851 SP2 in France

guillaume69

I also was able to order the “Duc or Die” MOSFET voltage regulator, the one Tommy (@Tbooee) advertised here a couple weeks ago. On the way back from the trip, as I was cleaning the bike, fairings off, I replaced the OEM one. Almost plug’n’play with the charging light cable and definitely the perfect size for the 851. I just needed an SAE connector to avoid hacking into the bike’s wiring loom or the OEM R/R connectors to make this work. Everything is preserved. That should allow a better, less warm and safer charging of the SHIDO LiFePO4 battery.

guillaume69

The good thing about spending some serious time riding a new to you bike, is finding out about little quirks. Here, I found out the side stand had an unpleasant play. The kind that have the bike lean a bit too much to your taste when you get off it. The aluminum stand hole got oval over time. I simply had it bored and sleeved, which makes for a stand with zero play that feels like new.

mike

Wow - sorry to hear about the drop, that’s not ideal - but good to hear that you had a spare, and that you had a good run.

I’m expecting to get my SP5 dug out this week and MoT’d (UK road test), ready for use.

guillaume69

Yeah, dropping a bike sucks… But that happens every now and then when you use it. Last time for me was 10 years ago. And that’s the third time in 30 years. So statistically, once every 10 years…

😎

Richny13

@guillaume69 Thanks for sharing your lessons learned. These are things I’ll keep an eye out for on my SP2. I think my kickstand has the same oval-ed condition. Love to hear the 851 can still put some pressure on a Diavel! Did you find a turn-key rebuild kit for the calipers?

guillaume69

No, I sourced my hardware, gaskets and pads from various sources. Kits usually offer pins or pistons which I did not need this time round.

But you can easily find them, from various vendors, depending on which area you live in (EU/UK/US/AUS?)

KevB

guillaume69 I feel your pain! A few years back, I lost drive pulling a sharp left from the kerbside into traffic. A bootlace had looped around the gear lever, and as I lifted my foot to the peg it pulled out of gear. Bike dropped onto it’s side and I only just managed to get my foot back down in time to keep the damage failrly light. Pride on the other hand took a bruising :-

guillaume69

So you know that sting, Kev…

Glad you did not get your foot hurt. Pride heals quicker. 👍️

KevB

guillaume69 Oh yes 😃 The incident also prompted me to change the OEM exhausts for an after market set as the original A08/B08 cans are nearly impossible to find if they get damaged and need repairing/replacing. Also have a spare set of panels which I am think of having painted in a tribute tricolre colour scheme… 🤞

Post repair…

Richny13

I’ve recently acquired a set of original of A08/B08 cans for my SP2. Thanks @tboooe for that hookup. Currently in the process of replicating the NLA hangers for the SP2. Building Investment casted molds this week and pouring my first batch of molten aluminum next weekend

guillaume69

Happy to announce that this bike is back to its former glory, only with much cleaner and refurbed brake calipers.

Interestingly enough, the new turn indicator I received sports a period correct Cagiva mark (small elephant) exactly like the OEM that cracked when I dropped the bike. I am pretty sure I ordered a repro, and for a fairly reasonable price (90€ or so). Could it be that repops are also good quality now?

mike

Lovely - great to see.

I’m interested in the repro - is the Cagiva elephant moulded in?

The reason I ask, is that a few years ago, I ordered a reproduction 916 screen, complete with Cagiva elephant, and it was very well made, but the elephant was indented/engraved into the plastic, rather than an embossing on it. It looked good, but was very subtly different to original.

As a coincidence, I think that 916 originated from France. I never got around to fitting it to my 916, still sat on the shelf.

guillaume69

mike

It is moulded (as in sits higher than the lense surface).

guillaume69

Howdy 851/888 folks! How are things going around here?

