Ducati Sporting Club UK > DesmoDue Race Series > DesmoDue - General Questions and Chat > Well the winter upgrades have started.

[skidlids]

The 900SSie Harness was removed the other day along with the 750SSie ECU as these will be replaced with original 620 parts.

Today I removed the airbox & throttle bodies to allow easier access to the inlet Rocker covers. With these removed and I set up my degree wheel and new Digital dial gauge to check my cam lobe centres. The Digital dial gauge was certainly easier to use than the old analouge one.

After my suck it and see cam timing adjustments at the first Cadwell meeting I wasn't sure what I would find.
As it turns out the front cylinder was spot on what I had hoped for and the rear cylinder 3 degrees futher advanced so I retarded it to bring it in line with the front cylinder.

In a quest to save some weight off my 173kg porker I have been to see a local guy about modifying my exhaust to turn it into a 2 into 1 that I can then fit my Harris Titanium can to, which I last used on my Class B bike.

To save a bit more weight I really should get around to fitting a Alloy swingarm and maybe look at cutting the subframe which at the moment untouched.

Depending on time available I would like to get around to removing the heads, lapping the valves in and reshimming as well as fitting new Piston Rings. Although a recent Leak down test only showed a small acceptable leak level.

Goes without saying that Oil, Filter and belts will also be replaced.

[Ghost]

Eat less pies as well Kev. I dropped mine out today and removed heads and pistons. Thats as far as I'm going with the motor as it was totally apart twice this season.

Front piston is scored to hell.

[skidlids]

Originally Posted by Ghost

Front piston is scored to hell.

Should be news on approved replacement pistons for Class B very soon, we had three companies get back to us and we now know which of those we want to go with.
I may have to pull apart my old 583 engine as I need to get a sample to them unless I can borrow one off Maty or someone else as I only have late 583 (1999 to 2001) pistons out of an engine at the moment.

[Ghost]

Mine is a 95 model year and is available as a sample. What is the piston difference between model years tho' ??

[skidlids]

Originally Posted by Ghost

Mine is a 95 model year and is available as a sample. What is the piston difference between model years tho' ??

Not quite sure what the differences are but I do know AK had to add a fair bit of weld to the top of the pistons in his 675 kit in the first year of DD to get the compression back up on his late model 583 engine, where as for those using the same kit on the older engines it was a straight forward fit.

I hope to find a piston locally but if not I may take you up on your offer Phil

All Pistons that were considered were Forged ones that are CNC machined to final spec, complete with Rings, Wrist Pins and circlips.

[Imola Duke]

Originally Posted by Ghost

Mine is a 95 model year and is available as a sample. What is the piston difference between model years tho' ??

You also have a pair of scored pistons removed from my 1996 583 ?

Maybe let Kev have one of those

[Senna3]

chatting to john at baines racing yesterday he said they were having some pistons made

[Ghost]

Originally Posted by Imola Duke

You also have a pair of scored pistons removed from my 1996 583 ?

Maybe let Kev have one of those

Steve, the ones I have from you are in better condition than mine.

[Imola Duke]

Originally Posted by Ghost

Steve, the ones I have from you are in better condition than mine.

Feck! Mine look OK but the bloody thing wouldn't rev above 8.5 k with the ignition retarded by by a mile at static!

[kiwicoops]

Just wondering what your testing for here ?
My bike was well off the pace last time out, what other testing can be done prior to taking the heads off ?
cheers peter