Intermittent Quickshifter, faults and fixes (Ducati)

Scour the web and you're sure to find plenty of reports of this style of Quickshifter failing intermittently.

The RouteXplorer has over 50,000kms now, and there's been a few shifter glitches along the way, most of them are easy to fix without any special tools, software updates or fancy wizardry.

If your DesertX or any bike that uses the plunger/spring type of Quickshifter experiences problematic operation, here's a few tips that will help.

Common Problems:

• Works perfectly one day, then not at all on the next ride.

• Fails to work when hot (after 30 mins or more)

• Shifts up or down only, not both.

• 3-4 shift clunky, 5-4 shift clunky.

• Seems to jam in gear and won't shift until stopped.

• Stops working completely, shifting is tight and the only way is to swith DQS 'Off' in settings.

Starting with the basics:

Clean the electrical plugs, the one from the quickshifter is located at the bottom right hand side, look for the convoluted rubber plug. It's down low and if you do a lot of water crossings and mud, it's the first connection to give problems.

The second one is the plug from the Gear Position Sensor, follow the wire from the sensor and you'll find the 3 pin plug just inside the frame, it might be tricky to get to the first time as it's usually held out of sight with a rubber strap.

Use contact spray and coat the plug (not the connectors) with dielectric grease or a waterproof lithium type grease to help keep the crap out.

Gear Position Sensor: this is the 'go to' if you experience the hot only issues with the quickshifter, the readings float and give inconsistent gear position info.

Before rushing to replace it, give it, and the engine area it sits on a clean. The sensor is located just above the front sprocket, it gets covered in excess chain lube, mud etc. I take the sensor off occasionally, clean it and apply an ignition module heat sink paste where it sits on the engine.

If the problem continues, replace the sensor.

The Quickshifter itself: a simple design with a plunger, spring and pin that moves to activate two small switches, If your shifter only works in one direction, it's likely one of the small switches or the wire on the board.

The plunger and rod are held in the body by an end cap which has a rubber seal, again if you're doing lot's of water crossings or mud etc, this can find it's way into the body, if the shaft starts to rust or wear, there's no hope of keeping the crap out.

A small rubber boot, like that on a master cylinder might help!

Here's the one off our DesertX, it had failed altogether and it's easy to see why....

An easy job to dismantle, clean and reassemble, and yes, I'll be doing it more frequently from now on.

The only parts to be careful of, if the plunger itself is siezed, there is a small c clip to seperate them, don't lose it.

When tightening the 10mm lock nut on the swivel joint that bolts to the lever, ensure the pin that activates the switches is still aligned.

If you're fault finding, it's a good idea to set the assembled length to factory specs, after you confirm everything is working properly, then make adjustments to your lever height.

Quickshifter connector is found in this rubber boot.

Gear Position Sensor 3 pin plug.

Gear Position Sensor

Quickshifter dissasembled ready to clean.

Factory set length (X) = 98mm +/- 0.5mm

There's one other thing to mention here too, the common TC/ABS/Flashing red screen fault that is usually just a fuse will also disable your quickshifter.

Even if the fuse looks ok, replace it anyway, I had one that tested fine with a test light and when the bike got hot, would throw a red screen. The fuse itself didn't blow, I grabbed the multi meter and sure enough, the fuse itself had high resistance.

#ducati #desertx #quickshifter