I'm almost at the point where I have had enough with the falco. Just spent a couple of hours working on it, sorting bits and bobs for the MOT. Putting the road legal cans on etc. Went to fire it up, and nothing. Battery is fine, even tried it with a fully charged up emergancy car starter and it wont fire. All I am getting is a banging and clanking sound from the engine, and its getting worse and worse each time I try to start it. It sounds like someone hitting a pile of spanners with a hammer. Looks like it might have to go for its mot on the back of my pickup truck.
I paid £2200 for it, but got no idea what I would get for it as it is. If I sell it I would be 100% honest with the problem.
On the other hand I might get more money for it, if I broke it for spares. Anyone got any idea how much you could break one for?
Thing is, 2 weeks ago when I finally got it running, it was riding amazingly well, had so much fun on it. I'm just pig sick of it now, whats the point of having it, if its only going to work sometimes?
thinking of selling up
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Falco9
- Aprilia Admin
- Posts: 1154
- Joined: Wed Jan 03, 2007 9:24 pm
- Location: Wakefield. West Yorkshire
Sounds like the sprag clutch has failed...I'd be amazed if it wasn't that to be honest.
The symptoms and noises point to it and every time you try and start it you do more damage. I'm sure Pierre will be along soon to advise you on the method of repairing it.
Bad luck...some do fail and others just seem to go on forever. personally I ALWAYS pull the clutch in when starting the bike just to take that little of pressure off the sprag clutch and hopefully make it last a bit longer
F9
The symptoms and noises point to it and every time you try and start it you do more damage. I'm sure Pierre will be along soon to advise you on the method of repairing it.
Bad luck...some do fail and others just seem to go on forever. personally I ALWAYS pull the clutch in when starting the bike just to take that little of pressure off the sprag clutch and hopefully make it last a bit longer
F9
I've spent 50% of my life riding motorcycles, the rest I've wasted!
Hi Steve - I feel for you and sympathise with your frustration.
It does sound as though you have a Falco with issues.
Falco9 is right that they are generally reliable bikes but as with all machines some will have problems.
Unfortunately your options are fix it or get rid and take a hit on what you'll get for it compared to what you paid.
As F9 says. the noises are probably the sprag .... Pierre's thread is probably the best guide on fixing this at a reasonable cost. This thread should help: https://www.ridersite.com/viewtopic.php?t=4473
Another way round that is to drop in another engine .... Shootmyscoot has got a spare he's trying to get rid of - but I know Bigun has been talking to him about that ... but they frequently come up on ebay (the Mille ones fit too - but you'll need the Mille gearchange lever as the gearchange shaft works in the opposite direction).
Guess you need to weigh up the loss you'd make on it against the hassle and cost of fixing it. Personally I'd fix it - but that's just me.
Sorry things have not worked out well so far.
It does sound as though you have a Falco with issues.
Falco9 is right that they are generally reliable bikes but as with all machines some will have problems.
Unfortunately your options are fix it or get rid and take a hit on what you'll get for it compared to what you paid.
As F9 says. the noises are probably the sprag .... Pierre's thread is probably the best guide on fixing this at a reasonable cost. This thread should help: https://www.ridersite.com/viewtopic.php?t=4473
Another way round that is to drop in another engine .... Shootmyscoot has got a spare he's trying to get rid of - but I know Bigun has been talking to him about that ... but they frequently come up on ebay (the Mille ones fit too - but you'll need the Mille gearchange lever as the gearchange shaft works in the opposite direction).
Guess you need to weigh up the loss you'd make on it against the hassle and cost of fixing it. Personally I'd fix it - but that's just me.
Sorry things have not worked out well so far.
“Scientists investigate that which already is. Engineers create that which has never been.”
-- Albert Einstein
-- Albert Einstein
I wouldn't hit that start button anymore. If that sprag comes apart then the road becomes even muddier. Replacing only the sprag clutch should not be too expensive. Here http://www.rsvzone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4919 is a guy using the sprag clutch of a single cylinder BMW engine which is also a Rotax engine. That sprag is even cheaper then the Ducati one. You have to do a little bit more work then with the Duc but it's do-able.
I wouldn't sell the bike for a sprag clutch issue. It's the only real Rotax issue that you can get. With this fixed, you should be out of the woods.
I wouldn't sell the bike for a sprag clutch issue. It's the only real Rotax issue that you can get. With this fixed, you should be out of the woods.
Yep - the BMW one rotates the other way and needs to be taken apart and put back together "back to front".vonDutch wrote: Here http://www.rsvzone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4919 is a guy using the sprag clutch of a single cylinder BMW engine which is also a Rotax engine. That sprag is even cheaper then the Ducati one. You have to do a little bit more work then with the Duc but it's do-able.
.... none of these are as cheap as Pierre's method though
“Scientists investigate that which already is. Engineers create that which has never been.”
-- Albert Einstein
-- Albert Einstein
I only read the first thread, didn't follow the link to Pierre's description. Good one indeed :)D-Rider wrote:Yep - the BMW one rotates the other way and needs to be taken apart and put back together "back to front".vonDutch wrote: Here http://www.rsvzone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4919 is a guy using the sprag clutch of a single cylinder BMW engine which is also a Rotax engine. That sprag is even cheaper then the Ducati one. You have to do a little bit more work then with the Duc but it's do-able.
.... none of these are as cheap as Pierre's method though
Last edited by vonDutch on Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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exupmonkey
- Track Day Addict
- Posts: 181
- Joined: Wed Jan 31, 2007 9:23 pm
- Location: Dumbarton, Loch Lomond
Hey TwnNut:
...and, by the way, Many Thanks ..... when I returned to work yesterday, there was a package waiting for me on my desk.
D-Rider wrote: This thread should help: https://www.ridersite.com/viewtopic.php?t=4473
...and, by the way, Many Thanks ..... when I returned to work yesterday, there was a package waiting for me on my desk.
“Scientists investigate that which already is. Engineers create that which has never been.”
-- Albert Einstein
-- Albert Einstein
mate I got no idea what its worth to be honest. I paid £2200 for it about a year ago, it had a few light scuffs mainly on the pipes where it had been dropped. I have fitted a afm toke yoke conversion with renthals. Screen and faring are chopped down to allow bars to turn. I'm not sure on the value of it, wether to sell it as it is, or break it for spares. From what I have read, once the sprag thing is fixed it'll be fine, cant see any reason why it wouldnt be.TwinNut wrote:I'm looking for as cheap-a-way a poss. back into Falco ownership, how much you looking for? and what mileage has it done?
To anyone, what's the ball-park cost for repair of the sprag clutch? and is it something which a reasonably handy DIY spanner monkey could sort or does it require specialist equip? I'm assuming that once this sprag bastard is sorted it should be good for an other shed load of miles or are they suspect from then on?