How good is a 907ie?

[Mc tool]

I cant help thinking that the dealer you took it to is your biggest problem. He probly doesnt know F A about dukes and doesnt want to know. As others ( nearly all of em ) have said , it can all be fixed, just take it somewhere else. BUT whatever you do get it going and you will enjoy...... we cant all be wrong

[Rhino]

"He probly doesnt know F A about dukes and doesnt want to know." Good old Mc tool, straight from the hip . . .
He's quite right though visciouscycle - find an honest dealer with half a brain or better still get a recommendation from a Duke owner near you and very soon you'll have a great bike which is . . . how shall I put this . . . a little different.

[viciouscycle]

Many thanks y'all. I've just come back from San Diego with an armful of parts and a nice tour of the local Ducatsi places. Cycleworks was particularly helpful. I picked up LT Snyder's "Ducati desmodue/desmotre Maintenance & Modification Guide (3rd ed) which is the best technical resource on these bikes I have found so far.

I have my ST2 heads and a replacement set of throttle bodies. Josh at Sport Cycle in Calgary has been a great help and is putting a box together for me with new cam belts and bearings, plugs, gaskets, etc.

I have been busy putting my CBX back together but it is now finished so the Ducati is on the lift Saturday and will have as much undivided attention as my ADHD will allow.

First thing will be a compression and leak down test before I take the old heads off. I had a #$%* of a time finding an adapter to fit the plug holes for the compression and leak down testers. Not too easy to find an 18mm plug socket either (available at a good price from Cycleworks). A bit surprising as the CBX uses the same size plug socket so they can't be that rare.

After the compression testing I will start the dismantling process. Unless I am missing something here, access looks really good on this bike. I will take off the radiator and some of the peripheries, but it looks to me like it may be just as easy to keep the engine in the frame and take off the heads. I am looking forward to checking out the old heads. I would not be the least surprised to find that the dealer who said they are shot is dead wrong. The mechanic there said he could not set the valve shims because the seats had worn so much that there was zero clearance between the valve stem and opening rocker. Yet when I did a cursory clearance check the opening gaps on the vertical cylinder (the only one I checked) were quite a bit greater than they should be. It seems to me that the (opening) gaps should get smaller with time and wear not larger, so one should pretty much never have to swap shims for a larger size, which appears to be my situation.

The bike only has 20,000 miles on the clock and it looks like the proper oil has been used and what is there seems clean. So I will be surprised if the bottom end needs any work. I am of course hoping that the pistons, rings and cylinders are also in good shape.

I have to swap my cams from the old heads to the new heads and also get the tach tunnel machined on the ST2 heads before installing them. Unfortunately there are only two Ducati dealers in the Vancouver area and no independent shops. I keep forgetting to contact the other dealer and see if they can do the machining on the ST2 heads. I think it an easy job (I could probably do it myself) but if they can do it, I might get them to set the valve clearances while they have the heads, as they should have the right shims and with the heads off the bike it should be quick and easy. Otherwise, I may ship them to Josh in Calgary.

Once I know the engine is good and running, all fluids are changed bearings changed or greased, etc. new tires will be in order. I am also considering the fan replacement and rad grill from Desmotimes to ensure the engine temp stays within reasonable limits if/when I am in hot climes and climbs. I picked up some intake pods to replace the airbox that I will try out. Then it will be time to ride and work on the '68 VW pickup.

Pasophist (great name!) we should meet up at some point. I do occasionally make it over to the Island. Are you going to the Delta Swap meet in April? I was at Spunky's classic bike show last year and would do that again if it is on this year, though not sure which bike I would take. The GB500 was a big hit last year.

Sorry for being long winded...occupational hazard as I charge by the hour. Bottom line: the 907 will be on the road hopefully by Easter, but for sure by June and will take part in the 3 Valley Gap ride at the beginning of July, following which, I intend for this bike to be my ride back to the Kootenays and then down to California for some Eastern Cali wine tasting later in July.

[paso750]

that sounds like a plan.
Does the engine heat up excessively that you need a modification of the cooling system ? There`re some coolant fluids on the market that are said to provide better cooling. Never tried myself.

Regarding the pods, I would not do that. An airbox is always better. Pods will make the engine significally louder and likely mess up your setup. I`d rather replace the original with a K&N filter and if that isn`t enough open the top lid of the airbox (this will of course also make it loud). On some bikes this needs fiddling with the carburation system. I don`t know what this will do on a bike with electronic injection and chip. Do changes like this require a new chip, anyone ?!

G.

[JoKing]

Maybe you can install something like a RAM air system.... I am thinking of a way to do that at the moment...

[907pasonut]

hi Randy, congratulations on your purchase, I didnt read all the thread, but one..two things that came to my attention
one..the air box, I would leave that as it is, its not restrictive for that type of motor, also its fitted with a pressure sensor, just make sure the filter is clean, if you want more power...approx 8hp, fit a less restrictive exhaust pipe and a ferracci stage one chip
two...you definitely do not need a better rad in canada, the original is plenty good enough, just a good 50% glycol coolant...as long as you're moving the engine won't overheat, uphill or downhill