696 Engine Paint Issue

[Takster]

Maybe this should go under tech, but is anybody else having this problem?



FYI There's only about 2000 miles on the engine.

~T

[Duc Fever]

I know there were issues with the 695's paint discoloring, but this looks totally different.  Kind of looks like salt corrosion, do they salt the roads in your area?  I do know that with the 695 paint issue Ducati was covering it under warranty.

[Takster]

Yes, they salt the roads heavily here in MA.

BTW, it's not discoloration.  What you're looking at is RAW aluminum.

~T

[gearhead]

I agree with the previous post in that it is definately a corrosion issue as you can clearly see the bolts corroding too. My 696 has double the miles of yours yet still looks showroom new . I keep mine clean.

[Takster]

I honestly don't know what else I would do.  I wash it off after every couple of rides. 

...maybe I should have held off rather  than ride the first above-35-degree days this year.

I'm taking it down to the dealer tomorrow to see if they'll cover it under warranty.  Wish me luck.

[Duc Fever]

Good Luck!

[sfarchie]

Are you sure it's not due to the frisbie?

Seriously, prolly need to wash it down after each ride. I'm always paranoid when I ride along the coast in SF and the wind is blowing the salty mist all around. My shield & helmet is usually covered with a fine, stickish, mist spots so I know it's landing everywhere.

[Takster]

Are you sure it's not due to the frisbie?

Seriously, prolly need to wash it down after each ride. I'm always paranoid when I ride along the coast in SF and the wind is blowing the salty mist all around. My shield & helmet is usually covered with a fine, stickish, mist spots so I know it's landing everywhere.

Yeah, I considered myself pretty good about keeping her clean, but after every ride is probably a good idea...  it's just a pain in the ass when it's mid-30s out.

[dbran1949]

If it really is raw aluminum without even a clear-coat then use Nevr-Dull

http://www.nevrdull.com/

I had access to this stuff courtesy of the USN back in the early 70's. I had a 305 Honda. I polished all the aluminum to a high shine with this stuff

[He Man]

the 695 had it and they blammed it on the fact that there is no oil cooler. If you warrantied it, and got it replaced, the same thing would happen again. Its honestly just the corrosive stuff around this neck the of the woods. if you ever looked underneath taxi cabs from the northeast, they are all sprayed with a special weathering coat to prevent the underside from corroding.

I'm pretty sure its the paint that Ducati is using. not up to handling the weather up here. my S2R 1000 has the same crap on it. and so does my friends Buell XB12R, and another friends 695 (repaired under warranty but still had that problem).

[gearhead]

Trust one of your northern brothers and wait longer to pull it out. The problem occurs when you ride when the roads are wet. The acidic mixture will eat your bike alive. It gets into every nook and cranny. If you insist on riding in salt water you must spray anywhere that has gotten wet with WD40. Best to wash it off first with warm soapy water, then WD40 after every ride. You can see the cost of not doing that.I'll just wait a bit longer to pull mine out.

[Takster]

Trust one of your northern brothers and wait longer to pull it out. The problem occurs when you ride when the roads are wet. The acidic mixture will eat your bike alive. It gets into every nook and cranny. If you insist on riding in salt water you must spray anywhere that has gotten wet with WD40. Best to wash it off first with warm soapy water, then WD40 after every ride. You can see the cost of not doing that.I'll just wait a bit longer to pull mine out.

That's good advice.  I guess now I'm shopping for something that sprays hot soapy water?  What do you use?

[gearhead]

Truthfully the water doesn't have to be hot if you use an excellent cleaner like Simply Green. A toilet cleaning brush works great along with it to get into the fins. The important thing is the WD40. Even if you cant wash it get the WD40 on it.It will neutralise the acid.You can also restore it all to look better than new. If it is infact raw aluminum than you can buy a gold colored wire wheel to put on your drill that will make it look new again. It just takes elbow grease. I would remove those valve cover bolts one at a time and clean then coat them lightly with grease.The other thing is think about all the other areas you can't see that are corroding. Don't ride in the early spring when the roads are wet and i you do wash the hell out of it right away before putting it to bed. Remember though that it can be restored to new.

[Takster]

Truthfully the water doesn't have to be hot if you use an excellent cleaner like Simply Green. A toilet cleaning brush works great along with it to get into the fins. The important thing is the WD40. Even if you cant wash it get the WD40 on it.It will neutralise the acid.You can also restore it all to look better than new. If it is infact raw aluminum than you can buy a gold colored wire wheel to put on your drill that will make it look new again. It just takes elbow grease. I would remove those valve cover bolts one at a time and clean then coat them lightly with grease.The other thing is think about all the other areas you can't see that are corroding. Don't ride in the early spring when the roads are wet and i you do wash the hell out of it right away before putting it to bed. Remember though that it can be restored to new.

OK, so I've done as you've recommended.  Anything that I shouldn't hit with wd40?  rotors? tires? belts?

[NAKID]

Simple Green is bad for raw aluminum...