Ducati Starting issues. Bad Noises. HELP?

[Doc]

So... My 1999 748 needed a starter sprag.

I replaced it. Bike ran fine. On the bench

It needed a Clutch. I replaced it. Bike ran fine. On the bench

Got a crush washer in the mail, changed the oil with new crush washer.

Started bike and it doesn't want to idle... no biggy it is cold. Try to start it again, push the button, turns over twice and I get this screech/ "whurt" noise from the motor. Scared the heck out me.

After some trouble shooting (and making this noise a number of times ) The bike runs fine when it catches and fires but is having an issue starting (I get the screech noise) The noise isn't every revolution, very intermittent, sometimes I can't get it to repeat it, other times it happens more often (when hitting the starter and turning the bike over.) I turned it over in 1st with the rear wheel and there are no issues that I can see or feel.

This is odd because it ran fine on the bench after the starter sprag and clutch install.

I am hoping it is the starter... maybe the gear didn't line up right (although I never touched that gear...) I tear the flywheel cover off and everything looks good.

The sound is coming from in or under the motor, really sounds more like behind the clutch but

Any ideas? I am stumped.

[BCT748]

Sounds like you don't have the stack height on the clutch right or forgot to tighten the springs? I'd pull the plates out and see if it makes the same noise.

[Danz19899]

or is the starter gear not retracting now like normal. Is it similiar to the sound if you try to start a car that's already running?

[Doc]

or is the starter gear not retracting now like normal. Is it similiar to the sound if you try to start a car that's already running?

I don't think the starter gear does retract... It is very similar to that whirr, gear grind.

I had the side cover (flywheel) off again to check everything was lined up and was talking to Bruce Myers, the starter gear has some free play and the motor made the noise. Bruce was stumped trying to diagnose it over the phone, he said just run it.

It is off and on now. I am thinking I may have not installed the starter sprag as correctly as I thought... Not sure what else it could be.

I took the clutch pack out and the noise is still there.

It sounds louder on the clutch side... The thing is it just started doing it yesterday and I hadn't done anything to the bike but change the oil.

[Danz19899]

if it doesn't retract then it much have it must have a 1 was clutch or bearing on the gear take the starter off and see if it spins freely BOTH directions

[vtdrzsm]

I will be that guy. Did you put oil Back in your bike. J/K

[Kurlon]

Doc, I sent a recording of your bike to these guys:



Amy swears she can make out the phrase "Sell to Kurlon for cheeeeeap" in the audio...

[Doc]

I think it is the starter sprag again...

[Doc]

I think it is the starter sprag again...

Yep. Confirmed today. New Starter Sprag was shagged.

I have to double check but I think there are 2 types of Sprags. Looks like I may have gotten the wrong one.

Hopefully that is all the damage that was done.

[Kurlon]

I don't know enough about that region of the motor to hazard a guess one way or another, so I'll just keep my working fingers crossed that there was no other damage.