We had -14 degrees last night, so no chance of getting any work done outside. Also I checked the coolant in the header tank last week and it was starting to freeze, so it's really time to get the bike into somewhere with less than arctic conditions to relieve that problem and get a few other odds and ends sorted out for the riding season.
We cleared out the living room a couple of weeks ago as it's going to be converted into the new kitchen, so in the meantime:

It's the warmest room in the house too, plus enough space to get the YB4 in as well to start the long awaited rebuild; which has turned out to be a big help in the injection department. I bought some reconditioned Bosch injectors with the same spec, but the bodies are different- doesn't matter on the YB because the injectors are clamped between the fuel rail and the inlet manifolds. But now I can use the old YB injectors for the 851. After I get them cleaned first though.

The Webers on the left, Bosch on the right.

I want to get the 851 back to original spec because 2 of my injectors have been replaced with black ones. Each cylinder has one red and one black!

which I don't know the spec of and it worries me that the chip may not be set up for them.
I'll be ordering some original spec chips too: 001 for road pipes and 002 for the kit pipes that I have too. As far as I know the engine is standard except for the top of the airbox is cut and the manifolds have been modified as per the Ducati info sheets

Very nicely done too, which they should be as the first owner was the Mercedes Benz racing department. Whether they did the head skimming and the port work I will not find out until I have to pull the heads sometime; but I don't suppose that will affect the chip settings so much . . .

I changed oil, filter, in tank fuel pipes and fuel filter and checked the ignition timing recently.

which all went well, except a very tight oil filter; had to destroy it to get it loose. Then just as I finished my jobs, the bike conked out, with a very quiet fuel pump. Previous owner had a 'new' pump fitted by a dealer, but I doubt now that it was really new. Luckily I had the YB4 pump at hand which has been sitting dry for over 5 years- but it started straight up after fitting.

I now wonder about the 'new' belts too-

From the pic in the advert, they are obviously new, but when I had a look under the covers, they seem to be very 'floppy'. Can that be right? better to check the tension too.

Other stuff to do:
put an original brake master cylinder on with all the original rubber covers and the original clutch pipe.

I prefer originality, but if I find the braking a problem- I will certainly change back.

I've got an NOS front fender waiting at my parents in Bromsgrove, as the bike came with a red Paso fender. Still need to make or find a curved mounting bracket though.

And I need to start on the wheel conversion, already got a later Ducati rear wheel, still need the front wheel and a rear caliper bracket for the different disc. I'm going to fit Yamaha FZR400 front discs with the same 280mm diameter to avoid having to relocate the front calipers or change the forks.

I'll do updates on this, any advice will be welcome.
thanks
Ian
PS the YB4 rebuild is on the Bimota forum: http://www.bimotaforum.co.uk/viewtop...c18ea3c8c68a72