On the way back from its mot a couple of weeks ago my 748 got stuck in gear, lever locked with no chance of changing gear or selecting neutral. A common fault apparently which is usually a broken return spring. I opened up the alternator side case and found the drum control fork was wedged on the outside of one of the selector drum pins. However when the assembly was loosened off I discovered some odd wear on the control fork, this photo was taken with the gear lever depressed to push the control fork to its maximum throw for changing up Here is the control fork in its rest position now the questions. Has anyone seen wear on the outside of the control fork like that shown on the first picture? In the second picture the reference mark on the fork looks to me to be slightly out of position, does anyone have an alternative way of checking the position without using the Ducati special tool 88713.1091? Looks like I need a new control fork (180.1.008.1A) but the wear on the selector mechanism after 41.5k miles looks to have reached a point where the fork and gear selector pin (821.1.001.1A) is allowing the whole lot to move away from the selector drum so I may have to replace the gear selector pin as well. There are plenty of the assemblies second hand on ebay but I am not sure fitting a worn/old one is good idea Anyone have experience of similar issues and what was the ultimate fix? For those interested there are widely available alternative pullers that will remove the case including a Laser one specific for Ducatis and a generic Clarke one for around £12 from Machine Mart which just needs some penny washers to work with the small screws that fit the generator/water pump case. That and leaving the clutch slave in position to help crack the threebond gasket seal made the case removal straightforward.
I can’t answer your questions Denzil but I am interested, for future reference, in any information that comes forward. All I can do is post a picture of mine (it’s in pieces at the moment as I refurbish corroded fixings & crankcase covers etc) and you can see the position on a 3500 mile example as a comparator.
Paul, your drum control fork looks to be sitting exactly where I thought mine ought to be. New components ordered and an order for oil, filter and coolant made. Funny how some companies are selling the widely used (in European cars) £6 Mahle oil filter for £16 when adding Ducati to the title of the sale item.
