851 engines

customhead

I have 3 spare engines and wish to overhaul them.

What are the members able to tell me about the engines from the numbers?
What years they are and possibly specification depending on head stampings?

1. ZDM851W4B+002607 ( 'B' ON FRONT HEAD, 'D' ON REAR HEAD --- HEAD STAMPED '90)

2. ZDM851W4B+001050 ('D' ON FRONT HEAD, 'D' ON REAR HEAD ---- HEAD STAMPED '88)

3. ZDM851W4+850654 ( 'A1' ON FRONT AND REAR HEAD ---- HEAD STAMPED '88)

cheers

Sean

BABA

ZDM851W4B+001050 : '90 strada engine with pankl conrods and 6 tooth spline.

"D" are standard strada head. I don't know the difference with "B".

ZDM851W4B+002607 : strada engine too, probably '91

ZDM851W4+850654 : 851 kit engine.

customhead

Thanks for the reply BABA, may I ask the source of your info?
Is there a page on the net with all the Ducati engine numbers?

BABA

The evolution of the engine during the year 1990 is described by Ian Falloon in the desmoquattro performance handbook.

I've bought a strada engine from 1990 too, it has "D" heads and they are standard inside.

W4B are strada engines.

For the last one, 850xxx engines are tricolores engines (and Lucchinelli replica).
not sure 100% it is a kit, but I found another kit engine with mention of W4 (not B)*850xxx.
But 850654 is maybe far for a kit... (with a little more than 200 bikes and around 20 Lucchi)

Clutch slave cylinder is well on the right side ?

You can ask to Ducati directly, they can confirm you the origin of an engine.

brad black

3 - i've seen engine numbers before and after this that are 851 strada. i would think a1 probably refers to the cams, but i could be wrong.

BABA

851 from 89 still have this designation of engine numbers ? (and chassis ?)

customhead

anyone have an email address for Ducati to confirm?
Website sends you to dealers...

BABA

contact via customer service.
http://www.ducati.com/company/contact_us/contact_form/index.do

customhead

thank you kind sir.

customhead

so just got a phone call at 8.30 pm from "Ducati" to first tell me
they will not give any information out on engines....

then confirm my details (which I thought may be security based....)
and ask me if I want to receive their newsletter...

yeah right..

customhead

just a follow up to the engine questions, here are a couple of pics of the '88 head and cams.

nothing stamped on the cams as i can see.

I suppose this then proves it isn't a "kit" engine then..

BABA

Letters are on the shaft of the camshaft, not the cams.
I don't think you can see them from there.
Remove the valve adjustment/check covers.

customhead

A1 it says.

verdict?

stafford

A1, standard road cams.

http://www.bikeboy.org/duccamspec.html

brad black

customhead wroteso just got a phone call at 8.30 pm from "Ducati" to first tell me they will not give any information out on engines....

most likely because they just don't know. it was a long time ago, and for a while no one cared.

customhead

Ahhhh Brads reports... seriously they are the best reading! 😄

Geo7863

BABA wroteZDM851W4B+001050 : '90 strada engine with pankl conrods and 6 tooth spline. "D" are standard strada head. I don't know the difference with "B". ZDM851W4B+002607 : strada engine too, probably '91 ZDM851W4+850654 : 851 kit engine.

mmmmm interesting... My Engine number is ZDM851W4*850203* .. except that apparently the factory says it a Strada!... and in 'conversation' with wgsvintage on my thread, and looking at the Tricolore catalogue that he posted for me to download, the frame is also a kit... but the factory says its a Strada... strange