CRACKED ENGINE CASE DURING OIL CHANGE

[jdliquid]

Hi everyone.

I am new to both the board and owning a Ducati. It's my first bike...'06 monster S2R 800.
I'm writing to ask about a particular situation that happened to me recently.

I attempted to change my own oil for the first time. To make a long story short, I accidentally
unscrewed the small drain plug (one that is not supposed to be touched), rahter than the normal
wider diameter oild drain plug. Being that this was my first time, a bit nervous work on my first
bike, yet excited to know that I would be learning and saving $$$ in the long run, I decided to
go through with the oil change. After unscrewing what I recently found out was NOT the oil drain plug,
rather the plug that simply is there to plug a hole that simply exists for proper drain flow through the
oil pan, I was not able to tell the difference at the time as the result of unscrewing this plug was hot oil
drained as I thought it should. After draining all the oil from the engine, I noticed that there was a finger nail like shaving of metal that was missing from the thread on the engine case where this plug is supposed be replaced.
Again, not knowing that this was the wrong plug, I paniced and began to screw the plug back into place. I followed the specs that I've read on several message boards of 32 ft. lbs of torque. This is where I royally F** things up.
Applying this torque to THIS screw was a wrong move...as it was not the proper screw. Needless to say, I ended up crack the part of the case that accepts the screw/plug.

My question to any/all is what are my options to resolve this without breaking the bank?
Is it a worst case scenerio of replacing the engine case? or is there a simpler much more
afffordable fix?

Any sound advice/help any of you can give is really much appreciated as this has been a rough weekend.
Thank you all in advance.

J

[jaxduc]

is this for real?

[ducpainter]

Welcome.

You'll get better answers in tech,

I'll move this there.

is this for real?

never screwed up?

really?

[ungeheuer]

Hi everyone.

I am new to both the board and owning a Ducati.

Welcome aboard  .

Sorry for your tale of woe though.

I ended up crack the part of the case that accepts the screw/plug.

Actually cracked the case or just stripped out the thread from over tightening??

[zooom]

pictures might help a little bit...

[jaxduc]

never screwed up?
really?

I'll be nice. I've screwed up way more than the average person.
It just seemed a little fishy?

[Dirty Duc]

Welcome aboard  .

Sorry for your tale of woe though.
Actually cracked the case or just stripped out the thread from over tightening??

pictures might help a little bit...

+1 on both of these guys.

the answer to your dilemma lies in your answer to ungeheuer's question.

[jdliquid]

Hey everyone.

I know...I'm embarrassed, and yes this is for real.

The mechanic mentioned that he will need to do some welding....So I'm sure there is a crack.

Before I sent it away on the flatbed tow truck, I remember seeing a small chip that broke off
where the threading exists...but not a severe crack. The mechanic did not give me an estimate yet, but it sounds pretty
serious. Not what I was hoping for especially with my first bike and first time trying to work on it.
You learn from mistakes though....so mistakes will happen....some more costly.

I didn't take pictures as my anger took over. It's now in the shop.

I'm trying to gauge what I'm looking at for repair costs, and possibly different repair approach scenarios, so I know I'm not
being ripped off by a mechanic looking pad his time.

Thanks everyone. Hope to share better news in the future.

[ungeheuer]

Hard to know for sure.....but my first inexpensive thought is this:

JB Weld.

[stopintime]

90-10 chance this won't kill your budget   (I have nothing to back this up, just being optimistic)

It's not a critical area and I'm not sure you even need that hole (?)
So, if it's 'just' a chip and not a crack which might develop.... maybe 'just' weld the hole and chip?

Good luck and keep us posted

[ducpainter]

Hard to know for sure.....but my first inexpensive thought is this:

JB Weld.

We'd both do that in the door yard, but a tech won't because of the liability.

Some JB Weld...a keensert and away you go.

90-10 chance this won't kill your budget  (I have nothing to back this up, just being optimistic)

It's not a critical area and I'm not sure you even need that hole (?)
So, if it's 'just' a chip and not a crack which might develop.... maybe 'just' weld the hole and chip?

Good luck and keep us posted

That may very well be what they're up to.

[jdliquid]

Thank you for the quick responses all.

I'll keep you posted on what he suggests / and compare to what you all suggest..
Wont be able to look at it until FRIDAY!

Thanks again.

[take risks]

Holy Shittake Mushrooms!!!

So bummed for you man.
Thanks for making me LOL.

The JB weld.
Pics would help quite a bit.

Good luck bro.

[zooom]

I'm trying to gauge what I'm looking at for repair costs, and possibly different repair approach scenarios, so I know I'm not
being ripped off by a mechanic looking pad his time.

Thanks everyone. Hope to share better news in the future.

without pictures...we are left with nothing but pure conjecture....sorry...but what the mechanic says he is going to do, you are just going to have to trust in and pay up when he is done...

BTW, FWIW...the engine cases I believe are aluminum which takes a different measure of welding material and ability...so here is to hoping that he does right and all goes well for you.

Some JB Weld...a keensert and away you go.
 

keensert or a Timesert....either way...+1!

[jdliquid]

I have my fingers crossed and will probably keep them that way until I get the call Friday.

On a side note, anybody from NY? Queens / LIC location? If so, can you recommend a Ducati cerified mechanic in the area?
I would travel to brooklyn as well...just want to keep it closer than what I'm using now (the BRONX). A little far for me.
For the ones that do service your bike at a shop, do you always use/look for Ducati certified? I'm trying to find a
closer shop for emergencies such as this idiotic move. I appreciate all the support, and I do not take any of the
harsher comments to heart lol....I would probably do the same if I read this post and I was a veteran bike owner.
Much respect to all.