2002 Monster Dark Starting Problems

[ivanduc]

I would like to ask for some help from any experienced Ducati riders. I have problems starting my Monster Dark. I hear the starter going and I have a full set of lights. I also have a new battery. If I let go of the clutch while trying to start, the bike even kicks. The only way I can get it to start is by push starting it. Once I ride it for about 45 minutes it will start if I turn it off. Sometimes during the week if I ride it everyday, the problem will go away. The problem comes back if I don't ride it for a couple of days. Sometimes it'll start in the morning going to work but not in the afternoon coming back. I have taken it to the shop twice, but both times the problem went away and the shop couldn't find anything wrong. If anyone has any insight I would appreciate the advice.

[Brooklyn67]

Originally Posted by ivanduc

I hear the starter going and I have a full set of lights. I also have a new battery. If I let go of the clutch while trying to start, the bike even kicks.

When you say you hear the starter going -- does that mean you can feel the starter engage and move the pistons up and down? Also, when you say that the "bike even kicks" when you let our the clutch...what does that mean? It almost sounds like a starter solenoid issue, but it's hard to say until I understand what is actually happening or not happening...

[ivanduc]

Thanks for the reply. When I hit the starter I hear what seems to me like the pistons moving. When I say the motorcycle kicks; it's like having the motorcycle in gear and letting the clutch out. The bike moves foward. I added that to note that the motorcycle is not absolutely dead.

[Brooklyn67]

I can't really tell if you have more than one issue going on and your description of what is really going on is still pretty vague.

So, when you're starting your bike, the starter motor is engaging every time and turning the engine -- sometimes it fires up and sometimes it doesn't? If the bike is warm or consistently used everyday - it starts up without issue? If the bike hasn't been started in a few days, it then has problems firing up? Also, you know that the starter motor is engaging the engine because when you let out the clutch lever while starting the bike, you can feel the bike lurch forward?

- first, why are you starting your bike with it in gear and holding in the clutch lever?

The symptoms are strange enough that I would really need to have it in front of me to recreate what you're experiencing. This doesn't feel like an arm-chair mechanic diagnosis. If I "had" to guess - it sounds like something is impeding your spark to the engine - possible some type of corrosion between electrical contact points... Either in between the coil and the plug wires, battery terminal connections, or a bad ground wire somewhere...maybe even a primary fuse. I'm guessing this because when the bike is hot..metal/contact points expand making the transfer of current more consistent. When the bike is cold or allowed to sit - there's greater interference between the contact points. Again - this is a huge guess and I may be completely off, but clean all contact surfaces from the battery terminals, coils>>plug wires and you might as well replace the plugs as well. But don't do everything at once. Clean everything first...try it. If that doesn't work, replace the plugs...try it. Try to rule out what it cannot be.

If you're not up to this - you should leave your bike for a few days at the shop so that they can have a chance to recreate your issue.

Good luck.

Who knows...it could be something simple like a family of mice clogging up your pipes (just kidding - though i have seen this happen to bikes that have been in storage for a long time).

Originally Posted by ivanduc

Thanks for the reply. When I hit the starter I hear what seems to me like the pistons moving. When I say the motorcycle kicks; it's like having the motorcycle in gear and letting the clutch out. The bike moves foward. I added that to note that the motorcycle is not absolutely dead.

[TheDeerHunter]

My first thought is choke problem. But since it's an '02, that makes it F.I., so that couldn't be it, right? Did they have a choke that year? I ask because my area of knowledge lies in '01 and earlier...I've managed to avoid injection so far...

[ivanduc]

I do have a choke. Usually when I start it I use it. How would I trouble shoot whether or not it is the choke? I'll start by saying that I am not motorcycle savy. My experience is limited to the basics . . . oil change and adjusting the chain.

[TheDeerHunter]

Okay, so you have a choke. From what you have described, you have a "cold-start" problem. Between it not starting after a couple of days, but it will start after it's been warmed up, that's the first thing I'd troubleshoot. Follow your choke cable to where it attaches, and make sure everything down in the guts is clean. Watch the travel when you "use" the choke--does it move smoothly, without binding, and the full length of its travel? Is there slack in the cable? (probably is) Use the cable adjuster, which should be where the cable sleeve ends at the "carbs" (term used for descriptive purposes only)...there may be an adjustment knob (doubtful), or a simple clamp that can be loosened and the cable housing moved back to adjust. Remove all slack, so you are getting actually getting full choke when the lever is pulled to full choke. I hope this helps, if you need more clarification feel free to ask.