Hi,
Just a UK perspective ...
My SSD doesn't like Shell Optimax or BP Ultimate or Castrol Valvemaster Plus. Bogs and fouls plugs, worst on Optimax, least on Valvemaster.
Strange, 'cos my RGS Corsa is better on Shell Optimax ... but also doesn't like the Castrol or BP Ultimate.
Craig in UK
Search found 918 matches
- Tue Sep 05, 2006 2:18 pm
- Forum: Carburettor & Fuel System Shop
- Topic: is valve additive fouling my plugs
- Replies: 29
- Views: 36310
- Sat Jul 08, 2006 3:07 pm
- Forum: Roundcase Engines > 750 GT, 750 Sport & 750 Super Sport
- Topic: 750GT oil strainer woes.
- Replies: 6
- Views: 5023
Oil strainers
Useful, Steve.
Thanks.
Ciao
Craig
Thanks.
Ciao
Craig
- Mon Jul 03, 2006 1:04 pm
- Forum: Pantah Head Photo Gallery
- Topic: Ducati TT2 - update photo
- Replies: 2
- Views: 14229
TT2
Sweet, Dan ...
Very, VERY, sweet. They don't get much better than this, IMHO
Craig in UK
Very, VERY, sweet. They don't get much better than this, IMHO

Craig in UK
- Mon Jun 26, 2006 2:56 pm
- Forum: Single Cylinder Bevel Drive Engines > 250, 350 & 450
- Topic: 350 Mark III advice sort
- Replies: 4
- Views: 3298
Orange? THAT ain't orange ...
Ah, you mean Ducati YELLOW! Well, that's what Ducati called it - straw yellow, in fact. Nowt wrong with that at all, nothing at all, altho' I could make an argument that it belongs best on genuine Desmos! :) At this point, I will have to concede that I'm not a great fan of look-alike versions of the...
- Sun Jun 25, 2006 4:20 pm
- Forum: Single Cylinder Bevel Drive Engines > 250, 350 & 450
- Topic: 350 Mark III advice sort
- Replies: 4
- Views: 3298
Mark 3
I was feeling sympathetic until you said you'd change from the iconic Mark 3 blue to ... What! Orange! :shock: Please don't :) The value is what you think it's worth. As to likely works, you should asume that all the running gear basics like suspension, brakes, wheel bearings, cables, swing arm bush...
- Sat Jun 17, 2006 3:31 pm
- Forum: Squarecase BOSCH Ignition Engines > SD, SSD Darmah, late 900 SS & 900 GTS
- Topic: tight exhaust nuts
- Replies: 11
- Views: 10635
Tight nut
Hi Stuart My best advice is, exercise patience. You don't want to get yourself in a situation where the lobes on the ring are broken ... Thoughts: 1. Get some better penetrating oil - WD40 isn't that good. Give it time. 2 Try a bit of heat. The rings are brass, the heads aluminium so you may be able...
- Fri May 12, 2006 1:44 pm
- Forum: Single Cylinder Bevel Drive Engines > 250, 350 & 450
- Topic: Engine won't rev / HELP!
- Replies: 5
- Views: 4048
Top end performance
Hi Antero
Just a thought ...
Which silencer do you have fitted? I have the short one, but I did once try a medium length one, just to see ... Agh!! Horrible! Top end went totally flat.
Quickly went back to the short one!
HTH
Craig in UK
450 Scrambler
Just a thought ...
Which silencer do you have fitted? I have the short one, but I did once try a medium length one, just to see ... Agh!! Horrible! Top end went totally flat.
Quickly went back to the short one!
HTH
Craig in UK
450 Scrambler
- Mon May 01, 2006 2:48 pm
- Forum: Squarecase BOSCH Ignition Engines > SD, SSD Darmah, late 900 SS & 900 GTS
- Topic: Problem with front cylinder on 900 Darmah
- Replies: 14
- Views: 9314
Oil in front pot
Wow, Magnus, that's quite a leak! I especially like the valve guide seal stuck in the oilway!
Hopefully, like Steve says, new seals and o-rings and you'll be up running clean!
Good Luck!
Craig in UK
Hopefully, like Steve says, new seals and o-rings and you'll be up running clean!
