Recurring dropped cylinder.

[Mobius]

Intermittent faults are VERY annoying. This one's a right B*stard. If I can solve this problem permanently, I'll be very happy indeed.

Symptoms:
* Only seems to happen when bike is warm.
* Cylinder just cuts out. Doesn't surge and stop.
* Stopping the bike killing the ignition and restarting does not affect it.
* No electrical equipment, on or off, seems to affect it.
* Revving the bike up to 6,000 or so in neutral sometimes seems to bring it back.
* No apparent rhythm to the cylinder outages; either within a ride, or from ride to ride. At least 2 weeks since it last misbehaved.

Details:
* Plugs less than 1,000 kilometres old.
* Starts and idles beautifully.
* Runs fabulously, and then.... not.
* 95 RON fuel. Tank fullness does not seem to be a factor.

When the cylinder drops out, it doesn't *try* to fire up again - it's like it's just switched off.

I know G posted a nice diagram of a circuit modification for increased reliability, but I can't seem to find it. What I'm looking for is a good, long-term solution. If there is one.

[higgy]

Replace the o-rings on your idle screws, or spark wires could be either one or it still could be the switch
You gotta dig in and do the dirty work, wishing won't help

[Mc tool]

Do you know which pot its dropping , if you do you can swap some parts from one cyl to the other ( coils plug leads ) and see if the fault moves with the swapping of the part. Im thinkin that seeing as how its been a couple of weeks sinse the last failure its unlikely to be a faulty component in the module or a coil getting hot and failing, more likely to be a bad connection somewhere

[higgy]

bad connection somewhere

How unuusual

[Mobius]

I am about to begin Higgy's suggestion of the ignition switch. I have no idea how to remove it, and the manual isn't any help. I guess I'll just muddle through. *sigh*

The failing pot is the top one - naturally. *double sigh*.

Now, where to find a diagram and a-fool-could-follow-it method of inserting a relay in the ignition circuit?

[higgy]

Its all here,just got to poke around, if you can't find it let us know, someone will point you to it

http://forums.ducatipaso.org/viewtopic. ... tch+Repair

Check the FAQ's and the Documents they are up to date

[Mobius]

I couldn't figure out how to remove the ignition switch unit. A mirror shows there's no way to undo it from below. I unplugged the circular plug from the bottom of the switch, and it all looked pretty decent, but I cleaned the contacts and the pins and reassembled it. It went back in nicely.

Now it has a new symptom, though: starts on one cylinder.

How do I remove the ignition switch unit?

I saw G's guide and am confident I can service the thing correctly and easily once I get it off.

Not having a great today: a crazy Indian ran a red light and hit my Porsche in the rear left quarter. ACK. Still, I'm on annual leave. Musn't grumble.

[Mobius]

OK, got the ignition switch out, but it is not the same as shown in the guide Higgy pointed me to. Mine has a plug and socket arrangement on the base, and when I remove the plug, the white plastic socket portion is mounted in the ignition housing with dents in the alloy housing.

I fear I will break it if I try to force it.

[higgy]

http://forums.ducatipaso.org/viewtopic. ... tch#p28221

[Mobius]

Yes thanks Higgy! My ignition switch connector looks nothing like that awful thing - it's pristine clean with no heat markings whatsoever.

I went the whole hog, and unplugged every connector in the ignition loop, cleaning every surface as I went using contact cleaner WL and 60 to clean off deposits, and 600 grade paper where I could reach.

Now the bike starts on both.

Time for a ride, to see if problem licked!

[Mobius]

Just got back from a 120km run, and the bike ran like a clock.

The loudest clock the world has ever known.

To everyone for pointing me in the right direction. Thanks, all!

[nnnnnnorman]

excellent! i bet you enjoyed that ride!

[higgy]

that is why we all come here,over and over

[higgy]

Mobius,just FYI
When mine started acting up it was just a hiccup at cruise. Only occurred once in a while. In the end it progressed to the point it left me stranded on the side of the rode. I've been fixin vehicles and automated equipment professionally for 35 years plus and only been stranded on the side of the rode a few times, but that one hurt, had to call the wife and son to rescue me