Ducati 916 Project
Discussion
A mate and I had a daft idea of buying a cheap bike to work on together and stick on YouTube. We were looking at a 748 track bike that popped up on eBay but lack of timely buy-in from SWMBO meant someone got to it before us. Luckily, it turned out (I think) as I came across an old post on Facebook marketplace relating to a 916 that hadn't started for about 8 years and the current owner was thinking of selling.
After a little research into what the bike actually was, a price was agreed and it came home with us in the van. It also came with an additional frame which will be used as it's currently on a Q plate. From what I can ascertain so far, the facts are as follows:
It has a 94 engine (unknown mileage) with P8 ECU and 94 swingarm. The bodywork is post 94 as is the tank + tank cap. Wheels are post 94 (no Ducati Racing lettering) and the bike was sprayed yellow at some point. The wiring is a mess and has been chopped about a little but the engine cases look in pretty good order. The bike was stored in a marine engineer's workshop so lots of wood and everything was pretty dry.
Anyway, on to some pics:
Once home
20190226_133619 [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/120760751@N02/][/url]
Minor wiring mess:
20190226_133638[url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/120760751@N02/][/url]
94 Motor:
received_618582421929984 [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/120760751@N02/][/url]
94 Swingarm:
received_878664782525156 [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/120760751@N02/][/url]
Spare Frame:
20190226_133646 [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/120760751@N02/][/url]
Stowed in the garage:
20190226_134337 [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/120760751@N02/][/url]
The plan currently is to work with what we have and do an appropriate rebuild - it will never be and original 1994 unless we obtain a frame, tank cap, screen, wheels and other age specific parts so it will be rescued with the main parts we have and hopefully all recorded and uploaded. I hope you find the journey remotely interesting!
After a little research into what the bike actually was, a price was agreed and it came home with us in the van. It also came with an additional frame which will be used as it's currently on a Q plate. From what I can ascertain so far, the facts are as follows:
It has a 94 engine (unknown mileage) with P8 ECU and 94 swingarm. The bodywork is post 94 as is the tank + tank cap. Wheels are post 94 (no Ducati Racing lettering) and the bike was sprayed yellow at some point. The wiring is a mess and has been chopped about a little but the engine cases look in pretty good order. The bike was stored in a marine engineer's workshop so lots of wood and everything was pretty dry.
Anyway, on to some pics:
Once home
20190226_133619 [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/120760751@N02/][/url] Minor wiring mess:
20190226_133638[url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/120760751@N02/][/url]94 Motor:
received_618582421929984 [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/120760751@N02/][/url]94 Swingarm:
received_878664782525156 [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/120760751@N02/][/url]Spare Frame:
20190226_133646 [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/120760751@N02/][/url]Stowed in the garage:
20190226_134337 [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/120760751@N02/][/url]The plan currently is to work with what we have and do an appropriate rebuild - it will never be and original 1994 unless we obtain a frame, tank cap, screen, wheels and other age specific parts so it will be rescued with the main parts we have and hopefully all recorded and uploaded. I hope you find the journey remotely interesting!
The first two YouTube episodes are up although we're a long way off looking halfway decent! I'm not sure I'll get used to speaking to a camera any time soon. Any feedback on the build and the vids is welcome, in Ep2 we had an issue with the mics - I have no idea why but the sound was in the toilet throughout. I'll take my laptop next time and do a sound check before we get going.
Link to Ep1: https://youtu.be/ALlLielYo0o
Currently the bike is sat engine-less ready for a full service. The forks and shocks will be refurbed although if anyone has an Ohlins shock for sale I'd be interested. The beauty of this vintage of 916 is that they could have come with any collection of 'extras' according to them in the know so an upgraded shock will only make it better.
I'm on the hunt for some 94 wheels too as I'd like as many period correct parts as possible as we go along. The panels are all 94 too as it happens which was a great discovery!
