Ducati Monster Forum

Moto Board => Tech => Topic started by: B.Rock on March 07, 2011, 10:37:44 AM

Title: 851 rev problem
Post by: B.Rock on March 07, 2011, 10:37:44 AM
So, my 1990 851 has an issue where it will start and idle fine, but when it revs to 5500-6000 or so it will sort of bounce back and never get above it, like it momentarily cuts out. If you keep the throttle open it will bounce between 5-6k rev up, cut off, rev up, cut off, repeat ad nauseum. It's a pretty hard cut off. I've replaced the wiring to the pump and tried it bypassing the fuel filter so I'm pretty certain it's not that. It does it in gear, neutral, uphill, downhill, etc.
It's like it's trying to change something - ignition, fuel, ? - to another rate for higher revolutions or load and can't do it.
My basic mechanical skillz are okay but electrical diagnosis is voodoo. I can connect a voltmeter and read stuff but once it gets into things with acronyms I'm a little lost.
For those not familiar, the 851 is 4v, fuel injected.
Any ideas? Thanks!
Title: Re: 851 rev problem
Post by: greenmonster on March 07, 2011, 10:48:49 AM
The very best place to ask is here:
http://www.ducati851and888.com/index.php (http://www.ducati851and888.com/index.php)

Tremendous amount of knowledge there!
Title: Re: 851 rev problem
Post by: Raux on March 07, 2011, 10:49:08 AM
any recent service or work done?

Title: Re: 851 rev problem
Post by: B.Rock on March 07, 2011, 11:17:15 AM
Quote from: Raux on March 07, 2011, 10:49:08 AM
any recent service or work done?


No. Well, the last work I had done was to the fuel level sending unit at Desmotosport, and that part failed again, so I replaced it. I had thought the rev thing might be an issue with the sending unit - like starting to go before it crapped out entirely - but no joy.
It needs to go in for valve service, and if I can't figure this out I'll limp it in and pay someone to do it, but it's pissed me off some and I want to conquer it. Particularly because I let it sit some so I could do it.
I forgot to mention, I have the service manual so tracing stuff is not too much trouble, but as far as why to check any particular thing it's pretty worthless.
Title: Re: 851 rev problem
Post by: Raux on March 07, 2011, 11:34:21 AM
sounds like fueling issues

not enough fuel at higher revs?

Title: Re: 851 rev problem
Post by: B.Rock on March 07, 2011, 11:39:50 AM
That was my original thought too. Or my original hope. So that's why I started there. I suppose it could be in the injectors but it's such a hard cut-off... Fuel pump draws power from the relay and the coil, and I know the relay's powering it. My thought was if the coil-pump connection was kaput then it was more just starve itself and not rev well at all, but it does - until that hard cut. Also, it will backfire sometimes after that cut which leads me to believe - hopefully correctly - that it's getting enough fuel but spark is being cut.  ???
Title: Re: 851 rev problem
Post by: Raux on March 07, 2011, 12:04:31 PM
well hopefully one of the smart guys will chime in here shortly
Title: Re: 851 rev problem
Post by: greenmonster on March 07, 2011, 01:26:15 PM
Brad will come f sure....
Title: Re: 851 rev problem
Post by: B.Rock on March 07, 2011, 01:27:18 PM
Right on. The more and smarter the merrier!
Tonight I'll pull the TPS connector and give that a cleaning, I suppose.
Title: Re: 851 rev problem
Post by: ducpainter on March 07, 2011, 03:55:03 PM
It sounds like an ecu issue to me.
Title: Re: 851 rev problem
Post by: brad black on March 07, 2011, 06:20:41 PM
if the voltage regulator is solid mounted, rubber mount it.

if it's rubber mounted, solid mount it.
Title: Re: 851 rev problem
Post by: B.Rock on March 08, 2011, 12:27:25 PM
OK. Why?
I checked the phase sensor and crank position and both were clean, no debris. I didn't get voltages since it was midnight and people frown on running the bike then. Not me, other people.
Title: Re: 851 rev problem
Post by: Speeddog on March 08, 2011, 02:10:50 PM
My bet is on a perforated fuel line inside the tank.


Quote from: brad black on March 07, 2011, 06:20:41 PM
if the voltage regulator is solid mounted, rubber mount it.
if it's rubber mounted, solid mount it.

I think that's a translation for "Not sure mate, but something's rooted."

