749 turn signal switch trivia: or why I hate boneheaded changes like this - Ducati.ms

rustysrustyduc · May 23rd, 2006, 6:56 pm

Hi All,

I decided to change my turn signal switch on my 05 749 Dark. My old switch was in a crash, so the signal return is a little "dirty" and the locating pin is broken, and the case is a little scratched, so when I found a switch on eBay I bought it. Yay.

And it was listed as a 05 749 switch, so I figured I was fine. Not exactly.

Take a look at the pics. Don't they look the same? I thought so too. Until I was almost finished and I couldn't get the choke cable attached. If you look carefully, the choke cable outlet in one if slightly curved. WTF!!

Why do they do this stuff? I hate that.

On the switch casing you can change the choke cable outlet, but on the half that faces the front of the bike, you cannot. So I fixed my signal switch by replacing that half, but the locating pin was located in the other half, and therefore I couldn't use that.

So when replacing your turn signal switch.. be careful!

grendels_arm · May 23rd, 2006, 9:00 pm

This is exactly why when getting parts off of anywhere, from the dealer, eBay, etc I check the part numbers in the parts catalog off of the Ducati site first to make sure they are the same.

mark_mtb · May 24th, 2006, 1:22 am

MotoWheels sells the switches and its not that bad as far as price!!!!Check e'm out at motowheels.com

kaos · May 24th, 2006, 7:59 am

its not a choke ,and its really not even needed.(faster warmups not an isssue to me)

migz123 · May 24th, 2006, 11:27 am

Perhaps it was the seller's error by stating the wrong year/model, which happens frequently on eBay.

This is the risk of trade on eBay in exchange for what is, in nearly all cases, much favorable prices over the alternative.

Whenever this situation comes up, where I'm not 100% sure if the part numbers will match, I go through the following steps to minimize the risk of receiving the wrong item:

1) I check with knowledgable people to make sure what year/model matches (or doesn't match) the part I need. I check the forums by doing a search first, and if I can't find the info, I create a new post asking the specific question.

2) I check with the dealer about the specific part, what year/models match and don't match

3) I check the seller's feedback record thoroughly and try to see as much detail as I can (which is something anyone should do with any sale anyway, but particularly in the case like this)

4) I ask questions from the seller. His response says a lot not just about the part, but about his behavior as a seller.

After more than a few hundred transactions on eBay, I have yet to come across a major problem or sustain a loss. Once in a rare while, you might get a product that you are not satisfied with, but if you recognize the risk and do your due diligence, you should not have to come across this problem again, rarely, at best.

The rule is simple: Buyer Beware.

Hope that helps.

rustysrustyduc · May 24th, 2006, 4:50 pm

yeah yeah yeah.. ;^P

I am usually pretty careful, but sometimes I'm just trustful. I think it comes from doing hundreds of transactions, and rarely having an issue. And the switch was advertised as an 05 which my bike is. So.. thats what happens. Plus, (more excuses coming up!) I am buying a whole lotta parts for this bike, and quite frankly, I'm getting a little lazy in checking stuff like that.

I took a look at Motowheels, and I didn't see a turn signal switch for my bike, but I did see a starter switch, and it was like $200.. and IMO, the turn signal switch was more complicated, and I got mine for $40.. so .. you know.. I figured it was a deal.. sigh.

In any case, I thought I'd post the turn signal switch difference to help out someone else who may want to replace their switch and to give them a little warning as to what could be different.

Thanks for all the advise guys!