Other weekend mods

[ryandalling]

Yeah, Insitu.  We'll see how the interview goes.

Good luck man!! If you get it... we can do road trips out that way... and you can show us any cool roads you may have found.   

[duc_fan]

Good luck man!! If you get it... we can do road trips out that way... and you can show us any cool roads you may have found.   

Abso-freaking-lutely.    I've heard there are many great motorcycling roads out that way.  My brothers were both saying they'd love it, too.  Then they could ride out, hang at my place, and use that as a starting point for a number of rides.

I'm trying not to count chickens before they hatch, not to get too excited prematurely... but it would be a freaking cool job and a great place to live!

[duc_fan]

Oh yeah, Billy: I tried out the front stand, and it works.    I can see why Mo prefers the newer design, but for half the cost of new, this one will definitely work. 

[Tailgunner]

Super! I'm glad to hear that, Dan. Thanks.

Best of luck to you with your search. I've got my fingers crossed for you, kinda like this mmmmm bacon   

[duc_fan]

Well, this weekend is maintenance weekend.  Got myself a head start today...  oil changed, and timing belts (finally) swapped!

I still have no idea what the issue is with the part numbers.  Ducati and MotoCorsa tell me I need the 737.1008.1A belts.  Ca-Cycleworks ships the 737.1001.1A.  When the new ones from Ca-Cycleworks arrived, I checked the belts, and they're printed with both 737.1001.1A and 737.4002.1A.  Popped off the belt covers after my oil change... round tooth belts, same number of teeth, same length, same width.  Could still read the PN on my original belts... 737.4002.3A, which according to Ducati has been superseded by the 737.1008.1A number.

Go effin' figure.  They look identical.  They fit identical.  I went ahead and installed the ones from Ca-Cycleworks.  It's a 900 desmodue, just like every other 900 desmodue... and unless someone can give me a damn good reason for spending twice as much for what appears to be nothing more than a different part number printed on it, I'm stickin' with what I've installed.

Ducati: seriously folks, get your part numbering scheme figured out.  Charging twice as much for a belt with a different number --but no other observable difference-- is just a great way to piss off your customer base.

Pics...

Belt comparison between old and new (note you can still read the PN on those 8 year old, 12,000 mile belts):


The old belts weren't noticeably thinner than the new ones.  They did, however, feel dried out and stiffer.  I was surprised that the print wasn't totally worn off, either.  The belt off the horizontal cylinder was a little less legible than this, but I was still able to make out the PN.


Hey look, Dano's SS has new belts installed!


I tried to get video of it running, with the belts whirring around... but for some reason my Blackberry won't save the video file after recording.

[duc_fan]

So now the dilemma is... do I attempt to check the valve clearances tomorrow, or check/swap the steering head bearings, or just say "screw it" and go for a ride?    72 degrees and sunny is awfully tempting... especially since I haven't ridden it with the lowered pegs yet, and with new belts I'm a lot less worried about them snapping.

Gawd I love riding that bike.  [moto]  Part of me wants to keep it, buy a Sargent seat, Speedymoto adjustable clipons, then throw money into tuning.  It already looks like an R-model version of the Supersport (red with white numberplates plus carbon), and it'd be a lot of fun to build it the rest of the way into an SS900R.  Ohlins front & rear, light flywheel, slipper clutch, magnesium engine side cases, lighter rotors, radial brakes...

Waste of money?  Sure.  It'd be cheaper to buy a bone-stock 848 that would easily blow its doors off.  But... I've always preferred the air/oil cooled 2-valvers.  Pure.  Simple.  Motorcycle.

And now... it's 1:30 in the morning, and I just realised I'm rambling aimlessly, so I'm gonna log off and go to bed.  Y'all have a good one, and ride safe!

[Mother]

your belts were 8 years old? ! ? !

what is your official rocket scientist opinion on running belts longer than the 2year/12,000 mile suggested service life?

