Starter seized!

5198 Views 17 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Derek, Oct 17, 2016

Derek

Discussion Starter · Aug 1, 2016

It is a nice sunny day here today and thought I'd take the Scrambler out for a run.
I got my gear on wheeled the bike out of the garage, turned it on and pressed the starter. It turned over for about 1/4 of a revolution and stopped. I tried again and the starter solenoid just clicked.
Initially I thought the battery must be flat but on putting the meter across it it read 12.6V but dropped to 8.5V when I engaged the starter. Ah well, it must be a the battery that's duff and has developed a high internal resistance I thought. I put it on charge anyway.
2 hours later I tried again - no difference. To confirm it was the battery I swapped it with the battery from my 907ie (I have the same size battery fitted to it). On pressing the starter the symptoms were exactly the same. So the problem isn't the battery.
I took out the plugs and tried turning the engine with an engine turning tool on the end of the crank. The engine will turn forwards but not backwards. So it seems to me that the starter has seized, the sprag clutch will allow it to turn forwards but not backwards against the seized starter.
So tomorrow I will have to call Ducati Glasgow and see how I get this sorted under the warranty. The bike is a non-runner so will have to be collected. I suspect it would be a lot simpler if they'd just send me another starter that I could fit myself - but I know they won't.

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vincelp

· #2 · Aug 1, 2016

Hello

Did you try to start your bike by pushing it, after selecting gear #3, engaging the clutch, push, push... and release the clutch ? Maybe, it will start and this will disengage the starter... Worth a try, isn't it ?

Derek

Discussion Starter · #3 · Aug 1, 2016

vincelp said:
Hello

Did you try to start your bike by pushing it, after selecting gear #3, engaging the clutch, push, push... and release the clutch ? Maybe, it will start and this will disengage the starter... Worth a try, isn't it ?

Too much effort to attempt a push start. I'm too old for that these days

I doubt if it would free the strater anyway. The dealer can fix it, it's under warranty.

Auriga

· #4 · Aug 1, 2016

Not very encouraging, but at least it had the good manners to fail, for whatever reason, at home, rather than in the back of beyond. I'm also too old to try to push start, so it is another cause for wariness if venturing off the beaten track. Perhaps the motto should be not to stop the engine once it has started unless absolutely necessary, but that would take all enjoyment out of riding the bike. Bike recovery through the AA / Britannia Rescue / et al may be essential: I've had such cover for very many years, without needing to use it often, but I would be reluctant to leave home without it, given the recent horror stories, and hope that the mobile phone can pick up a signal.

Derek

Discussion Starter · #5 · Aug 2, 2016

Well, I called Ducati Glasgow this morning and was a bit disappointed to find that I had to call Ducati Assistance to arrange for the bike to be picked up and taken to Glasgow. I was a lot more disappointed to find out that although Ducati Assistance will take the bike there, I have go to collect it myself to get it back. Something I'm going to take up with Ducati customer service. It's not my fault it broke so why should I be out of pocket and spend the best part of a day getting to Glasgow and back because of a fault with the bike

More importantly, another issue I have with them is that the number on the Ducati Assistance card comes up as "Unrecognised number" on my mobile which uses the O2 network. I got through immediately from the landline. A lot of use that would be when I'm broken down at the side of the road. They gave me an alternative number which is 0033 472 171 205. If you are in the UK it would be wise to take a note of it.
I then had to wait 2 1/2 hours for the AA to come and pick the bike up. Again, I'm glad it was at home and not at the roadside somewhere!

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Reactions: 2

Auriga

· #6 · Aug 3, 2016

Thanks for the number, which I shall keep in my mobile phone and wallet, with my Roadside Assistance cards. I believe that the Ducati scheme only lasts as long as the warranty, though, but will check.

Derek

Discussion Starter · #7 · Aug 3, 2016

Auriga said:
Thanks for the number, which I shall keep in my mobile phone and wallet, with my Roadside Assistance cards. I believe that the Ducati scheme only lasts as long as the warranty, though, but will check.

Yes, for the warranty period of 2 years.

rider

· #8 · Aug 3, 2016

I'm guessing that we will receive a letter when the assist runs out asking if we want to renew the assist policy, for a small fee,
similar to other bike manufacturers and insurance companies.

Derek

Discussion Starter · #9 · Aug 3, 2016

rider said:
I'm guessing that we will receive a letter when the assist runs out asking if we want to renew the assist policy, for a small fee,
similar to other bike manufacturers and insurance companies.

I won't be bothering. I already have breakdown cover that covers all my vehicles and I know from past experience that they take a lot less than 2 1/2 hours to respond.

Reactions: 1

Derek

Discussion Starter · #10 · Aug 4, 2016

I spoke to Ducati Customer care today and mentioned the telephone number. 'Oh yes', they said, 'you need to put a + in front of it, it's in the red book'. I told them that's not much good when you're broken down at the side of the road and all you have is the card. 'We're looking into it' they said.
Well the number on the card is 00800 33 22 88 77. The number in the red book is the same! with no mention of a + being required.
I tried it with a + in front, it made no difference
I tried with a + in front but leaving out the first zero - it made no difference
I tried it with a + in front, leaving out both zeroes - it still didn't work.
The 00800 number just isn't recognised by the 02 network.
The red book does give the alternative number I gave in the first post but it isn't a Freephone number.

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Derek

Discussion Starter · #11 · Aug 5, 2016

News from the dealer.
It turned out that the problem was caused by a broken selector return spring. A bit had broken off it and then jammed the starter intermediate gear, effectively jamming the starter. I did wonder as starter motors seldom fail in that manner.
They are replacing the intermediate gear, the bearing it runs on and of course the spring.
A bit concerning though that the spring had failed after only 3,000 miles. The one on my ST4s lasted until 27,000, the 907ie is at 31,000 and the MTS1200 at 38,000, both on the original springs.

greer

· #12 · Aug 5, 2016

Thanks for the follow up, Derek. I may be way off, would that be # 4 here:

Star Twin: the online shop for Ducati OEM spare parts and accessories.

Thanks again.

Sarah

Derek

Discussion Starter · #13 · Aug 5, 2016

Yes, that's it Sarah

nuttynick

· #14 · Aug 8, 2016

It's pretty annoying that these springs are still failing! A well know Ducati issue.

Derek

Discussion Starter · #15 · Aug 9, 2016

That spring has been the same part with the same part no. 0799.13.110 for all Ducatis from the 1979 Pantah 500SL right through to the 1198 Superbikes.
It seems some of them last forever yet some break early in their life. I suspect that there are bad batches with faulty heat treatment rendering them too hard and brittle to last long.

Derek

Discussion Starter · #16 · Aug 12, 2016

My bike is now fixed with the gear lever return spring, the starter intermediate gear, the starter ring gear and the ring gear bearing all replaced and as a good will gesture the dealer is going to return the bike to me. Which will save me a 100 mile bus journey with all my bike gear and the boring ride back up the motorway.

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greer

· #17 · Aug 12, 2016

Good, now to enjoy the weekend!

Sarah

Derek

Discussion Starter · #18 · Oct 17, 2016

As an addendum to this; on Saturday I unexpectedly received a "Utah" Picnic Rug by way of apology for any inconvenience due to the breakdown.

It would have been nice to receive something a bit more useful but I guess it's better than poke in the eye with a burnt stick as my Granny used to say.

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