Started Looking at My Paso Project Bike

[paso750]

it`s easier to navigate now, thanks

G.

[Desmo_Demon]

I haven't added a new page to the website, yet, but I have the Paso back together. This is the first time the bike has been completely assembled since before I bought the bike....and it is the first time since bringing it home that the bodywork has been placed back on it.

This is how Paso looked this past Sunday...





I repaired a couple of oil leaks, but opted against pulling the side cover off the engine and fixing the oil leak around the starter. I did notice that the external bolt for the starter was gone, so I added that back on the bike. I solved my oil level sight glass issue by contacting a guy who was selling a bare, left-side engine cover from an Alazzurra 650. I contacted him and he told me that he had both the oil level sight glass and the timing sight glass, so I bought both of them.

I tweaked with the choke cables, discovered that a carb cable was too tight and not allowing the slide to drop when trying to lower the idle, and I did some other minor things, like replacing all of the body mounting screws. I got tired of messing with the carbs after putting another 10+ miles on the bike while tweaking it, so the bike is now at a friend's shop getting the carbs synchronized. The bike is not smoking anywhere near what it was, so I must have had the oil level too high, as I was suspecting.

Hopefully, I'll have the bike back in a week or two and will start logging miles on it. I'm hoping to average about 300 miles a month on it from commuting. We'll just have to see once I get it back.......and if all goes well, I have another Paso project on the back-burner.

[paso750]

Looks nice, congratulations !

I hope I can get my bike back on the road this year, too.

G.

PS: could you measure diameter and length of the center stand spring(s), when you have a chance ?

[Skins]

That's a really good-looking Paso 750, especially with the huge Ducati transfer on the side!

[Fraser]

T,

She looks a beauty.
What's the big transfer like on the left hand side, is the elephant logo above the "T"?

Fraser.

[Desmo_Demon]

She looks a beauty.
What's the big transfer like on the left hand side, is the elephant logo above the "T"?

Thanks....the huge decals are the work of the previous owner....one of the few things that I kinda like that he did to the bike....I couldn't remember what it looks like on the other side of the bike, so I had to go surfing around on my website to find a picture...




I think it could use some "750" decals on the tailsections, though.

[paso750]

did you change the tank or is the left side different to the right ?

[Desmo_Demon]

did you change the tank or is the left side different to the right ?

Good eyes, G!.....the picture of it on the trailer is how we picked it up. The tank is full of rust, but not leaking. Instead of taking the time to clean and reseal the tank, I am using the tank from the Pile of Paso ( http://www.desmodemon.com/pile_of_paso.html ) rolling chassis that I picked up when Jon posted about it. I'm now, casually looking for another tank (I know where one is), or I will have to clean and reseal the one that was on this bike originally, for my next project.

[persempre907]

...for my next project.

So, best wishes for your next project!!!!
Ciao

[Tamburinifan]

Looks good!
Helluva job you`ve done & interesting read.

[Desmo_Demon]

I'm hoping to be adding another page to the saga in the next week or so.

I ran over to my buddy's shop, and he's got the Paso running really well, but I haven't test ridden it, yet. Here are a few things that he has done:

1) The throttle cables were still screwed up, so he corrected those the best he could. The one was too short to allow slide adjustments, so he had to shave a little plastic off of the slide cover on the Dellorto to allow this adjustment. The one choke cable was so short that he currently has it disconnected. It was holding the choke partially open, but the bike doesn't seem to need the choke to start, anyway.

2) Not only is the horizontal carb at an angle, but it was also twisted to prevent hitting the motor mount. To get the carb as level as possible, he shaved a little bit off of the motor mount so the carb would mount straight. It is still at the slant from the intake manifold, but it is no longer twisted.

3) It was determined that the fuel pump is not necessary (as I've read a few people eliminating them here - and delagem suggested on page one of thise trhead back in August of 2006). He also redid all of my fuel lines and made it a really simple line system. I'm still thinking of doing the final version with a cut-off valve in case the carbs leak, but presently, there are no signs of float bowl overflow (good seating of the float valves).

4) He doesn't like the relay mod on the coils....or at least he doesn't like the idea of relying on a relay for power to the coils. I'll leave it with the mod/relay for now. He recommended a single fused line with a switch. It would act almost like a second ignition switch and also a theft deterrent if I have the switch hidden. I found it an interesting suggestion.

5) I guess the fuel that was in the tank from September went bad and adding fresh gas to it the other week didn't help. The next step I'm going to do is drain the tank and put new gas in it before I reassemble the bike (he's letting me do a lot of the work to keep the bill down).


It sounds like a lot of the issues that I am having is simply due to some really bad cables. I should buy new cables, but I'd hate to go through the process of installing them and resynchronizing the carbs, again. I may buy new cables and keep them on-hand, just in case I have problems in the future and will need them.

So.....if all goes well, I should have the bike back and reassembled today or tomorrow and be able to test ride it. I hope the jetting is correct. If it is, I should be done with the bike and can start riding....I mean....enjoying it.

[Desmo_Demon]

I'm still aiming for +/- $1600 USD for it to be streetworthy with new tires, new chain, rebuilt carbs, sealed tank, wiring upgrade, valve adjustment, new timing belts, new valve seals, and new wheel bearings......until I find something else wrong with it. :ugh:

I just reread this.....I'm up to about $2400 in the project, now.

[ducapiero]

Great demon!!!
you have made a masterpiece with your bike, and if you have spent a lot of money the important thing is that you are happy of the result!!
Good job mate !!!

[Desmo_Demon]

the important thing is that you are happy of the result!!

I went and test rode the bike last night and I was pleasantly surprised with how well the bike was running, sounded, and the power it had. I took it back home and I'm going to try to take it out for a spin this afternoon. I was tempted to ride it into work this morning, but I want to ride it a little more....and closer to the house....to be sure that everything seems to be good on it.

[Desmo_Demon]

I took the Paso out for a 100-mile ride. It has some slight stumbling on occation at about 3500-4500 rpm when travelign at a constant speed. It acts a little lean. I may make an adjustment on the needles to see if that cures it. The front brakes are pretty grabby and pulsing at mild braking. Hard braking, and they seem fine. I probably need to check the pads and clean them from the rust accumulation that was on the rotors and was scrubbed off with the brake pads.

Overall, the bike runs pretty well, has a decent amount of power, and I am surprised at how light and nimble the little bike seems. I'll try to ride it into work once this week, and maybe one of these near weekends, I'll take it up my favorite twisty road, so....

It looks like I've saved this Paso. Here is a picture of the Paso next to my wife's new Monster 900ie at our local hang-out...a store at the base of the mountains.