I ran one set to 18,000+ and they were shockingly thinner with chunks missing from rock hits

the set I have on now is at 12,000 and 2 years, they inspect OK, and paranoia says change 'em

but

Do I really have to?

[scott_araujo]

Ride this weekend Dan, that thing has been in the garage too long.  You can start checking into the valves and headset in a few days.

BTW, I have a digital micrometer and 2V shim measuring tool if you need to borrow them.  I'm probably going to check mine soon just because but I adjusted them not too long ago.

Scott

[duc_fan]

your belts were 8 years old? ! ? !

what is your official rocket scientist opinion on running belts longer than the 2year/12,000 mile suggested service life?

I was scared spitless, actually.  If I had been able to overcome the urge to ride, I wouldn't have ridden at all this year before changing them.  I haven't broken 5000 rpm since I put the bike away last winter.  Also, I was a little nervous anytime I pushed it in a corner, because if one of those things had gone TWANG! I'd have been in a world of hurt.

Also, knowing they were more than 2 years old the whole time I had the bike, I've never redlined it.  Rotation speed makes a huge difference in the forces exerted on those belts... remember that every time you double the speed of a rotating system, you quadruple the centripetal forces holding it all together.  So... every 1000 rpm you keep it below the redline is adding quite a bit of padding to the existing margins of safety for the rotating engine parts.

For my bike, from here forward, it's 2 years or 12k miles, whichever comes first.  And for $73 from Ca-Cycleworks, it's pretty cheap insurance (I see no reason to spend more on a different PN at this point).  The previous owner had inspected them at 6k and made sure they were tensioned correctly, said they looked great.  I'd agree with him... even 6000 miles after he checked, visually they were still in excellent condition.  If they hadn't been so bloody old, I might've been comfortable going to 18k.  But... while they looked great, they felt old, dry, and stiff.  I think the age is what gets 'em.

Another piece of info... mine are fully enclosed, and it's pretty clean back there.  If you're running open covers or vented covers, especially if there's a bunch of crap getting thrown up in there, that will definitely shorten the life of 'em.  You'll also want to feel the rollers when you check tension, make sure the bearings are still good.  A toasted tensioner or idler will fry a timing belt in short order.  Under enclosed covers, they probably go a good long time, but if they've been run open in anything less than perfect weather, those bearing seals will start to wear out... and then the bearings themselves will follow suit.

Ride this weekend Dan, that thing has been in the garage too long.  You can start checking into the valves and headset in a few days.

BTW, I have a digital micrometer and 2V shim measuring tool if you need to borrow them.  I'm probably going to check mine soon just because but I adjusted them not too long ago.

Scott

Thanks man, yeah, I went for a ride.  I'll get to the valve check when it rains.  Thanks for the offer, too!  I won't have to take you up on it, though... the previous owner had the 2v shim measurement tool, and since that was his last Duc, it came with the bike.  Aaaannddd.... I've needed an excuse to go buy a caliper, anyway.    You know, any excuse to go buy high-precision geek tools is a good one.

[Bendy]

You know, any excuse to go buy high-precision geek tools is a good one.

I hope "Hey, that's shiny." qualifies, because it usually involves me hopping off a Snap-On truck a few hundred bucks poorer.

[duc_fan]

I hope "Hey, that's shiny." qualifies, because it usually involves me hopping off a Snap-On truck a few hundred bucks poorer.

Yes, yes it does. 

[NEIKOS]

Did one of you guys say you have the crank tool and were willing to loan it?

I need to do my belts and I think the tool would be quite handy.

[scott_araujo]

I do, and you're welcome to it.  When do you need it?  I ask because I'm due to check/adjust my valves and was hoping to do it this weekend.  If you want to come by I can swap your belts in about 15 minutes.

Scott

[NEIKOS]

I haven't even bought them yet . . . I was thinking the weekend of the 20th assuming CA-Cycleworks can deliver in that short time.

[scott_araujo]

Okie dokie then.  Gimme a shout when you get them.

Scott