Coughing 888

desmo54

I recently bought a '94 888 Strada. It was perfectly tuned, ran like a dream. Took it to a renowned Ducati mechanic to check the valve clearances. Picked the bike, up it coughed, ran like a dog just off idle, but ok once I get moving. Took bike back to mechanic....he more or less washed his hands of it, saying he didn't adjust anything. He added the chip had been flashed, it sent his computer haywire when he plugged the bike in. I have no knowledge of fuel injected bikes (only have carbie bikes). I'm at a loss as to where to go from here, would appreciate any advice.
😳

Twigs

Hi Mate
Number of good 888 mechanics around depending where you are based, let us know where and you will get plenty of help here.

desmo54

Twigs wroteHi Mate Number of good 888 mechanics around depending where you are based, let us know where and you will get plenty of help here.

Thanks Twigs, I'm at Terrigal, NSW Central Coast. I was told Ron Young is 'second to none' when it comes to Ducatis, he is who I took it to. I know he does great work, but unfortunately my bike now runs sick.

Twigs

desmo54 wroteThanks Twigs, I'm at Terrigal, NSW Central Coast. I was told Ron Young is 'second to none' when it comes to Ducatis, he is who I took it to. I know he does great work, but unfortunately my bike now runs sick.

I assume you have checked all the usual suspects such as loose wires, pinched fuel hoses etc.

You could talk to Sydney Dyno at Somersby for a dyno run/diagnostic

If you want to come to Sydney then try D Moto in Clyde or Gowanloch in Kingsgrove

D Moto have a dyno so they can run the bike and see what is happening under load.
Mike Soderland at Gowanloch used to race 851/888 so he knows a bit about them.

The fact that your previous mechanic said the flashed chip caused his computer to go nuts needs to be looked at as perhaps the chip is not right now and causing issues with the fuel injection being too rich or too lean down low.
Good Luck

desmo54

Thanks Twigs. I have checked for loose wires, crimped lines etc, and replaced spark plugs.....no difference. I've since taken the ECU out and found it has a 'Fuel Injected Motorcycle' chip in it, who are not in business anymore (so I was told). It could be a problem finding someone with the software for it. I will contact Brad Black on Monday 16th, when he goes back to work, and arrange to buy the appropriate chip for my bike, so future diagnostics can be performed.

Twigs

desmo54 wroteThanks Twigs. I have checked for loose wires, crimped lines etc, and replaced spark plugs.....no difference. I've since taken the ECU out and found it has a 'Fuel Injected Motorcycle' chip in it, who are not in business anymore (so I was told). It could be a problem finding someone with the software for it. I will contact Brad Black on Monday 16th, when he goes back to work, and arrange to buy the appropriate chip for my bike, so future diagnostics can be performed.

Brad should sort it.
He's done some custom chips for me in the past and got it pretty bang on.

Jafa

desmo54 wroteI was told Ron Young is 'second to none' when it comes to Ducatis, he is who I took it to. I know he does great work, but unfortunately my bike now runs sick.

I've been told the same thing. Disappointing. Won't bother darkening his door way in the future. Brad Black will fix it no worries, and he's a gentleman too.

desmo54

I'm wondering if the aftermarket fuel lines could have swollen internally? When said mechanic re-checked bike, he noticed the fuel lines had tight bends cause they are too long, he released them and bike ran better but still coughs just off idle. Can anyone suggest where I can get good quality fuel lines, so I can discount another possible cause? (I will still get a new chip so future diagnostics can be performed).

griff851

External fuel line is just normal 8mm is fuel injection line available lots of places. Internal line has to be submersible.
You should call Pete Smith at Epicycles, and see if he is interested in having a look. Other than that Shaun at D Moto or Desmo headquarters at Byron Bay.
If it was good when it went in, Ron has stuffed something up. He is not our flavour of the month. Arrogant wanker springs to mind.

vij

If he checked the valves he removed the airbox and the throttle bodies. I would guess that you have an air leak. For the FIM EPROMS. You can not diagnostic them with the standard ducati tools. Its nothing wrong with the EPROM. Thats just how they are. FIM totally reworked the EPROMS compared to stock with some additional things but they do not speak the same language as the stock ones.

