My eBay punt

andypocock

Well she looked prettier than I expected which is always a good start. I'll hold fire on what she might be exactly until I have heard back from Ducati. Then I'll decide if it is OK to saw bits off the subframe so that I can mount my silencers. [she came with nice empty rounds ones as well as the oval MOT jobs in the photos]

I'm a happy boy which is the main thing

Andy

sp2 boy

Andy,

hang fire before sawing subframes...It looks different to the subframe that I have, it appears to have the support for the exhausts incorporated.

Is it 851 Tri-colour somebody?

spike

sp2 boy wroteAndy, hang fire before sawing subframes...It looks different to the subframe that I have, it appears to have the support for the exhausts incorporated. Is it 851 Tri-colour somebody?

nope its the same as my 851 mono subframe of 89 vintage , but still interesting

spike

andypocock

The disk cutter is unplugged - for now 😁

sp2 boy

spike wrotenope its the same as my 851 mono subframe of 89 vintage , but still interesting spike

Spike, it's different to my rear subframe on the SP2, which is alloy, this one appears to be steel!

I have a steel rear subframe in the workshop for an 851, it's not the same as the pictured one, it has no tubes going down towards the rear wheel, possibly for an exhaust hanger? Mine has a hooped area where the seat unit raises up, perhaps it is a biposta unit and that is where the hand brackets attatched?

With regards to my low level exhausts, which are std. on them SP2's, they are attatched to the subframe by some aluminium cast 'V' pieces which appear to be made out of tubing though they are actually solid...not with purpose built mounting points from the rear subframe as shown in one of the above pictures.

andypocock

It's a steel subframe and looks to be of the type used with the reverse cone megahones on early 851 (according to my Ian Falloon book anyway)

I'll find another subframe rather than chop this one if it is at all uncommon. It's just that the V mount is right in the way of my high level cans. Or is it slip ons you call them nowadays - to me that's a type of shoe.

Andy

Paul851

It's just a bog standard 1989 851 subframe as Spike says , the tubes going down towards the back wheel are the exhaust hangers for the low level cans .

Paul

Paul851

hehe cross posts 😁 in all honesty you would probably be better of keeping the subframe original . That said , your bike like mine , isn't original so you have to decide whether to try and find something else (probably expensive unless you fall lucky ) or just chop the b*ggers off . It's not as if the bike is 100% original atm .

Paul

andypocock

Paul

Those cans in your post are the same as the second set that came with the bike so I suspect they will mount perfectly.

Pity I really like the look the high level ones. It could still be time for a bit of chopping about 😁

Anyway while I ponder the exhaust I need to get on with renewing the fuel lines from the pump in the tank right through to the injectors.

Andy

Paul851

I'm planning on doing the fuel lines this coming winter as I figure I'm pushing my luck at 20 years old . The crankcases could do with a good clean also . Your right about the high level cans as well . I cut the hangers of my subframe 😱 so I could fit some 900 Superlight cans that I had kicking around the shed .

andypocock

We have a runner. Or at least we did until I started pulling her apart.

Camberley Auto Factors came up with a genuine Bosch fuel pump at under £90 and a new filter so with a quick tank re-plumb and half a gallon of unleaded it was time to give her a go. I'd checked fluids and although the belts were old they were in good nick and kevlar so I figured fine for a gentle run up (obviously I'd advise anybody else to change theirs). I wanted to run her before pulling her down to get the frame powder coated as I'd been warned that there was an oil leak and I wanted to pin point it.

I cranked her for a bit with the throttle closed then with a touch of right hand she was off. Once I'd got used to the little man shaking a tin bucket full of bolts that passes for a clutch she didn't sound bad at all.

The exhaust was a little smokey for the first couple of minutes but cleared and was fine on later starts. I'll put that down to sticky rings.

I think the leak is coming from the rear exhaust cam bearing housing on the belt side. It get an oily finger if I stick it up around the back. There could also be a weep around the primary cover but that could just be drips from above. Hopefully it will be clearer once the engine is on the bench but I plan on overhauling the heads and changing the primary gasket is no great shakes.

So plenty to keep me amused as I get to learn about Ducati 4v motors and thankfully I know a good place to ask questions 😁

Andy

Paul851

I get an oily finger if I stick it up around the back.

Ooo-errrrrr missus 😯 😁 😝

Good work Andy , Nice to hear the bike runs 😎

Paul

andypocock

The worst bit is over. No, putting it all back is probably worse 🙁

andypocock

The nuts and bolts took a fraction of the time I spent with masking tape and a biro labeling the loom

firefly_1965

Hi Andy,

Welld one on yr purchase, you are putting me to shame i have had my bike for nearly three wekks and all i have done is take the fairing off and have a good look at all the bad bits and think about where to start.
Carry on the good work.

Regards

andypocock

It was easier for me. The frame was the wrong colour so I knew where to start 😄

andypocock

Nothing back from Ducati but in the meantime I have exchanged emails with Bar Hodgson of Supershow Events in Canada http://tinyurl.com/kjv5rb. Worth a look if you like pretty pictures.

He has an immaculate SP1 which is known from the factory and was able to confirm that my engine number is correct for an SP1 ie the same format as his.

My frame looks to be from a later SP and I'm hoping Ducati will help here. There are traces of white overspray inside the steering head so it's not that late. And of course it has the butt jointed top tube.

I've probably got another week to wait to get my frame back from the powder coaters so my valves will be well adjusted by then my exhaust nicely polished.

spike

that is an sp3 frame 😁 numbers are correct hangers are correct and it started life white !!!!

spike

andypocock

Which I think Spike is what you had sermized all along 😄

andypocock

I've just heard from the factory and the frame is a 1991 SP3 built on 08.03.91 so spot on Spike.

The engine (and I assume the rest of the bike) is from an SP1 but they don't have a build date.