'Belle's 748 Fix-up

[mostrobelle]

Snag #3:

I had noticed on Sunday evening while messing around with the side panels that the tail piece didn't have any obvious way of connecting to the frame.  I dismissed it at that point, thinking that I was probably going to have to go back and make some new fiberglass tabs or something.  I didn't really think about it too much.

Enzo had the day off yesterday and I asked him to take look at it.  After spending a lot of time looking at photos online he came to the conclusion that I was missing some hardware--make that a lot of hardware--for it. 

In some cases throwing money at the problem doesn't do anything but empty your pocket book.  With Ducatis, however, bribing the Italian gods with a few greenbacks generally seems to get you somewhere.  $80 later, we have orders into Ebay and other various sites for a handful of inexplicably complicated and expensive bits that will hopefully allow me to actually fasten the tailpiece to the darned bike.

[Spidey]

bits that will hopefully allow me to actually fasten the tailpiece to the darned bike.

[mostrobelle]

That thought had crossed my mind...

[Spidey]

I once dodged a tail section from a 900SS at about 100 mph on the back straight of T-hill.  Nearly severed my noggin.  If only that dude had duct taped the thing on, it woulda been fine. 

[johnc]

I once dodged a tail section from a 900SS at about 100 mph on the back straight of T-hill.  Nearly severed my noggin.  If only that dude had duct taped the thing on, it woulda been fine. 

no worries ... your noggin could have been duct taped back on if that had actually happened.

[Duck-Stew]

no worries ... your noggin could have been duct taped back on if that had actually happened.

With little to no ill-effects either. 

[Popeye the Sailor]

I once dodged a tail section from a 900SS at about 100 mph on the back straight of T-hill.  Nearly severed my noggin.  If only that dude had duct taped the thing on, it woulda been fine. 

I didn't think you were tall enough to see over the windscreen.

[mostrobelle]

Today was going to be a big day.  I was going to put this (the fuel pump)



in here



And this was the result



You're looking at a $30 gasket (in two pieces) that was the end result of the attempt.  I'm close...but I need a new gasket.  It's a semi-difficult thing to finesse and I found out why today.  Two steps forward; one step back.   I got the rest of the tank bits put on, so this is the last part.  A bit discouraging, but I'll get there.

M'boy stepped up and offered to do a little priming today and I took him up on the offer.  The primer is on and sanded.  I can see now that if I wanted to get really picky, that I'd go back and do a bit more finish work.  No time for that this go 'round, but next time I'll know and will schedule that in.  This part was really satisfying.  The photos hide a lot, but overall it looks decent. 







Once I finished crying over the gasket, I set to work trying to fit up the non-Sharkskinz belly pan to the Sharkskinz side fairings.  I had to cut the one that I ordered and was not looking forward to taking a $30 Dremmel to a $200+ fairing...It actually went quickly and smoothly.  I was done in less than 10 minutes, including the sanding.  I had gotten the top holes drilled the other night and had bought a few fasteners during the week so that I could put the thing together.  I found out that there are long Dzus fasteners and short ones.  I needed a combination of the two.  WTF? 

This is the newly cut panel in place!



I wedged one of my new tires (finally am making the move to DOT race tires) under the belly pan with a chunk of wood to hold it in place.  Hopefully the new rubber performs as well on the bike as it did today under it.  If you need a good shim, I highly recommend a Bridgestone 003.

And I did indeed get the belly pan worked on there.  It's not perfect, but it's not bad.  I'll probably adjust the location of one of the holes in the left fairing next time I need to do body work (aka, when/if I crash).  But for now, it'll do.  This was the last picture I took today...I forgot to take one without the tire beneath it.  The red that I'm using is going to be darker and more maroon than the primer, but this gives a close approximation. 



I got all the fasteners I needed to get the tail put back together except for a spring (not necessary)...until I realized that the latch cable I bought has gone missing.  Somewhere between here and the hardware store.  If you see a long wirey thing with a nub on the end, it's probably supposed to go on my bike.  Ebay got another $30 from me for the darned missing latch cable.  Hopefully that comes soon so that I can work on it a little during the week.  I'm headed for a quick weekend ride through the mountains for a couple of days before the cold sets in.

[koko64]

 

[mostrobelle]

I had done a little two day ride down South over the weekend and came back exhausted.  But I wanted to make a little progress on the 748 before I called it a night.  Tossed the laundry in the washer, made some Ramen, and headed into the garage to get that damned O-ring in place before I'd allow myself to watch the GP race...

I'd mentioned to the shop that I was a little stuck on how to get this o-ring on and after they stopped laughing at me they gave me a hint.  Actually, they gave me a hint and some bolts.  The one on the left is what actually holds the fuel pump in place.  The longer one is what the shop gave me.  They said to use the longer bolt to get the pump started in, and as soon as you can get the stock bolts on there to do so. 



They warned me not to screw the longer bolts in too far or I'd damage the tank.  I took the warning and marked the longer bolts with a marker with the stock length.



I had greased the o-ring after I put it on and gently tightened all three bolts down at the same rate.  The O-ring went in and disappeared from view.  I then backed out the longer bolts and put in the stock bolts.  Seems to have worked! I need to grab some gas and test out the new o-ring this weekend before I install the tank back on the bike. 

I've epoxied the new bracket housings into the tailpiece and I picked up a few Dzus fasteners that I needed.  It's progress...just a little, but progress nonetheless.  I plan on making a big push this weekend to finalize getting all the bodywork fitted up and the first coat of paint on.

[GEEZER]

 

[tigre]

Looking good.

Yes, definitely a good idea to test with gas before putting on the bike.

Also to do this test before you get to the track.

Don't ask me how I know.

[mostrobelle]

I'll be stoked if the tank actually holds gas and everything works once it's all back together.  None of it seemed all that hard, which is why I'm expecting the worst. 

I noticed that the clear coat I applied to the tank is not on there very well.  The slightest ding or tap makes it flake off.  So I might be redoing that part again over the winter, but it won't be tough to strip it off and try another kind of clear coat.  I don't know why it didn't work better.  I used Rustoleum and that's what the paint shop recommended.  They said that that's the only clear coat that sticks to bare metal.  I'm guessing the prep wasn't great. 

[Speeddog]

Looking good.

Yes, definitely a good idea to test with gas before putting on the bike.

Also to do this test before you get to the track.

Don't ask me how I know.

+1, all four lines.

I wouldn't recommend spilling gas on your new paint.

[mostrobelle]

+1, all four lines.

I wouldn't recommend spilling gas on your new paint.

Testing the tank off the bike.  If it holds then I'll put it on the bike, sans fairings.  I'd like to get it running and take it for a spin around the block before I finish the painting.  I hope to get the seat on, adjust the bars, get the grips on, install the new plugs, etc. this weekend.