[asiaoildude]

6000km just done. Today in normal conditions I heard a sound I'd associate with a chain issue (crunching in sync with road nice and grinding). Engine running ok but lose of drive power. I pulled over and check the chain - 100% ok. I checked the drive sprocket - 100% ok except ..... it has a lot of play - I can move the shaft up and down a few mm or more and there is to my eyes excessive oil in the area (more than just chain lube spray) and what look like metal filings. Gears shift ok, but there's no output power and a lot of grinding so I think the 'driven shaft' bearings have failed.

Oh well off to Ducati I go. Fortunately I have 6 months left under warranty but I'm more and more inclined to swap to a new Honda Africa Twin when the warranty finishes.

 

[greer]

Oh me, sure doesn't sound good. Hope the dealer gets straight to it; please post back and let us know how this goes.

Sarah

 

[stavely]

Wow, not just bearings, sounds more like a broken output shaft.

 

[asiaoildude]

Wow, not just bearings, sounds more like a broken output shaft.

Perhaps. The shaft can transmit power but feels as though it's slipping teeth against whatever other cog is driving it. Unfortunately in my first call with Ducati here they have been talking about a loose chain which of course is nothing to do with it. When I told the mechanic to wiggle the drive shaft he admitted it had a lot of play and oil with metal filings around it.

 

[vincelp]

Hello

I would bet you had an issue with the bearing on the secondary gear axis and may be this axis is broken...

 

[rider]

collapsed output shaft bearing me thinks ?

 

[nuttynick]

Agreed, sounds like a bearing failure to me.

 

[Derek]

Yes, sounds like the output shaft bearing to me too.

 

[asiaoildude]

Service centre called. The case has been escalated to Ducati. It seems that the bearing cage has come out of the gearbox. The local SC is concerned that there will be bits all through the transmission. They hope to have an answer this week.

 

[Derek]

If it has disintegrated there will be bits all through the whole engine.

 

[asiaoildude]

If it has disintegrated there will be bits all through the whole engine.

Hence the escalation; the local SC is seeking advice and approval on what to do. The service tech specifically mentioned his concerns on broken bearing cage parts being loose in the engine. I'd prefer a new engine but I doubt I will get one.

 

[Derek]

If they are not going to replace the engine it should be totally stripped down, all parts thoroughly washed and rebuilt with new bearings throughout. As a left over particle of swarf could find it's way into one of the bearings and damage the rollers or the hardened faces. It might never happen but can they guarantee that?

 

[asiaoildude]

As an engineer with a master degree (oil and gas - not mechanical) I couldn't agree more but I suspect they'll cut corners. My goal is to get the bike back running and trade it in before the warranty expires so the new owner at least has a few months protection - currently a Honda Africa Twin sounds sweet.

 

[asiaoildude]

More calls, more delays but no denying it's a warranty claim.

 

[vincelp]

Hello

If they are not going to replace the engine it should be totally stripped down, all parts thoroughly washed and rebuilt with new bearings throughout. As a left over particle of swarf could find it's way into one of the bearings and damage the rollers or the hardened faces. It might never happen but can they guarantee that?

A good mechanic can easily re-build an engine from a broken one, controlling all parts and changing the damaged parts.
I already heard about a broken bearing on a brand new ST3 engine. The engine has been repaired and it never had any other issue.

 

[Derek]

Without doubt a good mechanic could rebuild they engine. But in the case where a bearing cage has broken up they must ensure that all swarf particles are removed from the engine or further damage could subsequently occur.

 

[asiaoildude]

No news from the dealer yet. Worst of all I've been told we are being moved to Thailand.

 

[asiaoildude]

Dealer rang an offered a loan bike. Seems it will take some time to fix.

 

[Derek]

Sounds like they are going for a rebuild rather than a replacement engine.

 

[asiaoildude]

Sounds like they are going for a rebuild rather than a replacement engine.

Apparently a tear down and report first before the solution is determined. I suspect they are looking for either damaged case parts or damaged internals (from the debris).