I changed my oil a few days ago and there was metal shavings on the drain plug as well as the oil screen. I have changed the oil religiously every 3000 miles since I bought my bike new and the plug and screen have always been clean. It's a 2005 S4R with 78,000 miles on it. I knew it wasn't good but the bike was running excellent and had no apparent problems. This weekend I had been on a road trip and as I was motoring down the highway when I felt a very faint vibration through the rearsets. I pulled off the highway and when I stopped I heard the worst sound I have ever heard from my motor. It was as if rocks were in the crankcase. I felt sick, I ride every day, year round. Luckily I was about 20 minutes from my dealer and I dropped it off there. I won't know what's wrong with the bike for a few days. I love my motorcycle!
Sorry to hear of your misfortune.
That's a lot of miles.
Let us know how it goes.
That really blows ass. Let us know how it goes.
a recent thread from another forum
http://www.ducati.ms/forums/42-monster/131749-s4-engine-carnage.html (http://www.ducati.ms/forums/42-monster/131749-s4-engine-carnage.html)
got my fingers crossed for 'ya.
My pre-screen was no where near that bad. There was maybe 3-4 very small pieces on my screen. I stuck my finger in the bottom of the engine and the pre-screen cavity and I could not feel any other shards of metal. I guess thats why I decided to go on the road trip.
Positive thoughts - possible you lost spark in a cylinder? I started mine up this w/e after winter hybernation
and left a plug wire off, running on one cylinder produced a nasty death rattle (pretty rough idle to boot).
My bike is running and shifting perfectly fine, no smoke, plenty of power, other than the sound of rocks tumbling around in the crankcase you wouldn't know anything is wrong with it. I don't even think someone who does not ride my bike everyday would have noticed the slight vibration through the rearsets.
I was talking to the mechanics (drinking a beer with them, waiting for my wife to come pick me up) at the back of the shop and they all told me not to panic until they can pull the covers off the motor.
I spent a few hours yesterday looking on ebay for a new motor.
Quote from: tex-mex on March 19, 2012, 07:39:38 AM
My bike is running and shifting perfectly fine, no smoke, plenty of power, other than the sound of rocks tumbling around in the crankcase you wouldn't know anything is wrong with it. I don't even think someone who does not ride my bike everyday would have noticed the slight vibration through the rearsets.
I was talking to the mechanics (drinking a beer with them, waiting for my wife to come pick me up) at the back of the shop and they all told me not to panic until they can pull the covers off the motor.
I spent a few hours yesterday looking on ebay for a new motor.
Maybe it's something easy like a loose flywheel nut.
Keep the faith.
Alternator bearing: $28 plus labor. No other internal damage. I'll have my bike back in a week or so! I've spent that last few days scouring the web for used motors.
[clap]
Nice to hear some good news!
Check the updates this poor guy has made to his post.............
Quote from: sofadriver on March 18, 2012, 07:18:57 AM
a recent thread from another forum
http://www.ducati.ms/forums/42-monster/131749-s4-engine-carnage.html (http://www.ducati.ms/forums/42-monster/131749-s4-engine-carnage.html)
I feel really bad for him.
Good news TM, a collective sigh of relief I'm sure across the forum.
good news. congrats!
While looking for a new motor I found this site I thought might be helpful for somebody needing a salvage bike.
http://www.salvagebikesauction.com/make_by/Salvage-DUCATI-for-Sale (http://www.salvagebikesauction.com/make_by/Salvage-DUCATI-for-Sale)
Quote from: sofadriver on March 20, 2012, 08:10:49 PM
Nice to hear some good news!
Check the updates this poor guy has made to his post.............
I feel really bad for him.
Anyone know "Tommy the monster"? THe OP over there states that is his screen name on this site.
*edit: wrong website. My bad.
Good news for all of us!
Quote from: sofadriver on March 20, 2012, 08:10:49 PM
Nice to hear some good news!
Check the updates this poor guy has made to his post.............
I feel really bad for him.
hah! thats me. im over here also now for better tech info.
so far this is the list of costs:
25$ new alternaor rotor
104$ various top end gaskets and spark plugs (damn thin wire plugs are $35 a piece!!)
XX$ for a new side cover since the bearing pocket is damaged and the stator bolt holes are buggered.
since im doing the work, its not going to be very expensive in ducati terms, but still a headach on a new to me bike.
congrats Tex for the easy quick fix!
I'm happy for both of you [thumbsup].The reference post from Ducati.ms could have been a lot worse. I found a few shavings in my screen two oil changes ago but I'm pretty sure they were from a few false neutrals as my most recent oil change was spot clean. I'm starting to think I may never be able to part with my Monster I would like to ride something else for a change but I have a distinct feeling if I sell my S2R I will regret it forever.
