Brancato Engineering

Derek

Derek

Elite Member
Subscriber
Have any of you guys dealt with Tony Brancato. Although I've been aware of them since the late seventies, the only dealings I've had with Brancato Engineering previously was when I bought a pair of club foot mirror extension blocks for my last 900ss.
This morning I phoned up to buy a 4V shim measuring button. It took him 5 minutes to tell me that he didn't have any 4V ones just now because they are in the middle of moving premises but he did have plenty of 2V ones if I wanted. He spent the next 5 minutes one-sidedly discussing the pitfalls of measuring Ducati shims using one method or another. At the end of it all he did take my name and phone number and promised to ring me back about the end of the month when he gets the new stock in.
Apparently he is about to start doing Ducati servicing courses again, having not been doing them for some time. He seems to be a really nice guy with a genuine interest in Ducatis and who is very keen to talk about them.
 
Only 10 minutes on the phone with him :shocked: :eek: You got off lightly!

Only kidding, Tony can talk & talk but he's OK. Just don't forget to chase him up when you order things.
 
Not dealt with him myself but he has been mentioned on the DSC a few times all good from memory
 
Derek,

I have had alot of dealings with Tony and Donner. If you can get over the bout of depression he will give you after hearing all hes tales of woe, he is really quite a good guy. We stripped my Pantah engine together back in '96 at his old Chalgrove premise and rebuilt it after replacing anything that need doing. He takes ages to explain anything, he is long winded, he is easily distracted but he's a good egg mate!! :)

...oh and Donner makes brilliant TT2 spare bodywork (when i throw or threw the 600 down the road!!!) ;) :eek:
 
Derek, I have had some experience first hand and had second hand reports.
I met him at Stafford last October and bought a couple of bits when I was there for the single and the twin. Good quality and ok price. Not cheap but what is for a Ducati? Spoke to him at length and got the impression he is an ok guy. Not sure about his expertise on modeern Dukes(90's on) but knows his onions on older (better :D) dukes. I ordered earlier this year an exhaust spanner he was advertising. They were out of stock but were being made in next 2/3 weeks. Gave him credit card details and he would post on. 3/4 phone calls later over 3 months and parts not made/he was going on holiday/he was just back from holiday.... gave up and bought it from John Fallon mdinaitalia! As regards reports I've heard, he is NOT cheap but is competent. In a conversation a while back with Mick Walker his name came up and Mick reckoned he was ok unlike one or two others that are allegedly the dogs danglies.:eek: I get the impression he works at his own speed but knows one end of a conrod from the other.
 
239desmo said:
Derek, I have had some experience first hand and had second hand reports.
I met him at Stafford last October and bought a couple of bits when I was there for the single and the twin. Good quality and ok price. Not cheap but what is for a Ducati? Spoke to him at length and got the impression he is an ok guy. Not sure about his expertise on modeern Dukes(90's on) but knows his onions on older (better :D) dukes. I ordered earlier this year an exhaust spanner he was advertising. They were out of stock but were being made in next 2/3 weeks. Gave him credit card details and he would post on. 3/4 phone calls later over 3 months and parts not made/he was going on holiday/he was just back from holiday.... gave up and bought it from John Fallon mdinaitalia! As regards reports I've heard, he is NOT cheap but is competent. In a conversation a while back with Mick Walker his name came up and Mick reckoned he was ok unlike one or two others that are allegedly the dogs danglies.:eek: I get the impression he works at his own speed but knows one end of a conrod from the other.
Click to expand...

Hmm. Going by your experience I'll probably never get that shim measuring button then. If he doesn't have them at the end of the month I'll buy a proper Ducati one, they cost nearly twice as much though if they can be got.
I've a home made exhaust spanner for bevel engines that you could have had for nought - too late now. Made from half an old exhaust collar with a handle brazed on.
I like your avatar, looks like a 750GT. I always liked that shade of green :)
 
Derek said:
Hmm. Going by your experience I'll probably never get that shim measuring button then. If he doesn't have them at the end of the month I'll buy a proper Ducati one, they cost nearly twice as much though if they can be got.
I've a home made exhaust spanner for bevel engines that you could have had for nought - too late now. Made from half an old exhaust collar with a handle brazed on.
I like your avatar, looks like a 750GT. I always liked that shade of green :)
Click to expand...
Story of my life! Will keep that in mind next time i need a tool. Yes, it is a GT.
Bike was painted that colour almost from new as it was the Ducati racing team colours. (Green with gold band on tank and side panels) I am going to Stafford again this year because I have decided to treat my other half to 2 days of looking at bikes (she's REALLY happy...not!) but Tony wil probably have a stand there and if you want I will give him a "nudge" if it hasn't turned up by then.
Cheers.
 
Derek said:
Hmm. Going by your experience I'll probably never get that shim measuring button then. If he doesn't have them at the end of the month I'll buy a proper Ducati one, they cost nearly twice as much though if they can be got.
Click to expand...

http://www.desmoparts.com/ducati/index.htm

These guys do 2 and 4 valve measuring tools only $15 delivered. I did a group purchase of some 2 valve ones a few years ago.
 
arj said:
http://www.desmoparts.com/ducati/index.htm

These guys do 2 and 4 valve measuring tools only $15 delivered. I did a group purchase of some 2 valve ones a few years ago.
Click to expand...

I'd forgotten about them. There are a couple of other places across the pond that do them too. I'll give Tony 'til the end of the month. If he's not forthcoming I'll get one from Desmoparts and possibly a set of stainless screws too.
 
Have they stopped supplying parts? They were good for OEM indicators, lenses, seat pads for the SuperSpurt but that was a wee while ago ;-)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom