Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > 851 / 888 > Corrosion argghhh!

[andya]

My bike had been sat in a damp shed for years before I bought it and bit by bit I'm cleaning and restoring. I will probably do a complete strip next winter but in the mean time I'm just doing the obvious cosmetic bits.

But, the black instrument surrounds are pretty rusty and have gone too far for restoring, they seem to be crimped on and wont come off without destoying them. Are new metal surrounds available or does anyone have a set of instruments they want rid off?

Cheers
Andy

[neil]

Don't think you can buy them separately, as as they're crimped on (I found that out too) they must not be replaceable......I managed to polish mine up, and they haven't corroded yet!
The last set I saw on eBay went for over £200........which is a bit much when you see how much Nat wants for a brand new set.......you could try a set off an SS if you can get some from a later crash damaged bike, might be possible to make something?

[andya]

I thought about a set off an SS. I had a '93 900SS with (I think) the same instruments although the red line on the SS was 9000rpm, not much of a problem though.

I tried to uncrimp them but it distorts them totally.

[keith888]

There are specialists that can rebuild the crimped on speedo/tachos on Jap bikes (I assume Ducs are similar). I've never used one and don't have any more details but they certainly advertise in Classic Bike/Classic Mechanics.

Keith

[andya]

Thanks mate

[Carbon749]

Also worth while checking out classic car mag's as some of the older speedo's and rev counters on cars are of the same design.

I know that 70's and 80's Porsche's have the same style clocks.