Some snaps of the progress:
SPOILER - Neutral light!
neutral light by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/120760751@N02/][/url]
Interim bodge on the power amplifiers - they were connected using speaker wire with bare wires!
power amplifier plugs by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/120760751@N02/][/url]
The tired wiring loom
20190309_204856 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/120760751@N02/][/url]
An hour or so later...
20190305_155939 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/120760751@N02/][/url]
Link to Ep1: https://youtu.be/ALlLielYo0o
Currently the bike is sat engine-less ready for a full service. The forks and shocks will be refurbed although if anyone has an Ohlins shock for sale I'd be interested. The beauty of this vintage of 916 is that they could have come with any collection of 'extras' according to them in the know so an upgraded shock will only make it better.
I'm on the hunt for some 94 wheels too as I'd like as many period correct parts as possible as we go along. The panels are all 94 too as it happens which was a great discovery!
Some snaps of the progress:
SPOILER - Neutral light!
neutral light by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/120760751@N02/][/url]Interim bodge on the power amplifiers - they were connected using speaker wire with bare wires!
power amplifier plugs by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/120760751@N02/][/url]The tired wiring loom
20190309_204856 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/120760751@N02/][/url]An hour or so later...
20190305_155939 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/120760751@N02/][/url]horico said:
[/url] 20190305_155939 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/120760751@N02/][/url]
Can you weigh the wheels, out of interest? From memory they are made from pure lead. I absolutely love a build/resto thread! I’ve less than zero mechanical ability, so watching these develop is one of my few pleasures while I’m laid up with my leg.
I’ll have a look at the videos when I get home, I’m just waiting for my physio session at hospital and the WiFi isn’t great. Another of my guilty pleasures are YouTube videos of “stuff” happening on lathes/CNC machines, as well as old bits of machinery being restored.
I’ll have a look at the videos when I get home, I’m just waiting for my physio session at hospital and the WiFi isn’t great. Another of my guilty pleasures are YouTube videos of “stuff” happening on lathes/CNC machines, as well as old bits of machinery being restored.
Will check this out and subscribe later, love a rebuild thread and series.
That loom remind me of when my old 916SP burst into flames at the side of the road due to cable chaffing where the loom goes up underneath the seat unit. Ducati in their wisdom didn't fuse this particular wire that went to the fuel injection relays so it just melted a whole section of the loom. I had to strip it all down, splice in new sections. All of the connectors where available back then from a company called vehicle wiring products in Ilkeston Derbys if they are still going.
That loom remind me of when my old 916SP burst into flames at the side of the road due to cable chaffing where the loom goes up underneath the seat unit. Ducati in their wisdom didn't fuse this particular wire that went to the fuel injection relays so it just melted a whole section of the loom. I had to strip it all down, splice in new sections. All of the connectors where available back then from a company called vehicle wiring products in Ilkeston Derbys if they are still going.
IanG1 said:
Will check this out and subscribe later, love a rebuild thread and series.
That loom remind me of when my old 916SP burst into flames at the side of the road due to cable chaffing where the loom goes up underneath the seat unit. Ducati in their wisdom didn't fuse this particular wire that went to the fuel injection relays so it just melted a whole section of the loom. I had to strip it all down, splice in new sections. All of the connectors where available back then from a company called vehicle wiring products in Ilkeston Derbys if they are still going.
I've just looked them up - it looks like they're still going. Thanks for the tip! The loom is ideally suited to my mate who is a wizard with such things but having never done anything with one before I stupidly took it as my job. I fear it will be a very steep learning curve but with the added security / mickey taking from someone who knows their onions.That loom remind me of when my old 916SP burst into flames at the side of the road due to cable chaffing where the loom goes up underneath the seat unit. Ducati in their wisdom didn't fuse this particular wire that went to the fuel injection relays so it just melted a whole section of the loom. I had to strip it all down, splice in new sections. All of the connectors where available back then from a company called vehicle wiring products in Ilkeston Derbys if they are still going.
