Are there any electrical problems with a Ducati Superbike?
There’s been a number of questions posted recently about charging system problems. This write-up is geared towards superbikes but has general application to all late-model Ducatis. It’s probably more than you wanted to know, but save it, it may come in handy Ducati charging system components, are prone to failure, especially on superbikes.
When did the regulators start to fail on the 916 Ducati?
When regulators first started to fail on the ’95 916 bikes, Ducati changed the regulator design but that didn’t stop the warranty claims. The first “improved” regulator that was sent out to dealers in 1995 was marked with a green dot of paint (to distinguish them from the older version) but otherwise appeared the same.
How can I tell if my Ducati RR is going to fail?
The charging light is the first sign that the RR is about to fail. It will often start to flicker at above-idle rpm, sometimes requiring progressively higher rpm to extinguish it. Or, it may just come on and stay on without warning.
Why are the wires on my Ducati so corroded?
A corroded or loose connector always has a higher resistance than the adjacent wires and it will heat up enough to melt connector plastic parts and adjacent insulation. That’s why it’s best to solder the wires directly together and eliminate connectors entirely.
There’s been a number of questions posted recently about charging system problems. This write-up is geared towards superbikes but has general application to all late-model Ducatis. It’s probably more than you wanted to know, but save it, it may come in handy Ducati charging system components, are prone to failure, especially on superbikes.
When regulators first started to fail on the ’95 916 bikes, Ducati changed the regulator design but that didn’t stop the warranty claims. The first “improved” regulator that was sent out to dealers in 1995 was marked with a green dot of paint (to distinguish them from the older version) but otherwise appeared the same.
The charging light is the first sign that the RR is about to fail. It will often start to flicker at above-idle rpm, sometimes requiring progressively higher rpm to extinguish it. Or, it may just come on and stay on without warning.
A corroded or loose connector always has a higher resistance than the adjacent wires and it will heat up enough to melt connector plastic parts and adjacent insulation. That’s why it’s best to solder the wires directly together and eliminate connectors entirely.