[Kui]

1995 Ducati M900

So my bike ran alright for the past week after my battery issue was resolved. But during that week. I noticed something from as the ay progressed. When i blip the throttle, it would give a strong response and the RPMs raised right up. As time progressed, the engine felt like its power didnt develop until 4,000 rpm. Then this morning i tried to start the bike, it wouldnt start due to the 29degree weather. (full choke and it woudlnt turn over at all) after trying to start until i kill the battery i gave up. I put my battery on a tender, and what happens? the bike starts on 1/4 choke. I leave the choke on for 4mins and when i take the choke of, the bike dies. and i get a massive backfire of smoke out of my intake. I tried a few more times with the choke off and the bike will run for a second and die. Im compltely stumped. I checked my intake an the air intake slits dont move when i blip the throttle ( are they suupsoe to?) but the intake flaps beneath it will open fine. I check my spark plugs and they have carbon fouling. I cleaned them, and when i start up the engine it will not sustain under its own power unless i give it a sliught throttle and hold it at 2500rpms. And even then, the engine just doenst sound like when i first saw the bike. Any ideas? Im going to let the bike sit for a day and change the spark plugs and see how that fairs. This 95 m900 is just too much to deal with. :-\ the engine will fire but it will not sustain an idle.

 

[altersys]

me like line breaks.

that said, take it to a dealer and ask them to set and sync the carbs. get new plugs. also ask them to check to see if both plugs are firing. could be a bad coil.

 

[Dan B.]

I've had exactly the same issues in the past with a bad battery. Could be just one charge too many, especially if it overcharged and pitted (sulphated) one or more plates. The regulator will send all the alternator output toward charging the battery, which can't transmit enough voltage to properly saturate and fire the coil. You get a weak spark and crappy combustion. You're lucky it started at all.
Don't start messing with "constants" that haven't changed since the bike last ran properly (like synch-ing the carbs, no offense Ash) or you'll drive yourself crazy and possibly muddy the water more by screwing up settings that are perfectly fine and possibly creating a much more difficult combination of problems to solve.
Change the battery, swap out to some fresh plugs, and for God's sake put on some long-johns.

 

[altersys]

i said take it to a dealer, not "mess with."

 

[Kui]

the bikes been messed with already. Theres nothing stock on it except the maybe the freggin brake controls and seat. the bike probably shouldnt be a everyday bike since the previous owner turned it into a his fun track bike. The engines been overbored (its a 95 so go fig how many miles. Supposely the engine was rebuilt 6l miles ago). I already have a new battery in. I installed new plugs. the ones in the bike were compltely blackend by carbon.They are Champion RA6HC. I switched them out with NGK DCPR7E. Burns hotter, but i figure it woudlnt do much harm to the bike. Especially in this weather.

Anyway, i installed the plugs. Its 28 degrees right now. And i damn well know my bike is gonna give me a cup of shut the **** up. so im not even gonna try. I already try cranking it 15 times this afternoon. so im pretty sure my battery also is dead. Its on a tender right now.

Ducati Pilot, what happen with ur regulator than? Was it just your battery?

I tried starting my bike in this weather. The Starter will turn over. But it wont ignite. Does anyone have a service manual for this bike. Id do all the work if i knew where everything was.

 

[altersys]

the bikes been messed with already.

that wasn't directed at you...

And i damn well know my bike is gonna give me a cup of shut the **** up. so im not even gonna try.

[laugh] [laugh]

 

[Norm]

Your needle jets are probably ovalized & who know what previous owners have put in those carbs. Replace the emulsion tubes & have someone clean & inspect everything. It'll run like a top.

 

[c_rex]

"ovalized" or perhaps..... "EVILized" muahahahahah >

 

[Kui]

im gonan get a stand for the bike and clean out the WHOLE carb. piece by piece. I noticed one thing, i only get about 70miles per a fill before the light comes on. How big are the Monster 900 tanks? I assume its somewhere along 3.5 Gallons. I ride the **** out of the bike when im on straights. and there are alot of hills. So i guess it measures out. I also did a lot of revving when i pass by 4cyl lawn mowers. I guess ill give you some bike porn. Heres my bike.

