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860GTS into Darmah

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2018 4:20 am
by Lumpy
Does anybody know if a 1976 860GTS engine will slot into an SD900 Darmah frame? While I`m picking brains is the frame geometry, as in rake, trail and wheelbase similar?

Re: 860GTS into Darmah

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2018 7:10 am
by wdietz186
The motor mount holes are in the same places. The only problem I can think of might be the motor mount plate at the left rear may not be relieved for the shift cross shaft lump on the back of the 76 engine cases. I'm going by memory here so I might be wrong. If the 76 has Bosch ignition it all should fall right in but the older Ducati Electrotecnica setup [if it still works] will need the ign. boxes etc. from the GTS. I'm pretty sure the geometry is the same between the two, long and stable. Crank took a dump, right?

Re: 860GTS into Darmah

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2018 2:49 pm
by Lumpy
Thanks for the reply. No, crank is all still where it should be. Im looking at building a bit of a special. Basically along the lines of a 750 Sport but with no side covers and battery mounted under the duck tail. Bit of a minimalist look is what Im after. I`ve been offered a Darmah frame cheap and am wondering if I might be better chopping bits off that and adding rear set mounts rather than cutting and welding her original frame. It has an electronica ignition with that wonderful surge at 2500RPM but I have a replacement Sachse ignition for her.

Re: 860GTS into Darmah

Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2018 9:59 pm
by Kilmer
I have both a 900GTS and a Darmah in my garage, and fail to see any difference between the engine mounting holes on the two models. If you want me to check any specific measurements, just let me know.

/Martin

Re: 860GTS into Darmah

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2018 1:19 pm
by ducadini
The engine mounting holes are identical on all bevels. The difference is in the gearchange.
The roundcase had the box on the right outside, shifting rightside.
860 had the square box on the right and a shaft from the left side to the rightside box, running outside the crankcase.
The Darmah had the shifting mechanism inside the case but at about the same place.
So IRCC, fitting a 860 engine in a Darmah would be possible with mods to the starter and ignition, but fitting a 860 or Darmah (squarecase) in a roundcase frame would need some cutting of the plate (not much and without nearly any loss of strength.
and we don't want to go cutting and modding roundcase frames, do we ? except for racing :-D :-D

ciao
ducadini

Re: 860GTS into Darmah

Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2018 4:01 pm
by Lumpy
Thank you Kilmer for your kind offer and Ducadini for your advise. Sadly the monster I call employment prevented me from getting to the aforementioned Darmah frame, complete with swingarm, stand, rear guard and some pretty shitty plastics in time and it was snapped up for a paltry $500 by another bevel enthusiast. Ah well, my loss, anothers gain. Trying to be stoic here but I`m tipping you can all see straight through it. The quest continues................

Re: 860GTS into Darmah

Posted: Sat May 25, 2019 5:02 am
by jockduck
I put a GTS engine into a Darmah frame and it worked out well, biggest change was the bracket for the starter solenoid but thats just basic cutting, drilling and welding. Its amazing nobody has picked the wrong engine until I point it out, I did fit Darmah cam blocks to help the illusion. The Darmah has a decent rear brake compared to the GT/GTS drum.
Jock