Ducati starter help.

[Doc]

So I hit the starter and it doesn't stop spinning unless I hit the kill switch or turn the key off.

Even if the bike starts...

Ideas?

Starter relay/solenoid?

[Kurlon]

Relay

[BLACK SQUIRREL]

This has happened to me twice both times it was shit in the Starter button making it stick in the start position

[reiobard]

Doc, the year hasn't even started yet and the Duc is already broken?


Damn thing just wants to GO!!!...

[Doc]

It is not the switch sticking... I checked.

I'll check the relay tonight and report back. I will even check the switch again.

Not broken! She lives!!!

[LuvDog]

If it shuts off and doesn't do it again after you toggle the kill switch, then I would think it's the relay.

[nt650hawk]

A Hobbs Duc. You say!

[reiobard]

why not just hardwire an on off switch for the starter so that it is not a push button, just manually shut the switch off once the bike is started? it IS the race bike right?

[Doc]

Yep. Is the race bike. I will do that if it comes to it.

[Doc]

Tightened the coil/relay still happens

Cleaned the starter switch... still happens

To top it of it is runnng VERY lean.... I don't even know if I would call it running anymore...

Bled the brakes and clutch, still gotta mount the battery somehow!

I think I will be borrowing one of Hobb's bikes for the trackdays. Gino, do you think you can look after it until I get there?

[nt650hawk]

Put a wrap of tape around the filter to limit the air.

[Kurlon]

Doc, there is a relay in the harness (not the solenoid) that causes this. A stuck solenoid will keep running the starter the moment the battery is hooked up, while a failing relay will cause the symptoms you're describing. Also verify your battery has good voltage as that can in some cases do the same thing.

[Doc]

OK I will check the relay in the harness... what does it look like?

[Kurlon]

Generic black or yellow box. Should be at least 4? in a FI Duc harness scattered about. Usually under the seat. You can swap them around to test them.

See an example pic here: Guzzi Relays

[Doc]

Yep I bet one of those is fired! It was clicking like a bastard when we didn't have the bike wired correctly!

Are these available at a local auto parts store?

[Degsy]

On ducs, if you let the battery go low, the starter draws too much current and arcs the contacts in the starter relay. The starter can stay on. There might be something programmed into the ecu to lean the mixture out for starting when the starter is engaged. The starter relay being stuck on could possibly cause this circuit to stay on also, causing your lean condition.

Change the starter relay. $10 from your local friendly duc dealer.

AND KEEP YOUR DUCATI BATTERIES FULLY CHARGED!!!

[Doc]

What if I have a smaller battery... like say a 7s....?

So the bike doesn't have some kinda program that keeps the starter going until it catches because of the Fuel injection?

When I let off the button it should stop turning over right?

[Kurlon]

No, on an EFI bike it'll try to turn the motor over for about 20 seconds or so, till it fires or it hits that timeout. I love just walking up to my ST, setting the fast idle, touching the starter for a second, and taking my hand off as the bike turns over a few times, catches, and idles all on it's own.

[Doc]

Ahh!!! so if it tries to fire for longer than 20 seconds something is wrong...

It might not be bad then. The bike fires (well kinda) and I can't HEAR the starter anymore (but I think it is still trying...)

If it doesn't start after 20 seconds I think it dies on it's own.

That might explain it!

[Kurlon]

Yeah, thats normall. Sometimes it'll cut out early if the motor coughs enough for the ECU to think it's running, but it should stop the starter after 20 seconds or so.

[Doc]

I am just so used to the starter stopping when i take my finger off it.

All this new fangled EFI stuff is confusing!

[Degsy]

Oh my god!! You didn't know that, did you. Forgot you are new to the efi ones. Yeah, I assumed the bike had started and you still heard the starter motor turning.

DOH!