The search function can be your friend. There is a SB #844 (I think) that is for installation of shims on top of your springs. There's lots of discussion here about it. Shims fix the noise.

 

Klunking sound in forks

That is the correct SB#. The instructions I have read on the repair state that a 0.2mm shim, in each fork top, may not be enough to take up the excess clearance. You may need to try a 0.3mm shim and go from their. Sounds like the dealer either did not do both forks or just put a 0.2mm shim in and called it good. When installing the shims it is easy to tell if you still have excess clearance or it is overly tight.

Cheers

 

Unless it is your steering bearings, I would'nt worry about it. The shimming makes it difficult to do any preload adjustments and its not guaranteed to stay quiet.

 

I am experiencing a clunking sound somewhere in my headstock of the bike. Has anyone else had this issue or know anything about it?

Cheers

Unless it is your steering bearings, I would'nt worry about it. The shimming makes it difficult to do any preload adjustments and its not guaranteed to stay quiet.

jamil

There are two personality types in life, (maybe a million more: but for now we will stick to just the two).

One is you and me. And that type cannot stand to live with the problem you describe. There is no way around it.

We cannot live with a "noise" that is driving us crazy.

The other personality is the more stable and understanding personality of a Mr. Sunshine.

They are fine with anything that may be a minor nuisance as long as it is not relevant to a "real" problem.

There is no way that you (or I) can cross over that deep chasm to get to the other side.

So jamil..... do a search here to learn how to get your sanity back. It is out there.

Mr. Sunshine:

God looked down upon you and smiled and touched your head at birth.

Thank Him.

We....were not so lucky.

Dan

 

Jamil,
Ducati has put a tech document about the fork shims and they will fix it IF you complain. Mine has this problem very rarely and only over judder bars (speed bumps) The dealer has agreed to fix it some time after New years when they have time, even though I am out of warranty.

They also said it is not as simple as you think it may be. They take about 2.5 hours as the forks nee to come off and the damping systems removed to fit the shims. Ducati Singapore should do it for nothing.

 

They also said it is not as simple as you think it may be. They take about 2.5 hours as the forks nee to come off and the damping systems removed to fit the shims.

Wow...what stories we hear. Forks don't need to come off and it takes an hour +/-. Sounds like there are some "really" bad dealers and/or Ducati needs to do a better job of making sure they understand repair procedures.

Also, somebody said it's hard/impossible to adjust preload after the spacers are installed...not so...at least in my case.

 

Tim my Ducati Master Tech told me the shims only go under the fork cap. That tells me there is no reason to remove the forks from the bike nor pull the cartridge to install them.


Sent from my iPhone using Motorcycle.com App

 

Fork shim install

The shims do go under the fork cap taking up the space between the cap proper and the damper adjusting motors. If the correct shim is installed the preload is not any harder to adjust than when excessive loose. Excessive looseness does cause wear between the cap and damper motors. This is evidenced by the gray oily film at the gap interface. Easily seen when taking apart the forks for the repair.

Cheers

 

Maybe the other dealers are not installing them correctly? The head tech said that time of nearly 3 hours is the time allowed by Ducati to perform this job under warrranty.

I specifically asked him, "don't you just unplug the fork caps, take them off, throw in the shims and refit" and he said "no. It is not possible to do it properly with the forks on the bike. They have to come off".

Just retelling what he said. I plan to have this done in a few weeks time so I will try to find out more detailed information.

 

Maybe the other dealers are not installing them correctly? The head tech said that time of nearly 3 hours is the time allowed by Ducati to perform this job under warrranty.

I specifically asked him, "don't you just unplug the fork caps, take them off, throw in the shims and refit" and he said "no. It is no possible to do it properly with the forks on the bike. They have to come off".

Just retelling what he said. I plan to have this done in a few weeks time so I will try to find out more detailed information.

Whatever...since it's warranty it doesn't matter. But...I watched/helped do mine...forks on bike and no where near 3hrs. Of course, we didn't take the forks off so that's most of the time difference. If they do that then I'll bet they're losing money on what Ducati pays for doing the job.

Somewhere around here I saw the procedures for doing the install...maybe within the bulletin, 844. If interested, look there and see what you find out.

 

Also whatever.
Here is the procedure: http://www.mts1200.info/mts12_faq/mts1200_docs/mts1200-front-end-knock-on-ohlins-forks_fix.pdf

This shows the update being done with the forks on the bike but it is pretty complicated and takes a few tools. It requires fitting shims inside the damping motor drive assembly. It is NOT just shims to space the springs.

Note that the Ducati letter to dealers says only to perform this procedure "if the customer complains".

So, to the OP, complain.

 

Also whatever.
Here is the procedure: http://www.mts1200.info/mts12_faq/mts1200_docs/mts1200-front-end-knock-on-ohlins-forks_fix.pdf

This shows the update being done with the forks on the bike but it is pretty complicated and takes a few tools. It requires fitting shims inside the damping motor drive assembly. It is NOT just shims to space the springs.

That's true, but as is plain, the forks stay on the bike. Not so to properly replace the oil, but they (Ohlins) could probably accommodate/allow that by supplying a proper spec for quantity of oil to add as replacement. Suck the old stuff out with a pump and replace with fresh. I assume here (assumptions of course can be problematic) there is nothing in the way that would make this
unrealistic.

Procedure

Three hours to do the shims is excessive in my opinion, especially for a man with experience in doing it.

 

Clunking in 2013 Multi S forks

Clunking headstock

Just driving home from the dealer after purchase, I went over a couple of small speed bumps near my house. I get this same strong clunking sound / feeling when they briefly reach full extension.
I am at the Bangkok Dealer now ( the following Day) on Sukhumvit 55 less than 24 hours since I picked it up. Of course SB#844 doesn't apply to the 2013's ( dealer told me) but hopefully it is the same simple fix.

After a test drive the were very concerned about clunking about in the forks. They have never felt this in a 2013 "S". I found it as i was the first person to drive it on a road. In Thailand, no one rides your bike before you ride it. I didn't realize when I commented on the 2km on the bike when I first turned on the ignition that I would get so many apologies for the "high mileage". They were very very sorry but all these miles were put on at the factory with the bike running on a machine / treadmill. The dealer tells me that in Thai culture that people expect no mileage on there new bike and will not accept a bike with mileage.

Still sitting here at the Dealer. Apparently they call Italy and they are very interested in this problem. They are going to take this bike ( ser# 69) back to the assembly plant in Rayong Thailand to diagnose the problem with this 2013 Multi S forks. ( it sounds to me as if it might be a simple fix with a couple of shims like the Olin's but... I'm I don't really know)

So they will take Ser# 69 back and give me a new bike by next Tuesday. They are genuinely concerned about my happiness with the bike and Ducati Thaialnd. So they don't want to wait to have the new bike repaired or adjusted. Which might be two weeks or more.

So I am amazed at the caring attitude and level of customer service I am getting. Thank you Ducati Bangkok.

I will let you all know what the fix is but I may not find out since it is not my bike anymore.

 

Clunking headstock

Just driving home from the dealer after purchase, I went over a couple of small speed bumps near my house. I get this same strong clunking sound / feeling when they briefly reach full extension.
I am at the Bangkok Dealer now ( the following Day) on Sukhumvit 55 less than 24 hours since I picked it up. Of course SB#844 doesn't apply to the 2013's ( dealer told me) but hopefully it is the same simple fix.

After a test drive the were very concerned about clunking about in the forks. They have never felt this in a 2013 "S". I found it as i was the first person to drive it on a road. In Thailand, no one rides your bike before you ride it. I didn't realize when I commented on the 2km on the bike when I first turned on the ignition that I would get so many apologies for the "high mileage". They were very very sorry but all these miles were put on at the factory with the bike running on a machine / treadmill. The dealer tells me that in Thai culture that people expect no mileage on there new bike and will not accept a bike with mileage.

Still sitting here at the Dealer. Apparently they call Italy and they are very interested in this problem. They are going to take this bike ( ser# 69) back to the assembly plant in Rayong Thailand to diagnose the problem with this 2013 Multi S forks. ( it sounds to me as if it might be a simple fix with a couple of shims like the Olin's but... I'm I don't really know)

So they will take Ser# 69 back and give me a new bike by next Tuesday. They are genuinely concerned about my happiness with the bike and Ducati Thaialnd. So they don't want to wait to have the new bike repaired or adjusted. Which might be two weeks or more.

So I am amazed at the caring attitude and level of customer service I am getting. Thank you Ducati Bangkok.

I will let you all know what the fix is but I may not find out since it is not my bike anymore.

Impressive, but they really should work to this level especially when you consider that this new suspension is so important to the brand. The growing popularity of the MTS platform is driving sales numbers with Ducati and they cannot afford a run of bad publicity especially given the speed at which these issues are discussed today.

I haven't noticed any of this noise with my 13, but I'll tune into it now just to be sure.

 

Got the shims installed yesterday (Tues.).
Took care of that clunking issue I used to deal with each & every time I drive out, or into my driveway. Not to mention bumpy natural gravel rock roads I ride.
I live on a cliff, and have water diverting bumps in my driveway. I would drive over the things, clunking every time.(they are jumps on the Yamaha)
Now I hear the other things on the bike that make noise when I hit a big bump!

They work!

 

I stayed with my bike whilst they did my shims. I guess about two hours. the SB describes it in detail. The 0.2mm shims did it for me.
I also can't stand something 'not right' even if it has no practical effect.
It's not 'complicated'...but there is certainly room to get it wrong. Fortunatley my dealer has got used to me...so he is now happy I stay....and 'learn'. (But I did have to take two days leave from work to attend the Desmo service last week!).