Another Ducati lesson learned

B Topp · Apr 24, 2020

So last night I decided to take on a "real quick simple project". After seeing a solution to an issue I have noticed, I decided to paint the steering dampener flat black. Having a pretty good idea of what would be involved, I figured it would only take approximately 15 minutes or so. Now for those of you that have never taken the steering dampener off, specifically the Ohlins dampener, there are two spacers and two O rings that are positioned on the main body of the unit. One is on the top and one is on the bottom. (I was not aware of this) so when I unscrewed the bolt and removed it, I lifted the main body up slightly. When I did this the bottom spacer dropped out of the dampener main body. Now normally this would not be an issue. Normally something like that would just fall on the floor, bounce off a few things and roll under the largest, heaviest thing in your garage/ shop. You would cuss look for a few minutes and finally find it in a place you have searched several times already.

Now here is the lesson learned..... The awesome design team at Ducati built this super light weight, visually stunning headlight, dash mounting system with a smooth sloping surface that flows down under the dash. The engineered a hole under the dash. The hole leads to a bottomless cavern of despair that no mortal can reach his or her fingers in. So the bottom spacer slid down the ramp into the hole out of sight. I have tried a magnet but it must have fallen in a place out of reach of the magnet.

So after all this, my 15 minute quickie project has turned into a take the bike apart and go on a search and recovery mission for a small ... muther ....... spacer! ....!

So the lesson here boys and girls is make sure you hold the spacers in place when removing the steering damper.

endodoc · Apr 24, 2020

Fun huh? From memory there is a spacer/o ring setup in that pivot assembly. On a side note keep these little frustrations in mind folks when playing with Ti fasteners. A magnet is like buttons on socks in that situation.

Streetz · Apr 24, 2020

Trust me, I feel your pain. These bikes love holding onto falling hardware lol, here are some of my favorites...don't ask how long it took to find each.

Paul G · Apr 24, 2020

Oh yes, try putting the DB killers in the akras on the twin.

B Topp · Apr 24, 2020

Well the search and recovery mission was successful.

Here is the little guy.

and now he is reunited with his brother.

Kev242 · Apr 25, 2020

That’s why I took off all the fairings for the first time, to find that exact object! A lot of knuckle scraping and cursing involved.

I put a piece of black tape on the back of the steering dampener, helps but not pretty.

As to the DB killers in the Akra, that was even more cursing until I bought one of these.....game changer.

Felo 50076 #1 x 150mm Phillips Screwdriver with Gripper

Felo 50076 #1 x 150mm Phillips Screwdriver with Gripper - high quality German engineering at the lowest price. Free same day shipping available.

www.kctoolco.com

jkeown · Apr 25, 2020

Thanks for the heads up. I'm planning on painting my damper soon

B Topp · Apr 25, 2020

If I had not dropped the spacer the painting would have been a 15 minute project. It was super easy. As pointed out in another thread, just a little bit of masking tape and viola you're done.

DucatiKev · Apr 25, 2020

Kev242 said:
I put a piece of black tape on the back of the steering dampener, helps but not pretty.

gaff tape or stage tape works well

990Glen · Apr 25, 2020

Or go bling if you are that way inclined.

Steering damper cover - Ducati Panigale V2 / V4 / Streetfighter V4

Authentic Ducati carbon fiber component that easily replaces the original part. Available with glossy or matte finish, by choice

vulturbike.com

endodoc · Apr 25, 2020

Well great point that “cover” has a gloss finish completely negating the objective which as 999glen points out, was lost somewhere

BMW Alpina · Apr 25, 2020

I took out a bolt that hold the Swing Arm Carbon/Titanium protector, the bolt attached to the swing arm and it seemed that the thread (on the swing arm) have slightly stripped from the factory, so I try to slowly retap it using the bolt itself, and spray a lithium grease.
However the red small plastic pipe (from the lithium grease spray can) feel,... and goes into the swing arm...
So it will be resting forever inside the swing arm now

vpot · Apr 28, 2020

how easy is it to remove the headlight fairing and upper half fairing?

