'93 888 with ST4 engine rescue mission

econti

I've been hankering for a 888 for a long time. They are very scarce in Australia and very expensive. Cheapest I could find was ~20k.
I had been checking all the local for sales sites twice a day.
One night at a relaxed dinner I found "the one".
An hour or two from me, unfinished project, hasn't been ridden since 2001.
ST4 engine already installed, supposedly ran. Half the price of the usual ones.
I saw the ad 15min after it went up and called.
To cut a long story short I was the first person in a very long line and so put money down over the phone without seeing it.
Hooked up the trailer after work and went and collected it

This past weekend I've been putting in hours on it trying to bring it up to scratch.
It's missing brake calipers and has a broken killswitch, which I've already found replacements for and should all be here on Monday.

The chain was not on it but the seller had one in a box so I fitted that.

Rear brake and clutch had old, old fluid in it so I refreshed them.

The radiator was very bent and leaking. The seller gave me a ST4 one which fitted aside from the overflow tank fitting being on the wrong side. I don't know what I'm going to do about that.

Did new timing belts too. $250 from the dealer!!!! Belts for the 600ss were $60 from the same people!

I spend maybe 3h diagnosing no electricity to find the plug on the ignition switch was corroded. Fixed that, and all the other problems through the wiring harness.
Also found the spark plug was cracked in half and did not match the other one.

Then spent 5h trying to unclog injectors using all manner of methods. No dice so they'll be ultrasonic cleaned on Monday.
And to top it all off the battery dropped a cell last night.

Runs great on carb cleaner though!

Monster 888... I don't think so

Hopefully more updates soon once it runs again.

stiglarsenDK

econti wroteI've been hankering for a 888 for a long time. They are very scarce in Australia and very expensive. Cheapest I could find was ~20k. I had been checking all the local for sales sites twice a day. One night at a relaxed dinner I found "the one". An hour or two from me, unfinished project, hasn't been ridden since 2001. ST4 engine already installed, supposedly ran. Half the price of the usual ones. I saw the ad 15min after it went up and called. To cut a long story short I was the first person in a very long line and so put money down over the phone without seeing it. Hooked up the trailer after work and went and collected it This past weekend I've been putting in hours on it trying to bring it up to scratch. It's missing brake calipers and has a broken killswitch, which I've already found replacements for and should all be here on Monday. The chain was not on it but the seller had one in a box so I fitted that. Rear brake and clutch had old, old fluid in it so I refreshed them. The radiator was very bent and leaking. The seller gave me a ST4 one which fitted aside from the overflow tank fitting being on the wrong side. I don't know what I'm going to do about that. Did new timing belts too. $250 from the dealer!!!! Belts for the 600ss were $60 from the same people! I spend maybe 3h diagnosing no electricity to find the plug on the ignition switch was corroded. Fixed that, and all the other problems through the wiring harness. Also found the spark plug was cracked in half and did not match the other one. Then spent 5h trying to unclog injectors using all manner of methods. No dice so they'll be ultrasonic cleaned on Monday. And to top it all off the battery dropped a cell last night. Runs great on carb cleaner though! Monster 888... I don't think so Hopefully more updates soon once it runs again.

Looks great ! Does it have the S4 box or still the P8 ?

hedge hog

These guys have a deal on new calipers complete with pads. Don't know if your import taxes would negate the reduction.

econti

stiglarsenDK wroteLooks great ! Does it have the S4 box or still the P8 ?

ECU? Not actually sure. Think it's S4 as it has S4 dash and loom.
How do I tell?

hedge hog wroteThese guys have a deal on new calipers complete with pads. Don't know if your import taxes would negate the reduction. https://www.carpimoto.it/en-GB/Searc...=1542711744698

Wow they're cheap! I already have a pair of good second handers from a friend in NZ however.

In terms of actual updates, I don't have any photos but spent a good few hours going through the harness to fix the wiring plugs that were corroded.
The fuel system was actually in backwards so I flipped that around. It previously ran from pump to horizontal cylinder to vertical to pressure reg to tank return which is obviously not right.

I still have fuelling issues, which I have traced back to the injectors. The solenoid clicks every time, but the pintle does not always open. Said NZ friend has also posted some ST4 injectors for me which I'm waiting for them to arrive.

Once it runs, I'll take it round the block to make sure it actually rides, I'll then pull the tail subframe and clipons off to get powdercoated, get the right brake lines made up and take it racing

brad black

econti wrote. It previously ran from pump to horizontal cylinder to vertical to pressure reg to tank return which is obviously not right.

i'd say it was right. how do you think it should be?

econti

brad black wrotei'd say it was right. how do you think it should be?

In car world, which I am most familiar with, you put the pressure regulator before anything else so the injectors get the right amount. That is car world however and not crazy italian cocaine engineering world
-edit-
I will also note that it didn't work before I did that, and didn't work afterwards, so it can't have been that. The fuel does definitely pump through the system and there is good pressure at the injectors.

brad black

the regulator is at the end of the line.

