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July 28, 2007
Underblog Rides Again
I have been riding. In fact, I have been riding the Morini and the Trail 90 with some regularity. But the 851 has been a source of strife for me. The niggling random little fuel leak has persisted lo these many months. Fortunately, I have a support system, the 851-888 Yahoo Group. I suspected that a kinky fuel line was causing the leakage, so a while back I purchased two sets of quick-release fuel connectors, the idea being that it makes removal and installation of the fuel tank (necessary for seemingly every task on the Ducati). Last week, I connected them and they leaked something fierce. Dejected, I called it quits for the weekend.
Last week, I negotiated for a set of Conti silencers for the 851. The timing seemed ironic, given that the bike had been giving me trouble all season. But Conti's for the 851 are almost as rare as a hen-tooth. Plus they make quite likely the best sound of any 851-888 (according to an informal poll among the groupmembers). The pipes presently on the 851 sound terrific, but they are essentially a neatly-done bodge. The ends of the stock cans were cut off. the baffles removed, and the old end replaced with a so-marked "CLOSED CIRCUIT ONLY" set of Super Trapp ends. They are not nearly as graceful as the stock cans, though they sound much better and are far less restrictive.
Now that new cans had been ordered, it was even more important that the fuel line problem get fixed. I consulted the group, and came back with a suitable location for the connectors and some more fuel line. Today, I set about once and for all to remove the kinks and install the connectors with new o-rings, the old ones suspect due to possible damage from all the connecting and disconnecting. Evidently the o-rings are easily damaged if one does not hold the release open while connecting the two ends of the connectors.
I hooked all up and nothing. No click, no whirring of the EFI. I then attached the power to the tank. Ignition on, fuel all over the place. I examine the connectors on the tank, and notice that they are both fairly loose. I tighten them up, reassemble, hook up everything and ignition on. The whirring commences and there is no fuel leak. And there hasn't been since. Knock wood for me that I may have solved this gremlin once and for all.
Next week I may take her for a ride. Week after that, perhaps a first ride with the new cans.
Posted by Underblog at July 28, 2007 8:02 PM
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