So here is another update on where i am with the Ducati 600SS engine video. Its good and bad news im afraid but ill get to that a little later. Ive had to wait a couple of days the get a hold of a good buddy of mine who has been a motorcycle mechanic for the best part of 30 years and really knows his stuff as i wanted anther opinion on what i saw when i took of the side casings and heads..... The engine is brand new inside! i couldn't believe my eyes so we measured its vitals and everything came out within new specs, here are a few of the things we measured,
ROCKER ARM/ SHAFT CLEARANCE - 0.05mm
PISTON TO BORE CLEARANCE - 0.04mm
RING END GAP 1&2 - 0.05mm
OIL CONTROL RING -0.06mm
CLUTCH PACK STRIPPED AND SHOWS NO SIGNS OF WEAR ON THE FRICTION MATERIAL OR PLAIN PLATES
END FLOAT ON CRANK - 0mm
ALL OTHER BEARINGS HAVE NO PLAY EITHER
BORE OVALITY - WITHIN TOLERANCE BUT DIDNT RECORD THE READING DOH!
VISUALLY- NONE OF THE INTERNAL CASINGS HAVE ANY OIL STAINING OR CARBON BUILD UP AND NOTHING APPEARS WORN OR SCORED
So all of this numerical data along with the fact there is no oil/carbon staining of the internal casing tells us pretty conclusively that the engine has been properly rebuilt in the past and covered next to no miles before being abandoned in the shed. So as i said before its good and bad news in a way. Bad news because you wont get to see the engine fully torn down into component form and see a full engine build But its also good news in a way because the build will take less time and we know for a fact we have a good strong engine that has already been rebuilt properly and run in and has been running well and lets face it for a Ducati this is a great result as we could have been opening a right can of worms with this engine! haha.
I have no doubt a few of you will call bullsh*t and think im lying and i just dont want to split the engine but if you have watched my other bike restorations you will know that taking engines apart and rebuilding them doesn't phase me in the slightest and i wont pull apart a perfectly healthy engine for no reason and i know most of you will appreciate where im coming from with that statement.
So thats all i have for you at the moment, i am currently in the process of painting the engine and getting ready to get it all re-assembled as well as working on producing the next episode of the series.
See you all again soon
RRC.