Jafa

Just because that's how they do it in car world doesn't mean it's right or the best way................ and I'm a car guy too 😎

econti

I'll swap it back around then.
I have found so much other stuff that's been incorrectly fitted on the bike (e.g. conical spacer on the back axle the wrong way around) that I just assumed it was another stuff up.

Hopefully my injectors will be here soon and I can take it for a lap.

brad black

it can be hard sorting someone else's puzzle.

econti

The most difficult part is that I don't know how the things are meant to be originally. If I had taken it apart I'd know in what order things should be, as it was with the 600ss restoration. But since it's an unknown (as similar as they are to supersports) it's not easy.

Brings me to another question:
As it has the original forks, but with a ST4 dash, surely the speedo will read wrong?

brad black

depends on the speedo drive ratio. might be right, might not.

econti

Known good injectors arrived. Fitted them, put the fuel lines around the correct way this time.
Hit the starter.
Crank but nothing else.
No spark, no fuel.
After a bit of head scratching, I removed the shim from the CPS to bring it closer.
Success!
Fired quick, idled and ran healthily.
It's stupidly loud. My 600ss is probably half the volume.
Not only the volume, but when I lift it sounds like gunshots. So much fun.

https://youtu.be/XTUNUlsWd8M

Took it for a lap of the block. Brakes are shocking but the lines are garbage, I've ordered new ones but they aren't here yet.
I'm also sourcing an air filter for it.

Now I know it works, it's time to tidy up the subframe and clipons to de-rust and get them powdercoated. I'll have an ask around at the local shops to see what getting the fairings redone will cost.

What a good day!

nine16

If you're not going to carry a passenger, the reproduction aluminum subframes are very reasonable. And you can save that money you would have spent on powdercoat.

econti

nine16 wroteIf you're not going to carry a passenger, the reproduction aluminum subframes are very reasonable. And you can save that money you would have spent on powdercoat.

I've seen a few but shipping would be prohibitive to Australia unfortunately.
It'll just stay a biposto until I find one down here

econti

Found a bit more time to work on it.

First thing was powdercoated rear subframe and pillion pegs. No pics that I have uploaded; they're just black.

The old battery popped a cell so I got a new one. This led to me getting the shits with the factory bracket (I don't like it). This then led to me finding some spare metal and making a proof-of-concept bracket to hold it in properly. The part you don't see is it runs underneath of the battery, with a little return/hook thing to keep it secure. It's rock solid. I'll make a proper one when I get the right aluminium to do it with. Think I have some at the shop already

I didn't have an air filter, so found a company called MWR who make a slip on one for a 996 (I think).
I don't have an airbox that fits and couldn't really be assed to find one and make one, so this was easy as it just sits over the trumpets. It has a plastic skeleton inside to keep the shape and is a 30sec install.

Being the bike has the ST4 harness there's all sorts of relays and shit in the tail which were just sitting around. The tail section already had holes drilled in it from previous owners so I put a few more in and mounted all the relays securely.
I think I'll make a tail section out of aluminium and do it properly one day. But for now I can't really be bothered as this works

This meant the tail section was pretty well sorted. I'm going to use aftermarket indicators when it's time to get it registered as I think the factory ones look terrible.
I put on a spare 998 biposto seat just to see what it looks like.
Not horrible, but definitely not good.

I think I'll stick with the proper item.

That's it for now. Soon I'll put the brake lines on, my leathers will be ready, and it'll be time to go racing.

Mr.R

econti wroteI've seen a few but shipping would be prohibitive to Australia unfortunately. It'll just stay a biposto until I find one down here

A bit late picking up on this but...

I've bought quite a bit of Ducati kit from Australia, the shipping hasn't been that bad and if you get the sender to declare that" it's to be repaired and retuned to the country of origin", you shouldn't be hit for import duty. 😎
Most of the Aussie dealers will either do this or say it's a sample FOC, or it's worth $50.
I've ONLY ever found one guy in the World who refused to do this and he's an American, the US guys will probably know who I mean if I say it's "LT".

Steve R

marvin

That sounds like "LT"

nine16

econti wroteI didn't have an air filter, so found a company called MWR who make a slip on one for a 996 (I think). I don't have an airbox that fits and couldn't really be assed to find one and make one, so this was easy as it just sits over the trumpets. It has a plastic skeleton inside to keep the shape and is a 30sec install.

You should be able to use an 888 airbox. I had no issue with a "standard" 888 CF race version mounting up.

econti

nine16 wroteYou should be able to use an 888 airbox. I had no issue with a "standard" 888 CF race version mounting up.

I could have, however they are hen's teeth rare here, and buying that filter is about half the price of having an airbox and filter posted here from overseas