I have taco drive boss (ducati 600ss '97) to remove from engine in order to clean the tacho cable retaining thread of superglue. Having removed the retain bolt, I cannot simply lift it. It wouldn't turn without force - possibly having some gasket cement on the footplate , and with sideways tapping I budged the footplate round slightly as it turned towards the engine. I cannot ease it back, There is no lip on it to raise it... how could I possibly deal with this? I do not see any tips in the haynes book. AT the moment it soaking with plusgas. John
A very sharp thin chisel between the head and the boss might be enough to shift it up a bit......Try wrapping a lump of thick-ish leather round the boss and a pair of Molegrips, then try turning it backwards and forwards - it should eventually move. There is no gasket, but there is an oilseal / o-ring around the boss........when you get it out, inspect the pinion gear for damage...... If it looks like this you have a problem.
Thanks friend. I desired this gentle advice before I got to further grips. wasn't sure of the precise manner of its engagement with worm drive and so thought 'patience..' Like the idea of the leather and molegrips. I'll give it a go before chisel, which stands by, ready and sharp. Yes, I read the post with your input concerning same worn pinion or worm drive. It's a good opportunity to take look, an important detail to cover really on a takeover. We would do it as a matter of course on Nortons. Cheers, John
And if the pinion looks like the pic above....... ......then the worm drive on the cam will probably look like this.........and that's when the fun starts..... When you get the boss and pinion out, get a mirror and a very small torch........then look down the hole.......you can just see the section of worm drive that matters.......whip your plugs out so you can turn the engine easily. If AOK, when reassembling, as you put the boss and pinion back in, you may find it doesn't want to go right down........turn the pinion until it drops in nicely.
As Al says, do it that way. I have a worn drive which has corresponding worn teeth on the screw in the head. I have a new drive but will need to get the head out at a later date when I have the other part as if I put it in then it'll chew up the new one. Having taken a couple out, they can be a pig to remove.
It's all good condition. The boss lifted easily with a sharp chisel, although it wouldn't budge to turn. Discovered just a little oxidation, inside on the spigot, and its a good fit anyway. As it's brass, I didn't risk molegrips and leather because I find leather tears easily unless old hard cured. Removed the superglue in the grooves also with sharp chisel. It wasn't simply one pass... took a while and had to be thoroughly removed to enable the cable retaining nut to work. Now I have a tacho - its refitted with a tacho cable which now bolts down. Actually I repaired the old outer by removing the crimp and adding a retaining nut (because it was missing , having been broken off somehow I guess) from another old cable. Hence the need for this job. Enclosing a picture of the bike, as formerly promised. fairings are removed for servicing, almost completely done.
