Off to MdM to re-unite chassis with engine and sort out new electronic ignition set up, fluid in the brakes, then back home for seat and fairings.
It's all looking really good... but I'd love to know what it up with that front wheel. It's been keeping me up at night thinking about it Is that a Sachse or Ignitech unit? And, as a matter of interest, what sprocket sizes have you gone for?
I am not sure of the ignition brand, but it came from Mdina. Sprockets are as it arrived, 15 & 37 with a split link chain.
That's pretty much the ideal ratio but it's recommended to have an odd/even mix of teeth on the sprockets for better chain wear i.e. 16/39 but it's doubtful you could find a 39 rear sprocket. The 16 is also a little better for saving the chain cutting into the swingarm. I went for 15/36 which raises the gearing a touch but makes for real easy motoring at 70/80. Slows the acceleration a touch and makes it a bit of a bugger in town but as with most things it's swings & roundabouts. You can never have it all...
Good info thanks Andy. Talking of dimensions, I am amazed at the wheelbase of this era bikes. Must be 20 cms longer that my 748 and I guess all from the steering head angle.
And I've just looked in Ian Fallon's bevel twin book and evidently the 16 tooth allowed the chain to wear away the engine case instead of the swingarm... ho hum. The steering head angle was primarily driven by the position of the front pot... any steeper and the wheel/mudguard could well have hit the cylinder head!! It does make for a stable ride mind and it's still going to be reasonably nimble with thin(ner) tyres - the rear on the Darmah is the same width (120) as the front on the V Raptor.
I'm 99% sure that 15/36 was standard '75>'79 900SS gearing. Years ago I ran 16/36 which gave me 60mpg @ 110mph. I now run my seriously tuned '79 Bevel 956cc 900SS on 14/35, with a Bevel Heaven swinging arm saver and a KTM jockey wheel to stop the chain cutting through the swinging arm and the crankcases. The bike still pulls well in excess of 140 mph and returns 40+ mpg. Steve R
Here's a nice table that details the various sprocket ratios & oem fitments https://www.bevelheaven.com/data-sprockets.htm I fashioned my own swingarm saver but Ooo... that KTM jockey wheel sounds interesting, any link/pictures etc.
Nick work you putting in there! I must push for the Ducati Mike Hailwood & NCR Enthusiast Group on Facebook. Well worth joining facebook for. Lots of nice people, lots of Hailwoods and all the technical support anyone might need as a Hailwood owner. Welcome // Leif
Is it the "Homologation Plate" referred to in Falloons Book? If so, there is a similar plaque below the battery cover panel on the RHS of the bike showed in the first image of my post: #57 . They are rivetted in position. But mine was an 84 model, and Falloon acknowledges it was changed for that year. Tom. Related link - 860/900 model: https://www.mdinaitalia.co.uk/075988130.html .
Thanks Tom, Here is a comparative shot of my frame below battery box and I don't see much evidence of riveting, but I will take a closer look when I collect her with the engine installed.
The image from car and classic seems to show a plate in a similar position to mine. If you save the image and then magnify it, the black plate looks very like a homologation plate, although with poor resolution . Also, if you are hesitant about drilling and riveting, you could consider using strong double sided tape which I have some success with. Tom.
She is back from Moto di Marino with a clean engine, new electronics, fluids, fuel taps and lines, tyres, brake lines and refurbed carbs. Need to find the right, bellmouths, coils & HT leads and put the fibre glass back on.