I recently tinkered a bit with my 851. Nothing much, really, but interestingly, I discovered the cooling system on that bike is a little more complex than the one of a 916…

First, it all started with a small puddle of cooling liquid found under the bike after my last ride. Yikes! This was the perfect bike until that happened…

I was quickly able to narrow it down to the water pump cover bleeding screw. The cover threading was shot, and the screw held with gasket maker sealant. Which suddenly decided to stop sealing. Right here:

So I decided this was a good opportunity to flush the cooling system and pay a visit to the water pump and test other components, such as the calorstat, the cooling liquid temperature sensor, etc. All looking good. I also rinsed the radiator with white vinegar, as I was there.

I opted to try and repair the pump cover using a M6 helicoil. That went fairly well, with a new copper crush washer.

However, just in case that wouldn’t work out, I was able to source a new pump cover at a very reasonable price. What a pleasant surprise when I found out it was a NOS cover dated 89 when I received it! The ad did not mention it at all…

Conversely, I was able to refurbish the radiator cap, giving it a nice shine back. Not sure if it’s original or not. It’s written in German, but looks exactly like OEM ones. The bike was sold new in 1990 in Austria…

I found out that filling the cooling system on these bikes takes a bit of researching, the workshop and user manuals being utterly useless at explaining why one can only pour one liter in there before it overflows… I finally found out about the hidden vertical head bleeding screw, which helped a lot. Right there:

That and the role of the expansion tank located below the seat and mostly above the rest of the system. The cap had been abused and had to be swapped for a brand new one, which I got for free from a fellow enthusiast. Looking « much more better » !

So if you’re new to the 851/888 family like me and wonder how to correctly refill your cooling system, once you’ve flushed the old coolant, here’s how I finally succeeded:

1/ Remove radiator and expansion tank caps, as well as vertical head bleeding screw.

2/ Fill through radiator until the vertical head bleeding hole overflows. That’s about a liter. Put the screw back in with a new crush washer.

3/ Continue to fill the system through the radiator, pausing when it overflows to massage the lower radiator hose to push the air out (it gurgles gently). Doing this a couple times allows to add about 1.5 liters in the system.

4/ Now fill the expansion tank, making sure you don’t put to much coolant in there. I added about 0.5 liter in there. It should be at the min level (visible in the seat window) to avoid coolant to splash around the rear when operating.

5/ Close both caps (radiator and expansion tank) and you’re done.

Yeah. My 916 is much easier to refill too…

😄

Richny13

I heard someone call the 851 the “plumbers nightmare”. I’ll be curious to see how your helicoil does. I probably would have just oversized and re-tapped to an M8 as that’s a little less work. My coolant tank cap had the exact same kind of damage to it. I wonder if this caused by the seat cowling rubbing on it? Planning to do my coolant soon, so thanks for the walk through!

guillaume69

I wondered exactly the same thing about the damage on the plastic cap. I initially thought someone may have used pliers, but that wouldn’t fit the previous owners profile at all so may be the seat, you’re right. I’ll find out soon enough…

Mr.R

’92 onwards 851/888’s have pretty much the same cooling system as the 916.

guillaume69

Mr.R

I didn’t realize that, thanks. The 851 SP2 having a 888 engine, how comes its plumbing is different then? Is it the same on the first 888s?

Mr.R

guillaume69 The SP2 and SP3 were based on 851’s. The 888cc capacity comes from 2mm bigger bore and pistons.

For the ’92 851 the alternator/water pump housing were re-designed*, the 888 Strada’s SP4, SPS and SP5’s were all based on the ’92 851 motor.

The SP2 and SP3’s were badged as 851’s, in ’92 the SP4 and SPS’s were the 1st to be badged as 888’s,

*This upgrade was to overcome “Cavitation” in the coolant.

Mr.R

I simplified the cooling system on my ’92 851 955cc motor…

Removed the Thermostat,

Removed the Fan,

Removed the Expansion tank from under the seat, makes it easier to adjust the suspension rocker arm.

Fitted a Corse size Radiator made to order by PACE in the UK, my original genuine Corse Rad’ was quite tatty/almost beyond repair.

…and fitted a plastic bottle cabled tied to the side of the Radiator with overflow pipe fitted into it.

I can see this bottle as I ride.

In cool weather I tape over a portion of the Radiator to keep the temp’ up,

This system works perfectly on my 140 rwbhp 955cc motor and it weighs less.

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