A few weeks back I picked up a 1993 900SS. It's in rough shape. Not only mechanically, but cosmetically too.
I've been busy sorting things out, one at a time. The engine oil leaked out like it was being poured through a pasta strainer.
Turned out the chain had derailed at some point in the life of the bike and smashed the alternator cover and the crank case half.
Was somewhat successful in fixing the majority of the damage but will likely end up replacing the cover. For now though, it isn't leaking all over the shop floor.
The rear shock leaked too, I have a replacement from a later SSie. I can confirm after measuring that from center of eye to eye, the OEM Showa measures right at 328mm while the later Sachs measures right at 337 mm. That ought to help out some in the "flickability" department.
As anyone would, I have also gotten new timing belts, though I have not installed them as yet.
I removed the rear end completely last weekend. The loose chain sawed through the pinch bolt and made it impossible to remove. I had to drill the head out to get the pivot pin out so I could remove the swing arm.
There is damage to the swing arm, mostly minor/cosmetic from both the loose running chain as well as the improperly installed Cobra F1s pipes that were on the bike. Some numpty used longer bolts to mount the pipes but failed at taking the swing arm travel into account. Needless to say, there are gouges on the both sides of the swing arm brace.
I removed it so those things could be repaired though now, I have the additional task of removing the pinch bolt too.
Also ordered an adjustable set of forks to replace the leaking non-adjustable forks. They'll likely need a rebuilt also but for the time being, I'll just install them in the frame.
The frame is coming off the engine so I can complete the repairs on the damaged crankcase half. I figure, while I have it out I can do the valves and belts on the work bench instead.
Other than that, I've just been ordering parts from eBay and other places. My goal is a resto-mod. I have almost all the parts for the resto part. Then it's down to the mod part which while significant, isn't anything radical. I have the primary parts for the mod, just not all the body work.
It does have all the original bodywork on it. I pulled it all off and found "Ducati" followed by a part number on all the pieces.
It has all been painted, though it looks like the bodywork was left on the bike when it was both prepped an when the paint was buffed out. I don't know why it was buffed out, it's really shitty paint.
My kid at 10 could have done a better job with a paint brush. He's 20 now and definitely could do a better job. Needless to say, that will change. I'll leave that to last though because it is a big part of the "mod" in resto-mod.
That and since the OEM stuff is all there, even though it is in need of a tremendous amount of restoration, I'm contemplating buying some aftermarket glass for it. Just so I can store the OEM stuff.
On the other hand, this is a 30K mile plus bike. I don't know exactly how many miles, the speedo cable was broken when I got it. It also has a salvage CA title.
Thus, I don't think it really matters a lot what I do to the OEM bodywork. It isn't like I'm going to sell it on.
The salvage title means I'd get little for it, and definitely not what I have to put in to it to get it even close to right.
I figure that since it's a salvage title and high miles, I don't care how many more I put on. It isn't a museum quality bike, nor even a living room quality bike. Not yet anyway.
I'll populate this thread eventually with details and pictures. So far, progress hasn't been rapid, nor smooth. Lots of pics have been taken....and in due time, I'll share them all.....sean
I've been busy sorting things out, one at a time. The engine oil leaked out like it was being poured through a pasta strainer.
Turned out the chain had derailed at some point in the life of the bike and smashed the alternator cover and the crank case half.
Was somewhat successful in fixing the majority of the damage but will likely end up replacing the cover. For now though, it isn't leaking all over the shop floor.
The rear shock leaked too, I have a replacement from a later SSie. I can confirm after measuring that from center of eye to eye, the OEM Showa measures right at 328mm while the later Sachs measures right at 337 mm. That ought to help out some in the "flickability" department.
As anyone would, I have also gotten new timing belts, though I have not installed them as yet.
I removed the rear end completely last weekend. The loose chain sawed through the pinch bolt and made it impossible to remove. I had to drill the head out to get the pivot pin out so I could remove the swing arm.
There is damage to the swing arm, mostly minor/cosmetic from both the loose running chain as well as the improperly installed Cobra F1s pipes that were on the bike. Some numpty used longer bolts to mount the pipes but failed at taking the swing arm travel into account. Needless to say, there are gouges on the both sides of the swing arm brace.
I removed it so those things could be repaired though now, I have the additional task of removing the pinch bolt too.
Also ordered an adjustable set of forks to replace the leaking non-adjustable forks. They'll likely need a rebuilt also but for the time being, I'll just install them in the frame.
The frame is coming off the engine so I can complete the repairs on the damaged crankcase half. I figure, while I have it out I can do the valves and belts on the work bench instead.
Other than that, I've just been ordering parts from eBay and other places. My goal is a resto-mod. I have almost all the parts for the resto part. Then it's down to the mod part which while significant, isn't anything radical. I have the primary parts for the mod, just not all the body work.
It does have all the original bodywork on it. I pulled it all off and found "Ducati" followed by a part number on all the pieces.
It has all been painted, though it looks like the bodywork was left on the bike when it was both prepped an when the paint was buffed out. I don't know why it was buffed out, it's really shitty paint.
My kid at 10 could have done a better job with a paint brush. He's 20 now and definitely could do a better job. Needless to say, that will change. I'll leave that to last though because it is a big part of the "mod" in resto-mod.
That and since the OEM stuff is all there, even though it is in need of a tremendous amount of restoration, I'm contemplating buying some aftermarket glass for it. Just so I can store the OEM stuff.
On the other hand, this is a 30K mile plus bike. I don't know exactly how many miles, the speedo cable was broken when I got it. It also has a salvage CA title.
Thus, I don't think it really matters a lot what I do to the OEM bodywork. It isn't like I'm going to sell it on.
The salvage title means I'd get little for it, and definitely not what I have to put in to it to get it even close to right.
I figure that since it's a salvage title and high miles, I don't care how many more I put on. It isn't a museum quality bike, nor even a living room quality bike. Not yet anyway.
I'll populate this thread eventually with details and pictures. So far, progress hasn't been rapid, nor smooth. Lots of pics have been taken....and in due time, I'll share them all.....sean