Looks like someone's used some sort of sealant in the socket joint which, if I remember correctly, is double-lapped. I'd get a blowtorch on the outer of the header socket with the silencer cold and see if that breaks the seal, along with some hefty waggling...
Where did you position the sound meter and what were you revving the bike to? At tickover or with the mic directly behind the outlet I would not expect to see much difference. At 500mm distance 45 deg out from the outlet and around 3500 revs, I would expect a clear difference. Also, if you bought the expanding stuff it needs a good heat cycle to expand and do its job.
had a similar issue with my exhausts when i got mine was rather loud when i dismantled the silencers i found there was no baffling at all sounded much nicer once repacked +1 on giving the wadding time to bed in so to speak also had problems with the slip joint on mine heat and a rubber mallet was my cure in the end
"decided to adjust the steering lock bolts while waiting. That didn't go well as the left one sheared off with virtually no effort. That will have to wait til the forks come off I think". I'm sure a little bit of careful heat and some mole-grips will extract that sheared off bolt. But I've never had a bike with a more useless or annoying steering lock (turning circle) than my 94' 900SS, absolutely hopeless unless you're keen on 10 point turns if you park it badly
Yeah just at tickover about a metre behind the bike. Hopefully I bought the expanding stuff. I have no idea. Haven't ridden the bike since. Might try today.
I've successfully opened it up completely on the other side so now its uneven. Why anyone would want any less than maximum 'turn ability' is beyond me. When I owned an Aprilia RS250 I took it for an MOT and they insisted I go around the corner to a local welder to have blobs welded on the stops as they were concerned it would trap my thumbs. The welder couldn't believe it since they were a Ducati dealership. Never went there again!
Hosepipe, don't forget to check carefully round the top frame tubes where they're welded onto the steering head, it's a known problem for SS's of mid 90's to develop small cracks in that area, (see photo). Especially for post white frame bikes I think. Looking at your photos it doesn't look like you have this problem but best to double check so any welding can be done early on while the bike is partly dismantled. The cause if often put down to the 'bosses' of the tank hold down plate - people think they shouldn't be welded to the frame like this but only (some say) to the streering head itself. Cheers Pete
Thanks Pete. I am aware of this problem and will do a proper inspection when I have a better view. I almost hope it is cracked as that will give me the excuse I need to make more significant cosmetic changes to the bike.
I wasn't aware myself at first (the photo with the crack was my bike!). You probably know about these already but a frame brace is available from "BBB Fabrications" in the UK for about 60 quid which has the advantage that it can be removed to give access to the air filter (unlike welding in a new frame brace which some people do). Pete
Yes I do have BBB's page saved for that eventuality. I see on your second picture there is a plate rather than a pair of bosses welded to the frame. Mine definitely looks more like your first picture in terms of construction.
I shouldn't say eventuality as this is a preventative measure isn't it? So I'll order one if I find there definitely aren't any cracks!
Yes, I have the two round bosses like you but not with the welded plate joining them like in the photo I posted with the bbb brace (that pic was from the internet). Apparently the cracking issue happens even with the plate and I read that people suspect the problem is the fact that anything is welded onto the frame tubes around there, but also that the frame manufacturing was changed from an external specialist to being done 'in house' by Ducati around that time, possibly even with inferior materials. Presumably to save money (I just realised 'Doggy' posted a pic of his bike in this thread with the frame brace fitted, also he cut off the top of the air filter holder despite the brace being removable - no doubt to improve airflow)
My airbox has no top at all as you can see in some of my early pics of the bike so that won't be a problem!
View attachment 263418 I've had a new piece welded onto my cracked frame & I'm pleased to report that the airbox does fit. Bit of fiddling & head scratching required but it went in !
To continue the sage of 900SS cracked frames, I had this done recently at a specialist welding company, (experienced in race car frames, not just some back street bloke with a welder and a mask). It's been TIG welded and I asked for the welds not to be smoothed off to help strength. He added the small plate between the two bosses and welded the plate to the steering tube (thanks for the advice on the forum about that), also removing as much as he could of the welds from the bosses to the top tubes, where the cracks had formed (first photo). Next step is blasting and probably powder coating - I like the slightly gold frame 1995 onwards but cant find a matching powder so I'm considering this colour called "Racing Bronze" as shown on the alloy wheel
Interesting Pete, I hope that provides the required strength. Just in case you were referring to the fix on my frame with your reference yours not being done by " some back street bloke with a welder and a mask" mine was fixed by a guy who amongst other things builds Ducati TT2 race frames for historic racing is also the go to specialist for Louigi Moto when they have this frame problem. As a matter of interest he also manufactured the early BBB Fabrications frame brace kit which was referred to earlier in the thread. I think your choice of frame colour will look great btw.
I definitely wasn't referring to anyone when I mentioned a back street welder - actually I was thinking of a place I found before I located a professional welding shop. In terms of strength I think it's got to be better than it was before, especially removing the two small welds onto the top tubes is what I wanted since my cracks started there on both sides. I might splash out on the bolt-on frame brace too, can't hurt! Cheers
Thanks, hope it's as strong as it looks ... I was lucky to find them only 20 minutes drive from me in Macclesfield, Cheshire If anyone needs details let me know. The price for this TIG welding was about £100 inc vat (minimum charge for up to an hours' work), and coincidentally the blasting and powder coating guy is in the same building!
