ECU again (and other

[Graeme999]

Hi all

This is my first time on here as I just bought my first Ducati at the weekend, a 54 reg 999 (not sure if it's an 03 or an 04 yet).

I am learning all the time about these bikes from excellent sites such as this (I have only ever owned Jap bikes in the past).

[Graeme999]

Doh

Its too early in the morning for this and I hit return before I had even started.

Sorry, I will get to the point.

I don't know much about Ducatis yet. The bike came with the all important red key and code card and all seems straight.

In my customary haste, I bought a termi half system and race ECU from a different source just before I picked up the bike. I know now the race ECU might (probably will) be a waste of space as it will probably have been programmed for another bike.

I have read all about the various and numerous electrical problems encountered with ECUs etc. In short,

1. Should I try fitting the race ECU (myself) and see what happens?
2. If I take out the old ECU and fit the new one, will I need to reset anything or is it just plug and go (if it goes that is)?
3. Is it too much of a risk - ie. am I likely to knacker anything in trying to change the ECUs?
4. Am I better just changing the pipe/half section and keeping the standard ECU in place?
5. If I do that, is the bike likely to run lean (expect it may) and, if so, is that likely to cause any damage in the short/long term?

Any advice gratefully received. At the risk of sounding cheeky, if there are any Ducati experts in the South Manchester area who would be willing to come round on Saturday (weather permitting) when I will be taking the fairing off for the first time, I would be eternally grateful (tea/biscuits/beer as preferred will be supplied free of charge).

Thanks

Graeme

[Ghost]

Hello Graeme, welcome to the forum. first and simple forget item 1 to 3 fit the exhaust and leave the ecu as you will spend a couple of hours and will have been red keyed, so will not work.

My 749 has a Termi like yours, standard ecu which I ran for several months with no problems I then found a sensible priced Power commander 3.

Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by Graeme999

Doh

Its too early in the morning for this and I hit return before I had even started.

Sorry, I will get to the point.

I don't know much about Ducatis yet. The bike came with the all important red key and code card and all seems straight.

In my customary haste, I bought a termi half system and race ECU from a different source just before I picked up the bike. I know now the race ECU might (probably will) be a waste of space as it will probably have been programmed for another bike.

I have read all about the various and numerous electrical problems encountered with ECUs etc. In short,

1. Should I try fitting the race ECU (myself) and see what happens?
2. If I take out the old ECU and fit the new one, will I need to reset anything or is it just plug and go (if it goes that is)?
3. Is it too much of a risk - ie. am I likely to knacker anything in trying to change the ECUs?
4. Am I better just changing the pipe/half section and keeping the standard ECU in place?
5. If I do that, is the bike likely to run lean (expect it may) and, if so, is that likely to cause any damage in the short/long term?

Any advice gratefully received. At the risk of sounding cheeky, if there are any Ducati experts in the South Manchester area who would be willing to come round on Saturday (weather permitting) when I will be taking the fairing off for the first time, I would be eternally grateful (tea/biscuits/beer as preferred will be supplied free of charge).

Thanks

Graeme

[Rossman_999]

The standard ECU will have been coded but often the race would not have been. BUT
Have you the right race ECU there are loads of them (grey or red frame etc)

[Graeme999]

Thanks very much for all the useful advice.

Subject to any advice to the contrary, I think I might try this in 2 phases.

Phase 1 (this weekend hopefully) will be fitting the termi half system with the standard ecu. Hopefully it will run OK. I assume the bike with Termi half system fitted will run OK with the standard ECU without fitting a power commander (although I note fitting a PC is probably a good way forward and this may well come shortly).

Phase 2 (in a month or 2) might be then fitting the race ECU to try to see if it will work. I was told it came of a grey swing arm 03/04 999 (like mine). It says on it 5.9 ECU for Racing SIL 999 and centralima X SXL racing 999 and the code number is 979000167 if any of that means anything to anyone.

