This morning when I started my M750 up, I noticed smoke coming from the bottom of the engine. It smoked for about 10-20 seconds then went away. There was no oil on the ground or anything that dripped from the bike.
The only thing I can think of is that I rode in the rain yesterday and maybe it could be oil and other crap from the wet road that got splashed up. Is this possible/normal? I didn't notice any smoke when I left work this afternoon.
Probably the exhaust pipe was just wet still. Keep an eye out if you are worried, but it shouldn't be a problem. Several times I have had to leave my 748 with wrapped exhaust out in the rain. When I start it up and it warms up, smoke (vapor) starts absolutely rolling off of it. I have even had someone come running over to tell me it was on fire while I was sitting on it.
yeah water gets in all sorts of strange places. then when you put it on the kickstand it pools... then when you upright it and start it.. it runs off and turns to vapor on the hot engine/pipes. had it all the time.
No smoke this morning, so things are looking good again!
well. smoke again this morning. I put it up on the rear stand so I could get a better look under there, it looks like there's a buildup of grease near the front sprocket and when it heats up a it drips a little on the exhaust. Is there anything up that way that could be leaking, or is this more likely from not cleaning and lubing my chain properly?
you might want to get in there and clean out the buildup of chain lube.
i used a rag, no water, and some chain cleaner.
Quote from: Mike Qube on August 28, 2009, 06:12:28 AM
well. smoke again this morning. I put it up on the rear stand so I could get a better look under there, it looks like there's a buildup of grease near the front sprocket and when it heats up a it drips a little on the exhaust. Is there anything up that way that could be leaking, or is this more likely from not cleaning and lubing my chain properly?
The grease that is building up is likely chain lube that flings off and collects there. I would scrape out as much as you can and clean off the rest with chain cleaner or WD-40. It doesn't have to be perfectly clean. That should solve your problem.
Quote from: XJDAVE on August 28, 2009, 05:05:52 PM
The grease that is building up is likely chain lube that flings off and collects there. I would scrape out as much as you can and clean off the rest with chain cleaner or WD-40. It doesn't have to be perfectly clean. That should solve your problem.
I took the sprocket cover off today and was scooping out grease with my fingers, I cleaned that all up, cleaned the bottom where it was dripping and where it was flung. I'm glad I did this before a chunk of this crap flung on my tire or something.
Quote from: Mike Qube on August 28, 2009, 06:12:28 AM
well. smoke again this morning. I put it up on the rear stand so I could get a better look under there, it looks like there's a buildup of grease near the front sprocket and when it heats up a it drips a little on the exhaust. Is there anything up that way that could be leaking, or is this more likely from not cleaning and lubing my chain properly?
I bet your clutch slave is leaking.
That area of the cases doesn't get hot enough to make chain lube drip.
Quote from: ducpainter on August 29, 2009, 03:32:07 AM
I bet your clutch slave is leaking.
That area of the cases doesn't get hot enough to make chain lube drip.
what should I look for to make sure that isn't it? I don't see any spots or anything on the floor of my shed.
Is the resivoir full?
Is it "using" and clutch fluid?
If not then you should be good.
Quote from: Mike Qube on August 29, 2009, 06:23:49 AM
what should I look for to make sure that isn't it? I don't see any spots or anything on the floor of my shed.
Quote from: trouble on August 29, 2009, 07:14:39 AM
Is the resivoir full?
Is it "using" and clutch fluid?
If not then you should be good.
+1
Check the fluid level.
If the rubber bellows that is part of the gasket is extended you're leaking fluid.
Quote from: ducpainter on August 29, 2009, 07:26:49 AM
+1
Check the fluid level.
If the rubber bellows that is part of the gasket is extended you're leaking fluid.
The fluid was a little low. When I opened it, the level was at the bottom of the window. Is it supposed to be at the window level when the cap is in of off? It seems there is a rubber thing on the inside of the cap that might displace the fluid when it's on.
This might sound like a stupid question, I'm new just starting to learn all this stuff, but where is the bellows that is part of the gasket? Is the on the cap or elsewhere on the bike.
Is this where it would be leaking from if it were the clutch slave?
(http://mb-imaging.net/ducati/slave.jpg)
If so, there doesn't seem to be anything from that area at all. If that isnt the area, where would it be?
I ran the bike in my shed and there was a little bit of smoke, having it up on the rear stand gave me a better view of where it was coming from:
(http://mb-imaging.net/ducati/smoke.jpg)
It seems to be on the exhaust pipes more towards the left side of the bike under the chain area.
The black crap on the floor under the bike isnt from leaks, it's from the globs that I pulled out of the sprocket area.
I was doing a search for the clutch slave cylinder on google to see if I could figure out where it is. Everything I could find shows it on the left side of the bike right next to or in front of the sprocket cover. It doesnt seem that I have anything like I saw in the the search on that side:
(http://mb-imaging.net/ducati/left.jpg)
Here's one of the pics I found that shows the clutch slave:
(http://www.healthinfodesign.com/ducati/images/clutch_slave.JPG)
Quote from: Mike Qube on August 29, 2009, 09:20:34 AM
Is this where it would be leaking from if it were the clutch slave?
