New old Monster

[thelonious]

Hi all,
After years of tinkering with mainly Hondas and Triumphs I have finally got a Ducati to play with. It's a 1996 Monster 750.

It runs and rides more or less but is a bit of a dog. It's showing just 13000 miles and has only done 2000 in the last 12 years. Tyres look fresh but are from 2006. Based on the condition though it's either had new clocks at some point or has really done 113000!

I did a quick compression check (dry cylinders, cold engine) and got 110 psi on the vertical and 120 on the horizontal which is underwhelming. There are quite a few crappy mods that need undoing. Also it's silver not red, so that will need sorting out  Still, it was fairly cheap.

It's likely to become my winter restoration project, so expect lots of questions.

Here's one: Can I use the 2001 or later pistons and cylinders on the 1996 engine? I am looking at parts 12020401B and 12020405B which are much easier to get and not too expensive.

(Near Oxford, UK)

[stopintime]

Welcome 

The pistons might be the same or at least useable, but as likely (for me, anyway) not. Different parts numbers has to mean something. If you're lucky it's better compression, but maybe the dome is wrong. Specialist stuff

This bike will give you surprises - a couple of "hmm, not that bad" and several "make the beast with two backs, that too". Tires, belts, fluids, carbs, filters, chain, bearings, seals, rusty tank, electric stuff, inside engine (!?!?). The list IS longer.

Make a dedicated thread in Accessories & Mods. Learn how to post pictures. I use Postimages which is fairly easy (make several albums from the start. Avoid chaos later)

See you later 

[Howie]

The 750 is pretty low compression, 9:1 ratio.  Also, if possible, the test should be done engine fully warmed, open throttle.  Then, if low, as yours is, a little oil in the cylinders.  Pressure stays the same, it is not a piston, cylinder or ring problem.  Better yet, do a cylinder leakage test.  Also, if the timing belts are more than two years old or you don't know the age or you might be looking for a used engine.  Also, post this in tech.