Mag Clutch side case (and other mag part related questions)

[junior varsity]

So, I am considering/have been considering for sometime a few pieces for the M900 (and maybe one day... the other M900)...

I need some magnesium education.

a) Magnesium clutch case cover (shaped like stock, but made of magnesium)
b) Corse/Corsa Magnesium clutch case cover (looks like the one above but with full cutouts, just the posts for the clutch cover bolts remain - certainly the lightest and most 'injury-prone' in a crash)
c) Magnesium alternator case cover

(and generally about magnesium as it would relate to valve covers, swingarms, wheels, front subframes, etc for my knowledge)

How likely is it that the magnesium will corrode? I have heard stories of mag parts turning to dust over years, and that the parts were for race-use only, not for long term use or proper for streetbikes. Is this a sure-thing, going to corrode, don't put it on your bike you plan on riding for years into the future, etc.

Similarly: Magnesium & Fatigue? I've heard this was a problem and reason to avoid mag wheels - I assume some such claims are related to the deterrence propaganda from competing manufacturers, etc, but is this (should this) be a legitimate concern for street-use? (Wheels and potholes? Related: Corroding magnesium strength reductions?)

For the aforementioned clutch case covers - I've seen available a mag regular/stock shape and the windowed/cutout mag versions with a matte finish like this one from Kaemna.de:


Where others seem more 'finished' (DP, NCR, etc):


Similar question: Has there been a change in the internal structure of these clutch case covers / clutch housings?  I see that some clutch housings have a plugged port below/behind the clutch, while others do not (compare the kaemna.de one above with this milled OEM cover):



I know it is more budget friendly to mill a stock cover, but am curious about the options. 

Options....Like this beaut:


or this one:

[scduc]

Not sure about your questions, but they sure do look purdy. I decided to machine my clutch side similar to the 3rd pic. Didn't come out nearly as nice, but I plan on powdercoating. Then I decided to try and get the sensor nut off of the front valve cover. Totally destroying it. So now I contemplate doing all Mag. covers. Just not sure I like the color.

[junior varsity]

too bad the valve inspection covers changed for the ds1000 motors, or I could just send you one of my spares. (750/900, some with temp sensor cut outs, some without).


I found while playing on the 'Bay some Magnesium finned valve inspection covers for the Pantah, which look like they will bolt up just fine to the 900 motor (trapezoid shapes, and I can't remember anywhere seeing that there different dimension trapezoids)... but again, curious about longevity of the mag with regular or extended exposure to sunlight (on one side) and oil (on the other side).  Same would be applicable questions for the alternator case cover and clutch case cover / clutch housing composed in magnesium.

[junior varsity]

Just not sure I like the color.

I see what you mean - I really like when pieces on the motor are 'blacked out' so they show less dirt and kind of "disappear" while the tank shape and color, and frame details are accented by the contrast. But with the gold color, well finished mag (like the DP or NCR mag parts), I think they look great and remind me (and maybe other viewers) of Ducati race history (even on the "lowly monster" and its 900 motor and subsequent improved derivations therein - that being - evolving from the bevel era 900s and such)

[Speeddog]

AFAIK, those Pantah valve covers will fit all 2-valvers excluding DS1k, 696 and 1100.
Basically, all of the ones with trapezoidal covers.

I've had my Mag Marchesinis for 7 years and 34k miles, they were IIRC a year old and 5k miles on 'em when I got 'em.
They're still as sweet as the day I got 'em. 

I wouldn't worry about the non-structural stuff like covers, as long as you didn't ride in a salty area.

[junior varsity]

i gots no salts bike cruises throughout tejas and tensea.

AFAIK, those Pantah valve covers will fit all 2-valvers excluding DS1k, 696 and 1100.
Basically, all of the ones with trapezoidal covers.

Cool, thanks for confirming. I will now sit here and chew on it for awhile.

I've had my Mag Marchesinis for 7 years and 34k miles, they were IIRC a year old and 5k miles on 'em when I got 'em.
They're still as sweet as the day I got 'em. 
I wouldn't worry about the non-structural stuff like covers, as long as you didn't ride in a salty area.

well that's good news. i should not worry so much.

anyways to make sure they are well protected?

[zooom]

I have known a couple guys who have used some Mag Corsa casings on SBK's ( a 748w/853kit, a 996SPS with hot cams, and an 851 stroked to 906 immediately come to mind), and all have eventually failed due to fatigue...the longest usage I have heard of under regular hard usage ( all of these were track bikes, BTW) was 1500 miles...not sure what it is about the mag casings,maybe it is the heat cycling and so forth, but they are just brittle and seem to eventually give up the ghost as it were.