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desmo54

vij wroteIf he checked the valves he removed the airbox and the throttle bodies. I would guess that you have an air leak. For the FIM EPROMS. You can not diagnostic them with the standard ducati tools. Its nothing wrong with the EPROM. Thats just how they are. FIM totally reworked the EPROMS compared to stock with some additional things but they do not speak the same language as the stock ones. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

We tend to agree with you. Although it looks like he didn't remove the throttle bodies or even the rocker covers, cause there is no sign of dust/dirt disturbance or oil leaks from when the rocker covers should have been removed. ( I feel ripped off) Having said that I have replaced spark plugs, checked inlet manifold clamps for tightness, drained fuel tank for water ( he drained tank and replaced with other fuel to replace filter). Checked all electrical connectors for various sensors. I have just ran fuel injector cleaner additive through one tank full....no diff. Should I put vacuum guages on the manifolds to discount air suck? Ron Young suggested I should replace fuel pump (after I told him there was a problem post pick up) cause it was aftermarket. It builds pressure quickly and shuts off as it should.😳 Again....the bike ran perfectly before I took it to him.

vij

So what did the mechanic do. I mean you took the bike there and you paid him for for his job. What did he actually do.

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griff851

Also could you define "coughing". Is it spitting out the throttle bodies or out the exhaust, or miss firing? Is it doing it stationary or only under load or both?

desmo54

vij wroteSo what did the mechanic do. I mean you took the bike there and you paid him for for his job. What did he actually do. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

I asked him to check valve clearances and replace fuel filter. That's all I wanted. I recieved a non-descript invoice, saying 'major service' labour $650. When I took it back to him, he just said "I didn't adjust anything"!! Checked clearances, emptied fuel tank to replace filter and replaced coolant. He then mentioned he plugged his computer into the ECU and it sent his computer 'haywire' so he unplugged it. He then added "the bike has no trim," and doesn't have the original chip in it ( it has an FIM chip).
As I mentioned before there is no real sign that rocker covers have been removed.🙁 The bike ran perfectly before.

desmo54

griff851 wroteAlso could you define "coughing". Is it spitting out the throttle bodies or out the exhaust, or miss firing? Is it doing it stationary or only under load or both?

It's out of the throttle bodies. It idles fine, but coughs on throttle opening, stationary or under load, at low speed (in traffic) just off idle. When I take off from light etc, (no cars in front) it responds as it should.😳

firebird

That is unusual to say the bike has no trim,that could be something to look at as the air fuel ratio might be off but then it probably would not idle very well.The other thing might be the atmospheric pressure sensor,is it connected back up if the airbox was removed i have had a faulty one one before and it was terrible off idle pretty much as you are describing.Also seems a bit strange to say i did not adjust anything but he noticed it has an FIM chip in it, unless you told him as it not like you can see it.
Shane

desmo54

Atmospheric pressure sensor is connected..all good. Took the air box off today, checked where the air bleed screws were set. put them back to where they were after experimentation. Noticed only the rear throttle body is coughing back, which seems to have been the case all the time, since 'serviced'.😳 Brad Black did tell me that disabling the trim is not uncommon and should be of no significance.

vij

Sounds like the bike would need a TPS setup, BLD air adjustment and a CO adjustment

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griff851

I have an FIM mega zone chip it disables the trim. If it's coming from the TB it's gone rich. Old mate (not) Ron may have done something weird to the chip. Brad is the man for all that. If you could get a set of vacuum gauges on to it and check the sync, that might remove another thing of the possible maybe's. Playing with air bleeds wil have put that out now anyway. You'll need the little stand off's to go into the manifolds. I'd seriously consider getting the bike to Shaun or Arthur's. I think they both have FIM boxes.

desmo54

Thanks griff851 and vij,

I think I have done all I can here/at home without all the right gear. I will take the bike to D Moto. I spoke to Shaun and he told me he has the software for the FIM.
I'm just so pissed off because the bike ran perfectly before Ron touched it. 😡

Thanks everyone for you help.