Hi All, 2001 996 with 27k km. After filling up yesterday the bike was having difficulty starting, like the battery was almost dead, which is brand-new btw. When I got home, switched the bike off and re-started, like new, no problem whatsoever. Anyone with the same experience? Being new to Ducati where do I start looking first? Solenoid, clutch or starter... Thanks in advance .
Check the voltage at the battery at around 2000rpm. Should be around 14.4V. If not, your reg/rectifier may be dead.
as above, plus sounds like you've got the right approach and if you haven't had one before/if they haven't been replaced, then there's a possibility that it might be the original starter leads struggling as the symptoms do fit and it's a common problem.
Disconnect, de-oxidise, dielectric grease snd reconnect all cables in the starter circuit, so battery to relay to solenoid to starter to earth (the starter’s earthed against the engine) and battery earth to frame. Upgraded cables will help but check the state of the existing circuits first.
You could do all you suggested and show no improvement if the original leads themselves turn out to be the culprit Paul, that's why we replace them? Not for nothing have many owners described the difference in original versus upgraded as "night and day" and you know this as well as I do. Look at it another way, if we could restore a decent rate of starter churn just by doing as you suggested, then most of us wouldn't replace the starter leads..
I experienced this on my Muttley as well as the Hyper. I could never work out why it was always such a wheezy start on ignition. Every other make of bike I've ever ridden has come to life on demand. The Ducati's always seem like they need another pull on a fag and a sip of coffee before they'll consider firing up
My 916 with clean original cable ends, solenoid & starter post with a new fully charged Yuasa battery was a sluggish starter until I swapped to upgraded starter cables. You can only do so much with the stock kit. A hi CCA battery can help but also swap to upgraded cables as the 1st option. Note if your starter hasnt been touched since new the 12v terminal may have corroded to a rusty stump & be beyond cleaning. A stator brush kit for the starter comes with a new stud though usually needs the starter out to swap as its a bit (very) fiddly to do inplace.
Make sure the battery is kept fully charged and not left uncharged for weeks (as many are). As you are trying to turn over a big V twin, the condition of the battery, cables and solenoid are critical, there is not much spare capacity in the system. If the intermittent starting performance continues, despite a fully charged battery and clean lead connections, you probably need a new solenoid. They usually fail just by not engaging but they do wear and when badly worn can have poor contact engagement just like any other worn relay.