[junior varsity]

And then there's that

[Speeddog]

I have known a couple guys who have used some Mag Corsa casings on SBK's...
~~~SNIP~~~

Are you saying crankcases or sidecovers?

[zooom]

Are you saying crankcases or sidecovers?

alternator and clutch for sure....I have never delved deep into their bikes to see what else...but on a couple of those bikes, I know 2 of those guys have some serious unobtanium Corsa parts gotten through some back door sources in their machines to the point that I don't want to even think of what kind of $$$ they have put into them...

[junior varsity]

Hmm. Nobody makes a fancy alt side cover in billet aluminum...just mag. So it's mag, or my somewhat rashed cast stock one...or a repainted / pc'd stock cast one.

If it was heat/oil and air exposure related, could one so some form of ceramic coating to insulate and protect?

[junior varsity]

I saw on the .MS site that Theo had pc questions, and one guy had done his mag clutch cover (outer cover for SF - he believes his to be mag, though I know some are alu painted gold...  ) "over 10" different times (link), but elsewhere I've seen that it requires special prep, etc.

Here's the thread there:
http://www.ducati.ms/forums/11-ducati-motorcycle-chat/87707-magnesium-clutch-housing-finish.html

Also some notable posts (thread is pretty good overall):

Helpful post:

I recently did a mag swingarm, but failed to get a photo of the finished product. I used a warm tone gold, ultra-fine metallic that looks wicked against a Red frame. It was a multi-stage job where I stripped all the old coating and put a brushed finish on the mag surface, sealed it, used a transparent Gold with high UV resistant clear, then laid the warm gold metallic over that in a mist coat until the brightness of the previous gold had been toned down, but still visible at various angles.

Long story short, you have many options:
(1) you can coat what you have with a protective clearcoat
(2) You can paint direct to the original coating with a different base color and then clear that
(3) You can strip and seal and do just about anything you want from there

The bottom line with magnesium is to protect it from moisture which will corrode it over time, and use products that provide UV protection, i.e., Clearcoat.

Negative Nancy (but good info for those on the cautious path):

Mag is a nightmare from a corosion point of view. I work with military aircraft and on the particular jet I work on the canopy and windscreen frames are made from cast magnesium. It was a big fad in the 70's. It's interesting that for the American version of this plane, MD/Boeing specified that the canopy must not be made from Mag. For those, they're machined Al Alloy.

The original corrosion protection for this was chromic acid passivation treatment (I expect this is what is on the mad engine cover, it's gives a golden/orange colour) followed by a stoved enamel black finish.

Now these aircraft were built in very late 90's, and entered service in 2000. The mag canopy and windscreen frames are turning to white dust! Anywhere the paint is thin or is chipped and moisture gets in, the mag will corrode quick time. It makes pits and travels not disimilar to termite damage. Corrosion repair by grinding/polishing and then assessing the remaining thickness / strength is a nightmare...

[junior varsity]

So big question mentioned above, kind of determines my options:

Difference in interior designs in dry clutch covers from earlier years to later years? There's the "oil passage" or whatever it is that turns 90 degrees inwards towards the motor on one of the clutch cases on my shelf (02 900ie), while others I see (none of mine) have that passage seemingly coming to an end with plug on the outside at the bottom/back of the clutch housing.


Leslie at BCM shows this will fit:

2V 900ST
3V1000ST
2V 900SS
2V 900 Monsters
2V Dry Clutch Dual Spark Motors (Multi, Monster, Motard, SS, Sport Classic, Paul Smart, etc)
749
999
Desmo Quattro 4V superbikes, ST series and 4V monsters

Compare to 'newer' style, a Corsa housing from a 749R, with port - but I also see passage goes the same direction as well. Not sure what the passage is for...


Required to stick with the style you've got, or possible to use the 'newer' style?  I noticed that the newer wet clutch cases (even those in mag) have that same port:


That's DP 96853608B, and is listed to fit:

Hypermotard: 796
Monster: 620/695/696/696ABS/750/800/S2R800 (all 2002+)
Multistrada: 620/dark/1100/1100S
SportClassic: GT1000/Sport 1000 Biposto/Sport 1000S
SportTouring: ST3/ABS/ST4
Superbike: 848
Supersport: 620/750/800

Doesn't list the 600 or M750ie, makes me wonder if there was a change from the older bikes to the newer, but the SS750 is listed?

Then again, the Pro Italia listing for the current DP part (969624AAA) doesn't show that port, giving me further confusion:

Hypermotard: 1100/1100S/1100evo/1100evoSP
Monster: 1000/S2R1000/1100/1100 ABS/1100S/1100S ABS
Multistrada: 1000/1000S
SportClassic: Sport 1000/Paul Smart 1000LE
Superbike: 749 Dark/749/749S/749R/999/999S/999R

Lists all 'current' dry clutch bikes after the 998(?) except the 1098/1198...?  And confused about the omission of the 998, I was under the impression that the motor in the 998 was the same as the 999 until the change to the deep sump. (And there's no 999 year-specific cut-offs for shallow v. deep sumps).  And with no 900 listing, makes me wonder what the difference is in the 'old' generation and 'new'. (and 'newest').

Compare with the same part (DP 969624AAA) listing from motowheels, which shows the port:

It lists all newer dry clutch engines (including the 1098/1198!) and includes ALL testastretta superbikes, such as the 998 and 996R, and near the end lists "ST" generally (so ST2 - a 900 derivative), but no 900...:

1198, 1098, 998, 996R, 998R,749, 999, 999S, 999R, Monster S4R, S2R1000, S41000, MTS 1000, HM, ST to 04, SS1000ie.

[MonsterMan1036]

^^^^^

You'll have to use the top one that you have pictured.

[atomic410]

I've had my Mag Marchesinis for 7 years and 34k miles, they were IIRC a year old and 5k miles on 'em when I got 'em.
They're still as sweet as the day I got 'em. 


Have you x-rayed (?) them?  i was told thats how you can tell if the have internal cracks.  I don't know, just going on what i was told.  just wondering what kind of life i can get out of mine[bacon]