Title: Re: 851 rev problem
Post by: B.Rock on March 08, 2011, 02:18:35 PM
Quote from: Speeddog on March 08, 2011, 02:10:50 PM
My bet is on a perforated fuel line inside the tank.
Just had all the lines out and they looked good.
Quote
I think that's a translation for "Not sure mate, but something's rooted."


[laugh]
Title: Re: 851 rev problem
Post by: Speeddog on March 08, 2011, 02:21:04 PM
Just for fun, open the cap and turn the key on, see if there's fuel flying around inside the tank when the pump's running.

Brad may have been serious for all I know....
Title: Re: 851 rev problem
Post by: B.Rock on March 08, 2011, 02:22:03 PM
Quote from: Speeddog on March 08, 2011, 02:21:04 PM
Just for fun, open the cap and turn the key on, see if there's fuel flying around inside the tank when the pump's running.

Brad may have been serious for all I know....
Sure, good call.
Also it seems to be rev related and not load - I'd expect a fuel system problem like that to be load related?
Title: Re: 851 rev problem
Post by: brad black on March 08, 2011, 05:01:23 PM
i was serious.
Title: Re: 851 rev problem
Post by: ducpainter on March 08, 2011, 06:29:22 PM
Quote from: brad black on March 08, 2011, 05:01:23 PM
i was serious.
seriously?
Title: Re: 851 rev problem
Post by: brad black on March 11, 2011, 02:45:41 AM
on at least 2 851 that i've seen with a complete shut down symptom the cause has been a voltage spike apparantly caused by the regulator.  altho these, like all over vibration issues i've seen with 4v bikes, happen at 7,500 rpm.  loose engine mounts may bring it lower, as i guess could cracks in the cases between the mains and timing shaft, but that's an extreme issue.

they shut down, the ecu turns itself off to protect itself from the spike, then turns itself back on, gets its shit together and starts doing its thing again.  and because the revs have dropped due to no power it'll come back, hard if the throttle is still open.  probably shuts down for a second or two, feels like an eternity.  then it'll charge back to 7,500 and shut down again.

originally the regs were mounted with well nuts holding them to the frame.  there was a service bulletin saying to solid mount them (reg earth wire issue maybe?  i forget) and on a very small number of bikes this miss would suddenly appear at some time (long time) in the future.

so you'd replace the nuts and washer with well nuts again.

dunno if it's your problem.  personally i'd certainly check it, but that's up to you.
Title: Re: 851 rev problem
Post by: B.Rock on March 11, 2011, 09:37:40 AM
Thanks, I appreciate that. This isn't that long, it's about 1/4 sec, only enough time for the revs to drop about 500-1000 rpms before it picks back up. Since I'll be home during the daytime I'll pull a couple other things apart, clean, and reassemble to try today.
Does anyone have any idea what the diagnostic tool is they refer to in the manual that reads the flashes? It doesn't look like the Mathesis. That's just a curiosity thing.
Title: Re: 851 rev problem
Post by: jerryz on March 11, 2011, 10:19:38 AM
could be fuel stravation caused by old fuel filter it happens often on Ducatis with EFI
Title: Re: 851 rev problem
Post by: B.Rock on March 11, 2011, 10:20:21 AM
I tried bypassing the filter, no change.
Title: Re: 851 rev problem
Post by: greenmonster on March 19, 2011, 01:24:11 PM
Thanks a lot (again), Brad!  [thumbsup]  :)

Your tip cured a 916 SPS which cuttted hard at 3000 RPM.
Title: Re: 851 rev problem
Post by: B.Rock on June 13, 2011, 12:14:23 PM
So after I punted and took it in for service anyhow and had them give it a look, I've got it back.
The verdict: who knows, sort of. It went away after they did valves and belts and some other nonsense, which included replacing a wire that was in poor shape coming off the stator, which was all corroded and cracked. Since it wasn't intermittent before and has now disappeared entirely, I think it's quite likely it was related to a voltage drop due to that wire. At least, for lack of anything else relevant being done.
Title: Re: 851 rev problem
Post by: B.Rock on June 29, 2011, 04:19:40 PM
Quote from: B.Rock on June 13, 2011, 12:14:23 PM
So after I punted and took it in for service anyhow and had them give it a look, I've got it back.
The verdict: who knows, sort of. It went away after they did valves and belts and some other nonsense, which included replacing a wire that was in poor shape coming off the stator, which was all corroded and cracked. Since it wasn't intermittent before and has now disappeared entirely, I think it's quite likely it was related to a voltage drop due to that wire. At least, for lack of anything else relevant being done.
It came back and left me stranded. Fuel pump totally failed.  [roll]