both sides.  Perhaps you're mistaking the powder coating used on the clutch and alternator covers for plastic.  On a stock 695 you cannot expose any of the clutch works and run the engine w/o be very very unhappy you did.

The only plastic bit in that area you could safely remove is the cam belt covers.  They are the 2 -part covers in an L configuration.  They are on the right side of the bike.

Thanks yuu, I will do so immediately. 

NP - just saving you from the reflector ragging that goes on here.  If you want the ugly yellow plastics off, but still want somethign reflective TapeWorks makes reflective wheel tapes in all sorts of colors

http://www.tapeworks.com/Rimstripes/RimstripesHome.html (http://www.tapeworks.com/Rimstripes/RimstripesHome.html)

i'm not positive how mechanically inclined you are, but I've heard reports of wet clutch owners converting by replacing the clutch side case cover with an M900 cover and replacing the wet clutch assembly with a dry clutch assembly. 

The benefits are, you get a dry clutch rattle!! yay!

The drawbacks are, you get a dry clutch, that's harder to modulate, has a harder lever pull, wears out faster, and therefor costs more...  Even after the roughly $1000 you'd be spending buying a used right hand case cover, all new seals on that side, and new clutch assembly. 

So......  You might want to stick to set clutchness.  Ducati thinks it's a better idea.  the 848 has a wet clutch now, as does the Multi1K. 

I THINK there is an aftermarket clutch-side case cover that has some kind of clear plastic where the clutch is so you can see it spinning round and tossing oil everywhere, if that interests you.  Wouldn't be any louder, but it'd be pretty!

Yeah - it is possible to work over a wet clutch monster into a dry one.  But smokescreen's right - it's costy.  There's a large expense for parts and possible even more for labor.  It isn't just a straight swap - pull off the old, put on the new.  There need for some modifications and machining.  People have done it.. but the price is equal to a pretty good down payment on your next bike

I've seen clutch covers for wet clutch Jap bikes that have that window... but I don't think I've spotted one for Ducs so far.

thanks smoke!

Another (boring, (http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/oldgit.gif)) fact:
Original clutch cover can take a 70 km/h lowsider w/o damage to clutch.

just to make sure we're talking about the same thing....below is the link to a 695, so i can't take the black covering panel over the clutch off?? 

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/2007models/2007-Ducati-Monster695d.jpg (http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/2007models/2007-Ducati-Monster695d.jpg)

I'm not sure you know where or what the clutch is period.  My advice is not to touch anything.  Get a half competent individual to show and explain these things to you in person.  I'm sure there are Ducati / motorcycle meets in your area.  Maybe a board member will mark up a picture or provide you with an explosion view diagram.

Big 'ol black round bit with the Ducati logo between the rear brake lever and the red frame?

Nope. Its holding in all your engine oil.

The 695 has a wet clutch. Thus its surrounded by oil. Where would the oil go if you took that off?

Wet clutches need wet oil.

The clutch cover is the metal casing that can be ID by the large circular area with 'DUCATI' in the middle that is bolted to the main engine case.  NO, you CANNOT remove that like one does with a dry clutch, you cannot do so and run the bike.  That cover has sealant around it that seals in your oil.  Break that seal, and you not longer have engine oil.

Dry clutch Ducs have a different casing that has oil seals that sit behind the clutch basket sealing the clutch assy off from the engine oil.  As a result you can remove an other cover that is simply bolted to that casing, but has no sealing propertys.

If you're simply talking about the black coating on the metal - it's basically paint so you could strip it from the metal it's coating if you really wanted...

But stop thinking about it for now -read up on your bike instead

the black cirlcle that says DUCATI cannot be removed - this has been explained already.

the black plastic side panels next to the seat that say 695 is large print can be removed.

the black plastic belt covers on the right side of the engine (L shape) can be removed.

the black plastic hugger going over the the rear tire (and maybe chaingaurd) can be removed.

the black plastic fender (beer tray) can be removed. (this is called tail chop)

good luck!  [thumbsup]

why so harsh everyone? at least he is asking (several times) instead of just screwing up the bike

anyway, here yah go

(http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm285/s2r1000/695.jpg?t=1236653224)

+1

The DML/DMF has always been welcoming, understanding and helpful. Still is.

I'm always expecting a few answers, to noob questions like this, along the lines of "yeah, no problem - just take it off and go"

I don't think I was harsh at all. Neither was yuu nor smokemonster nor Obsessed.

If you still don't believe everybody, just go take the cover off and see what comes dumping out.

I think Herm was referring to this post, which I agree is pretty harsh...

I figure some things can be learned by trial and error and others you only got one shot.  Yeah I'm not motorcyclically inclined at all, but gotta start from somewhere.   I appreciate everyone's patience.  I'll post a pic of my bike up later.

So i really can't remove that black plastic panel?!!  .....j/k haha  ;D

Sorry if that came off as harsh.  It just seemed that he wasn't catching on and sometimes these things are difficult to explain.  I'd rather come off as harsh and prevent you from making a mistake than tell you to tinker around and see what happens.   [drink]

great great great attitude. welcome to Ducatis and the forum

Ahhhh a wise guy eh!? 

Well if you're looking for a place to start - hitting the books or the Tutorials section on the site's a good plan.  DesmoTimes sells a pretty good general Ducati book.  Though not specifically for Monsters it covers a lot of good info, things to watch for and general wrenching theory.  If you can track it down, get the Ducati technicians manual for your 695.  It covers every detail of the bike,usually more than anyone rightly needs, but it's handy to know the exact specs for you bike and how to do anything to it. 

cool..muchas graciAs!

Bryan- you might consider LTSnyder's book on Monster maintenance.  He actually offers tips on some mods.  Also, thank you for saying you aren't mechanically inclined, it makes how a question should be answered easier.  Having said that, I personally would advise against removing the belts covers unless you've some to replace them, unless you are inspecting your belts (instructions in LTSnyder book)...  There are those who would argue with me on this, but personally I think the belts covers are a must have to protects your belts from rocks etc...  there are people on this site who've run without belt covers and caught a rock ending up with bent valves and engine rebuilds.  Take your time on tearing the bike down, and study the manuals for the bike as much as possible first.  the Haynes manual BTW isn't really helpful, so don't bother with that one.