Dibble said:
I absolutely love a build/resto thread! I’ve less than zero mechanical ability, so watching these develop is one of my few pleasures while I’m laid up with my leg.
I’ll have a look at the videos when I get home, I’m just waiting for my physio session at hospital and the WiFi isn’t great. Another of my guilty pleasures are YouTube videos of “stuff” happening on lathes/CNC machines, as well as old bits of machinery being restored.
I hope we can provide a good distraction for you while you're on the mend - I'm not sure we'll be doing much binky-esque fabrication on this one but a lathe has just found its way into the workshop recently. This isn't quite the same but a bit of welding later and we now have this to use:I’ll have a look at the videos when I get home, I’m just waiting for my physio session at hospital and the WiFi isn’t great. Another of my guilty pleasures are YouTube videos of “stuff” happening on lathes/CNC machines, as well as old bits of machinery being restored.
FB_IMG_1553033581681 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/120760751@N02/][/url]Motorsport3 said:
[url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/120760751@N02/][/url]
Always wondered in a rebuild how it is possible to put back those spaghetti wires.
Good luck and will be following closely. Love the 916/6/8
Me too..... Oh crap.Always wondered in a rebuild how it is possible to put back those spaghetti wires.
Good luck and will be following closely. Love the 916/6/8
rodericb said:
Cool, a '94 getting restored. Is is a 'real' 1994 model (monoposto)?
Indeed, it has the correct 94 engine, swingarm, panels, ali subframe (eg. strada (mono)), P8 ECU and twin sensor wires. I've hopefully secured some original wheels with the 'Ducati Racing' on too.IanG1 said:
I would do my upmost to source a 94/95 frame if it was my project and not build on the 98 frame. A cagiva era 94 strada will always command a significant premium over a texas pacific group era 98 biposto.
I've been on the lookout for a 94 frame for ages but they just don't come up very often. I am looking into the possibility of obtaining an age related plate now the bike is technically over 25 years old and will be built from period correct parts. I've got much research to do on it but the V5's arrived today so the V888 form and covering letter will be in the post soon.poo at Paul's said:
One thing.....keep it yellow!!!
Always love a yellow Duke, and there's hardly any about
As much as I like the idea of it being yellow - it goes against the hope of getting it back to strada spec. Maybe the next one will be yellow (if there is one!)Always love a yellow Duke, and there's hardly any about
We managed to grab another few hours on the bike and got enough footage for a couple more episodes so I can release one now and one in 7-10 days time. By then, something interesting might have happened!
That damn swingarm bolt was a pig but we were lucky to get it out in about an hour without the proper (or fabricated) tool.
The bike is now down to a bare frame so it's on to painting next. I'm hopefully picking up some genuine 94 wheels tomorrow so they'll get painted along with the current wheels and possibly both frames. I've never painted before so it will be a learning exercise methinks. I know we could get it done professionally from the start but I'd like the satisfaction of doing as much as possible ourselves. I'm also considering a small blasting setup for bringing everything up nice - it would get plenty of use even just on this project.
The engine looks to be pretty good apart from some minor wear to the rockers. The shims are out a bit too but that will be sorted with the engine rebuild.
That damn swingarm bolt was a pig but we were lucky to get it out in about an hour without the proper (or fabricated) tool.
The bike is now down to a bare frame so it's on to painting next. I'm hopefully picking up some genuine 94 wheels tomorrow so they'll get painted along with the current wheels and possibly both frames. I've never painted before so it will be a learning exercise methinks. I know we could get it done professionally from the start but I'd like the satisfaction of doing as much as possible ourselves. I'm also considering a small blasting setup for bringing everything up nice - it would get plenty of use even just on this project.
The engine looks to be pretty good apart from some minor wear to the rockers. The shims are out a bit too but that will be sorted with the engine rebuild.
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