Anyone know if the oil filler cap on an MV is the same size as a Ducati 748/996?

The MV's oil filler cap came off during a 50 mile round trip drive. I notice oil splatter all over the fairing, frame, and eventually the rear tire. I'll have to get a replacement cap before I bring the MV to the dealer for warranty work on the nuetral light. I'm afraid the dealer may blame the neutral light to the oil filler cap.

Sigh. Ever since I got the R1 last Friday, things have been going wrong with the MV. Make me wonder what's those two are doing when I turn the garage lights off at night. :(

-- Allan Gibbs (Phoenix, Arizona) (Agibbs996@aol.com), December 27, 2002

Answers

The neutral light doesn't have anything to do with the oil cap... I'm not sure, but it may be that a Ducati cap or maybe something else may fit right on there. I'd actually like to know this because I want to safety wire the cap, and I'd rather buy another one to drill.

-- Andy Ruhl (quadreverb@yahoo.com), December 27, 2002.

I'll be interested to hear what other caps fit - I couldn't believe the first time I unscrewed it and discovered that it was a 5p (8c!) piece of plastic whereas my last two "cheap" Hondas had decent alloy ones.

Incidentally, the reason I had to remove it was because oil was weeping out very slightly and staining the clutch cover; the original rubber o-ring was obviously too small for the groove, but I rummaged around and found one of the same diameter but thicker, which cured the problem.

-- Ralph Goldstein (ralph@eurograv.co.uk), December 27, 2002.

Mine leaked just a little too, but I tightened it and it's fine now.

Stained cover? Mine got dirty, but I used some simple green and it cleaned right up.

-- Andy Ruhl (quadreverb@yahoo.com), December 27, 2002.

Sorry guys. The oil cap from the 996/748/Monster is too small and too long for the MV.

My local MV dealer will order the part. The bike's been acting weird even before the spill so....looks like it may be another 90 mile tow to the dealer.:(

-- Allan Gibbs (Phoenix, Arizona) (Agibbs996@aol.com), December 28, 2002.

Drill a small hole in the part of the cap that you twist and safety wire that sucker so it cant back out.

-- Doug Chism (dougchism@hotmail.com), December 30, 2002.

I would do that if I had another one... The "race guy" trick is to put a hole in it such that you can put a locking pin in it. That way you can remove the pin and add oil without having to cut the safety wire...

Damn Allan, should have had you order 2 of them! I could pick one up the next time I went up there to visit.

-- Andy Ruhl (quadreverb@yahoo.com), December 30, 2002.

Actually Andy, Steve (Renaissance Motorcycles) will be ordering the part. If you get him early Tuesday, he could order two.

I'll most likely be bring the MV in tow sometime shortly. Towing makes the most sense...just in case I got some contaminants in the oil, while driving around without the plug.

Also, I heard a new 2002 model red/silver is coming in very soon....if anyone's looking for a new 2002 red/silver. :)

-- Allan Gibbs (Phoenix, Arizona) (Agibbs996@aol.com), December 30, 2002.