(http://mb-imaging.net/ducati/slave.jpg)
If so, there doesn't seem to be anything from that area at all. If that isnt the area, where would it be?
I ran the bike in my shed and there was a little bit of smoke, having it up on the rear stand gave me a better view of where it was coming from:
(http://mb-imaging.net/ducati/smoke.jpg)
It seems to be on the exhaust pipes more towards the left side of the bike under the chain area.
The black crap on the floor under the bike isnt from leaks, it's from the globs that I pulled out of the sprocket area.
I didn't realize you had a 97 M750 with the slave built in to the clutch cover.
The newer bikes (all models) have the slave on the other side.
If your slave leaks it leaks into the engine oil.
The only other source of fluid on the left side would be a leaky countershaft (trans) seal right behind the sprocket.
I suggest you really clean it up in there and use the aerosol powder method to trace a leak.
The bellows I was referring to is the pointy black part of the gasket, and yes it does displace some fluid when installed. If you look at it closely you'll see that it can extend. If it didn't the fluid would not enter the piston part of the master because there would be a vacuum in there.
Quote from: ducpainter on August 29, 2009, 10:18:06 AM
I didn't realize you had a 97 M750 with the slave built in to the clutch cover.
The newer bikes (all models) have the slave on the other side.
If your slave leaks it leaks into the engine oil.
The only other source of fluid on the left side would be a leaky countershaft (trans) seal right behind the sprocket.
I suggest you really clean it up in there and use the aerosol powder method to trace a leak.
The bellows I was referring to is the pointy black part of the gasket, and yes it does displace some fluid when installed. If you look at it closely you'll see that it can extend. If it didn't the fluid would not enter the piston part of the master because there would be a vacuum in there.
Aerosol powder method?
Whats the best way to clean the engine? Can I use stuff that you use for car engines to get the crap off?
Quote from: Mike Qube on August 29, 2009, 10:22:23 AM
Aerosol powder method?
Whats the best way to clean the engine? Can I use stuff that you use for car engines to get the crap off?
I would use a plain degreaser like simple green. The more powerful ones like gunk aren't recommended for use on rubber like the seal.
Chain lube is pretty water resistant so it may take a few applications. I'd also do the underside of the motor, around the oil drain, the filter area, and any case/cover joints.
After you rinse let it dry thoroughly and get a can of aerosol foot powder and spray the areas you want to check for leaks. Run the bike and look for the brown stains in the powder. They will be very apparent.
Quote from: ducpainter on August 29, 2009, 10:29:12 AM
I would use a plain degreaser like simple green. The more powerful ones like gunk aren't recommended for use on rubber like the seal.
Chain lube is pretty water resistant so it may take a few applications. I'd also do the underside of the motor, around the oil drain, the filter area, and any case/cover joints.
After you rinse let it dry thoroughly and get a can of aerosol foot powder and spray the areas you want to check for leaks. Run the bike and look for the brown stains in the powder. They will be very apparent.
I cleaned it up really good yesterday. It seems the gunk that was on the left side was most likely from the chain, after I scrubbed it off the pipe, none returned.
But, there does seem to be a leak of something. It seems to be coming out of where the neutral light sensor is.
(http://ducatisuite.com/images/neutral.jpg)
It kind of looks like brake fluid. I noticed when I started the bike this morning that a couple of drops came down onto the right side of the exhaust and burned up pretty quickly.
Also, I dont know if this matters. But it seems that the leak only comes while using the choke.
Upon closer inspection of the fluid, it seems that it is likely oil. I went out for lunch, cleaned the area up so there was none at all and went for a ride. When I came back there was some in the area again. It seems to be seeping out of where the neutral sensor is, pooling in that area and then dripping onto the exhaust. Is this something that is known to leak? I looked around and there doesn't seem to be anything above it that it could be coming from.
I don't think it's a common issue, but there is a gasket on that switch.
It's in a tight spot, but you could try tightening the switch or remove it and get a new gasket. They came in different thicknesses to adjust the switch plunger depth.
I took the switch off, it was quite easy to do. Not much effort in the wrench. I figured while I was in there I would take it off and re-solder the wires, so now I actually have a neutral light(it hasn't worked since I got the bike). The hardest part of it was actually getting the wrench in there. Calling it a tight spot is stating it mildly, took about 15 minutes to get it back in. I tightened it up, connected the wires for thew switch back up, started it and let it run with the choke on for about 5 minutes and no drips. Went for a ride for about 20 minutes, came back and it was as clean as when I left.
Thanks for the help!
Yeah...tight spot is putting it mildly. ;)
Glad it worked out.
Quote from: ducpainter on September 01, 2009, 03:07:29 AM
Yeah...tight spot is putting it mildly. ;)
Glad it worked out.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I noticed a tiny bit of oil in the area this morning when I warmed it up, I'm hoping that it might be residual from before. I rode it to work today (about 5 miles). The amount didn't change, it was just a little in the corner where I probably didn't clean it all off. Yesterday it was pooling in that area.