removing 600ss engine for blueprint

[icarus]

My engine is off to Baines racing for a blueprint, mild tune and general TLC soon.

The bloke at Baines told me to be careful when removing it because taking the starter motor off the wrong way will knacker it and a new one is very costly...

Can anyone expand on this please?

[keefer]

cant see why you would have to remove the starter motor to remove the engine

[nelly]

:puzzled: you need to remove the LHS engine casing to remove the starter motor. Unless you're planning on this then you'll not be taking the motor off. If you do remove the starter, then there's two bolts internally and one external. Main problem with it can be that the cable from the solenoid can get corroded at the starter connection. When you undo it, make sure the mounting doesn't turn with the nut. It can break the mounting inside the motor, then it get's fiddly.
Only thing I would suggest with the starter in situ is that as you lower the motor out of the frame, be careful the lump doesn't fall on the starter. This would hurt it............

[Iconic944ss]

Yup - Nelly is da man as usual.

I had exactly this problem when removing my starter motor to get it rebuilt - thankfully I found a guy who could rebuild it and the cable connection onto the starter motor was not too much of a problem after copious soaking with penetrating oil.

I would also of thought you'd be leaving the starter motor on for transport, unless you are trying to cut down on labour time at all?

Curious to know what Baines have offered to do as a Blueprint???

Pistons, con-rods / crank balance or is there more to it than than?

(By co-incidence I was reading a book on Car Engine blue-printing the other day and it got me thinking....:devil::devil::devil:)

Cheers - Frank

[Edited on 25-11-2005 by Iconic944ss]

[icarus]

Originally posted by nelly
When you undo it, make sure the mounting doesn't turn with the nut. It can break the mounting inside the motor, then it get's fiddly.



Thats what he said...I was on my mobile at work and it was noisy so I had to keep asking him to repeat himself and I felt a bit daft when I didn't hear him properly for the third time.

I hadn't planned on taking it off, so I'll try to keep it on, it looks like its never been off and I don't want to open a can of worms, better let the experts do it.

I told Geoff at Baines I wanted it for purely road riding but because I was used to race bikes and smooth road bikes I wanted the engine to be nice and smooth, properly set up and maybe mildly tuned for just a little more power. As far as I know the engine hasn't had any sort of attention in its 14k miles except normal services, I don't even think its had belts done.

I don't want an unreliable 'supertune', just nice and reliable, super smooth and maybe a bit sharper. Plus I think the whole engine needs an overhaul as it hasn't been touched AFAIK. (it runs perfectly at the moment though).

He suggested I drop it down to them and he'd sort it out. It would require approx 10 hours work and he'd basically strip it completely and check, service and clean everything, including some port work if he thought it was viable.
He said they'd done some desmodue tuning work so I guess they know what they are doing - they come very well recommended.

He also seemed to know his SS's very well and suggested some other mods.

I'm planning on getting my SS well sorted this winter. I was going to get a new bike but I like this one so much I'll stick with it.
Its being professionally sprayed as I type, new suspension next week (from Baines again) and some TLC.
It should be nice for next year.

[paynep]

While its apart, have you thought of fitting the 674cc big-bore kit as used by some of us Desmodue racers this year?

It didn't make as much difference top-end as we had hoped but the extra 91cc would add a nice bit of extra torque for the road.

Also I just happen to have one coming up for sale as I'm going back to 583cc for next year.......

Have a word with the Baines bros and let me know if you're interested.

Cheers, Paul

[nelly]

You'll need to disconnect the cable to the starter to remove the motor.
If the connection on the starter itself gives you grief, then disconnect it at the solenoid :)

[icarus]

Originally posted by paynep
While its apart, have you thought of fitting the 674cc big-bore kit as used by some of us Desmodue racers this year?

Also I just happen to have one coming up for sale....

.....let me know if you're interested.

Cheers, Paul

I am interested, I was going to ask on here about the big bore kit but I didn't dare because I thought the price of one would make me miserable.
The bike is only worth £1500 and so far I'm spending almost as much again on Gucci bits and engine work. I was considering part-ex'ing it for a fireblade but thought a well sorted 600ss would give me more pleasure than a Jap sewing machine...but theres a limit to the amount of money I want to throw at it.

My original budget was £500 but I'm spending more than that on just the engine and my missus is not best pleased because first of all I promised I'd never have another road bike, then I promised I'd never start tuning this one when I bought it and then I promised I'd only spend £500 tuning it
:D

So after all that waffle...the answer is yes, I am interested but unless I can get hold of one at a price that makes it impossible to resist then I'll have to stick at what I have.

[paynep]

You have a U2U
(in case your missus is on line) ;)

[Jools]

Blimey....if you're spending £500 tuning a 600 THIS LINK HERE (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DUCATI-900SSIE-ENGINE-COMPLETE-2004-MODEL_W0QQitemZ8017552264QQcategoryZ10448QQrdZ1QQc mdZViewItem) might give you a bigger bang for your buck

[Iconic944ss]

Surely theres a bit more to fitting an F.I. engine into a bike that had carbs previously....

but I remember a webpage - :lol::lol::lol:

[icarus]

Originally posted by Iconic944ss
Surely theres a bit more to fitting an F.I. engine into a bike that had carbs previously....



Exactly.
The thought of another engine did cross my mind but then it would become a different bike and if I was going to do that it would be less painfull to just buy a 900ss (which I almost did recently).

I'm keeping it as a 600ss. That way things stay reasonably cheap and I'm not scared to leave it parked up somewhere or worrying about how much it will cost if I drop it.

I just want a well sorted 600ss:D

[FiscusFish]

I guess it's all done and dusted but I've really got to ask why....?

I know the DSC has a race series for 600s and most of the competitors could clear off on a track against me and my 900 but that's down to ability not the bike. For the money you're spending/spent you could have traded your 600 with it's budget suspension and sloooowwww engine up to a 900 (still slow but faster than even a tuned 600...).

Darren

[FiscusFish]

'K we posted at the same time...

900s are cheap. Your untouched 600 plus a couple of hundred quid would have bought a nice condition SS or even a SL.

Each to their own....

[icarus]

Originally posted by FiscusFish
I guess it's all done and dusted but I've really got to ask why....?

I know the DSC has a race series for 600s and most of the competitors could clear off on a track against me and my 900 but that's down to ability not the bike. For the money you're spending/spent you could have traded your 600 with it's budget suspension and sloooowwww engine up to a 900 (still slow but faster than even a tuned 600...).

Darren

Thats a very good question.

If you widen your parameters then I could also trade my bike for an NC30 and leave you for dead anyway.

My 600ss is geared to hit 100mph in top at 8,500rpm. So tuned or not its never going to set the world alight.
I've owned 170mph superbikes and if I was after power and speed I'd just buy another.

What I want is a road bike with great handling, crisp engine, loads of fun and bags of character - which is a well sorted 600ss down to a tee.
I don't want a 900 because its not going to do anything better than my 600 can. It might go a bit quicker but if I wanted a 'bit quicker' I'd buy a fireblade. And its so light and neutral I reckon it handles about as good as anything I've ridden, including my TZ race bikes.

The suspension is being sorted (new rear and sorted forks), the engine is being set up properly, everywhere I go people stop to look at it and ask questions and I reckon its going to be a fun bike for next summer which won't wreck my license. Every now and then I wish I had a bit more power...but doesn't everyone.
I doubt I'll ever sell this bike, a new bike is on the cards sometime next summer for certain but I'll keep the SS as well.

The only downside is my missus has recently shown an interest and wants to come on rides out next year - two up it is useless:(

[paynep]

Originally posted by icarus


The only downside is my missus has recently shown an interest and wants to come on rides out next year - two up it is useless:(

Dunno, my 750ss has been a fair few place 2 up.....and its not much different to a 600 [or even a 675 ;-) ]

A twin disc front end to slow down and its nice and relaxed cruising at pillion-friendly speeds - ie no more than 90 !!

From your posts its more about how you ride than the bhp......

Paul

[couchcommando]

interested to know how you are sorting the forks ? Are you having a complete cartridge kit fitted ? Just serviced ours and they really are the most basic design, my enquiries found cartridge conversions were around the £350 mark !