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Fluid lubricated shift lever

2553 Views 8 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  psyopper
In the process of trying to perfect the fit of the SS to my extra long 6'5" frame, I ordered a Ducabike adjustable shift lever RPLC17 - RPLC17 - LEVA CAMBIO M1200-SS MY17 - SUPERSPORT MY 2017 - SUPER SPORT

Yesterday I pulled the OEM pedal off to replace it with this one. I was surprised to find that the OEM pedal pivot was fluid filled. And by filled, I mean more than simply moistened and a drop or two of smooth liquid lubricant came out when I pulled the pivot, and that fluid smelled like a gear oil. If you look at the diagram for the lever you will notice that the pivot is sandwiched by two o-rings, and the pivot bolt itself has a channel cut into it to act as a reservoir for the lubricant.

The assembly appears the same in both the S and non-S versions of the bike.

I don't recall a fluid service on the schedule, I'd be curious to see what the shop manual says about R&R of the pedal. Also, I'd like to see the torque specs for this as I imagine over-torquing might lead to failure of the o-rings. In previous bikes I've owned this pivot has been a simple bronze bushing lubricated as necessary with some white lithium grease. Is this something new across the motorcycle world that I'm just not tuned into?

And no, this isn't April 1st and this isn't a joke about shift lever fluid. :)

FYI: The replacement lever from Ducabike operates on a needle bearing and really only offers about 1/4" adjustability on the toe-peg eccentric, not enough to be useful to me sadly. It does appear to have saved me a few grams though. I have the matching rear brake lever that I am hoping to get the toe peg extended so that I can actually use it without feeling like I'm trying to kick the clutch cover off.

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Whoa, this is new. :surprise: Wonder why the potential over engineering on this seemingly mundane mechanical part?
Flame me if you want, but I have to wonder why this forum seems to be spring loaded to the instant hysteria position? :rolleyes:

Obviously the o-rings are meant to retain the lubricant but they also serve as weather shields. The lubricant from the factory is the old tried and true Shell Retinax HD2, the blue stuff. It grades out to NLGI 2 & 3 and is EP. Myself, for such applications I use BelRay motorcycle grease which coincidentally is also blue.

Don't know what chart you are looking at but on the Ducati Service scheduled Maintenance Chart lever and pedal lube is specified at each 9000 miles/12 months.

The torque is 23 NM.
Thank you, where did you find the lube and torque spec?

Also, I'm wondering why you thought I was speaking in hysteria. If you re-read my post you will notice at no point the use of exclamation marks, red faced emojis, dire warnings; or fears of earthquakes, brimstone, hellfire or sharknadoes. In fact, I asked quite plainly and without fanfare, was this a shift in motorcycle mechanical design I wasn't aware of? Meaning the use of sealed and fluid lubricated bushings rather than simply an unsealed grease joint. You mention grease which is what I would also expect to have seen, but what I found inside was the consistency of oil with an NGLI rating of 000 and the odor of a hypoid gear oil.

I would actually enjoy being proven wrong and shown that the shift lever is, in fact, lubricated from the factory with an NGLI-2 grease and not a 000/Fluid. I'd be happy to know that I am not crazy. Maybe mine got lubed with the floating oil-dribble of a long unused and settled tube of grease at the factory.
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Petroleum based grease in merely oil suspended in a variety of carriers including clay and more exotic media. Not unusual for oil separation to occur depending on conditions. I have a trailer that has been stored in an upright position. It does not have BearingBuddies on it and I routinely see oil leaking out of the wheel bearing caps.

Since Ducati has not yet made available a 939 SuperSport maintenance manual nor supporting charts, I relied on the chart they provide for the Testareta 11degree engine, 821 - DS 1200.

BTW, the shift lever is easily researched to see which other Ducatis use the same part. Shop manuals for some of those models are available on the web.

Regarding the hysteria comment, I rarely frequent this forum for several reasons. I do take a look at once in a while and never cease to wonder at the content of some of the posts! Maybe I jumped the gun mentioning hysteria because I was anticipating the responses your post would have garnered. My apologies to you.
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In the process of trying to perfect the fit of the SS to my extra long 6'5" frame, I ordered a Ducabike adjustable shift lever RPLC17 - RPLC17 - LEVA CAMBIO M1200-SS MY17 - SUPERSPORT MY 2017 - SUPER SPORT

Yesterday I pulled the OEM pedal off to replace it with this one. I was surprised to find that the OEM pedal pivot was fluid filled. And by filled, I mean more than simply moistened and a drop or two of smooth liquid lubricant came out when I pulled the pivot, and that fluid smelled like a gear oil. If you look at the diagram for the lever you will notice that the pivot is sandwiched by two o-rings, and the pivot bolt itself has a channel cut into it to act as a reservoir for the lubricant.

