It's never going to be mint and that was never the intention. Safe, useable and reasonably tidy would be the sum of my ambitions for it. Basically, an honest bike that I would be happy to sell on or use. Before buying I spoke to Geoff at Baines as I was worried it had not seen a Ducati specialist for a few years. He was, as usual, great. If I stripped off the bodywork it would save some of his time and therefore cost. I had planned to get it all off (airbox, tank etc) but after hearing it run I limited it to the bodywork as I wanted Geoff to be able to start it up easily if necessary. The belts were impossible to tension as had stretched. New belts fitted. Yup. Not quite finished. Just finishing off. So waiting for lacquer to harden, touching up various stone chips and blemishes before final assembly (just the rear end). Should be done in a week or two, depending on how fussy I get (not very compared to the 748R work I had done/did).
BIke stripped off and onto the trailer to take to Baines. I had the paperwork file of what had been done to it as any information would help Geoff with his work. I was shitting myself that i had bought a heap of trouble. Mind defaulting to Mains gone, starter and sprag to do etc. I discussed this with Geoff and had a plan B if it was going to be a money pit (I would have terminated the project and possibly broken it or done a deal on something else, taking a small loss probably).
Its a Motolug SE. Dismantles and goes in the boot. It can carry one or two bikes. I got it off a forum member. Tows well.
While the bike was at Baines I had a small shopping list. I was trying to keep costs to a minimum as I did not know the outcome, but I do find it difficult to resist sometimes (to thine own self be true). I still have a few parts to dispose of when I get around to it. I picked up a very clean OE Showa shock to replace the absolutely minging one on the bike and a set of Showa forks. The TIN coated forks on the bike had the normal corrosion on the upper of the left hand fork leg, so I got a second set for a bargain price and had stripped both sets, rebuild one good set (with the TIN lowers) and spring to my weight. Rebuild worst set but leave empty of oil. I can sell these one the bay of evil when things calm down. Baines - more of which in the next post.
Could you please let us know what time the next instalment is due to appear? It’s got me going mate and I should be downstairs working on mine!
You are safe for the rest of today!! I have to cook a Beef Madras and accompanying potato curry for my lot. My bike (this one) is not going to be anything like as pretty as yours by the way. Its a user.
Two and a half weeks after dropping it off at Baines, the dreaded phone call comes in. Its good news!! The relief was almost orgasmic. Its a sound bike that just needed new belts (ones fitted were stretched beyond servicability), a new EPROM chip to cure the low down fueling and a good service. No metal on the sump plug. Revved cleanly from tickover up to 9000 and back down again. No glitches. Bloody lovely. Still very slow to turn over though, despite me having fitted a new battery. Other than that, Mr Baines reported that its a sound bike. Off I go to collect her. Here's a pic of Geoff's back door (if you will forgive the phrase). Got the bike home and immediately ordered up a set of Exact Start cables from @Exige despite the bikes earthing cables being confirmed as all good (they looked sound to me but I held off ordering the Exact Start cables as did not want to throw good money after bad when the bike was in Geoff's shop). Fitted the cables and christ what a difference. The bike spins over like my 748 and fires up nicely. Cant quite believe the difference but there you go. Next job, now that we know its not a money pit was to sort the clunky forks. I am only 7 miles from a suspension specialist (Ohlins/Nitron/Ktech etc), so off with the forks and dropped them off. As previously mentioned, I had a spare set and the idea was to strip both down and make one really good set for this bike and spring to my weight. Fill up with Ohlins oil (being closest to the std 7.5 wt oil available). Here's the before, during and after pics: Whilst removing the nasty cheap bolts that came with the bike, plus the remaining originals, I only had one difficult bolt to remove. That had to eventually be drilled out. The bolts all went off to my local zinc platers (I did a job lot as have amassed a fair number of OE fixings over time) ready to bling it up. Those that did not go got the benefit of a polish at home: I also set about sorting the brakes. New Brembo SC's went in, plus fresh fluid all round including the clutch. I was staggered at the amount of air that came out of the front especially. Both front and rear brake levers now are good and firm. The brake reservoir cap was put back to how it was meant to be. The carbon fibre was taken off and rubbed down (400, 800, 1200 grit). Then lacquered in a very special spray booth (dont ask). Then wet and dry 1200, 2000, 2500. Then cut back, polished and waxed. Items were exhaust heat shield, clutch cover, tank pad, hugger (more later). Next installment brings us up to today.
Forgot to show the shock which I think I might upgrade to a Nitron when times are better. But, its a lot better than it was for a bargain price too:
They are so easy to work on aren’t they? I love them. Great job EJ Would you have any more before/during/after pics of the fettling you did on the carbon fibre? I know you posted some above but I’d love to see the distinct stages as a visual learning exercise.
Hi Paul. Yup, love them. I had a look and don’t have any more shots. The hugger is a work in progress, it’s a mare. Huggers rend always to be the worst presumably because they take a hammering. I will update with that but Its nearly finished (finished me that is!). A more in-depth explanation can be found in my 748r thread, here: https://www.ducatiforum.co.uk/threads/748r-light-refurb-well-it-started-that-way.73113/page-14 Page 14 on. Cheers and stay safe. Rich
