Author Topic: Help. I bought a Ducati  (Read 10206 times)

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Offline Roach Carver

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Help. I bought a Ducati
« on: February 07, 2016, 12:50:08 PM »


Anyone here familiar with the Ducati 860gt? I bought this from a friend if a friend. It's been parked since 85. I have tried and tried to get spark but so far have failed miserably. I have tried running twelve volts to the coils and still nothing. I have read that the ignition is less than great but I think at least one coil should give me something. I feel like I may be missing something. Any help would be appreciated.

Offline 754

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Re: Help. I bought a Ducati
« Reply #1 on: February 07, 2016, 01:26:14 PM »
How much if i may ask ?
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Offline jaguar

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Re: Help. I bought a Ducati
« Reply #2 on: February 07, 2016, 03:02:31 PM »
Cool bike!

Offline Roach Carver

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Re: Help. I bought a Ducati
« Reply #3 on: February 07, 2016, 03:19:12 PM »
Yes. Be even cooler when it runs!

Offline MoMo

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Re: Help. I bought a Ducati
« Reply #4 on: February 07, 2016, 03:22:26 PM »
electronic or points ignition?  and  it is COOL. Nice purchase

Offline Roach Carver

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Re: Help. I bought a Ducati
« Reply #5 on: February 07, 2016, 05:05:39 PM »
Electronic.16000 miles. Ran when parked

Offline 754

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Re: Help. I bought a Ducati
« Reply #6 on: February 07, 2016, 06:38:49 PM »
  Proceed carefully.. we are discussing one on our BC vintage forum.  Engine rebuilds are 5 grand and north of that !
Did some quick reading; they use sludge trap that packs full and wounds them, clean oilk is key.
 Some avoided a huge bill by tearing down and inspecting, rather than run a long siting motor, if its all pretty good you get away cheap.
 Good Luck....
Maker of the WELDLESS 750 Frame Kit
dodogas99@gmail.com
Kelowna B.C.       Canada

My next bike will be a ..ANFOB.....

It's All part of the ADVENTURE...

73 836cc.. Green, had it for 3 decades!!
Lost quite a few CB 750's along the way

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Help. I bought a Ducati
« Reply #7 on: February 09, 2016, 03:28:16 AM »
Ooooher! Just looking at one of them still gives me the shivers, almost 30 years after my experience with my old Bevel 900SS. Luckily for you that'll be a "springer head" engine rather than the "specialist only" desmodromic cylinder heads of the later bikes.

Actually, the whole engine is a "specialist only" item, and shouldn't be touched by anyone who's not a bevel drive Ducati expert. Back in the 1970's Ducati's name for excellent engineering was as well known as Ducati's name for dodgy electrics, sloppy assembly and pathetic quality control, not to mention the Ducati employees stealing quality bearings and other parts, replacing them with junk that caused many a new bike to fail under warranty, and selling them on the black market.

Italian electrics make old British "Lucas" electrics look good, so if all your connections are clean and your ignition switch and handlebar switches are good, then the OEM CEV(?) ignition is probably toast. Back in the day, you could cook one just by kicking the engine over without a spark plug lead grounded to a spark plug.

Having said all that, on a good day (usually about once a year) an old Bevel Ducati is a joy to ride. Excellent handling (a little slow and ponderous compared to a modern bike, but supremely stable), brilliant Brembo brakes (although they tend to "stand up" under brakes in fast corners) and a sexy exhaust note, especially if you've got "Conti" silencers. Get it going, then sell it, quick! ;D
I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

"Crazy is a very misunderstood term, it's a fine line that some of us can lean over and still keep our balance" (thanks RB550Four)

Offline toytuff

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Re: Help. I bought a Ducati
« Reply #8 on: February 09, 2016, 03:56:04 AM »
Lordy..Lordy! Love it!

A good web site, if not already there, is Ducati ms.

Great find, would love that despite its faults.

Subscribed.


Offline simon#42

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Re: Help. I bought a Ducati
« Reply #9 on: February 09, 2016, 10:52:28 AM »
i have had the dubious pleasure of rebuilding a few of these engines . none were well put together but some were better than others
the last one had 35 shims on the gearbox mainshaft , i presume they had run out of big ones .
as bikes they look great but this was the bike that nearly bankrupt ducati in the late 70's . after this the bikes improved every year
the new Audi bikes are as good as the Japanese for quality control , not as pretty as the bevel twins though .

Offline Roach Carver

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Re: Help. I bought a Ducati
« Reply #10 on: February 09, 2016, 11:01:45 AM »
I have spent a bit of time over at the bevel heaven forum but I just like hanging out here better. I also know with the vast membership I can usually get the help I need right here at home. I printed out a factory manual. I also did a very amateurish job of picking the lock. I can now turn it on and off with a screwdriver until i can source a key or new 6 plug ignition switch which is NLA of course. That said I just found in the manual that the switch is 3 positions. Park, off and on. I am praying that I have been switching from off to park. That would make my week but i still have to figure out why it only will go one direction. Hopefully my grammar is acceptable. I know it bugs Terry.

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Help. I bought a Ducati
« Reply #11 on: February 09, 2016, 01:00:20 PM »
i have had the dubious pleasure of rebuilding a few of these engines . none were well put together but some were better than others
the last one had 35 shims on the gearbox mainshaft , i presume they had run out of big ones .
as bikes they look great but this was the bike that nearly bankrupt ducati in the late 70's . after this the bikes improved every year
the new Audi bikes are as good as the Japanese for quality control , not as pretty as the bevel twins though .

I hear you Simon, and Audi owns Ducati this week? I didn't know that! I almost dipped my toe in the water recently, I saw an S4R going cheap but chickened out at the last minute, these things happen when you've been bitten on the dick by a duck.

When the shop pulled my (then 10 year old low mileage) 900SS engine apart to quote me for the rebuild, even the hardening on all the gears had worn off! It was a beautiful bike to look at, but a real POS mechanically.

I never had it rebuilt. For less than the price of the rebuild I bought a well looked after BMW K100RT with much higher mileage that I rode for another 4 years and 25000 trouble free miles, before I traded it for a POS R100RS, but that's another story...... ;D
I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

"Crazy is a very misunderstood term, it's a fine line that some of us can lean over and still keep our balance" (thanks RB550Four)

Offline Roach Carver

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Re: Help. I bought a Ducati
« Reply #12 on: February 11, 2016, 07:22:20 AM »
Well as of about 6:00 last night I have spark on both cylinders. I am pretty sure the transistor that operates the ignition is faulty. I unplugged it and I now have a decent spark. I am going to verify it a bit more to make sure its not a coincidence. If all goes well I will start with all the rebuilding/ cleaning/ maintenance etc.

Offline Roach Carver

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Re: Help. I bought a Ducati
« Reply #13 on: March 19, 2016, 03:43:08 PM »
Time for an update. I ended up getting spark. The kill switch transistor was not functioning properly. I disabled that and had no more issues. I still need to fix it but for now that is satisfactory. The frame is stripped and off for paint. Tank and sidecovers will go in for a respray in a week or two. Cleaned engine and rebuilt carbs. Chrome pieces are off for a rechrome. Hopefully back this week or next. And here's a pic.

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Re: Help. I bought a Ducati
« Reply #14 on: March 19, 2016, 04:00:23 PM »
Great looking motor and sounds like you are moving forward...
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline Roach Carver

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Re: Help. I bought a Ducati
« Reply #15 on: March 19, 2016, 04:16:59 PM »
Slowly....

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Help. I bought a Ducati
« Reply #16 on: March 19, 2016, 04:19:36 PM »
It looks great mate, but did it need re-painting? A "Survivor" in original paint will always be more collectable than one that's been restored. Cheers, Terry. ;D
I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

"Crazy is a very misunderstood term, it's a fine line that some of us can lean over and still keep our balance" (thanks RB550Four)

Offline Roach Carver

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Re: Help. I bought a Ducati
« Reply #17 on: March 19, 2016, 04:57:49 PM »
I agree. That's not original paint though.

Offline 70CB750

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Re: Help. I bought a Ducati
« Reply #18 on: March 19, 2016, 05:42:14 PM »
Purdy!


Time for an update. I ended up getting spark. The kill switch transistor was not functioning properly. I disabled that and had no more issues. I still need to fix it but for now that is satisfactory. The frame is stripped and off for paint. Tank and sidecovers will go in for a respray in a week or two. Cleaned engine and rebuilt carbs. Chrome pieces are off for a rechrome. Hopefully back this week or next. And here's a pic.

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Offline 754

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Re: Help. I bought a Ducati
« Reply #19 on: March 19, 2016, 08:38:09 PM »
 Nice are you getting a gear gazer ?
Maker of the WELDLESS 750 Frame Kit
dodogas99@gmail.com
Kelowna B.C.       Canada

My next bike will be a ..ANFOB.....

It's All part of the ADVENTURE...

73 836cc.. Green, had it for 3 decades!!
Lost quite a few CB 750's along the way

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Help. I bought a Ducati
« Reply #20 on: March 20, 2016, 01:54:53 AM »
I agree. That's not original paint though.

Fair enough mate, hey I just had a thought, as original as your 860 is, it's also pretty fugly, but I guess you know that 900SS bodywork will go straight on it? I knew a few guys who turned their ugly Ducks into beautiful Swans by installing aftermarket 900SS replica tank/seat/sidecovers on their 860's? Depending on what your plan is, it might be nice to build a race replica out of it? Cheers, Terry. ;D
I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

"Crazy is a very misunderstood term, it's a fine line that some of us can lean over and still keep our balance" (thanks RB550Four)

Offline Roach Carver

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Re: Help. I bought a Ducati
« Reply #21 on: March 20, 2016, 05:02:45 AM »
Nice are you getting a gear gazer ?
not at this point. Kind of cool but I have two rebuilds going right now and I am not spending on anything I don't have to.


Terry, I think you are right but I think the rear of the frame has to be cut. I am painting it a non original color but I don't want to make any unreversable decisions. It is for sure the ugliest Ducati that I know of but its still a Ducati. Who knows. Maybe someday everyone will want that ugly turn up at the rear of the frame....

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Help. I bought a Ducati
« Reply #22 on: March 20, 2016, 01:21:18 PM »
Ha ha, no worries mate, I'm looking forward to seeing the finished bike! Cheers, Terry. ;D
I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

"Crazy is a very misunderstood term, it's a fine line that some of us can lean over and still keep our balance" (thanks RB550Four)

Offline Roach Carver

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Re: Help. I bought a Ducati
« Reply #23 on: March 27, 2016, 02:44:38 PM »


Frame and Swingarm are back from paint. Chrome is back too. Starting to look like a motorcycle again. I am waiting on the rims from the powder coater. Still trying to get the bearings out f the rear hub. So far so good

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Help. I bought a Ducati
« Reply #24 on: March 27, 2016, 04:40:47 PM »
Looking good mate, well done so far! ;D
I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

"Crazy is a very misunderstood term, it's a fine line that some of us can lean over and still keep our balance" (thanks RB550Four)