More advice required please! I was riding my 02 st4s earlier when I noticed a little bit of a clattery noise. Nothing seemed to be affected by it so I thought no more of it. Anyway, I was around 10 miles from home, went to change into 6th gear, and hit a false neutral. Hit the lever again, went into 6th, but the clattering became louder and there was a lot of vibration. It still pulled but was very vibey and noisey, almost as if I was trying to accelerate in too high a gear. Dropped back down to 5th and the vibrations went, and the noise got quieter. As I got home, I noticed a couple of times as I was wheeling it back and forth to get in my gate, it stopped dead as if the wheels locked up, but when I moved it again it was ok. I'm guessing that a tooth has broken off the 6th gear, and that had jammed the drive causing the wheels to lock while pushing it about. Is there any common issues with st4s gearboxes, or does what I've described sound like a knackered gear? If so, is it something that can be fixed fairly easily, or could it be something else? Thanks!
Bugger! Is there anything else that could be causing it rather than gearbox failure? I think that it must be related to the box some how as the rattling stops when clutch is pulled in, but it just seems odd that it's only affecting drive in top, every other gear is fine. If something had broken in the box, I'd have expected it to cause other issues like jamming up the other gears while it's moving. I'm guessing if it is gearbox failure, that's not something cheap to fix?
Just went out to have a look again. With the engine off and in neutral, the back wheel spins as it should with no odd noises. It goes through all the gears with good feel on the lever. With the bike on centre stand and engine running, in neutral with clutch pulled in there are no noises. Let clutch out and there's the usual clutch rattle, plus a bit of clatter from bottom of engine. Pulled clutch in and put into first, slowly let out the clutch, back wheel didn't start to spin, and then the bike stalled. So I'm guessing that something is stopping the final drive from turning. Put the bike back into neutral and started it up, wheel spins fine, try to put it into first again and this time the wheel starts to spin as the clutch is let out! I know the clutch plates were replaced a couple of thousand miles ago, but the clutch basket does have a little bit of wear. Can't see it being a clutch issue though as it was and is changing gear ok. All I can think of is something has broken on the 6th gear and is floating around in the gearbox, and it was just pure luck that it didn't cause a serious issue while I was riding it. But I'm hopeful that someone is going to give me some good news and it be something easy to sort!
You are going to have to be careful with this. The last thing that you want is a gearbox seizure as you are riding. I think that if it was me then I would warm it right up in neutral on the centre-stand and then drain the oil. Take out the gauze filter just below the level indicator (well, it is on the ST2 & 3) and inspect. Could try calling a few Ducati specialists to see if they have encountered anything similar.
Yes I think I'll try and drain it out tomorrow and see if anything comes out . Baines racing is fairly close to me so I'll drop them a bell in the morning.
Assuming the worst case scenario on my st4s, and the gearbox is knackered, realistically what would be the best route to go down? Bearing in mind finances are tight! Get it repaired, which would be way out of my comfort zone, so would have to be a garage job (which I would guess could get very costly!), try and track down a replacement engine and swap that over (could probably do that myself but doubt I'll find an engine in good condition for not much money), or decide thats it as far as this bike goes, and either sell as is or break it for parts, and try and find another bike to replace it with. I am truly starting to love riding this bike, however it has had its share of negative moments in the short time I've had it, and I don't want to get into a money pit. It's on 53k miles, and although it's been looked after, is this a sign that it's past it's best?
I think you would have to price up a replacement engine (check eBay) and depending upon what that would cost then it may worth putting in a replacement engine to get you back on the road. You have to take the old engine out anyway so if not in a rush to get it back on the road then I would be tempted to remove old engine and strip it. I wouldn't think that the broken part would be too expensive.
Thanks pal. I had a look online, the only engine I could find is for an ST4, nothing for st4s, and that was £900! I'd be tempted to have a go at trying to fix it as a last chance, but I've not got anywhere to do it. I've not got a garage, and there's no way my Mrs will let me do it in the kitchen!
I've just spoken to motorapido, he's said from the sounds of it, it's most likely the 6th gear that's failed somehow, but couldn't say for definite without stripping the engine. He's quoted around £600 to get it to the point where they can diagnose what's wrong. He said best case is it's just a replacement gear, worst case is something has come off and knackered the gearbox and cases. He's suggested that at the mileage its on, if I was going to keep the bike long term, that I do a complete engine refresh with bearings etc. Rough price for that would be around £4000! He said I could go down the replacement engine route, but unless I can find one with extremely good history, then I could be putting an engine in that's going to need just as much work if not more. He did say to check a few other things but from the sounds of it, gearbox failure is the issue. So, what to do? I can't afford to spend that sort of money on it. Is there much market for st4s parts? I could break the bike or advertise it whole I guess, try and recoup some money off it, then try and get another bike?
Personally, with 53k on it, I'd go for a replacement 2nd hand engine. You should be able to pick one up for a reasonable sum if you are patient. For £4k to rebuild yours, you could buy another bike and use yours for spares or break, like you say. eBay The gearbox is going to have to come apart anyway, why not take it apart and have a look. I don't think you can use it without investigating.
Take It apart you have nothing to lose. 4 k is a bit more than an economical repair on the bike. Maybe just a bearing gone? You won’t know TIL you look.
If you have not got space then it will be difficult to do an engine strip - especially in the Winter! Rather than break it, you could consider selling as is - being honest about problem. The ST bikes are pretty good value and then you could consider replacing it. A budget of three grand should do for a good replacement. Maybe not an ST4s nut certainly a ST3. I paid about £1500 for my ST2 and it is good. Took it to France just after I got it on eBay and didn't even change the oil!
If you are looking for a replacement engine bear in mind that the Monster S4R use the same 996 engine.
I've got an S4r but I'm not willing to part out the engine! Good advice, though, as it widens the search. Try LougiMoto in Somerset. Richard had loads of used stuff last time I was there. I believe that the S4r engine is in other Ducatis from the sporting range but never had reason to investigate.
I've just had the clutch cover off and there was a tiny bit of what looked like oil in the bottom of the cover. There's no play in the clutch apart from a slight rotation of the plates where the basket is a bit worn. There's no play anywhere else. I started it up and it was fine in neutral, put it into first and it went forward about a meter before it locked up. I pulled the clutch in before it stalled but it wouldn't change into neutral or second unless I turned the engine off. Pushing it back into the garden with the engine off, it actually locked up several times while it was in neutral. Rolled it backwards a bit and then it went forwards again. It did this several times over 5 meters. This is a quick vid of the bike in first and then up to second on the centre stand. As it was running every few turns of the wheel, there's a loud knock from the gearbox, you can make it out on the vid. I'm guessing something is loose in there and jamming on the shaft as it spins round.
Just spoke to Geoff at Baines racing and he's given me a bit of hope! Lol he agrees it's most likely the gearbox, probably a bad shift or the false neutral has taken a chunk out of a gear, and that's floating around in there now. He's said that to replace the gearbox I'd probably be looking at around £1000, but less if I can take the engine out and take that over to him. He's got a couple of ST4 engines there that he could use the bottom end or gears out of to rebuild what he finds. That's still above what I can afford at the minute but obviously a lot better than £4k!
Dan, I think you have had a main shaft bearing fail on the 6th gear which is allowing that gear to rattle on the shaft, that would cause all the symptoms you describe and could lock the box up intermittently or terminally. The only positive diagnosis will be to open it up but you should see debris on the oil mesh if you drop the oil. If you see some needle rollers or parts of a needle roller cage that will confirm it quickly. Bad luck and I hope the fix is quick and easy and not expensive, fingers crossed.
