Fairing alignment

discussion about the 750 Sport and '89/'90 900SS, which share many mechanicals with the Paso series
Post Reply
User avatar
ducinthebay
paso grand pooh-bah
Posts: 1323
Joined: Sat Sep 03, 2005 12:00 am
model: 750 Sport
year: 1990
Location: SF Bay Area

Fairing alignment

Post by ducinthebay »

What does your fairing look like from the seat looking down on the left and right. My fairing fits much closer to the bike on the left than the right, but I can't comment on the straightness of any of the bracketry that holds the fairing, as it may have been crashed previously, or at least coerced. I would assume that the gap between the fairing and the frame should be basically the same left and right. Should I spend the afternoon bending brackets, or is this normal?

Cheers, Phil .
Duc in the Bay
1990 750 Sport x2-Rosso Blanko (900ss copy) & Nuovo Nudo (Scrambler project)
1991 907 -mostly stock
2002 ST4s - Lots of mods.
User avatar
Danielmc
Posts: 75
Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2012 11:33 am
model: 750 Sport
year: 1990
Location: Taunton, England

Re: Fairing alignment

Post by Danielmc »

Hi Phil,

a quick look at mine shows both sides equidistant as far as I can tell with a Mk 1 eyeball...

Dan
User avatar
ducbertus
paso grand pooh-bah
Posts: 531
Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2007 12:00 am
model: 907 I.E.
year: 1991
Location: holland

Re: Fairing alignment

Post by ducbertus »

Hi Ducinthebay,

I would say left and right gap should be more or less the same. Check the tank for position. if this is in the middle, the only thing is to correct the brackets.

Bertus
User avatar
ducinthebay
paso grand pooh-bah
Posts: 1323
Joined: Sat Sep 03, 2005 12:00 am
model: 750 Sport
year: 1990
Location: SF Bay Area

Re: Fairing alignment

Post by ducinthebay »

Yeah, thats what I figured. I guess I'll take the time to take it all apart and start rebending brackets.

Cheers,
Phil
Duc in the Bay
1990 750 Sport x2-Rosso Blanko (900ss copy) & Nuovo Nudo (Scrambler project)
1991 907 -mostly stock
2002 ST4s - Lots of mods.
User avatar
ducbertus
paso grand pooh-bah
Posts: 531
Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2007 12:00 am
model: 907 I.E.
year: 1991
Location: holland

Re: Fairing alignment

Post by ducbertus »

Hi Phil,

maybe there are non-original brackets used in the past by the former owner. check for the lenght of the brackets. if they show signs of deformation, you'll know what happened. when you renew brackets and have to bend some rather hard aluminium, heat the aluminium until the rear side of a matchstick leaves a sooth mark when you rub it at the heated aluminium. then you can bend easily once it cooled down. after a few days it gains it originally hardness.
this trick works fine for me several times.

Bertus
User avatar
Danielmc
Posts: 75
Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2012 11:33 am
model: 750 Sport
year: 1990
Location: Taunton, England

Re: Fairing alignment

Post by Danielmc »

There's a set of used brackets over here in the UK if you're stuck...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DUCATI-900SS- ... 2a254b14b8
User avatar
ducinthebay
paso grand pooh-bah
Posts: 1323
Joined: Sat Sep 03, 2005 12:00 am
model: 750 Sport
year: 1990
Location: SF Bay Area

Re: Fairing alignment

Post by ducinthebay »

Thanks for the link to the e-bay site. That guy has lots of great parts for 90 900ss. Shame to part it out, but that's what they do.

The brackets on my bike have been bent back and forth many times, so I have no idea what the original shape was. They are certainly stock, but the anodize is cracked at the bends, inferring that they have been 'reshaped' in the past. I'll take them off, compare left and right and refit them so the fairing is straight. I'll start with the front fairing bracket.

Cheers,
Phil
Duc in the Bay
1990 750 Sport x2-Rosso Blanko (900ss copy) & Nuovo Nudo (Scrambler project)
1991 907 -mostly stock
2002 ST4s - Lots of mods.
LimitedEdition
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun Jul 01, 2012 9:23 pm
model: 750 Sport
year: 1989
Location: UK

Re: Fairing alignment

Post by LimitedEdition »

Speaking of the fairings, does anyone else have tiny cracks in the paint about half way from the bracket upto the top of the fairing? I'm guessing its a flex point but its a pain in the arse. Really want to repair my fairing but don't want to repaint it lol.
User avatar
ducbertus
paso grand pooh-bah
Posts: 531
Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2007 12:00 am
model: 907 I.E.
year: 1991
Location: holland

Re: Fairing alignment

Post by ducbertus »

Hi limited,

the only thing that can cause cracks in the middle of two supportings is a severe blow, like the bike has been falling or vibration. usealy cracks occur at screws.
If you repair that spot you can add a layer of kevlar woving and lay it up with polyester of epoxy resin.
there are shops where you buy small quantities of those.

Bertus
User avatar
ducinthebay
paso grand pooh-bah
Posts: 1323
Joined: Sat Sep 03, 2005 12:00 am
model: 750 Sport
year: 1990
Location: SF Bay Area

Re: Fairing alignment

Post by ducinthebay »

Paint cracks in your body work are like wrinkles on your face. They are earned through time and good living. While I want my bike to look good, some cracks in the paint and patina on parts show that the bike has been ridden during its long life. Wash, polish a bit, and wax it, and call it good.

Cheers, Phil
Duc in the Bay
1990 750 Sport x2-Rosso Blanko (900ss copy) & Nuovo Nudo (Scrambler project)
1991 907 -mostly stock
2002 ST4s - Lots of mods.
LimitedEdition
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun Jul 01, 2012 9:23 pm
model: 750 Sport
year: 1989
Location: UK

Re: Fairing alignment

Post by LimitedEdition »

I think it is the vibrations, well there's nothing else that can cause it considering its barely been ridden and its on both sides. It is a very large gap between the two mounting points. Think I'm gunna stick some fibreglass behind it, eventually anyway cheers.
User avatar
ducbertus
paso grand pooh-bah
Posts: 531
Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2007 12:00 am
model: 907 I.E.
year: 1991
Location: holland

Re: Fairing alignment

Post by ducbertus »

Hi limited,

just an other thought. if the outlining of holes in the brackets and the fairing doesn't match and the bolts are forced through this can happen. so watch this carefully while mounting the panel

Bertus
User avatar
ducinthebay
paso grand pooh-bah
Posts: 1323
Joined: Sat Sep 03, 2005 12:00 am
model: 750 Sport
year: 1990
Location: SF Bay Area

Re: Fairing alignment

Post by ducinthebay »

Yeah, don't overtighten fairing bolts. I add nylon washers between the fairing and the brackets to help distribute the load a bit and self locking nuts, or Loctite, and tighten only snug.

Cheers, Phil
Duc in the Bay
1990 750 Sport x2-Rosso Blanko (900ss copy) & Nuovo Nudo (Scrambler project)
1991 907 -mostly stock
2002 ST4s - Lots of mods.
Post Reply