Watching thread with intrest, I have a lot of similar stuff to do but not cerakote. Trying to sort heads as the person I bought it off described the heads as finished and just bolt back on but there are a few rockers Iam not happy with. Similar cash flow problems, so it's easy does it. Great thread. Cheers Gaz
Not much to report in terms of progress - but the rad fins are now straight and I am likely to get it cerakoted with the oil cooler. I have a couple of questions though. 1- I have had to use the front axle and catch sleeve for another build. I have the spindle but I am short of the catch sleeve for 888 and they cannot be ordered anymore. Anybody has a spare here?? 2—The swingarm has been rewelded and is now great, but I need to refinish it—brushed and re-anodised. But for anodising, I need to remove any of the metal parts. Basically the chain slider fixing points, the mudguard mounts and the thread for the clip that holds the brake line. Has anybody done this? Shall I drill those out? And then refit bolt rivets with something like that? Please let me know if you are in the known.
Desmophil, I think my swing arm has been stripped i.e. anodising removed and all steel thread inserts out. The inserts are called rivnuts I think. Not sure how these were taken out but I would drill. I can measure the holes left in mine so you dont go too big on the drill side if you want. With your radiator you said you used tweezers, what was the exact method you used as it looks very good. Cheers Gaz
If you could that's always helpful indeed. Thank you. I took some flat pointy tweezers (more workshop than beauty ones), inserted between the fins and straighten them up. You need to be careful as they are multi layers of fins and you try and align the fins below too. And yes, one by one. Work of patience. Some fins can't be made perfect but overall the result looks pretty good. Now I need to dislodge some remaining grime with a mix of engine degreasing and air pressure and some brake cleaners. Then I will take for cerakoting where they will strip paint and cerakote which is both thinner and more durable. It will look close to new and I stay with the principle of reusing the original parts wherever possible.
Desmophil, Top hole RH Side Ø7. Side hole LH Side (x2) Ø9. What size threads are in these as a matter of interest. Cheers Gaz
For the mudguard mount and the chain slider mount they are all M6 1.00 thread. For the clip for the rear brake line, I don't know. the bolt is stuck in the rivet and the rivet is moving. So I am going to have to drill it out Bolt and rivet together, which is going to be fun if the rivet spins! Probably the same or possible M5.
The holes are countersunk, so maybe you could use a dremmel type tool with a cutting disc and cut across the head and collapse the head / shoulder in with pliers, it will then fall out the end, I think it could spin if the drill is a bit grabby, anyway just another option. Cheers Gaz
Thank you - Those are Corse ones though - bigger spindle. Doesn't hurt asking Jan though. Thanks for the thought!
Alternatively, it looks like some are still available from Ducati But the part number is different from the 888 part number. I wonder if this is Monster and to my knowledge, I think that early Monsters / SS and 888 SBK shared the same axle size. https://www.stein-dinse.com/en/ducati-bush/item-2-1244058-71010061A-.html
The 888 strada and 888 SP4 spindles are different (i.e. the SP4 is slimmer) which is why I put the dimensions up. Pretty sure Jan will have machined some to fit the SP4 though. They are actually quite hard to find out in the wild :-(
Apologies for not posting in a while. Progress has been slow and I had to pause a bit for funds. But the bits are starting to get together. I ended up getting the catch nut being remade as it does not seem like you find them anymore. The one I ordered from RedFox was the wrong size. The heads are back together and looking fresh and lovely. All cerakoted, with every bearing & seal changed, clearances done.
The cases are getting ready for reassembly. Also looking lovely. Again, every seal and bearing will be new. Engine should go back together in July. Getting some help for that.
Swingarm has been rewelded and it needed a treatment after that. So got it professionally brushed and anodised. It is coming out super nice. Now, I need to clip the rivet nuts and reassemble.
So, it is starting to get together. Clip-ons have been straighten and and cerakoted. Frame, and hoop have been repainted. Suspension all serviced. Next - cerakote the rad and oil cooler, redo all the tanks internals and service the injectors, repack the exhausts. and I should be ready to reassemble once the engine comes back. Fairings will need repainting as well.
