Ducati 696 ABS 2010, my clutch lever keeps sticking. Had it fixed once by the local Ducati shop, they said something about it being installed improperly at the factory?? Nevertheless the problem is back. It is most annoying when starting from a dead stop and again when I am slowly splitting lanes in LA traffic. I suspect it is an air bubble but now I'm not too sure. A quick remedy I have found is to open the fluid cap on the handlebar and pump the clutch lever in an effort to bleed out the bubble. Problem is it happens again after a few days.Any help would be much appreciated....thanks!
Optional Information: Year: 2010 Make: Ducati Model: Monster Engine: 696 ABS
Good day and welcome to Just Answer. My name is XXXXX XXX I'd be happy to help you with your problem today.
If the lever is sticking an air bubble is not the problem, & unfortunately removing the cap & the problem going away temporarily is just a coincidence.
If your lever is sticking you have a bent plunger rod or there is an issue with the bore & the plunger is hanging up & holding the lever in position.
If you are finding that the lever is " sticking" all the way out or is hard to pull in that is an issue of fluid contamination and you will need to drain, flush, clean & dry that hydraulic system in order to remedy that.
Thank you that makes a lot more sense then "it was installed improperly at the factory".
Not difficult to pull in the lever at all, it is when the clutch is all the way out that there is a problem. I need to usually play with it or feather it out to engage first gear.
I'm sorry, but your statement is a bit confusing, you say that the lever is not difficult to pull in, but then you say you have trouble when the lever is all the way out... if you have trouble with the lever all the way out, that would mean that you are having difficulty pulling the lever in. Or are you saying that it hangs up when it is all the way out, but then gets easier as you pull it in?
Yeah, I'm not sure ducati allows things to be installed "incorrectly" at the factory. Specs of dust go through quality control at that plant & get sent back for repair.
Sorry about that Brian, let me try again. You are correct, it is the latter - the clutch lever gets hung up as I release. Imagine you are at a stop light, turns green and you begin easing out the clutch while rolling gently on the throttle. The clutch is all the way out and nothing, you pull back in to let it our again, feathering/popping/etc and suddenly first gear engages and you are jerked into motion or you stall in the intersection.
Funny thing, it takes about 15 minutes into my ride for this start happening. When I first start out, no problems......Also, there is a squeaking noise down in the engine/clutch housing. Sounds dry, yet the fluids are fine. Clutch was cleaned and dried, hydraulics seem to be fine...according to ducati mechanic?
yes, I don't see that as a hydraulic system issue but an issue with your throwout bearing or clutch rod/actuator.
I think the shop needs to address that area, not the master cylinder
Also, it only happens in first gear. At speed I can shift just fine......does that help ya at all?
great info but doesn't change my thinking too much and in my experience with smell A traffic & how much you need to use your clutch, I think it very reasonable that you have a bad throwout bearing that at lower rpm, higher torque settings is acting up, but does not under higher rpm loads
Youre not kidding LA traffic requires a clutch indeed!!Awesome, let me tell that the Ducati mechanic....taking here
taking her in at lunch, thanks Brian!
That is at least my initial impression based on your description, thanks for asking.
Experience: ............