The assembly appears the same in both the S and non-S versions of the bike.

I don't recall a fluid service on the schedule, I'd be curious to see what the shop manual says about R&R of the pedal. Also, I'd like to see the torque specs for this as I imagine over-torquing might lead to failure of the o-rings. In previous bikes I've owned this pivot has been a simple bronze bushing lubricated as necessary with some white lithium grease. Is this something new across the motorcycle world that I'm just not tuned into?

And no, this isn't April 1st and this isn't a joke about shift lever fluid. :)

FYI: The replacement lever from Ducabike operates on a needle bearing and really only offers about 1/4" adjustability on the toe-peg eccentric, not enough to be useful to me sadly. It does appear to have saved me a few grams though. I have the matching rear brake lever that I am hoping to get the toe peg extended so that I can actually use it without feeling like I'm trying to kick the clutch cover off.
I was also impressed by the elaborate pedal lube system when I took my shift linkage apart. Don't know if over-torquing will compress the seals. It felt like a metal/metal stop between the bolt and subframe on assembly with the lever rotating freely once torqued, but I wasn't really looking closely at that. I'll check it out next time it's apart...soon.

I considered the Ducabike lever too. It looked pretty cool, but since I'm going for GP Shift it wouldn't quite work. Ended up ordering a Chinese lever for a hyprestrada/hypermotard on eBay. If it doesn't work it'll be a Xmas present for a friend, and I'm not out too much:

Adjustable Gear Shift Lever For Ducati Hypermotard 820/939, Hyperstrada 821/939

I've used chinese shorty hand levers on my racebikes with good results. Although the Supersport won't be treated to $100 levers anytime soon, it might be getting a $400 Rizoma triple clamp for mounting conventional handlebars! :grin2: (hysterical grin?)
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:grin2: (hysterical grin?) LOL
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In the process of trying to perfect the fit of the SS to my extra long 6'5" frame, I ordered a Ducabike adjustable shift lever RPLC17 - RPLC17 - LEVA CAMBIO M1200-SS MY17 - SUPERSPORT MY 2017 - SUPER SPORT

Yesterday I pulled the OEM pedal off to replace it with this one. I was surprised to find that the OEM pedal pivot was fluid filled. And by filled, I mean more than simply moistened and a drop or two of smooth liquid lubricant came out when I pulled the pivot, and that fluid smelled like a gear oil. If you look at the diagram for the lever you will notice that the pivot is sandwiched by two o-rings, and the pivot bolt itself has a channel cut into it to act as a reservoir for the lubricant.

The assembly appears the same in both the S and non-S versions of the bike.

I don't recall a fluid service on the schedule, I'd be curious to see what the shop manual says about R&R of the pedal. Also, I'd like to see the torque specs for this as I imagine over-torquing might lead to failure of the o-rings. In previous bikes I've owned this pivot has been a simple bronze bushing lubricated as necessary with some white lithium grease. Is this something new across the motorcycle world that I'm just not tuned into?

And no, this isn't April 1st and this isn't a joke about shift lever fluid. :)

FYI: The replacement lever from Ducabike operates on a needle bearing and really only offers about 1/4" adjustability on the toe-peg eccentric, not enough to be useful to me sadly. It does appear to have saved me a few grams though. I have the matching rear brake lever that I am hoping to get the toe peg extended so that I can actually use it without feeling like I'm trying to kick the clutch cover off.
I wonder if it's damping fluid. Have you felt is softens when moving the rod passed the gear selection. I have felt a spongy feel on mine but had never really thought about it. BTW nice find on the lever. I think the black looks good. Bit expensive though.Do you have a url link to the rear brake lever or is it the same supplier provided in your previous post.
It's also from Ducabike, item number RPLF10D

RPLF10 - LEVA FRENO MONSTER 821/1200

Requires removal of the complete right side footpeg carrier as the pivot bolt attaches from the inside.
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