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January 30, 2008
Header Pipe Update
Because I know Jonneke wants to hear the latest.
I swung by Team Synergy on the way home and picked up the exhaust for the 750 Sport. It looks fine; I was a little concerned that the pitted metal be too much revealed, but it came out more like orange-peel than anything else. Considering that one would have to be on the ground to inspect the pipes, I think they are 100% acceptable. In addition to the one header piece, I had the downpipe and the exhaust flanges coated. With the cans done, it will be a trick-looking setup. All I have lost is the look of stainless for the matte black. Which is fine by me: both the Morini and the other Ducati have black exhausts.
To address the mystery of the previous post, these pipes are definitely not stock to the 750, and I doubt (given their construction) that they are stock to any Ducati. My guess is that the 750 Sport I purchased in October was fitted with a full FBF exhaust solution. And now that I have removed the P.O.'s exhaust wrap job and had them coated properly, I have paid for the upgrade. I measured the aftermarket headers: the exterior diameter is 42mm at the cans, and 45mm at the exhaust port. Interior dimensions at the port are 42mm vs 31mm of stock. According to my envelope calculations, that is 1.8 times the volume! No wonder it seems like such a peppy bike. I think we can safely rule out lack of breathing as a source of any potential slowness.
Posted by Underblog at 5:59 PM | TrackBack
January 28, 2008
Stock vs. Mystery Exhaust
Admittedly, the "mystery" about the header pipe on the 750 Sport is in all likelihood one of three possibilities.
- The header that came on the 750 when I bought it is matched to the Fast By Ferracci cans.
- Ducati switched headers as they went along, meaning both headers are stock, only the larger diameter headers are later.
- The header that came on the Sport when I bought it is off of a later motorcycle (probably a 900 Supersport).
For reference sake, the stock header is 35mm diameter on the manifold side, and 40mm diameter on the silencer side. In comparison, the headers I am getting ceramic coated are estimated to be about 10mm larger in diameter. I'll measure them once I pick them up from the coater.
There are some other differences. The stock set (pictured) have a gusset where the exhaust diverges. The other have larger diameter pipes at the diverter and there is no gusset plate. I did not think to look for a part number on the pre-coating header before I handed it over, but I will look for one when I get it back.
Posted by Underblog at 12:11 PM | TrackBack
January 18, 2008
In For Service
For some reason, I take the Ducati's in for service, even though I perform my own maintenance on the Morini. I confess that setting the valves with shims is somewhat intimidating. One of these days, perhaps when I acquire some more shop space, I will give it a try. I am told that setting the valves is not nearly as difficult on the 2-valve machines as it is on the "desmoquattro's".
So I rode the 750 Sport over to PJ's. PJ was there and seemed excited about the 750, even though he had seen the 851 previously. He just picked up a 1993 888 which looks very very clean, and he suggested that we do an "old-timers" ride with the early 90's Ducati's.
So Chris and I are checking out the wrapped exhaust header on the Sport and comparing it to the stock one I was going to replace it with. It appears that the Sport has a complete Ferraci system, not just the slip-on's as I assumed. The reason we think that is that the stock header had a plate where the four pipes come together while the Sport's junction is entirely open.
The plan now is to do a bench test and the tuning work on the Sport, then remove the exhaust for plating / coating while the stainless braided lines, battery, and belts are being ordered. I think the PJ's folks like me because time is never the issue, since I have several other bikes to ride.