Hello to all my Ducati monster owners! :)
Been having issues with my bike as of late... Really a bummer since it's my baby and I can't use it :( however, I figured I'd post up on here to see what u hits have to say :)
I bought the bike back in July 2014 from a private owner and it ran like a dream. I had an incident back in October 2014 that didn't allow me to ride so my bike was sitting in my garage for a few months... Now, I'm really new to bikes in general so I didn't learn till later that if isn't turn on on basically the daily that it can just be a pain to get it going once you wanna get back on the ball, also, not to mention the kill switch, it was on the entire time I didn't use the bike (3 months or so). Now, since then I would charge the battery and sometimes I would get it to go but only if it felt like it, or ateast I figured that's what it was... Since then, I've replaced the spark plugs, the battery and I've double checked my fluids, fuses, fuel lines and all seems ship shape. At times it seems like it's going to start but mainly it just chugs a few times until it gives out :(
I called a Ducati dealer around my area and they're saying that it can be the stator and rectifier. We were able to remove the starter from the equation so I know it's not that. I've done just about all I know to do and it still won't do a thing, in fact, now it doesn't even chug when I try to start it, it just clicks on then off and my check engine light turns on.
As you are as to tell, I'm not sure what it can be so I figured I'd reach out to some pros and friends to see what it could be, any input is always welcome!! I appreciate you guys in advance and hope to hear from someone soon :)
Take it easy y'all :)
800monstermash
I would suggest your battery is not fully charged.
Hey Dirty Duc,
I guess I can try to charge it again, however, is this supposed to be a normal, ongoing thing? I've done this time and time again and only sometimes does it actually work. I've heard that these bikes are known for their electrical issues and so I guess that's why the Ducati dealer mentioned it can be the stator.
One thing I did notice is that when I replaced the battery with a fresh one, it did turn on but, if I power down the bike and hit the kill switch to cut all electrical current, what else can be draining the charge on my bike?
I hate to sound like such a noob but I am one lol!! I appreciate your insight and will give it a shot as soon as I possibly can! Thanks again!
800monstermash
Stale fuel? Just a guess!
First thing to do is charge the battery and have it load tested. Fully charged or new does not mean good. New does not mean fully charged (credit to Dirty Duc). After that get back to us.
if it clicks it's battery voltage, or lack thereof. deal with the battery first, using a real charger, not a tender/trickle. then work through other issues. a lot of the so called "electrical issues" are just incompetent diagnosis and repair.
if it had a charging system issue (stator or regulator) then it wouldn't restart after being ridden.
just turn the key off, the kill switch is irrelevant. don't turn it past lock and bring the park lights on.
If that's the original battery from 2005, I'm gonna say it is most likely the battery. Won't matter how long you charge the battery if it won't hold the charge. As someone mentioned, have it load tested, that would be my first step. But I'd also start looking for a new battery.
Quote from: hackers2r on April 08, 2015, 05:31:19 AM
If that's the original battery from 2005, I'm gonna say it is most likely the battery. Won't matter how long you charge the battery if it won't hold the charge. As someone mentioned, have it load tested, that would be my first step. But I'd also start looking for a new battery.
FYI; OP said: "I replaced the battery with a fresh one" but I echo others who said that even a fresh battery can be suspect, and should be load tested.
When you are starting it are you actually going out for a ride? Repeated starting and idling is just going to drain your battery. You need to get your RPM's up so it charges. Like Brad said get a real charger to charge it. For the future get a tender so you can leave it on the tender when you are not riding it on a regular basis.
Starter sprag problem ? [popcorn] check out these symptoms.... [thumbsup]
http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=68621.0 (http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=68621.0)
Thanks for the feedback everyone!! I'll get the battery charged again and see if that is what is actually what needs to be done. Once I've done that an notice a change then cool, if it's not, I'll try all the other things you guys mentioned! U guys are awesome!! :)
Thanks again,
800monstermash
Honestly, i'd say if the other suggestions don't work, try draining the fuel tank, refueling and JUMP the bike. I've found in my monster that the battery doesn't charge properly so i jump it and let it sit on for a while. Then just remember to turn her on every day or so.
I respectively disagree DucMo. Turning the ignition on every couple of days will only drain the battery. If you can't ride the bike 30 miles or so, put it on a trickle charger.
Best thing you can do for a bike is to ride it.
As others have mentioned, a fresh battery from the store is not necessarily a charged battery. While you are recharging the battery, go buy a battery tender extender plug and route it along your frame so you can trickle charge it easily for long term storage.
I dont see any issues jumping using a car battery in parallel as the monsters generally do 12V as well.
DO NOT jump it with a charger attached. This could fry your system.
Quote from: EEL on April 10, 2015, 09:21:44 AM
As others have mentioned, a fresh battery from the store is not necessarily a charged battery. Nor does it mean good. That is why I said charge and load test. While you are recharging the battery, go buy a battery tender extender plug and route it along your frame so you can trickle charge it easily for long term storage.
I dont see any issues jumping using a car battery in parallel as the monsters generally do 12V as well. Correct. Car should not be running.
DO NOT jump it with a charger attached. This could fry your system.