 

[test-reg]

im gonan get a stand for the bike and clean out the WHOLE carb. piece by piece. I noticed one thing, i only get about 70miles per a fill before the light comes on. How big are the Monster 900 tanks? I assume its somewhere along 3.5 Gallons. I ride the **** out of the bike when im on straights. and there are alot of hills. So i guess it measures out. I also did a lot of revving when i pass by 4cyl lawn mowers. I guess ill give you some bike porn. Heres my bike.

4.something. Norm's diagnosis would explain poor fuel economy.

 

[Kui]

I would like to take fix my own bike. But as far as replacing the emulsion tubes and needle jets ( which i dont know what any of them are) i think ill leave it to a pro.

I picked up a can of sea foam and used half of it today. The bike runs so damn smooth now. But the carbon has moved from the cylinder walls to my lungs.

 

[Dan B.]

Ducati Pilot, what happen with ur regulator than? Was it just your battery?

Yeah, the battery was fairly new, too. My cheap-assed charger (which supposedly had an overcharging protection feature on 2-amp mode) heated it up and sulphated the plates.
Took me a long time to figure out as well, as it appeared to have a good spark when I pulled a plug, grounded it, and checked for spark while cranking.
New battery fixed all, and alternator output's still good.
Good luck.

 

[Kui]

im using my old batteyr right now. I charged it up and put it in. It fired up with out hesitation. I returned the old battery to Autozone ( Magna power my ass) Im going to go to a BIKE shop and pick up a interstate battery and drop that mother sucker in. I also noticed one thing after I installed these new plugs ( hotter than the ones previously in) They cause some premature detonation in my engine. ;/ I think i might just go back to the original ones. I rode the bike all day today, and we will see tomoroww morning how it starts. It turned over perfect today. Couldnt ask for more. Hopefully this batt wont die over night.

 

[Transplant]

.... these new plugs ( hotter than the ones previously in) They cause some premature detonation in my engine....

?

 

[KHM]

"ovalized" or perhaps..... "EVILized" muahahahahah >

I HIGHLY recommend doing this to ANY carbed bike you get (esp with mikunis) before trying to diagnose other problems. They're relatively cheap and are good to replace every 5-10k miles. Mine had 5k miles on them when they started giving me serious problems. You can also check your plugs to see where you are running rich (or lean). PM me (or search) if you want more info on how to check the plugs. I have a 98 M900 and had similar problems due to bad emulsion tubes.

I recommend buying from Chris at www.CA-Cycleworks.com. Good prices, great service.

Replacing plugs is also a good idea... especially if you are trying to judge the A/F mixture from the plugs.

 

[Dan B.]

im using my old batteyr right now. I charged it up and put it in. It fired up with out hesitation. I returned the old battery to Autozone ( Magna power my ass) Im going to go to a BIKE shop and pick up a interstate battery and drop that mother sucker in. I also noticed one thing after I installed these new plugs ( hotter than the ones previously in) They cause some premature detonation in my engine. ;/ I think i might just go back to the original ones. I rode the bike all day today, and we will see tomoroww morning how it starts. It turned over perfect today. Couldnt ask for more. Hopefully this batt wont die over night.

Awesome. Glad I could help--It was exactly the symptoms I had with a newer battery. I've given up on both cheap-assed chargers and cheap-assed batteries.

 

[Kui]

yea its been a week with the old bat. its so much better. I still ahve to press the button in a certain way to get the engine running. But i assume thats becasue im running a high compression 944 in my monster. I hear yusa batteries are good. Im gonna pick one up. Im also gona try rejetting mine. Is it hard to do or should i bring it to a shop.

 

[Dan B.]

Swapping jets is pretty easy, and most kits have multiple options that take mods into consideration. Get some K&N pods and exhaust mods!
(Yeah, it rhymes kinda groovy.)
Dan