Good Luck!
Craig in UK
- Sun Apr 30, 2006 3:58 pm
- Forum: Squarecase BOSCH Ignition Engines > SD, SSD Darmah, late 900 SS & 900 GTS
- Topic: Problem with front cylinder on 900 Darmah
- Replies: 14
- Views: 9314
Faulty running Darmah front pot
Hi Steve Yeh, thanks, you're right, of course - I wasn't being specific enuf ... :doh: Magnus - as Steve says, the seal on the top of the valve guide can/does break up and come off, and the excess oil flowing down the guide will foul the plug. This often shows as blue-ish exhaust smoke on start up. ...
- Sun Apr 30, 2006 3:38 pm
- Forum: Squarecase BOSCH Ignition Engines > SD, SSD Darmah, late 900 SS & 900 GTS
- Topic: Problem with front cylinder on 900 Darmah
- Replies: 14
- Views: 9314
Rich running on Darmah front cylinder
Hi Magnus It could be a leaky guide like your mechanic friend suggests, especially if the black on the plug is oily. A leak down test might help test for this, but otherwise it's not a big job to remove the head and check the valves, their guides and seals. But if the soot isn't oily, it's much more...
- Sun Apr 30, 2006 3:03 pm
- Forum: Electrical & Gauges Shop
- Topic: Starting relay for 900 Darmah
- Replies: 2
- Views: 2709
Starter relay
Hi Magnus
These were made by Lucas and fitted to many British made cars at the time.
Today, you should be able to get a pattern one from a car spares shop which supplies parts for older cars - they are not expensive and, best of all, no longer made by Lucas
Ciao
Craig in UK
These were made by Lucas and fitted to many British made cars at the time.
Today, you should be able to get a pattern one from a car spares shop which supplies parts for older cars - they are not expensive and, best of all, no longer made by Lucas

Ciao
Craig in UK
- Wed Apr 19, 2006 2:47 pm
- Forum: Wheel, Brake & Tyre Shop
- Topic: speedline 4 bolt 1980 wheels 900ss, going to explode/burn?
- Replies: 11
- Views: 10166
Replacing Speedlines
Hi Ruffle Nah, mate, that bike's a pile of pants ... you don't want to touch it with barge pole ... Now, what's yer mate's phone number? :-) Ok, seriously .. You can retrofit FPS wheels - it's what I did with my SSD. They come up on eBay every now and then, particularly in Germany, and I've even see...
- Wed Apr 19, 2006 2:16 pm
- Forum: Electrical & Gauges Shop
- Topic: Help with Ducati electronic ignition wiring (WC single)
- Replies: 7
- Views: 5713
Ignition for widecase single
Hi Antero The Ducati Elettronica ignition system isn't very reliable ... I've had a coil fail, a pick-up fail and a stator plate fail, all at different times! But it is all 30 years old - and it was relatively unproven technology when new. If you're serious about a reliable system, I suggest you nee...
- Tue Apr 18, 2006 2:10 pm
- Forum: Wheel, Brake & Tyre Shop
- Topic: speedline 4 bolt 1980 wheels 900ss, going to explode/burn?
- Replies: 11
- Views: 10166
How to identify Speedlines at a distance
Hi Ruffle
Campagnolas have 5 solid spokes, Speedlines have 5 'split' spokes, FPS have 6 'twin spokes' (if you know what I mean) ..
HTH
Ciao
Craig in UK
Campagnolas have 5 solid spokes, Speedlines have 5 'split' spokes, FPS have 6 'twin spokes' (if you know what I mean) ..
HTH
Ciao
Craig in UK
- Tue Apr 18, 2006 1:51 pm
- Forum: Electrical & Gauges Shop
- Topic: Help with Ducati electronic ignition wiring (WC single)
- Replies: 7
- Views: 5713
Ignition wiring for electronic ignition on a 450 SCR
Hi Antero I have a '72 450 SCR with the Ducati Elettronica ignition. The wiring is as you describe. I think you will need to get a new stator plate with the correct coil set-up ... If you look at the parts book, the plate is shown as a part that is specific to the electronic ignition models - number...