New Duc Owner! 2 questions.

[vesparex]

Hey everyone.

New owner of a Monster S4RS. So far, LOVE IT!
I live in Chicago at the moment, moving to Berwyn in two weeks though. Kind of a gear head. Own three old cars (1926, 1950, 1960), several Vespa scooters ranging from 1959 to 2003. All are 4 spds, no autos! Also have a daily 2003 Explorer. Married to a great woman. We met due to Vespa's! Toured the UK on scooters in 91-92. Raced scooters around Vegas for a few years before moving here to Chicago. Been riding for 20 years. Have owned bikes too besides the scooters. A VFR 750, Ninja 1000 and also part time owner of a 2001 SV650. I share that with my sister in law!

Love the smell of gasoline and women.

Well, there is an intro! Now a couple of questions!

1) Are there ways of helping out the cooling system? I ride 26 miles to and from work and the afternoon drive home is quite delirious! 1.5 hours at times! In the stop and go my temps are reaching 240. Fans are working. Is this just something I have to live with? Bigger radiators? Higher CFM fans? Lets here ideas!

2) Just had my 600 mile service. After picking up, I noticed a new noise after warm up. It is coming form the right side of the eng but not the clutch. ONLY changes with RPM's. I can only hear it between 2500-3200 RPM's. To me, as a car mechanic, it sounds like a bushing. You know, that vibration/howl a bad bushing or trans throw out might make. But this is not from the clutch. Any ideas? Anyone ever hear a cam belt that was over tightened? Poss a tensioner is at fault.

Well, that’s it. I will spend the rest of my lunch reading through the forums and spy for neat ideas and tricks!

Duane

[zooom]

1st...welcome and congrats!!!

on the cooling problem...you may want to look into water wetter additive for your coolant....but if your commute was in these recent hot ass severe temps in slow traffic...it may be something you are going to somewhat have to get used to....you might be able to put a manual bypass on the fan or a lower temp fan switch!

as far as the engine noise...not sure what to tell ya!

[costlyducati]

Welcome. Dont forget to check out drill-online.org/ for chicago area ducati info.

[stevetag]

You should drain off the anti freeze, and install Engine Ice. It is required for track days anyhow. It should lower your temp by a solid 10 degrees. Go to any Jap bike dealer and check it out...it works.

Originally Posted by vesparex

Hey everyone.

New owner of a Monster S4RS. So far, LOVE IT!
I live in Chicago at the moment, moving to Berwyn in two weeks though. Kind of a gear head. Own three old cars (1926, 1950, 1960), several Vespa scooters ranging from 1959 to 2003. All are 4 spds, no autos! Also have a daily 2003 Explorer. Married to a great woman. We met due to Vespa's! Toured the UK on scooters in 91-92. Raced scooters around Vegas for a few years before moving here to Chicago. Been riding for 20 years. Have owned bikes too besides the scooters. A VFR 750, Ninja 1000 and also part time owner of a 2001 SV650. I share that with my sister in law!

Love the smell of gasoline and women.

Well, there is an intro! Now a couple of questions!

1) Are there ways of helping out the cooling system? I ride 26 miles to and from work and the afternoon drive home is quite delirious! 1.5 hours at times! In the stop and go my temps are reaching 240. Fans are working. Is this just something I have to live with? Bigger radiators? Higher CFM fans? Lets here ideas!

2) Just had my 600 mile service. After picking up, I noticed a new noise after warm up. It is coming form the right side of the eng but not the clutch. ONLY changes with RPM's. I can only hear it between 2500-3200 RPM's. To me, as a car mechanic, it sounds like a bushing. You know, that vibration/howl a bad bushing or trans throw out might make. But this is not from the clutch. Any ideas? Anyone ever hear a cam belt that was over tightened? Poss a tensioner is at fault.

Well, that’s it. I will spend the rest of my lunch reading through the forums and spy for neat ideas and tricks!

Duane

[stevetag]

Engine Ice, as a replacement for anti-freeze, should lower the engine temp by 10 degrees minimum. It is required for track days anyhow, so there are really two benefits to using it. Get it at any Jap bike dealer.

[gatoducati]

hi Duane,
Congrats on your new Lady...so she's hot....
Is it the fact that she's getting too hot that's kinda bugging you, or is it "oh s*&@t my ass in on fire, and I'm suffocating" kinda hot? We are considering this bike, but don't want to deal with uncomfortable heat. That engine ice sounds interesting....might give that a shot. Thanks and congrats.

[hunduc]

240 is too hot , even for me in traffic when it was about 90 degrees here mine never reached 225, 220 was all . As far as different noise from the rt side I hear it now also, too me it sounds like a "gear drive" , I think its the belt they tighten and probably causes that noise???

[duc_748]

Engine Ice!

[vesparex]

Thanks guys!

Dealer called me back in due to a regional Ducati rep telling them to get me back in to double check the noise, pulleys and the coolant.
The dealer replaced the eng coolant with Water Wetter and the noise has disappeared, all confirmed it was the belt.

Anyways, fast approaching 2000 miles in my second month on her!

Duane

[Stick]

I don't think it's a thermo switch anymore on the newer DUCs for the fan. I believe the fans are turned on by the ECU now, thru a relay of course. You'd probably have better luck "hot wiring" the relay thru a switch, as previously suggested.