| Voltage regulators.
The old type voltage regulators were fairly unreliable due to the lack of heat dissapation.The early 916 ones were bolted to the plastic battery tray right alongside the engine.Ducati then started to bolt a lump of finned ally to the reg to act as a heat sink.There were still problems with failed units,I know,I had two fail in a month on my 916.
From about '98 onwards the factory fitted a Japanese made unit that was much more reliable and was bolted to a large alloy plate,tho again,still there under the battery.
The older type reg. is about 3" x 2",and has Ducati Energia stamped on it.
The latest unit is about 4"x 3" and made by Shindengen.Usually a grey colour.
Chances are that the bike you are looking at has had the regulator changed at some time,either for the Ducati replacement,or a pattern unit,such as Electrex or Newtronics.
As for the fuel,I remember reading an article of a guy touring Russia on a 750ss.His bike did'nt like the low grade petrol,so I imagine a 916 would'nt either. Best stock up with octane booster then!  |