Monster Version 2

[brad black]

when i go to someone who does something i don't i tend not to tell them how to do their job. i expect them to know. otherwise i'd go somewhere else. i'm sure we did gear tooth design at some point in the 4 years of mech eng, but that was 30 years ago and fucked if i can remember any of it. now you just plug the numbers into the software (as peter the gear man did) and see what it says.

there's not many ducati gearbox options. small block is unique, and has 3 gear sets and two crankcases design variations - the 5 speed fitted to lots from 80 to 04, of which many gears will swap, but not the actual shafts, the 6 speed fitted from 03> and a really wide ratio 6 speed fitted to 350/400 from 88 to 93 or so. so not stuff to swap around between them.

this late 6 speed has a fairly large gap between first and second, and 3 to 6 are quite close. hopefully this will spread it out without any noise.

 

[brad black]

got some paint on the cases. this is vht sp995 - cast alloy. it has quite a bit of metallic flake in it, which i wasn't expecting. will see how it goes off when it's dry.

one of the heads i had chemically cleaned because it was a mess, but now am not sure if i can replicate the cylinders and other head. so thinking i might get them all hydroblasted, and that way without paint it'll help with cooling as well. partly bought on too by not being able to find any vht engine enamel primer locally.

anyone have some photos of something that's been hydroblasted and then out and about for a few years? curious to see what it looks like after time.

 

[brad black]

out in the sun a day later. it's a funny sort of colour, hard to work out what it really is. won't really matter once it's assembled and in, you can't really see much of the cases. just hope it stays there.

 

[brad black]

a fellow put an original rear section of frame that everyone cuts off on a facebook page, so i bought it to return the frame to original (apart from the bracket welded on the front). i cut off and drilled out the aluminium bits that had been stuck in the ends of the frame and then cut the frame back as required until i think i got it about right. the lock mount plate is a bit odd - like the two different frames were a touch different there. made a couple of split sleeves to locate it and now it's ready to be welded on. i'll get a pro to do that with a tig - my mig skill isn't high enough to do it without making a mess requiring a lot of grinding. i think it might be worth getting the frame chemically stripped again first too, just to get the black power coat off.

quite a productive couple of hours in the end. find it hard to make much progress with this one, so something that works is always welcome.

 

[brad black]

i got my gears. so now it's up to me to get my shit sorted and get the engine back together, then get the bike together. next is cutting out the primary drive cover and ordering all the engine bits i need. going to replace the bottom end bearings, and the mains are pretty pricey. need to get over that and just order as required.

i did tack the frame piece on too, will have to take it to the welder to get it done properly.

i got the cylinders and heads hydroblasted, just to see what they'd look like and how they'll last. they're very shiney now. wish i could just click my fingers and have it together. although i don't have enough of it, money is no longer the most valuable thing in my life - time and attention span have taken over as the issues.

 

[JerryAssburger]

i got my gears. so now it's up to me to get my shit sorted and get the engine back together, then get the bike together. next is cutting out the primary drive cover and ordering all the engine bits i need. going to replace the bottom end bearings, and the mains are pretty pricey. need to get over that and just order as required.

i did tack the frame piece on too, will have to take it to the welder to get it done properly.

i got the cylinders and heads hydroblasted, just to see what they'd look like and how they'll last. they're very shiney now. wish i could just click my fingers and have it together. although i don't have enough of it, money is no longer the most valuable thing in my life - time and attention span have taken over as the issues.

View attachment 237025

Your work is amazing. I compare a cycle bottom-end to one of those old wind-up alarm clocks... never could fix one, and NO WAY did they ever go back together successfully. More power to you. You NAILED IT with the phrase, " money is no longer the most valuable thing in my life - time and attention span have taken over as the issues." Those words should be carved in a stone tablet for those that are younger and have all of that free-time and energy available.
-It won't always be there.

 

[brad black]

the vapour blasted heads. really does shine in a way sandblasting just doesn't.

the spare parts man i've followed around a couple of dealerships has left the industry, which motivated me to get the engine bearings ordered before he left. some are on back order. the mains are pretty pricey, $250 each or so from memory. so bigger discount is defo better. need to get into it next year once i'm back from the holidays.

 

[JerryAssburger]

the vapour blasted heads. really does shine in a way sandblasting just doesn't.

View attachment 237074

the spare parts man i've followed around a couple of dealerships has left the industry, which motivated me to get the engine bearings ordered before he left. some are on back order. the mains are pretty pricey, $250 each or so from memory. so bigger discount is defo better. need to get into it next year once i'm back from the holidays.

Wow, that looks like Modern Sculpture. What's your opinion on the Walnut-Shell blasting for the engine parts?

 

[brad black]

no idea, never used it. i did these just to see what it looked like and see how it lasts over time. i think irk posted a comparison at one point between traditionally blasted and hydro/vapour blasted. hydro/vapour blasting is sand blasting with water instead of air.

 

[brad black]

got back into it - replaced the crankcase bearings.

 

[john83]

Nice.


Sent from my iPhone using DO THE TON

 

[brad black]

got the engine back together except for the clutch - it's going to have a dry clutch all exposed with a cable actuator, and that won't get through local road worthy inspection. so it might start out with a std wet clutch, or a dodgy cover over the exposed dry stuff. and now on one of my new engine stands i had a few of made. frame has been welded up so it's ready to go to the powder coaters and be red.

 

[Rider52]

Nice engine stand!

 

[brad black]

a local waterjet cutter who's a customer made them for me.