Starting Problem - ST3

[Ken]

Deleted

[MarkST]

You deleted the starting problem ? Excellent news Ken.
I wish I could delete the crank gallery plug problem on my ST4 as easily.

[tonered]

Oh no. Did you just diagnose the problem? Good luck, Mark.

Have a good one.

[MarkST]

Originally Posted by tonered

Oh no. Did you just diagnose the problem? Good luck, Mark.

No it's been on the back burner for ages Tony. My regular ride is my 4s so it's not a major problem - just something I have to sort out when I can put some time aside for it.

[Spensersdad]

I wish I could delete some of my problems...

[Ken]

Originally Posted by tonered

Oh no. Did you just diagnose the problem? Good luck, Mark.

Have a good one.

Well, I really screwed up. I had just completed my first Ducati valve adjustment in my newly completed shop (see photos) and I was feeling pretty good smoking my cigar and thinking about the three BMWs next in line.

I was paying close attention to ensure all of the electrical components and wires were returned to their correct locations in accordance with my Ducati service manual. The battery box was in place and all I need to do was install the battery. Well......I was on auto pilot and not paying attention to detail and I installed the Yuasa battery backwards. (there's a sticky on this one)

Once I hooked up the ground, the lights came on along with the cooling fan and the 40 amp fuse blew. I then realized what I had done. So I re-installed the battery to no avail. When I turn on the ignitions switch, there is no response when pressing the starter button. With the ignition on, the bike will not turn over. I thought the problem was the starter solenoid. So, I ordered a solenoid from LT and installed it. I still have the problem. I tried another battery. There's still no response when I press the starter button. With the black key ignition and the switch turned on, the bike immobilizer light comes on, but then goes off after the system check. However, the EOBD light stays on.

I was able to do all the checks on the immobilizer antenna and it appears fine. With the red key in the ignition and the switch turned on, the bike immobilizer light comes on for less than a second and then blinks three quick times. My service manual states one quick flash means the immobilizer is programmed and the three quick flashes indicates number of keys programmed. There are no other third signal flashes. However, the EOBD warning light continues to stay on, but the immobilizer is not lite.

My Ducati Omaha dealer is confident I blew the ECU. Fortunately, they have an ECU that can be upgraded for my bike for a fraction of the cost of a new one. If its not the ECU, the cost will be significantly less. Unfortunately, its a three hour trip one way to Omaha.

Good lesson learned. Save the cigar until work is done and pay attention to detail.

[tonered]

Originally Posted by MarkST

No it's been on the back burner for ages Tony. My regular ride is my 4s so it's not a major problem - just something I have to sort out when I can put some time aside for it.

That still sucks. Although, having a spare machine to tear into is quite envious. Good luck.

Have a great holiday.

Originally Posted by Ken

Good lesson learned. Save the cigar until work is done and pay attention to detail.

Um, didn't Will Smith have something to say about cigars and fat ladies? I thought that lesson was learned. =P Sheez, at least set off the nuke first.

Really, I'm sorry to hear about that hard-learned lesson. I gotta plug Duc Omaha for the great prices on other Duc parts.

BTW, saaaaweet shop. I'm just a bit envious about that also. I'm sure there's a nice beverage dispenser tucked away somewhere there.

Have a good one.

[jssport]

Wow, ..... the shop looks great as does the kattoom.

05 200exc 2 strokes rock !

[MarkST]

OOh errr bummer, bad luck Ken.
As others have said, ace shop !!
What's the PC monitor for, do you also have mathesis or similar in there too ?

[Ken]

Originally Posted by MarkST

OOh errr bummer, bad luck Ken.
As others have said, ace shop !!
What's the PC monitor for, do you also have mathesis or similar in there too ?

That's a 24" flat screen TV. The small heater in the corner is actually a 240 volt 5,000 BTU thermostatically controlled heater with a blower. The walls are 8 inch thick reinforced concrete. It heats very well. What you don't see is a the second floor and the other stale, which currently is occupied by my truck. I planned on a concrete reinforced second floor for bike storage with a lift to get them up and down. However, the cost was prohibitive. I have four car stales and figure I really didn't need to store bikes. So I use the second floor for parts storage. I also had installed a commercial ventilation system for exhaust.

The first photos shows a door and room in the corner. It's actually a concrete reinforced tornado shelter with a 6 inch thick concrete ceiling. Living in Kansas means living with tornado. Three years ago, a tornado destroyed 100 homes one mile south of my home. The same tornado destroyed the neighboring town of Chapman. Last year a tornado destroyed the small town of Reading the same day another caused major damage to Joplin. A few years before we had the F5 Greensburg tornado. This shelter is designed to survive an F5.

I still need to buy the electronic testing equipment. I have a laptop in the shop now. I also had it wired for 200 Amps with three rows of fluorescent lights and eight electrical plug ins. So, I'm fortunate to be retired at a young age and have a place to work on bikes. My job now is riding and maintaining my bikes. I average about 35,000 miles a year.

By the way, the KTM came about when my wife made the comment that I was getting fat in my retirement and needed an exercise bike. So I bought the KTM. I have literally hundreds of miles of trails out here in the flint hills .

Tallgrass Prairie Preserve - National Geographic Magazine