Ducati Monster Forum

Hello,

I'm new here at ducatimonster.org and have a serious question I need answer by monster's owners and this is the only place beside a non-experience motorcycle mechanic to tell me to sell my baby it can't be fixed.

Basically I notice a small crack on the rear cylinder engine mount yesterday. I don't know how it got there but sadly to say it's there. I attached photo links to this post to put this in better details. I know the engine is attached to the frame but it is a small crack that can get serious if not addressed.

I came up with some option beside selling because I believe this can be fixed and I don't believe in selling people problems.

http://giveme5ive.com/Ducati/IMG_0420.JPG (http://giveme5ive.com/Ducati/IMG_0420.JPG)
http://giveme5ive.com/Ducati/IMG_0421.JPG (http://giveme5ive.com/Ducati/IMG_0421.JPG)
http://giveme5ive.com/Ducati/IMG_0424.JPG (http://giveme5ive.com/Ducati/IMG_0424.JPG)

1. Get used engine online (ebay) but there's no telling if the engine have problem already.

2. Get an experience welder to fix mount crack. (my thought) *

3. Sell it

Please Please tell me the best solution to resolve this issue.

Thanks...

As a general rule welding is is option, but I don't know about that crack particularly (more knowledgeable folks will chime in).  I can tell you that it's not that uncommon to have cracked engine mounts, either from crashes or from bike abuse.  I cracked the front engine bolt mount on mine, and when it was rebuilt, it was just welded up.  It's been fine since.  

Here's a pic of it in process of being rebuilt

(http://www.flightcycles.com/flightcycles/m1000ss/Originals/M1000SS-12.jpg)

Lots of people have had them welded, usually with the motor out of the bike

Here are the OP's pics

(http://giveme5ive.com/Ducati/IMG_0420.JPG)
(http://giveme5ive.com/Ducati/IMG_0424.JPG)

So I probably can get this piece welded back together, hmmmm that's what I was hoping to hear. This Bozo at the mechanic shop told me it would cost $1000's to get fix because of the labor work sell it and buy another bike. I haven't taken it to a welder or another  motorcycle mechanic yet but who would be the best to see for this issue at a reasonable cost and how much should I expert to spend to get this fix in the new york city area at that matter. I was thinking maybe around $400

From the looks of the photos, can this be welded without taking the bike apart?

Thanks

Frame and teardown is easy.  Frame needs to be removed to weld.  With engine removed, a good welder should be able to weld up for in under an hour at most.  Pre-clean the engine as much as possible before bringing to him!  Bring the engine mount bolt and make sure he understands how it goes across the engine.  Then assemble and go ride.

Do you guy's know if any body post a Ducati monster break down disassembled article on this website or any where else online because I'm interested in disassembling my Ducati monster 2002 620 myself and taking the part to a welder. I have the Haynes Service & Repair Manual but trying to gather as much information as I can get for this project.

You may want to post up in the NYC local board and enlist the help of as many helpful folks as you can there as they're local and can physically help you out.

You *will* have to separate the engine from the frame for this welding to be done, but you do NOT have to disassemble the engine to do it.

(BTW: purchasing sudsy, alcoholic beverages in exchange for local help will sometimes garner that help just for the purchase price of said beverage...)  ;)

NOT that we advocate asking someone to Ride over, Drink, Help and leave with said Drink in their system

funny, I just found a similiar crack on my front engine mount. what type of welding would need to be done?

Duck-Stew,

What do you mean but you do NOT have to disassemble the engine to do it. Basically I was hoping this can be done without removing the whole engine and taking it to a welder but what do you mean (you do NOT have to disassemble the engine to do it). Also I called a motorcycle mechanic today and they said if it's case instead of aluminum it can't be fixed. I have a 2002 620 ie do you know if mines is aluminum (photos above)

The cases are aluminum

it can be welded

the engine must be removed from the frame for the welding

Duck-Stew means that you don't need to actually take the motor itself apart for the fix.

Is this a common problem? I'll be checking mine tonight.....

Two things usually create cracks like this from my experience:

1) frame was hit and possibly bent from an accident.  Not uncommon.
2) you see this on the front engine bolt area due to improperly tightened "frame guards" not properly installed (loose)

Engine case as shown where the crack is -- easily welded by a decent TIG welder.  Check the yellow pages for your local welder or find an automobile raceshop that does fabrication.

Yes, the above is what I meant.  Remove engine.  Get engine welded up.  Re-install engine.

You cannot get around the 'remove engine' portion of the above...

i think hes asking why you have to remove the engine.

Its a mix of blowing up your ECU/electronics system when you ground the welding machine and clearance for the operator to work on.

If you really couldnt find a TIG guy (though i recommend it), MIG will work. Dude just needs to be seriously skilled with a MIG gun to make it look nice, its really fast and hard to control when you compare it to a TIG.

if the piece hasnt broken off yet, break it off completely, then bevel it so  you can get a full penetrating weld and just build it up, bore it to clean out the hole and grind the top to look OEM then hit it with some paint.

Disconnect the battery first, then the 2x large connectors into the ecu and there will be NO risk of blowing it when the welder is hooked up.

BUT, the real reason to remove from the frame is welding access.  There simply won't be enough for a welder to do anything effective with the engine still in the frame.

what about the gauges? isnt that still grounded to the frame?

Doesn't really matter if the engine is removed from the frame.

I've had two engines that have had cracked engine mounts.......one from a giant pot hole and another in a crashed bike I picked up for rebuild. Both engines I was able to get welded from a welder who works on race cars........charged me $100 each time.

Find  a welder that rides bikes, or race bikes, or builds race cars, someone that speaks the same language (motorhead) as you do.   You might be able to get away with not pulling the engine, IF, the welder can get access to the mount that needs welding.   If he can get his TIG torch in there.   If it was mine, I'd pull it out of the frame, grind a pretty good V over the crack, and let Wilbur the Welder have at it.  That looks like maybe a 15 minute job, if YOU prep the crack, you might get it done for a case of beer, or something of the sort.   Doesn't look like a big job at all.

DOH [bang]  I just saw you are from NYC.  European Cycle Services has experience with that repair. 

http://www.europeancycleservices.com (http://www.europeancycleservices.com)

You can trust those guys with your first born.

 

Yep... lot of welders on here...

Come tell me how easy it is to "Just weld up" some porous, crappy, oil soaked cast alu in a stressed point, without preheating, or normalizing after the weld..

ROFl... God I love the internet!

Howie, I'm going to give these guy's a call there're out in Middletown, NY. I'm still riding at this point with the same crack. I'll be getting this fix soon.

Awww come on...

It's just like painting.

Anyone can do it. ;)

Sing it brother!!!     [laugh]

I know a monkey that can weld it up for sure.  [thumbsup] [laugh]

Near Atlanta?

Does he do electrical on the side? :-*

i had my engine mount welded up.

it survived a front flip and landed on the headlight/gauges after it bounced off of me.

WOW - Welding the engine mount causes front flips ;)


Be careful out there [cheeky]