B Topp · Apr 28, 2020

Its fairly easy. the mirrors need to come off. then there are two 8mm bolts, one on the left side facing to the rear on the outside edge behind the headlights and one on the right side. then there is a single bolt under the nose closest to the front that needs to be removed. On the upper fairing there is a male piece that is inserted into a rubber grommet in between the two headlights, you kind of have to pry it out with a little bit of force. It might be a little stuck in there depending on how long it has been since it has been removed. You also sort of spread the right and left side open a bit to clear the headlight housing. Its not really that hard. I don't remember who put it out but there was a video on You Tube on how to do it.

B Topp · Apr 28, 2020

The mirrors can be a pain in the .... They have two rubber bits, one on the bottom of the mirror and one that goes under the upper panel. I got tired of messing with the one that goes under the panel so I took some spray adhesive and glued it to the spot where its supposed to go. This it of course if you still use the OEM mirrors.

bradp51 · Apr 29, 2020

Kev242 said:
That’s why I took off all the fairings for the first time, to find that exact object! A lot of knuckle scraping and cursing involved.

I put a piece of black tape on the back of the steering dampener, helps but not pretty.

As to the DB killers in the Akra, that was even more cursing until I bought one of these.....game changer.

Felo 50076 #1 x 150mm Phillips Screwdriver with Gripper

Felo 50076 #1 x 150mm Phillips Screwdriver with Gripper - high quality German engineering at the lowest price. Free same day shipping available.

www.kctoolco.com

T

Thank you for posting that link. I just purchased a set of those from Bowers Tool Co. Should be here in about 10 days. I am sure it is going to come in handy.

DesmoRR · May 1, 2020

B Topp said:
So last night I decided to take on a "real quick simple project". After seeing a solution to an issue I have noticed, I decided to paint the steering dampener flat black. Having a pretty good idea of what would be involved, I figured it would only take approximately 15 minutes or so. Now for those of you that have never taken the steering dampener off, specifically the Ohlins dampener, there are two spacers and two O rings that are positioned on the main body of the unit. One is on the top and one is on the bottom. (I was not aware of this) so when I unscrewed the bolt and removed it, I lifted the main body up slightly. When I did this the bottom spacer dropped out of the dampener main body. Now normally this would not be an issue. Normally something like that would just fall on the floor, bounce off a few things and roll under the largest, heaviest thing in your garage/ shop. You would cuss look for a few minutes and finally find it in a place you have searched several times already.

Now here is the lesson learned..... The awesome design team at Ducati built this super light weight, visually stunning headlight, dash mounting system with a smooth sloping surface that flows down under the dash. The engineered a hole under the dash. The hole leads to a bottomless cavern of despair that no mortal can reach his or her fingers in. So the bottom spacer slid down the ramp into the hole out of sight. I have tried a magnet but it must have fallen in a place out of reach of the magnet.

So after all this, my 15 minute quickie project has turned into a take the bike apart and go on a search and recovery mission for a small ... muther ....... spacer! ....!

So the lesson here boys and girls is make sure you hold the spacers in place when removing the steering damper.

Bloody Italians. Always, always, always fill the voids with trash bags so if anything does drop, it’s not lost for forever.

Would love to see a space shuttle built by these guys.

But hey, at least they had the fantastic idea of taking away the plastic DOC cards every bike used to come with...

bradp51 · May 3, 2020

BMW Alpina said:
I took out a bolt that hold the Swing Arm Carbon/Titanium protector, the bolt attached to the swing arm and it seemed that the thread (on the swing arm) have slightly stripped from the factory, so I try to slowly retap it using the bolt itself, and spray a lithium grease.
However the red small plastic pipe (from the lithium grease spray can) feel,... and goes into the swing arm...
So it will be resting forever inside the swing arm now

On the 1199 there is a little rubber cover on the inside if I recall and you can get things out thru that if you want to dig around. I am pretty sure I lost a small screw in there when I was doing my 520 chain/sprocket conversion and got it out through that hole.

Another Ducati lesson learned

Help Support Ducati Forum:

B Topp

endodoc

Streetz

Paul G

B Topp

Kev242

Felo 50076 #1 x 150mm Phillips Screwdriver with Gripper

jkeown

B Topp

DucatiKev

990Glen

Steering damper cover - Ducati Panigale V2 / V4 / Streetfighter V4

endodoc

BMW Alpina

vpot

B Topp

B Topp

bradp51

Felo 50076 #1 x 150mm Phillips Screwdriver with Gripper

DesmoRR

bradp51

Similar threads

Register CTA

Recent Discussions