Being totally new to Ducati’s is there anybody reliable in the Bristol area to give my 750GT a good looking over / recommission thanks Charles
Richard Llewelyn at Louigi Moto is your man! Clutton Hill Instustrial Estate, Clutton Hill, Bristol BS39 5QQ Phone: 01761 453366
Not in the Bristol area although it's still worth giving Louigi Moto a call. Otherwise Ducati Technical Services or even Made in Italy Motorcycles but both are a fair distance from you.
That's a name from the past. Surely he's retired now but worth checking. Baines (if they still work on Ducatis) would take on a bevel engined bike. They're based at Silverstone. I'm a bit out of touch really.
Brains racing? Although our servicing has no strings attached, for bevels, Mr Tracey, I’d actually recommend Baines Racing, and as you say Geoff is a top bloke!
Charles: It's a GT, a very beautiful one but it has conventional rockers with screw adjusters if it's valve adjustment you are concerned about. The most complex part of your heads are the bevel drive parts; the gears are matched at the factory and shimmed for perfect alignment. If you don't have to take these parts out don't. If you do, just make sure everything is put back in exactly the same order. What are your concerns? Valve guides? What do you mean by "recommission"? How long has the bike been off the road?
Sorry Rick but that's not correct. The 750GT and Sport use shims despite being valve spring, which is an odd combination. The 860 was screw and locknut. I thought the same as you though. Check the points/ignition timing (maybe upgrade to electronic), check the valve clearances, clean the carburetors and balance, engine oil change and mesh filter clean. Perhaps a new battery. Should be good to go as the bike looks to be in good condition.
Thanks for the correction! You guessed my first Ducati was an 860GT! I rechecked drawings and see an opening shim with closing spring; as you note, an odd combination. Can the opening shim be changed by pushing down on the spring or does the rocker pin have to be pulled?
The singles of that era were shim as well, which the early non-desmo V twin references quite heavily. They used hairpin valve springs though, whilst the 750GT/Sport/860 all used coil springs. As regards shim removal I can't speak from personal experience as I've only owned an early 70s single (perhaps doogalman can comment?) but I'd of thought you'd have to remove the pin, as I doubt you'd be able to depress the spring sufficiently far (if at all).
I think that you are right. I have done a bevel Darmah years ago. It wasn't that hard as I did it! Sorry, can't remember exactly how it is done but it is not hard.
Rich used to race Ducati bevel singles and still owns a 900ss bevel I believe. Still the man to go to, though there is also Nigel Lacey in North Wales, a well respected bevel guru (mainly singles which he races and tunes but I believe he also works on twins). He has his own website here: https://laceyducati.com and if he can't help he will certainly know who to recommend.
Thanks guys my 750 has shims....... I spoke to Tony Brancato, backed up until 2022..... a good friend of mine also spoke good things about Mr Lacey. The ignition Is Lucas Rita, I’m told that the New black boxes from Rex’s Speed shop are worthwhile far as well as replacing 40 year old electronics, but much less demand on the mighty 150w alternator.
Putting the electrics to one side and assuming the bike doesn't need major engine work, there's nothing complex or specialist about your bike. There's a whole myth that's grown up around the bevel drive Ducatis that you somehow need to be some sort of bevel bike whisperer to work on one. It's not helped by the prices going through the roof as they're now properly gold plated. Without wishing to sound harsh it's just a motorcycle. Dellortos are easy to work on and set up and parts are readily available from Eurocarb near Reading or Stein Dinse in Germany. Valve clearances are easy to check and a little harder to adjust than screw and locknut but certainly a lot less work than on a Desmo. Oil filtration is basic so avoid modern detergent oils. Other than 20w50 even a good quality monograde would work if your use is going to be during the summer. If you're not keen on working on the bike yourself then give Louigi Moto a call. It's been said a few times now. They're in Bristol and you're in Bristol..
