Another 900 GTS story. The Black Pig

I think that poster is more likely from 1976 as by April 1977 the 900GTS was introduced and the 860GTS had been on the go since the previous spring, although the 860GT was still sold along side it for a time.

Below are some pics taken of my 860GTS when it was new in Dec 1976 and a few later ones (with the Jota bars) taken in 1978. They might be useful for some of you carrying out restoration. Note that the stripe on the top of the tank was quite narrow. The Conti silencers were supplied from new at my request :D

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Wow - Derek, that's exactly what I'm aiming for. Nice quality photos as well! They are now stored in my ever increasing GTS reference file.

Martin - if you're out there, just sent you a pm.
 
Derek said:
and a few later ones (with the Jota bars) taken in 1978.
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I just spotted the tax disc in the 5th picture. It expires Nov '77. I must have fitted the Jota bars earlier than I remembered. I had to machine off the hex on the fork top nuts to fit them and drilled holes to take a peg spanner. A pair of simple bar risers would have done the trick but these sort of things didn't exist then and such a simple alternative didn't occur to me at the time. :dunno:
 
Nice GTS, Derek!

Here I am with my 1976 GT with Crossbow black chrome exhaust, SS rearsets, Darmah dash & headlight and Tomaselli clip-ons - the ones with the gold cast 38mm clamps. Date? probably 1979/80. Looks like I was just back from the South of France, judging by the Krauser rack.

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VP - I'm sure you loved that GT as a mother loves an ugly baby, but I still can't get the hang of the styling. Apologies to any 860GT owners - no offence.

Better news from Saftek - they did skim a little off the brake drum and re-lined the shoes. If they think it's OK then I'm sure it's a good job. Bob, you can have a weekend off parts sourcing for me:lol2:

Martin - Are you out there? I'm on holiday next week and I wondered if you would be kind enough to pick up my back brake from Saftek and hang on to it for me. I'm on holiday next week and not likely to be in Yorkshire for a couple of weeks. I have paid for it!

Other parts are dispatched all over the place....
- Chrome in Classic Chrome Hinckley
- Alloy for vapour blasting in MDR Services, Stratford
- Frame & black painted parts in Mikris Finishers, Stonehouse
- Other steel bits in the splendidly high tech Brimscombe Platers....

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And the spare engine is in a local Engineering shop as everyone so far has failed to remove the flywheel from the crank. It's been sat without a clutch cover for many years and is proving impossible to shift. Bob of Cotswold Engine Reconditioners will give it a try next.

I'll report back on the results in a couple of weeks.
 
I have a puller which is a perfect fit for the holes in a Bosch flywheel, with a little jiggling. Worked for me with a flywheel that had sat for 25 'ish years.

You are welcome to borrow it and I won't cry if you break it ;-)

Having said that it is damnably useful :-)

I will have to run it past one of my GT/S flywheels.

Whaddyamean about GT styling? The GTS is just a GT with a fatter tank!
 
And a new seat and a lump cut off the rear subframe :p
And as i have a 900gts its got a extra 40cc :cool: errr Badge :D

Derek thanks for the weekend off
 
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in Cleckheaton

hello, I am in San Diego at the moment but will be back in Cleckheaton late on the 30th - picking up your brake is no problem.

Martin
 
Thanks for the offer of the puller VP. Mine's not a Bosch flywheel so I'm not sure if it's the same. Anyway I'm sure the old sweat I've given it to will find a way to get it off. I think he plans to tap threads into the 3 holes in the flywheel, put some big bolts into it. and use those to pull on. Doesn't mattter if he destroys the flywheel but I would like to retrieve the cases, crank and gearbox.

Martin, many thanks for getting in touch. The brake drum and plate is finished and paid for. I told them a guy called Martin would probably pick it up so should be OK. I'll try to fix a trip to Yorkshire in a couple of weeks as I want to get it cleaned and into the wheel builder.
While you're in San Jose did you check out Big Joe at Eurotrash Jambalaya? http://www.eurojamb.com/ He stocks all kinds of Italian stuff and is the only place globally who has the little alloy seat badge for singles.

Best regards,
Derek
 
Hi, I just had an hour off whilst I was there so managed to do little except run around the disneyfied Midway carrier museum. One of the drivers we were using had 72 Mopars and mustangs in his yard but I didn't have time to see them, either
 
Hi Derek
Great thread, I'm glad to see this progressing despite its valiant attempts to thwart you :-), like most old dukes its putting up a gallant fight at every opportunity by the looks of it but I'm sure you have the better of it now. Shame i don't have a gear lever, got a brake lever :-), you could use that .....upside down, also have some footrests somewhere i think.. I could have helped with rings but i see you are sorted now. Anyway i'm glad i found this thread as the MS one is ehh....lacking :-) so thought i would stop in and say hi and keep up the good work .
All the best
 
Many thanks Martin. Actually it does look perfectly serviceable for a back brake in the picture so that's a relief. Bit of a frustration for Bob though as he's enjoying spending my money. I'm travelling until the end of next week, but I have a trip up north once a month so I'll try to schedule for w/c 13/10.

Paddy, please keep up to date on this forum - there's plenty of bevel activity and you seem to know most of the answers! Just tell me how to match the GTS blue paint...
 
I will ask John at MIIM when he gets back from Italy next week, i think his GTS in his private collection is metallic blue so he must know what they used to spray it. It looks to me like the Mk3 blue i used on my build , the one before last



If it is then its actually metallic silver with a clear blue top coat.
 
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900GTS Blue...

Nice Mk 3 paintwork Paddy!

Here are a few picky's of the better of my two tanks (I am not kidding, keep your jokes to yourself ;-) )
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Being a fan of deconstruction, it seems to me there is indeed silver under the blue. But those silver stripes are definitely on top.
 
Ah, this is all excellent information on the blue paint. :lol2:

As usual VP puts me in the shade when it comes to a competition for who has the crappest raw materials. My tank is actually in quite good nick apart from one minor ding.
It does need some treatment on the inside to get rid of the rust - so if anyone's got experience of this I'd be happy to hear about it.

Paddy - your contacts sound very interesting. I was planning to send my tank and side panels (I have stainless mudguards) to an old contact in Knaresborough as he did first class job on my Morini 350 in 1979. Sadly times move on and he's not painting any longer - so if you can recommend a good painter that would be great. What do you think a tank and side panels should cost? I've got new badges on the way from Australia!
 
I would be interested to know what people charge for clock rebuilds ? Its something i might offer as a service in the future.
( just reading your questions on VP's thread)
 
I think I just need to buy new bezels and have them crimped on - but I'm sure this is best accomplished with the proper press. I'd better stick the drill in them both and give the drives a spin to make sure there's actually something happening in there though!
 
Glawster said:
Ah, this is all excellent information on the blue paint. :lol2:
.................. to an old contact in Knaresborough as he did first class job on my Morini 350 in 1979. Sadly times move on and he's not painting any longer - so if you can recommend a good painter that would be great!
Click to expand...

Up this part of the world I have a good contact for paint jobs. pm if you want info. He is Ducati friendly too.
 
ducatipaddy said:
I would be interested to know what people charge for clock rebuilds ? Its something i might offer as a service in the future.
( just reading your questions on VP's thread)
Click to expand...

the place i linked to on the other thread that does ND clocks, quotes 139 euros per clock.. I've ordered a set of their bezels for mine - luckily i only need one so have a spare in case (or when !) i cock up the fitting - they've a video on youtube where they clamp the bezel in place then turn over the edges with a screw driver... ??
 
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