Ducati vented clutch cover

[M3EVO]

Anybody fitted one? Why vented? What does this acheive, 'scuse my lack of mechanical knowledge. Im guessing a exhausting of clutch plate dust??

Also has anyone got a 916/996/998/748 fitted with an alarm necessitating a key fob. My datatool keyfob keeps getting bitten by my steering damper and arming the alarm mid flight! Have now removed said keyfob and it remains in my pocket. Any suggestions.

PPS Where is the best place to buy polished frame plugs?

[954 Girlie]

I got mine from Casoli - think you can view it online - something like www.casoli.com - they are in Barnet.

Don't leave your datatool sender unit on your ignition key - the constant knocking about can break it & if it buggers up while you are out you will be stuffed!!! ............and also everyone will see a Ducati being relayed home & think to themselves "Oh Look there is another broken down Ducati" lol

I keep mine on an old press pass thingy (technical term there!) that you wear round your neck - with my front door key cos I am always losing that too!!

[mrsd]

My frame plugs came from www.ferracci.com. I couldn't find plain, polished plugs in the UK. Casoli sell engraved plugs AFAIK. The vented clutch cover is to reduce the chances of the clutch overheating, they also increase the volume of the clutch - great when you get it right, embarrasing when you screw up pulling away from other bikers. Mine was (bike currently in bits thanks to braille parking ) carbon fiber from European Cycle in CA. I'm afraid I don't know if they'll ship.

[cazzo]

M3EVO said:

Anybody fitted one? Why vented? What does this acheive, 'scuse my lack of mechanical knowledge. Im guessing a exhausting of clutch plate dust??

I have a Ducati Corse Carbon-Fibre cut away and vented (half-cover).

Benefits are that the clutch keeps cooler and cleaner as the linings dust is blown out this helps the clutch work better and last longer.

Disadvantages are that the clutch plates get wet (and rust) when it rains or you wash the bike - not much of a problem when riding as the heat dries it out but if you leave it parked in the rain.... and that the clutch dust that exits goes all over yer boot and the footrest/brake pedal assembly.

BTW if (when) you have to change the clutch fit the race/sintered one, it has more plates, lasts longer, grips better and doesn't squeal like a donkey when you let it out in anger. The only downside is that it costs more (almost double).

Having the open cover means the clutch is much more noisy, rattling like a good'un in neutral and hissing when pulled in, BTW the race clutch hisses and rattles even more than the standard.

The noise is very agricultural but is music to my ears

[BadApple]

M3Evo said:

Also has anyone got a 916/996/998/748 fitted with an alarm necessitating a key fob. My datatool keyfob keeps getting bitten by my steering damper and arming the alarm mid flight! Have now removed said keyfob and it remains in my pocket. Any suggestions.

Mine came with a small bit of velcro stuck on the tank & back of fob. Doesn't move at all.

Does anyone know what I can do to get a second alarm fob for a spyball alarm?

[cazzo]

M3EVO said:

Also has anyone got a 916/996/998/748 fitted with an alarm necessitating a key fob. My datatool keyfob keeps getting bitten by my steering damper and arming the alarm mid flight! Have now removed said keyfob and it remains in my pocket. Any suggestions.

I have Datatool 2 alarm which does not immobilise so remote does not need to be on the key I have it on a quick release clip to key, I only ever put the key ONLY in the lock as once when just manouvering bike out of garage got the remote (still attached to key) jammed between damper & tank and effectively jammed the steering - wouldn't want it to happen on the move

Edited to add; Datatool should not arm when ignition is on, at least mine won't, but you will scratch your tank and possibly fall off if it gets jammed

>> Edited by cazzo on Wednesday 25th June 00:35

[mrsd]

BadApple said:

Mine came with a small bit of velcro stuck on the tank & back of fob. Doesn't move at all.

So that's what that was for ! My bike came with a transponder built into the key, but cazza is right, datatool is supposed to be deactivated when the engine is running, so you may have an electrical snafu if it will arm whilst you are riding.

[M3EVO]

Thanks for the info, I think I might invest in some velcro as the fob is currently carried on my inside pocket of my leathers and gets uncomfortable in this current heat. BTW I must agree on the noise. Im not sure I was fully prepared for it. After three weeks of ownership the bike is definitely agricultural, but I feel that this is a huge part of the pleasure experience. Letting the clutch in and out in neutral, bloody hell its like throwing gravel into my (the wife's) Magimix. When giving it some welly from standstill the clutch intermittently gives a light graunching noise, I have ignored this so far as I put it down to the bikes nature.

The other thing is the clutch feel through the lever is very stiff. After 45mins of riding my left wrist is knackered! Should have put in more time on the left when I was younger (fnar fnar).

Ciao

[mrsd]

You have a 748, I think ? I'm surprised the clutch is so stiff and noisy, the only (standard) 748 I've tried was both lighter and quieter than the 996

[cazzo]

The clutch action is very stiff, I thought that 748, 900ss, 916, 996 etc all used the same clutch assy but you can get oversize clutch slave cylinder that makes the clutch action lighter (30% less) and I assume more movement of the lever, don't know how good they are but if I ever ride in busy traffic I always wish I'd bought one.

Check out TecMoto www.tecmoto.co.uk/

They also have the 'skimpiest' clutch cover I've ever seen a sort of Titanium clutch thong!