wgsvintage
Hi,
Are the short rubber gas tank straps that attach behind the steering head gone forever, or is there any chance of acquiring one somewhere? Doesn't have to be mint, but usable and pretty reasonably not dry cracked. Would go on race bike.
Thanks,
Bill
sp2 boy
I believe they are available in the US from 'Bevel Heaven'.
wgsvintage
Thanks, I checked, but nothing suitable.
Bill
Mr.R
What about these...
http://www.oldracingspareparts.com/twin-models-3/tt600-tt2/
If not try the search function on here as I know it's been discussed before.
Steve R
Lawson SP3
All these years later and the TT's are still damned gorgeous. Acheingly so.
griff851
They are the same item as the rear Pantah tank straps. Road and race sometimes has them, depends when the guy in Melbourne does a run of them. Usually 50 or so at a time. They will never be gone for ever.
Griff
wgsvintage
Thank you for your help, but I need to be more specific about the style strap I'm looking for. First, I need to respond to Mr. Lawson's post about TT's. I wholeheartedly agree about how beautiful they are. I think they are the best example of how pretty something can turn out if "form follows function" is your only guide, and being one of very few Ducatis that were designed only for racing, it had to be. It didn't hurt that it was a Pantah, and didn't have to carry around liquid cooling and fuel injection equipment. As much as I like this 851 I'm working on, I have to say, it just looks clunky compared to my TT.
O.k., back to my clunky 851, if I wasn't just thrown off this forum. The strap I'm looking for hooks to a flat tab in the middle front of the gas tank, and the other end, to two hooks on the bottom of the first horizontal frame tube directly behind the steering head. See attached pictures. The tank end should have a "D" shaped loop on it to hook onto the tank tab and the frame end should be just like one end of a bevel or F1 battery strap with the pin that is 90 deg. to the strap. The battery strap from my bevel fits the 851 frame lugs like a glove. A strap came with the bike in a "junk box" when I got it (attached to the tank in picture). The tank end of it looks correct, but not the frame end. I have been assuming it was for some other purpose. The other strap in the picture is the bevel battery strap.
I'm not totally sure that the tank or the frame I have, started out together. Adamo & Leoni raced the bike thru 1988. Then in 1989 at the AMA national at Loudon, Jimmy was bumped near turn 9 and crashed hard down the pit-in lane, the bike getting airborne. We are not sure if that frame survived the crash. At some point during that season, the bike was seen in the pits at Loudon set up with carburetors. Reno couldn't deal with the computer. I know I have that frame, as the diagonal "coolant" frame tube was cut out for the carbs, and a smaller diameter tube welded back in when he had to switch back. I'm quite sure the silver paint on the frame is original, and this frame has no numbers on it. The other puzzling thing I've noticed about this frame is how the front sub-frame attaches to the steering head. It uses two 8mm bolts into lugs 90deg to the steering head. Every picture of an early 851, where you can see that area, the front sub-frame mounts like a bevel or F1 with a flat plate welded to the steering head and four screws.
So, long story short, maybe the strap I'm looking for this frame/tank combination never existed. That would be good to know too. I may be able to modify the strap I have to work with these frame lugs. Any info about these early models will be greatly appreciated.
Bill
Mr.R
Hi Bill,
I've never seen anything like the set up on your frame or a strap like the one your looking for used to hold the front of the tank on a 851/888, but I'm not that 'up' on the very early models like the Tricolore's.
I have seen straps like the one attached to the tank used on some 70's-early 80's Guzzi models though, I think the Mk1 850 Le Mans used one on the rear of the tank.
Steve R
sp2 boy
Nothing of what you mention on that 851 is as would be expected...I think you may have something special and that means no stock parts.
My advice is hold fire with your actions and use the forum and users to help identify exactly what you have.
That tank and frame are non standard parts, not even conventional race parts!
Can we have clearer images showing overall views and detailed pictures so that others can both identify exactly what you have and help you in resolving the issues that you have highlighted.
Below are some images of what I would expect to see on a conventional 851 race bike.
guy851
Tricolore Tank strap
Well the strap in the picture and the hook on the tank look like standard tricolore items to me. The tric frame will have a similar hook on the frame.
Pop up a few more pictures of the frame and does the frame feature a waterway in the cross brace? this will also help identify the frame.
I have one of those straps, the tricolore used one on the tank and a second one over the battery that was located just behind the back light.
What forks and swinging arm are fitted?
Guy851
wgsvintage
Sorry for the reply delay, I wanted to finish fitting new Airtech bodywork, not my favorite job. The forks are an n.o.s set of M1R's that replaced the bent ones that were on it. The frame shots show the front sub-frame mounting, and the replaced diagonal coolant tube. I believe the front underside of the swing arm has some additional square tube bracing welded in. Doesn't look like factory welding. The un-numbered engine cases are old enough to require the spacers on the inside of swing arm at the pivot. I've also added a shot of it waiting at the Long Island ferry dock as I was first bringing it home in 2005 (it's even rougher than it looks), and as it was in the pits at Loudon in 1988 (maybe 1989). That's Reno on the right.
I've finally been able over the winter to get the chassis almost squared away before Bruce Meyers gets back to New Hampshire and completely goes thru the engine. I'm rebuilding it to pass CCS tech and be safe and sound, which means some replacing and updating. Its had a hard life and needs some proper fixes. I have a n.o.s. set of somewhat newer engine cases (have cast in swing arm spacing) that we will probably use. The old ones have to be pretty tired. And we may de-tune it a little, depending on what we find. Reno tuned to the max, and Adamo knew how to use it, I'd be better off with less. We'll take good notes though. I took it to G.M.D. Computrack to get measured up, and it is straight. I was hoping to find out the steering head angle, which would help date the frame. But he couldn't duplicate the way the factory measures it, so we don't know what it is. I also have a n.o.s. early style unpainted gas tank which we will probably use. The original one was converted to gravity feed for the carburetor business. The original ports were cut and welded shut. The gravity ports were then converted to pressure out and in, but the threading on those ports is pretty shot, so I don't really trust them. The cooling plumbing was also changed around at that time, but it should be o.k. with new hosing. The electrical harness was in bad shape, and jury rigged quite a bit. I should be looking for a replacement harness. I'd like to move the computer up front. The battery was moved up to the r/h side of the engine, but not well done.
I'm afraid this has gotten too lengthy. If you spot anything interesting in the photos, or want a different shot, let me know.
Thanks, Bill
