'Popping' your clutch - Ducati.ms

Kierantaylor · Oct 12th, 2011, 8:21 pm

So my 'new' 2002 ST4S doesnt want to turn over in cold weather (unclear if old battery, batt not getting power, etc)

Anyway, I live atop a hill and have been starting it that way. Bad for the bike?
I don't intend to do long term but am waiting on new cables to install and if that doesn't work I'll go to battery and if that doesnt work go to rectifier.

So bad to pop?

ptourin · Oct 12th, 2011, 8:51 pm

No different than push starting a road racer - won't hurt anything. Roll downhill, put it into 2nd with the clutch in, stand up on the pegs, sit down hard as you pop the clutch - on the road!

There are plenty of threads here on what battery voltage should be at rest and at various RPM's - a good voltmeter would be useful - I'm about to mount one up, since these bike seem to hit the battery quite hard when you hit the starter button.

CAlexio · Oct 12th, 2011, 9:04 pm

I've never been able to start a ducati by popping the clutch... even with 3 friends pushing it... it just compresses to a halt each time.

Mad Dog · Oct 12th, 2011, 9:54 pm

de riguer in the Winter for my former 93 SS750. hard to do on the ST4

DesmoRR_16 · Oct 12th, 2011, 10:10 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kierantaylor

So my 'new' 2002 ST4S doesnt want to turn over in cold weather (unclear if old battery, batt not getting power, etc)

Anyway, I live atop a hill and have been starting it that way. Bad for the bike?
I don't intend to do long term but am waiting on new cables to install and if that doesn't work I'll go to battery and if that doesnt work go to rectifier.

So bad to pop?

why don't you get the battery tested at you local Ducati dealership to see if its good?

Stick · Oct 13th, 2011, 6:42 am

The only weird thing I can say on the ST4s, and bump starting it, is the fact that you have only about 10 or 15 seconds from when the key is switched to ON to do the deed. Otherwise, the immobilizer will kick in, and you'll get no fuel or spark.

So what I've done on a 20 degree F day (bike was "new" to me, and I missed a couple of start attempts, battery got too drained for the starter to work...):

Place in 3rd gear, "pre-jogged" the engine so that one piston was up high on its comp. stroke, had one gent help me push it on flat driveway at work. Last thing I did was turn the key on, just before popping the clutch -- I was amazed that it started...

Leary Blaine · Oct 13th, 2011, 4:48 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAlexio

... it just compresses to a halt each time.

Are you popping in second gear? That happens to me if I forget and try 1st gear. Although I must admit that I've always used a hill ... never people pushing me.

Kierantaylor · Oct 13th, 2011, 8:30 pm

Hmmm. I have been doing it in first gear- didn't know about second.

Re the ignition, yes I found through trial and error that it works better when you turn key and push starter just before you pop the clutch. Won't spark otherwise as the earlier post said

This worked for me in first gear last night on a very slight hill.
Guess I will try second gear tomorrow!

Yes, I did get an appt with my local dealer. I'm at 12k now and not up to doing my own valves and belts so I figure get it done right for the first time.... Going to put the powerlet leads to the battery too and probably the ram mount center nut thingy.

Motard-Menace · Oct 13th, 2011, 11:08 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leary Blaine

Are you popping in second gear? That happens to me if I forget and try 1st gear. Although I must admit that I've always used a hill ... never people pushing me.

Agreed, much easier in 2nd.....I have pushed mine by my self and popped her to a start in 2nd.