Quote from: tex-mex on March 20, 2012, 06:12:42 PM
Alternator bearing: $28 plus labor. No other internal damage. I'll have my bike back in a week or so! I've spent that last few days scouring the web for used motors.
Just this afternoon I noticed an intermittent rattle which I isolated to the left side cover, seems like it's near the front. Goes away once the bike is warmed up, and goes away when I throttle up. I only hear it at idle.
Clearly I wont really know anything until I pull the side cover off. Can anyone say what I can look for to determine if it's something like the above?
found the rattle.
3 bolts holding the stator in backed themselves out 1/4 or so. Thread locker must not have set up all the way before I put oil in /shrug
that doesn't explain why my bike died on the highway this afternoon.
Quote from: Privateer on March 28, 2012, 06:23:39 PM
found the rattle.
3 bolts holding the stator in backed themselves out 1/4 or so. Thread locker must not have set up all the way before I put oil in /shrug
that doesn't explain why my bike died on the highway this afternoon.
maybe the stator is damaged and not charging? when i pulled the cover i found one stator bolt missing, part of that bolt was still in the hole. and both other bolts backing out. one of the remaining ones was also broken with about half an inch still in the hole.
I know that guy from another forum ;D
(http://i753.photobucket.com/albums/xx178/IAMMisterX/2010%20ECR/IMG_1306.jpg)
(http://www.thespeedtriple.com/forum/images/smilies/d.gif)(http://www.thespeedtriple.com/forum/images/smilies/d.gif)
so I solved the rattle with the loose stator. When I was reinstalling the stator and the cover last night, I was carefully inspecting it.
It looks like the stator has some rub marks on it so I think when it got loose it rubbed, heated up terribly, and that cause my bike to die. When I was cutting across 6 lanes of traffic with the clutch in, right before I got to the side I noticed the temp said 330-something. I had planned a bunch of maint anyway and I haven't finished it all, but Im hoping that was the problem.
Also hoping my 6 month old stator wasn't damaged. Visually it seemed fine. Have to check the output I guess once it's all back together.
I pick up my bike today from ECS after having it repaired. I leave the shop as it's closing for my 100 mile road trip home. About 30 minutes into my trip a bolt in my shift linkage falls out leaving me sitting by the side of the highway watching the sun go down miles away from home on a Saturday evening.
I call the shop which is now closed and luckily a staff member picks up and transfers me to the the GM. His response was "I'll have a tech on his way to get your bike fixed." The tech arrives with a bag of screws and allen wrenches and reconnects the linkage. I was able to make it home without further incident.
All I can say is that ECS stands behind their bikes, their service, and most important their customers. There is no doubt why I've been a loyal customer of theirs since 2005 when I purchased my bike from them.
Quote from: tex-mex on April 07, 2012, 07:38:33 PM
I pick up my bike today from ECS after having it repaired. I leave the shop as it's closing for my 100 mile road trip home. About 30 minutes into my trip a bolt in my shift linkage falls out leaving me sitting by the side of the highway watching the sun go down miles away from home on a Saturday evening.
I call the shop which is now closed and luckily a staff member picks up and transfers me to the the GM. His response was "I'll have a tech on his way to get your bike fixed." The tech arrives with a bag of screws and allen wrenches and reconnects the linkage. I was able to make it home without further incident.
All I can say is that ECS stands behind their bikes, their service, and most important their customers. There is no doubt why I've been a loyal customer of theirs since 2005 when I purchased my bike from them.
Yes they do. You can trust them with your first born.
Quote from: howie on April 07, 2012, 08:44:33 PM
Yes they do. You can trust them with your first born.
I don't think he's talking about Steve and crew...
Quote from: ducpainter on April 08, 2012, 04:44:09 AM
I don't think he's talking about Steve and crew...
Two ECS? Life is so confusing.
Quote from: howie on April 08, 2012, 05:04:29 AM
Two ECS? Life is so confusing.
Well...
based on his screen name.
I think he's pretty far south of NY.
...and it gets more so all the time. ;)
The shop I use is European Cycle Sports in Plano Texas.
http://www.bmwmotorcyclesdallas.com/ (http://www.bmwmotorcyclesdallas.com/)
Quote from: tex-mex on April 08, 2012, 11:56:27 AM
The shop I use is European Cycle Sports in Plano Texas.
http://www.bmwmotorcyclesdallas.com/ (http://www.bmwmotorcyclesdallas.com/)
howie was referring to European Cycle Services in upstate NY...
They're good people too.