Folks, Ye might be able to help me with a new "concern" I have with my 749s. Last couple of runs I have had the clutch has been very squiffy on take off in first gear. It's my first Ducati and I was putting it down to being a bit snatchy and crabby when it gets warm but now I am noticing a slipping when I release the clutch at take off, resulting in a couple of cut outs... Clutch is absolutely fine up down gears once I am moving. It is a Ducati Performance clutch, open cover and bike only has 6K on it,2007. Is it just a case that I am dogging the clutch a bit too much as Im used to jap bikes and its overheating a bit?? I'd like to have a bash at figuring it out myself as I promised myself when I bought the bike I'd make an effort to get handier with the spanners so any basic troubleshooting steps would be great. Would it be worth dismantling/cleaning or is that best left to the pros? Mush
The Ducati dry clutch is very easy indeed to work on, so don't be afraid to get your hands dirty I am confused though by your description. You say that clutch slip has caused a couple of stalls when taking off in first gear. Clutch slip is when the clutch doesn't grip properly and the friction locking the plates together is overcome by the power/torque of the engine. This usually shows up most at big throttle openings in a high gear, not when taking off from rest in first. In fact you usually want the clutch to slip then. If in fact the clutch is grabbing, not slipping, a good clean out is likely to help. Can you engage neutral from first, at rest, with the engine running? If not, the clutch is dragging.
Thanks mate.. Ok my terminology might be a bit out but it is as you describe it. I can find neutral no issue from first at a standstill. When I release the clutch in first it feels like the bike/clutch is under strain, I have to give it beans to get moving....sound right??? Go ahead and dismantle and clean??
Ok, so, no clutch drag. Still confused though, as not sure what you mean by 'under strain'. Do you mean it's grabby and doesn't want to slip smoothly and grips too suddenly so the motor bogs down? If so, yes, strip it down and give it a good clean. It could be that some plates are stuck together. When you remove the cover, lay the bolts in the pattern they are in the cover, so you can put them all back in the same place. They are different lengths but not very different, so it's easy to mix them up. The bolts that fit deep right into the cover don't need to come out. The cover will lift off with them in place. The top plates come out easily but the final ones are tricky. You can use a dentists tooth pick but the best way is with s pair of strong telescopic magnets. Strangely, the best ones I've found come from Sainsburys tool section and are branded Olympia. As you take each plate out, hang it on the riders foot peg, so you keep the correct order. Last out, first back. When you put the bolts back in, only nip them back up with gentle hand pressure, the springs will stop them loosening. Make sure the pressure plate engages the teeth properly. The raised arrow on the pressure plate is supposed to line up with the slotted post. Grease the pushrod before you put it back.
Do you mean it's grabby and doesn't want to slip smoothly and grips too suddenly so the motor bogs down? Exactly that "Do you mean it's grabby and doesn't want to slip smoothly and grips too suddenly so the motor bogs down?" Ill have a bash at your instructions, thanks for all the feedback. I'd better redefine my definitions of slippy snatchy grabby draggy strained clutches!!
Please let us know what you find. There are a number of simple mods you can to Ducati clutches to make them quieter, longer lasting, smoother and lighter (lever action)
just to clarify/add to OldRider's guide :- Quote - "When you put the bolts back in, only nip them back up with gentle hand pressure, the springs will stop them loosening." The four bolts holding on the cover can be tightened fairly normally unless you have a carbonfibre cover without any aluminium sleeves set in it (in which case I would throw it away!) it's the six screws that attach the springs you have to go careful with as are prone to stripping if overtightened. It's worth checking each screw as you remove them to see if the threads are overly sloppy or binding*, each could mean a problem also check to see if there are aluminium flecks/deposits on any of the screws particularly if this coincides with*. The screws themselves should be in good condition, and should be assembled up without Copaslip/grease. You need all the thread you can find on these and often a longer screw might find another 3 mm of depth before bottoming out.
Hey Mike the clutch fitted to your bike is a slipper clutch. There is nothing to worry about as they are prone to slipping in first.
