You get the Por15 stuff from frost restorations https://www.frost.co.uk/brands/por15.html It's all the same system that I'm using for the tank internals and engine paint, so the metal prep bit is like an acid etch followed by the paint coating you're using. it's not cheap as paint goes but it does have a great reputation. The tank liner has a 96 hour cure time, but after 24 hours I went to move the empty tin off the bench and noticed that the lollipop stick I'd been using to stir it was completely bonded in (as in I can't get it out) with about 3mm of the coating left in the bottom of the tin. The lid is also bonded to the underside of the tin, it just had a little residue on it! The engine paint apparently has more pigment in it than other paints so covers better, I assumed it was sales gumph but I've painted the complete engine (2 coats) with about half of a 473ml tin. I'd certainly use it again, of course the real test is to see how it holds up to a couple of years of motorbiking but initial impressions are very good.
Hey thanks for that ! Very much appreciate your taking the time to give all that detail. I know what you mean about the stick standing up in the tin . My only experience with all of this mullarky was on my current tank 10 years back . I used something called Petro-patch ( maybe ? ) but clearly the same type of product ..... ie. add the catalyst and get busy . In my case , it went off much quicker than it said on the tin , so it might have been old , or the hot climate , or both . What was left in the tin had turned to jelly within about 6 hours . I used it to daub around the bracket at the seat end of the tank where there had been a faint weep for years ( in the exact place you don't want a fire starting ) I'd previously tried with epoxy putty which only lasted a year or so ..... .... it's way too brittle to stand long term vibration , but the left-over " Jelly " bodge has lasted till this day ! [ Although I haven't yet tested that the tank is still " fuel-tight " .] What I did NOT do was any metal treatment . I was living in a hot dusty climate with no workshop , just a back yard , so I skipped that , apart from shoving my hand in the tank and scrubbing away . Come to think of it , the bike has lived a hard outback kind of life since it was new , but it never went wanting for good maintenance and TLC . Now that I've had the tank apart , I can see that the Petro-patch has flaked away , and it seems dumb to put it all together without some " future -proofing " .
So if you’ve ever wondered how a fuel filter would look internally if you fitted it in 2006 then cut it open in 2019 (I’m aware that’s fairly specific, but you never know) then here’s the answer! Full of crap. That’s how it looks.
We have an MOT! And I found out on the way home that it’s waterproof. It’s the first time I’ve ridden the bike and the MOT place is about 9 miles away. Initial thoughts were: Bloody hell this is uncomfortable Good noise Surprisingly grunty Might have to change those bars The noise is even better up the Rev range! Think I saw some Tarrozzi adjustable bars that would fit Brakes and handling are good I’ll also need to look into a meatier battery, this one is a little marginal for starting it. Oh, and new bars. These ones are not friendly. Otherwise I’m happy with the bike, it certainly draws more attention than I’m used to!
https://www.demongraphics.co.uk/motorbike-graphics/ducati?product_id=2769 They do different sizes and colours, seem to be pretty good quality too.
Well I’ve just had a fairly exciting evening. Took the bike into work today, man those bars are too low. It’s not a town bike! Sounds ace though. Blasted home the long way. 20 miles to do 7, all well. Went out to the garage for something else and noticed a really strong smell of petrol. The fuel cap drain had popped off inside the tank and drained about half a tank into the floor! About an hour of fking about later and it’s all connected properly and the bike is back together. What a crap design! I was really enjoying it too!
I bought new bars to make the bike a bit more usable on trips that were longer than about half an hour They’re a bit tight on the upper fairing but far more comfortable in normal use. It’s taken the bike from being stupidly uncomfortable to moderately uncomfortable. I did an 80 mile run this morning and it’s fine at speed. The new bars allow more leverage so cornering is improved too. They took ages to get lined up. Turns out the good point of adjustable bars is that they’re adjustable, the bad point is adjusting them in about a hundred different directions to clear the fairings at both ends of the sweep, then trying to get them both the same. Annoyingly I managed to snap the clamp on the front brake during installation! When I filled up the bike today the fuel light stayed on, and the gauge didn’t register. I’m not sure if it’s a stuck float or something more significant.
I decided to hard link the starter relay to the battery to get rid of the last section of old wire. Starting has been a little reluctant a couple of times, I’m not sure if this was the culprit or the battery isn’t big enough so it’ll narrow things down at least. Decided to go low tech with the fuel light until I’ve used enough petrol to be able to lift the tank and see the internal connectors. Seems effective so far!
When I bought the service kit a bearing for the clutch was also included, I didn’t fit it at the time because it looked like the one behind the clutch basket and loads of work. I’ve been getting a little high pitched whine from the bike, only when the clutch was engaged and while accelerating so I had another look today. 20 mins to fit, mainly spent removing the old bearing and looking for the right sized O rings. Really not a bad job at all. Made loads easier by heating up the carrier with the heat gun then using an appropriate socket as a drift. The dogs that go into the basket are looking a bit battered, but I’ll just run it until the clutch starts to slip. It’s certainly working fine just now.
You've done a fine job .... keep it up , keep on posting It was never going to be easy on a bike of that age , and with no history . Constantly finding things that are dodgy ..... I've been going through similar stuff with my ST4 restoration .... ... most recent discovery is that alternator wiring is totally burnt out on one phase , and probably next to useless on another .
Cheers! I’m really happy with the way the bike has come out, looking good is one thing but it also rides really well. It doesn’t really feel 18 years old, fuels nicely without any random weirdness that I’ve had on other project bikes (my BMW K100 is known as Startyabitch) and produces the best noise. There will obviously be more to do, I’ll investigate the fuel light once I get a chance. Worst case I’ll live with it and just re-fuel every 150 miles or so. The centre stand still needs painted, I’ll get round to it at some point. Longer term I’ll see about getting the forks serviced and possibly a new rear shock. There is also talk of taking it touring (I know it’s a stupid idea) as my boss has a Triumph bobber that’s also properly impractical. Obviously this would have been easier with a back seat I’m sure I can get away with a small tank bag (and possibly a chiropractor) for a few days in the highlands, while my Triumph Explorer with panniers and top box sits in the garage!
The ST range were all really good bikes as all rounders, plenty of engine poke and handling too - just like an Italian thing should be I've heard of lots of people using bar risers but I've never felt uncomfortable on mine with standard bars so you will probably do ok touring without the chiropractor
Ah, but my bars are quite a bit lower than stock, and the seat is a thin pad rather than the plush one that was there previously! I’ll be doing the DGR on it this year, it was my initial aim to get the bike finished in time for the run. It’s a charity run raising funds to combat prostate cancer and suicide (the two biggest killers of men). If you would like to contribute you can go to https://www.gentlemansride.com/fundraiser/BrentLeport209335 to donate.
I'd never heard of the DGR - as I own a 'gentleman's express' I may have to join the soiree... cheers
The more the merrier! Get signed up! I was buying tweed on sat, last year I did the run wearing shirt/trousers and waistcoat. In Aberdeen. In September. I’ll be wearing a jacket this time with base layers!
Seriously distinguished then I guess that's why the run is likely to be relatively slow paced.... For base layers I have a 'winter steamer' 5mm wetsuit which may be of use
Yeah, it’s more of a trundle than a race. Good laugh though, it’s worth it just for the looks on people’s faces as the worlds weirdest bike gang go past! I had a faster run from south Deeside road to Westhill due to bad guts (got that warning rumble and decided to head home sharpish) , I may have edged slightly over the 60 limit on my 1985 BMW K100!
