Another 900 GTS story. The Black Pig

brake suppliers

Saftek in Cleckheaton are pretty good.I think that they can skim drums and I know that they reline shoes for classics
 
What ring did you break
i have a first and second 86.4 ring from osso piston
have about 2000 miles on them circlip took out oil ring
a wee file and they would fit !
 
Thanks for the feedback.
Martin,
Saftek looks a good option to sort out the brake drum and re-line the shoes. I'll ask around the local VMCC members in case there's someone closer to home but that sounds a good option.

Bob,
That's a very kind offer and many thanks. In the meantime I located piston ring sets at Road and Race in Australia. Andrew at Mdina recommended them and I'm glad he did because there were none in the USA or Europe. Cost is £47 per piston which seems reasonable.

Road and Race also have tank and side panel badges and they're the only place I've seen stocking them so I've ordered a full set.

Just ordered the Mains / bevel tubes and other bits from Mdina.
Next job will be to send all the engine parts for vapour blasting. There's a company in Stratford on Avon which seem quite reasonable. I'll report back on the result.

Thanks again, Derek
 
I've now got the bike down entirely to it's constituent parts so I'm just sorting out what's for vapour blasting / powder coating / chome / zinc plating. However there's problems at the back end (and it's not haemarrhoids).

The swingarm has a bit of play in it and it appears that the shaft is worn. Apart from buying a new genuine new shaft and bearings does anyone have a view on manufacturing a new shaft?

The rear brake drum and shoes are badly scored as previously reported, but I've never seen anything like the brake cam.

DSC_0050.JPG


It appears that there is a standard cam (ca 16mm thick) which has been "built up" to around 20mm and crudely shaped. Why? Why? Why? I just don't get it!

Does anyone have such a rear brake cam? Can you measure the thickness? I can try to recover this one but it's a hell of a mess.

Apart from stripping the forks and front brake calipers I don't think there can possibly be any more bad surprises, but I expect I'll be wrong...
 
Thanks Bob - well spotted.
I'll see if I can get the original cleaned up. If not I'll buy it.
I wonder if the hub was so badly worn that the only way to get the shoes to contact the drum was to build up the cam. In which case the hub might be unrecoverable.
I see the same guy also has a back wheel, but it's expensive.
Maybe I'll have a trip to Cleckheaton this week as Saftek seem to be the front runners on brake repairs.
 
Once again thanks Bob for finding that brake cam - I've now ordered it. Actually the guy has most of an 860GT, but his prices are outrageous. This part was a mere £38 inc postage so I think I was lucky.

I also bought another swingarm from UK Ebay for £20 and it's described as being newly powder coated - I'm waiting for it to arrive. On the existing swingarm the bottom shock mounts have been ground off to accommodate the shape of the Konis which were fitted. I thought the Konis looked quite serviceable but I can't see how I can use them if the wide shape of the body interferes with the standard swingarm. And this doesn't look at all safe to me....

DSC_0062.JPG


I'll also need a better gearchange lever as this one has been exquisitely modified for someone with large feet. Has anyone any suggestions regarding which levers might fit as I doubt I'll find a standard one. Or a suggestion for how it might be repaired as I can afford to shorten it by a couple of cm.

DSC_0061.JPG


Martin - I'll be calling at Saftek in Cleckheaton tomorrow lunchtime if you're in the area?
 
Blimey Bob, I think you could be my Personal Shopper - but I'm not sure I could afford your taste in expensive parts!
Anyway I know it's available if I can't find something cheaper.
Thanks,
Derek
 
Sorry but I am in Ashby de la zouchbag until Friday. Shame to miss you. I was going to offer to meet you half way but I just couldn't say exactly where I'll be and when and I am actually abroad all next week. Saftek have a good reputation in classic circles and locally.

Martin
 
Ah. I had the same problem and rather than modifying the swinging arm shock absorber mount I modified the Koni bush - with a grinder. I took off enough of the inner bush to clear the mount. Job done.
 
VP - Good point. When the ebay swingarm arrives I'll look more carefully at the interaction with the Konis and try to mod the shocks. Otherwise I'll have to buy some replacements.

I took the rear brake drum into Saftek this afternoon and they will assess if they can skim the brake surface. I have to say it doesn't look great. The liner looks very thin. Otherwise they will just reline the shoes and I'll hope the brake works well enough to pass an MOT. Unless someone out there can come up with a nice condition cheap rear drum - and Bob, try to go more Poundland than Waitrose with your supplier suggestions.
Martin - I have to say it's many years since I was in Cleckheaton (probably visiting Thomas Burnley in Gomersal Mills) but it must have taken half an hour to cross the Metropolis. Please get the traffic system sorted out before my next visit.

I don't know if anyone buys from Kay's Fasteners http://www.kaysfasteners.co.uk/ but I can really recommend them for a comprehensive range of metric fasteners. I measured every nut and bolt as I stripped the bike and made a list of what I needed. Then I called today at his trade counter in Osset (Nr Wakefield). He took my wish list and had every piece I needed for the whole bike and he had the whole order bagged up in 10mins. And with a 20% discount! Great little business Kevin started only 2 years ago from home with an ebay shop...and now he's shipping 500 orders per day!
 
Thanks

was having a look through parts/spares only the one gear lever and i need that but checked on spline and its the same as the rear brake pedal
i know its a useless piece of info but nice to know they are swopable if one breaks to get home ! w

will keep up the personal shopper position though

New Hub Here Denmark they also do polished ones cost more though (if you have to ask how much you cannot afford it )

http://www.morsbikesonline.com/product/Ducati-Beveldrive/Wheel-hub-1
 
Last edited:
brake

Sorry about the traffic- we are having electricity installed. Could you get a new liner shrunk into the old hub?
Similarly if the splines are the same perhaps you could create a new shift pedal from an old brake? Do you have a blacksmith locally?
 
Bob - that hub looks good value on the face of it...but I'm pretty sure it's not the rear drum brake hub. Or is it? I can't find may way round these confusing web sites the Danes and Germans use!

Martion - still no news from Saftek. They do not offer a new liner service. Any other ideas if they turn it down?
Yes, we have plenty of Blacksmiths down 'ere in Glaaawwstershire, but they're not sophisticated to go beyond shoeing horses. I'm sure a decent workshop would make a repair on my gear lever - I'll keep an eye open.

I also got a tip that Geoff Baines Racing at Silverstone has 2 containers of Bevel Twin parts - so I called him. After 20 mins on the phone I was absolutely no wiser - except that on several questions Geoff's reply was "I could only tell you if you bought me a beer". I plan to call next time I'm in the area, with a crate of beer at the ready. Has anybody any experience of getting this guy to talk?

Anyway we're definitely "back to the new wood" as my old Dad used to say after I'd been scalped by the Barber...

DSC_0064.JPG
 
Oh and Bob, one more question.
You have a 900GTS right? Is the tank paintwork original? If so can you measure the width of the stripes? And post a picture of it for us to admire...
 
Hi my 900GTS has its Original paint Black & Gold :D
rolling chassis is tucked away at the rear of the shed with a few boilers and a warm air unit in front of it ( engine is in the spare room :D )
will try and uncover for a measure and photo frightened to look though :eek:
its been that long
would have to phone Denmark to confirm hub :confused:

hopefully get to it on Sunday then again if the sun is out away with bike
 
Thanks Bob, you're a sport!
I'm a bit surprised by the width of the stripe on the top of the tank. I had it in my mind that it was quite a narrow central stripe - maybe 15-20mm. Well it's 33 years since I owned one so the memory's obviously going.

Bad news from Saftek that they don't want to try skimming the rear drum. They will just re-line the shoes and I'll have to think about my next move.

A bit of good fortune at last. Ebay Swingarm just arrived and for a total of £32 including postage I have a very nice, newly painted part with it's shock mounts unadulterated. Bargain!
DSC_0067.JPG
 
no problem Derek
bike has had 3 other owners they guy i bought from had had it 5 years bought as a project engine in bits but he could not get it to run it was valve timing using 750gt cams and timing with dots miles out lol
all paint work is original but has a few odd things about it like
first reg 1/1/1978 new years day ! veglia clocks books says smiths (veglia speedo drive)
low milage about 24.000

Email to Denmark about hub got a auto response awaiting answer
Stein Dense have new rubber mounts for shocks Icon new name for Koni
 
Thanks Bob! Didn't think you'd take to the Personal Shopper role so diligently.:D
Just had a browse on the net for GTS tanks and they mostly seem to come up like this with a quite narrow band..

1999-ducati-other-ducati-78-bevel-drive-gts-900ss-repli.jpg


Mind you, it probably depends whether Marco or Luca were on shift in the paint shop.
 
In support of Bob's pickies, here is a close up of one of my tanks - not the one I cut the top off!

My wife likes dressmaking thank goodness, so I pinched one of her tape measures which follows the curves of the tank quite nicely.

DSCF8224.jpg
 
Hi Neil
"spotted an early 860/900GT whilst we were away this week.. another variation of stripes/badges "
its a 860gt as DrD picture they then changed seat&tank and called it a 860GTS then called it a 900gts with s\s mudguard etc
last of 900GTS had a Darmah bottom end and ignition never was a 900GT
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom