New Member

[DanShapotsky]

Hi There

Just found this place after rooting around for a decent one to join - looks like i found home :D

I'm on my 3rd 900ss (the other two having been nicked) - this ones a half faired '91 that I've had for a few years, most of it spent at the back of a mates garage due to work/kids etc... stock engine, 916 single seat conversion, hi level carbon micron race cans, powerbronze twin spot fairing conversion - all my mates ride japo's and dont quite get why i dont do the same... but that's their problem hehe.

It's done 15000 miles from new and seems to have quite enjoyed it's little rest because after going right over the obvious stuff (earth straps and the like) it is running very well, if a little lumpy and poppy low down, but I'm putting that down to carb balance cos that's yet to be done - got a couple of questions tho that someone might be able to answer....

..first off when I was scanning through the message board i read one about the top tank vent valve arrow pointing towards the front and not into the tank.. I'd been told that it was the other way round by the (not so local) duke garage! - and had it fitted that way... I've turned it round to see what happens but havent yet had a chance to give it a proper run to see... the valve itself is working fine (blow without resistance one way, and slight the other) but what would i notice if this were fitted backwards ?

Also the bike seems to be leaning out or losing power further up the rev range - the other ones I had would storm clean to 9000 in pretty much any gear, but this one seems to struggle from about 7500 onward - any suggestions where to start with that ?

Next on my list of addons is a stage 2 dynajet/k&n/open box upgrade but having owned 900's that performed better than this one I dont want to resort to using that as a 'fix' for poor performance, but would rather get the bike running best stock first...

Lastly my monoshock is leaking and will probably have to be replaced... mainly because it has no identifying marks so I dont know what it is! - maybe someone has seen one.. it's got a blue spring and chrome body with a single rebound damping adjuster at the top which is a round chrome knob ??.. it appears to work quite well, I stripped the spring off at the weekend and the ram itself works fine despite the leak (which is only very slight at the moment, but I'm expecting it to fail when all the oil is gone) - if I cant identify it can anyone recommend a good aftermarket replacement... I've had white power and bitubo in the past and liked them both but would be interested in opinions.

..sorry for the long first post.... beats the hell out of 'hi.. I'm a newbie' :D

..oh - I'm in the wilds of bonnie scotland (where god hid all the good tarmac) - so if there's any other Northern members giz a shout

Cheers all

Dano :cool:

[dickieducati]

welcome,

dont know if trackdays are your thing but we have a couple coming up, cadwell and rockingham later in the year which is just for DCS paid up members. great days and good to meet up with some of the people on the board if you want to travel down for either one.

enjoy.

[TP]

Welcome Dan, sorry I can't help you out as I ride a 4V FI machine.

You will get a lot out of this club and there are some geniuses when it comes to knowing the bikes, I'm sure one of them will be along sooner or later to tell you exactly what you need to do ..

Good luck, maybe see you at Rockingham for the DSC track day?

TP

[Steve M]

Hi and welcome fellow SS dude.
I suspect by the morning there will be loads of answers for you if not sooner. The depth of Ducati knowledge in the club is amazing, no matter how obscure the question someone always has the answer or can point you in the right direction.:sing:

[Dave G]

Hi Dan
Have just replaced the shock on my ss with a second hand showa one from ebay,it was looked over and serviced by Graeme Bell,who workes behind Ducati glasgow though isnt connected to them.
Though the blue spring was different from my old one the knurled knob suggests it may be a sachs unit,which I'm told are not rebuildable or at least difficult to rebuild.It may be worth trawling through ebay where I've found this:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7904250949&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

Anyway,welcome aboard,and give scottch a shout as he does try to get us together now and then.
And god may indeed have hidden all the good tarmac up here but the devil washes them every day!:lol:
Whereabouts are you anyway?

[Edited on 10-6-2004 by Dave G]

[baylissboy]

Welcome Dan.

Sorry no expierience with SS'S,but as others have said,somebody on the message board or in the club will have the answers you require!!

[ScottyB]

Another Welcome Dan,

As Dave said give Scottch a shout he will see you right regards Days out etc.

There are a few members up North Yellowisfriedegg is one that springs to mind.

Have a look under the links page on the main DSC website for the Scottish link.

Ducati Glasgow have been doing some track days if you are that way inclined, the last was at Knockhill a few weeks ago. It gave me a chance to meet some of the guys being new myself.

Have not got a clue about SS's either but one of the closet experts will help i am sure.

Regards

ScottyB

[kwikbitch]

Hello...:D

[BDG]

Be very wary of strange women with pix of blokes flashing bums:lol:

Welcome to the fold, its good

[paulmort]

I guessed Kwikbitch would say Hi to a new guy....
Hey m8, ive a 900 ssie and Ive also got a spare rear shock if your interested.
The current one has been reworked by K-Tec in Coalville, Leicestershire
Im on 17000 at the mo and Nelly (Neil) at Cornerspeed looks after all my servicing and other (bling) needs
ask the guy...........he's just fab with Dukes of any sort and can prob answer yer questions
Welcome aboard and for 25 notes for the first year and 20 notes after that each year, membership is a MUST as there are discounts to be had at many places
If you are ever down in Notts/Leics area let us know and the Notts area DSC group will make you feel real welcome
bestest
in a real blooo mood (and thats good, very good) :roll::roll:
mort

[kwikbitch]

Trust you Mort and BDG to blow my cover....

Was only being polite....Didn't want too be to cheeky on tDan's first post!!!!!

Right then...If you're buying Dan, mines a Double drambuie...

AND I have a sport thingy too...Dont ask me...I'm a woman...Ask Nelly at cornerspeed...
If I need owt doing I ask him...:D;):D

[Edited on 10-6-2004 by kwikbitch]

[DanShapotsky]

Wow :D

..shoulda brought me slippers - that's quite a welcome :D:D

..hi one and all and thanx for the replies - and thanx for the invites and offers too ! I havent done a track day but will be up for some of that once I get things sorted (and find the funds after the hols etc :lol: )

..as to the monoshocks, cheers guys - I'm going to have a stab at stripping this one down to see if I can get a part number from the seal and work out what oil I might refill it with if I can find one (any suggestions ?) - I've not tried a monoshock rebuild before, but am game for a bash.. especially if it's gonna end up in the bin anyway, but I'll keep you posted and if it all goes west then I'll be in touch about the offers (Dave G, paulmort).

I've swapped the tank breather to point the other way and it didnt make it any worse and I'm pretty sure that it made a small improvement on higher revs, and while I was about it I took the (very dirty indeed!) air filter out and refitted the box and stacks.. just to see what gives - the race cans I've got are able to be fitted with no mods but I guessed that they would also perform better with more air in so decided to give it a go... instant improvement everywhere.. throttle response, revving out in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, over 8 in 5th, and pulling harder in top... I know I shouldnt run without a filter but I just cant remember why, and I dont suppose it will do too much harm in the very short term until I get the dyna/k&n etc sorted (but would love to know if that's just complete crap lol)...

..anyway - thanx again for the welcome.. I'll be checking out some of the scottish contingent with a view to being at the next meet if I can :D

Cheers

Dano

..oops.. sorry Dave G - I'm in Aberdeenshire, north of Montrose :D

[Edited on 10-6-2004 by DanShapotsky]

[madmav]

Hiya Dan & welcome ! Good Luck sorting ya bike mate let us know how ya get on !!!!!!!........................ mav:cool:

[Derek]

Hi Dan,

Have a look a few posts back at "rear shock" for info about getting your shocker fixed.
I'm not very far away from you in Forfar. For trackdays in our area check out http://www.edzellracing.com/ The next one is June 20, but I'll be away on holiday for the next fortnight.:)

[Iconic944ss]

Hi Dan,

Welcome to the Madhouse - good crowd in here honest - smart move!

Comments...

Dynojet kit certainly helped my 93 900ss - I have a spare Stage 1 kit if your are interested.

Tank breather vent valve is ment to be fitted with the arrow pointing away from the tank - direction of vent) mine choked / stopped working and it felt like it was running out of gas as times - good again now.

Rear shock - snap - I have a spare weaping std one as well as a White Power unit that I threw in...slight improvement, getting better with time.

Good luck - Frank

[chicken]

welcome to the board Dan!

Despite them being slightly older bikes, there are quite a few of us carby-SS owners here.

Running without the filter for too long is not a good idea (just look at the old one to see what it's been keeping out!).

Sounds like an interesting bike - how about some piccies?

cheers,
Chi

[skidlids]

Hi Dano, welcome to the board, your shock sounds as if it may be a EMC shock that later became quadrant, as they were a UK company I would have thought the service items would be available. Not sure if the company still exists.

Kev

[DanShapotsky]

Hi Again

thanx again for the hi's and offers etc - I certainly feel at home now :D

..quick update - I decided to bite the bullet over the weekend and pulled the shock apart to see if I could sort it - seemed like a small rubber o ring round the nylon base that seals a nylon bush that the pushrod moves through... didnt have one the same size but found one slightly fatter with the same outer diameter, so I 'bullied' it into the space :lol: - and took a guess about how much fluid it had lost and replaced it with some 10 weight fork oil... hey... it might be a bit heath robinson but it was busted anyway - right ?

..after a bit of cleaning and rebuilding I tried it but it was too stiff.. although appeared to be working, so i removed the rebound valve and let some oil out, put it back together, and hey presto :lol::cool: - had it out today round some of the roughest and smoothest roads I could find in the area and it works a treat hehe... and no more leaks!

..thanks for the info about the maker - I'll check that out cos i'd like the proper kit to rebuild it if poss, but at least it aint parked on it's stand waiting for large amounts of cash that I dont currently have :D

I'll get some pics of my bike sorted out when my mate comes back from Turkey with my digi camera... and I agree about the filter but it's not gonna do any serious miles like that so I'll just run it cos the difference is worth it :lol:

Cheers all

Dano :cool:

[DanShapotsky]

Hi again

..thanks again for the info skidlids.. turns out you were bang on.. it's an EMCD08/D by EMC - I found the spec on it at stainforths.com and according to their bumf it's designed as a serviceable component so I should be able to get a service kit as you say... dont suppose you have a contact for quadrant ? - I've searched around but nothing so far.... anyway thanx again for the info.. most useful indeed :D

Cheers :cool:

Dano

[paulmort]

welcome again Dan and for 25 squid you can be a DSC member, get all this advice and loadsa discounts that'll save you more than the £25 you paid
JOIN UP, you know you'll get the benefit thrice over and more
bestest
mort in a real good bloooo mood:bouncy::bouncy:

[DanShapotsky]

Hi again PaulMort

..thanks for the info - where to send the cheque ?

..turns out that after a call to Staniforths that they are the only ones that EMC (french co) will talk to, and in order to get my shock rebuilt I need to be a dealer, or give it to a dealer who will send it to Stani, who will send it to EMC who will then rebuild it... for a £250 shocker.. erm.. naahh :lol:

..reckon I'll stick wiv it till after the hols, and then see whats going round to replace it with.. if it gives up the ghost that is... and it's currently doing fine :D

Cheers :cool:

Dano

[paulmort]

Dano, call me Mort, even 'er indoors calls me mort
You mention that you need a dealer for the servicing of the shock
email Nelly at cornerspeed ..... info@cornerspeed.co.uk ....and Im sure he'll be able to sort you out (anuvver pint u owe me neil)
As for joining the DSC as you enter Ducatisportingclub there is a heading called Membership
even I managed to join via this site so it must be easy
25 squid fer first year and 20 squid after that
Bargin or wot??
I guess you will be called Dano from here on
as in " Dano, book him" from H......five oh, and if u dont remember that, u are a very young sproggie
betsest mort
and look fwd to seeing the next newbie
mines a pint of marstons and a bokkle of sauvignon blanc at the virtual bar

[DanShapotsky]

Hi again...

Mort it is then :cool: - I'll get a cheque sorted out, and if I decide to send the shocker back to EMC I'll get in touch with nelly as u suggest ... although I feel a lonely summer coming on waiting around for a monoshock return lol... so I'm only gonna do it if I have to...

@chicken (and anyone else interested) - I uploaded a few pics of my bike for you to look at

Danos Ducati (uk.photos.yahoo.com/Shapotsky)

..any and all comments are of course very welcome

Cheers :cool:

Dano

[ScottyB]

Dano,

That is one very well looked after bike!!!!

We need to have a chat about how organised your garage is.....you are making the rest of us who are "slightly less tidy" look bad!!!!!!

One beautiful well preserved Duke...........

Look forward to meeting you and having a closer look over it.......

Regards

ScottyB

[paulmort]

Dano (told u it'd stick m8)
if the 900 ssie shock fits yours, then you're very welcome to have my spare shock until yours is fixed, all it'll cost you is postage, then u can return it later on
answer here or email me at
mortonp1@aol.com

by the way, you gotta post the twin headlight piccie as your avatar
Avatar, if u didnt know, is the likkle piccie at lh side where your details are, like mine is BloooDuke

[chicken]

very tidy! (bike AND garage).

where are your rear blinkers though?

[DanShapotsky]

..ahh... forgot to mention that bit chicken.. they're mounted up inside the seat - a couple o mini numbers from M & P - and they flash through the top slots in the seat... works well too :lol:

..@Mort - cheers for the offer mate - v.generous indeed :D - I'll have a look at the sizes and let you know ...but thanks for the offer anyway... I'll get the avatar sorted too ...needs a bit of a resize first tho:D

Cheers :cool:

Dano

[DanShapotsky]

@Mort

..forgot to ask which Shock you have mate - I'm assuming it's a Showa ? - but thought it best to ask.. thought about your offer some more and wouldnt mind taking it up if that's fine by you - even if it's only for a month or so to let me see what the difference is etc ?

..I seem to remember reading (although I cant find the link) that the newer ones are longer but that they went on anyway and only pitched the back up a bit more - does anyone else know about this ?

..anyway - thanks again for the offer - if it looks like a goer I'll u2u my address, and sort out where to send da cash for postage :)

Cheers :cool:

Dano

[FiscusFish]

The SSie ones are around half an inch longer than pre injection shocks. The extra length is actually an improvment 'cos it speeds up the steering a fraction and more importantly improves ground clearance.

[chicken]

Nice one Dano. I have a similar setup myself - nice and tidy and a little different.

[paulmort]

OK Dano
email me at mortonp1@aol.com or u2u me at paulmort, wiff address and I'll get it in the post pdq, and if it dont werk, then all u gotta do is return it to me
its not a showa or owt, its the bog standard 900ssie shock, who ever made them???
It woz set up tho' by Shockwave for my bike, so if youre 10 stone wet thru, then it'll be close to a good set up, but of course the extra 1/2 inch will make all the difference!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! as the bishop said to the actress
let me know
rgds
mort
in a blooo shock mood
:roll::roll:

[SSTU]

Hi Dan

[DanShapotsky]

U2U sent Mort :cool:

..let me know if there's anything you need me to do .. cheers a biggie :)

Dano

..and hi SSTU :)