Hello all, I recent got desmo service on my 2014 1199 Panigale s done, my mechanic put in the k&n race filter (my bike is completely stock), when I picked it up I noticed the idle sounded a lot more aggressive, but still rode fine so I rode it home but then noticed the temps skipping from 180 to 200 constantly (happened while I was on the highway) I knew something wasn’t right so I kept monitoring the temp as I was riding home and when I exited the highway I noticed the temps kept rising dangerously high to 230+ then at the last light before reaching home it spiked to 250 then flashed high temp for a second then dropped back down to 230… next day had it towed back to the shop to redo the coolant then I picked it up again which was running fine but then I noticed the exhaust was shooting flames on idle… to which I was thinking to myself the ecu is probably just calibrating for the air filter, over the next 2 days the bike started shutting off at every stop after it warmed up to 150+ so obviously I was concerned and never rode it again until my mechanic switched the air filter back to stock… the first ride with the stock air filter on it still kept shutting off at stops but then at night it started riding fine again and holding idle like before… it was all good for a day til today I noticed wow it shooting flames again on idle and decel overrun… anywho just wanted to get any inputs as to what may be happening to the bike does it just need a tune? It’s been holding idle fine but I know the flames don’t mean anything good and the weird thing is when I switch modes it stops shooting flames then comes back…. Oh and yes my cans turn red I believe specifically where the cats reside in the cans… any input would be highly appreciated.
Ducati 1199 spitting flames on idle
- Thread starter williamchen1999
- Start date
Joined Jan 2020
421 Posts | 136+
ACT, Australia
Maybe cam timing? If the mech didn't put the cams back correctly then the exhaust valve could be allowing more unburnt fuel and air into the exhaust. Pretty sure the ECU doesn't callibrate for changes, there's just a closed loop section for emissions control. If it did the aftermarket tuners wouldn't add much value.
Regardless, if the bike was running fine when you dropped it off and doesn't now, it's likely your mech has caused it and should be fixing it.
Regardless, if the bike was running fine when you dropped it off and doesn't now, it's likely your mech has caused it and should be fixing it.
ya man, agree with Disco, that Mech needs to rip it back apart and figure out what he missed....Dont drive it anymore either, temps that high are terrible for the motor.
Yea I hope that didn’t damage anything.. oil still seems fine not milky and there are no leaks of any kind…
Joined Sep 2015
238 Posts | 179+
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Did they make any adjustments to your valve train or did they simply check the valve clearances and find that they were all in spec? If they were all in spec then there would have been no need to pull the camshafts unless inspection of the same was part of the service. If a camshaft was removed and reinstalled incorrectly your problem wouldn't come and go... if your timing is off, it's off. Did they test the AIS? It is part of the desmo service. Did they button it back up correctly? If you have cats and the AIS has become disabled they'll glow.
Last edited:
Joined Jan 2020
421 Posts | 136+
ACT, Australia
I'm not sure that he clearly said that the problem completely went away, just that it held idle. There are other factors that could have caused this. I'm not sure that the AIS would affect idle either as it's on the wrong side of the cycle to affect idle, unless the O2 sensor input is trimming the fuel mix at idle (I thought that was higher in the rev range around 4k).
Joined Jan 2020
421 Posts | 136+
ACT, Australia
Definitely at the lower end of the rev range. I'm thinking it was around 20% throttle. I wish I could remember where in saw this. It was prior to using Tuneboy, so either a past tuner or some literature, but it's evading me now. There would have to be damage somewhere to the wires to alter the signal back to the ECU. It could be a quick check to see what voltage is going back but, surely the ECU is programmed to handle a failed sensor, ie not going to rich or lean enough to cause engine damge
See the problem is it’s just breathing fire lol on idle and kind of sounds rough… but then when riding it feels and sounds normal
So basically temps are normal rides fine only thing is at idle sometimes it sounds cammed and I just see flames coming out my stock exhaust and when I look at the exhaust its glowing red where I believe the cats are located… mechanic said he only checked clearances and that it was all within spec so the cams weren’t removed everything was buttoned up and he had only unplugged 2 plugs from I believe the left side of the bike top of the battery… I have tuneboy arriving later in the day and will flash base map onto it and see if it persists if it does then something is definitely wrong.
Joined Sep 2015
238 Posts | 179+
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Curious, who actually performed the service? Was it Ducati, an authorized Ducati service facility, or just some local mechanic? Desmo service requires a load of operations to be carried out, and checking/adjusting the valves is only one of them. Do you know what work was actually performed? In any event, what everyone has told you is true... if the bike didn't have any issues before being serviced, then the problems that you're experiencing now are almost certainly a result of what the mechanic did, or neglected to do.
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