Like I say, giving that I bought the thing (I expect many numpties like me buy coded ECUs for Ducatis not knowing the thing we are buying may be coded and therefore totally useless) I feel I should at least try it out to see if it will work, assuming of course I will not knacker anything (settings etc.) in the process. I was told it had been fitted to a road bike so I am 99% sure it must be coded (right?). Now:

1.if I take my ECU off, is it a simple matter of plugging in the race ECU and hitting the start button?
2. If not, if I fit the new ECU and hit the start button, assuming anything happens, am I likely to have to reset anything?
3. If nothing happens or if I get totally lost with messages to reset etc. and decide to give up, take off the race ECU and refit the standard one, if I then hit the start button will it simply start or will I have to reset anything?
4. In short, does taking off and putting back an ECU scramble anything or cause any problems at all and, if the race ECU is for a different model or broken could it damage anything else when I try to start the bike?

Sorry to go on about this but I expect these are fairly common issues and I expect someone else must have gone through this when they got their first Duc. Basically, I am scared of damaging anything or causing the bike to be taken to the dealers because of my ineptitude.

Thanks again for all assistance from this excellent site.

Regards

Graeme

[safetyfish]

Originally Posted by Graeme999

1.if I take my ECU off, is it a simple matter of plugging in the race ECU and hitting the start button?
2. If not, if I fit the new ECU and hit the start button, assuming anything happens, am I likely to have to reset anything?
3. If nothing happens or if I get totally lost with messages to reset etc. and decide to give up, take off the race ECU and refit the standard one, if I then hit the start button will it simply start or will I have to reset anything?
4. In short, does taking off and putting back an ECU scramble anything or cause any problems at all and, if the race ECU is for a different model or broken could it damage anything else when I try to start the bike?
Graeme

1 - Yes

2 - Yes, every time you unplug the ECU it is recommended you do a TPS reset. No major drama if you dont do it either, but it is just better for the general health of the bike.

3 - Yes, it will start but again you will need to reset the TPS

4 Nothing will happen to the bike and you cant damage anything by doing it.

My response to your dilemma, having lived a riding season with a full spec race ECU on my own bike. Dont touch that thing. It belongs on a race machine with cams dialed in, exhaust sized and matched to it etc. The thing runs like crap at low rpm and only comes alive above 6 to 7000 rpm - now show me a place where you can maintain 7000 rpm and above legally for extended periods of time......
Fuel consumption goes for a ball and if you are unlucky the bike will develop a stalling habit that can be downright scary in traffic. In essence it is the same ECU as you have but with a different fuel map on it designed for the track, not the road.
If you really do have the urge to sort out the fueling to race performance levels then spend your money on a Powercommander or similar and get it mapped to your bike.

Your money, you decide mate.

SF

[Graeme999]

Thanks for that.

I think I am starting to get the message. Will keep the standard ECU, fit the termi half system, see how it goes and probably get a power commander to fine tune things in due course.

Regards

Graeme

[zimbo]

Excellent advice, I'd say that's the way forward too. I'm pretty sure the bike will run just fine with the termi half system and standard ecu though!

About this resetting the TPS, is that easy to do and perhaps something that should be done every now and again to correct any "drift"? Not come accross it before. Presumeably the same applies to all the injected Ducatis?

[Ghost]

Originally Posted by zimbo

Excellent advice, I'd say that's the way forward too. I'm pretty sure the bike will run just fine with the termi half system and standard ecu though!

About this resetting the TPS, is that easy to do and perhaps something that should be done every now and again to correct any "drift"? Not come accross it before. Presumeably the same applies to all the injected Ducatis?

On the 749/999 the tps reset, can only be done electrionically with a Mathesis equipment or the DDR, it is zeroed out the tps unit itself is permanently fixed and cannot be adjusted manually.

[zimbo]

Thanks Phil, I suppose the other bikes (thinking SS / Multi) have manual adjustment.

[Douglas]

The 748 et al have a manual adjustment. I have made a loom adaptor to tap into the wires which makes it easy to do. HoweverI beleive the actual voltage is very critical (+- 2mv!)

I haven't investigated my SS, as I haven't a voltage spec to set it to!