The Elephant that was a Duck

[El Camexican]

Getting close. She'll spin over this week, but I'm 6 weeks out on some carb parts, so fire up is a ways off.



A BIG thank you to Jet Hot!!! Had the pipes cleaned, coated and returned in less than 10 days with a lifetime guarantee. Now if only they had a suspension division...

[tripledog]

I thought your shock WAS guaranteed for a lifetime (to get it back).

[El Camexican]

I thought your shock WAS guaranteed for a lifetime (to get it back).

Wow, you really are a glass half full kind of a guy!!!

[Evan Hagenow]

I take it your shock is still missing in action?
Sweet bike btw, even though I didn't comprehend half of the things you were saying about the engine internals.

[El Camexican]

I take it your shock is still missing in action?

Affirmativo

Sweet bike btw, even though I didn't comprehend half of the things you were saying about the engine internals.

Me neither

[tripledog]

Wow, you really are a glass half full kind of a guy!!!

Yes, I am half-glassed.

[El Camexican]

Got the rest of the aluminum trinkets in and fired it up... sort of. One cylinder is firing intermittently at idle and completely cutting out above 2,000rpm. After many tests all I can conclude is that I either have a pick-up coil that tests fine, but shuts down when called upon to perform, or a wire that is broken somewhere. I recall that cylinder was a little late to fire up before I started this rebuild, but I always attributed it to the carbs being out of sync. I've decided to go with some aftermarket units from Germany that are 400 Ohms VS the stockers that are 100 and have very thin wires.

I also added an HID headlight system to increase the lumens and lower the draw on the already stressed stock system and an inline switch to keep it off during startups. Crappy electrical systems are a trademark of the early versions of these bikes.

I really like how the red tidbits look against the chrome.

[tripledog]

Looks great! Can't wait to see the finished product.

[knappyfeet]

Very nice.

Good call on the coils as that's what it sounds like................ or perhaps a wiring issue but who knows.

Red tidbits are nice........kinda reminds me of the kits LochartPhillips were selling back in the day.

[El Camexican]

Very nice.

Good call on the coils as that's what it sounds like................ or perhaps a wiring issue but who knows.

Red tidbits are nice........kinda reminds me of the kits LochartPhillips were selling back in the day.

Found the problem. My bad, but I had help

There are two wires coming off of each of the two pickups and they are all different colors. In order to pull the wires through the case hole the plastic connectors need to be removed. When I put them back together I referenced both the Haynes and Ducati manuals, but both fail to list a color for any of the four individual wires. Considering every other wire in the schematic listed a color I assumed (yea, I know ) that they were interchangeable.

I posted my doubts on a Ducati forum and got a reply that the wires were likely interchangeable, but that seems to not be the case as she lite up on both cylinders and kicked out a puff of black smoke from the previously dead cylinder as soon as I switched the wires at the igniter box and hit the button.

Carbs are still way out of sync, but that will be taken care of very soon

[tripledog]

Don't get the carbs In Sync unless you want a boy band instead of a powerband.

[El Camexican]

I'm well aware of how that works. I bought my RZ 500 after watching an episode of Different Strokes.

[El Camexican]

A little update...

After getting the wiring sorted out I was till getting some missing and popping above 4,000rpm, so I ponied up for a set of aftermarket pickups some guy in Germany makes. Got them installed about a month back and was still getting some midrange popping out of one cylinder.

After seeking the advice of the Ducati forum stiffs (they know a lot, but the site is like a church) I was compelled to fatten up the pilots and the needles as well as get the synchronization done and put a timing light on it, but the Invasion prep has been taking up all my evenings... until yesterday when the trike and dirt bikes were deemed dune worthy and I was able to pull the Duck back out of the corner.

Bumped the jets up, checked the timing and synchronized the carbs at idle and then again at 4,000rpm and I'm thrilled to report that the misfiring is gone, it starts much easier and the occasional hanging up of the revs before dropping to idle is gone.

I'll do one more photo shoot with some sort of nice back drop before she becomes a driver again. Can't wait to get the tires scuffed up!!!

[knappyfeet]

Glad you got it all sorted out

prepping for the invasion......What are you taking?

[El Camexican]

Glad you got it all sorted out

prepping for the invasion......What are you taking?

The trike and the one without a headlight. I figure I may never get to the dunes again, so I may as well pop for the tire and experience everything I possibly can on there. Are you going to be there?