I've had a 750 sport sat under wraps for what has to be 7 or 8 years . Sadly at one point (long story) a small amount of water got into the Weber carb or so it seems through it and sat in the front head ... (due to long story) I wasn't aware of this until my first born Jaz turned on the pester power and decided she liked the look,could fit on it ...well just and the dad can I have ? dad can I have ? routine started ... and that's why its now now hers .. so a few days ago it was dragged into the sunshine and work has began ....
I decided to take the carb off for a clean up and also as the throttle cable wouldn't pull .... Unfortunately this first problem was discovered followed quickly by the second .

The spindle which the butterfly (choke) flaps are on was very seized .... It took an overnight soak followed by about an hour of very gentle working before it started to move and I'm pleased to say is now 100% . Thankfully the rest of the carb is in very good order.

The more serious problem came to light with the carb removed and the head taken off .... I should add that the Barrel and Piston have escaped without any problems and are very clean and un-damaged.

Next task is to strip the head and commence sorting ... It seems more likely that only a small amount of water got in so at present I hope it just a case of a valve regrind and shim .

During all the excitement I remembered why the bike had been left so long in the first place ... The gear-change had got progressively worse and vague and at the time (when I had no time) the bike was just covered and forgot .

So as a precaution Jaz and I have already checked the clutch plates which seem fine and in spec .... The fault as I'm sure most of you will say was in the two swivels on the gear pedal rod ie both ends ... very very stiff .... so I guess the gear change couldn't return ...which is now sorted

I should add Jaz is my daughter who was born on the Isle of Man.... is as mad as a 'box of frogs' and studying for her 'Masters in Vehicle Engineering' very good with electronics and gear ratios .... Now learning the spanners !!
She refers to herself as my son ...probably true as my real son wears his hat the wrong way round , can only make grunting noises when questioned and thinks a noisy Nissan Micra is the height of cool !

Will sort the photo's out soon as I can and give an update ..... Looking for an airbox cover (don't ask) and tank fastenings ...

Parts need so far :

Base gaskets and oil seals
Airbox cover
Belts
Tank fastenings
Handlebar Grips
Tyres
Chain n Sprockets

All the Best

Dale/Jaz

Hopefully have manged to add a few pics .... sorry for the non Duc pic . We built the Rvf from the frame up ... This bike now lives in Holland .
It would appear the collecting bug has been handed over ... however the buying in the first place hasnt.

Dale/Jaz

A great story and welcome to the forum Dale.

Keep us posted on progress

Thanks all for the advice .... Much searching has been done and thankfully the two fairing sides ...the seat base and seat have all been found ... parts which are still lost are the keys !!! which still should turn plus the fairing and seat bolts ,tho the bolts which fix the single seat cover are there.

Any advice or thoughts on the following welcomed :

I will strip n clean the clutch slave cylinder as advised but are there any known fixes for what seems a heavy clutch .... bearing in mind Jaz argues ferociously she is over 5' but really she's a bit tiddly .... so whilst dog leg levers will help the reach my only though is to up the master cylinder ?

The front sprocket has a single bolt fixing... I,m guessing tighten to FT and loctite this or lock-wire the bolt to the sprocket .

No joy with the air-box yet so looking at the K&N option

Anyone used Dzus fixings on the fairing and if so what length

Will post a few more pics tomorrow

All The Best

Dale/Jaz

Just a bit of an update and another question ... when the front barrel was taken off the top of the piston all but wiped clean however if you look at the side shot on the indented part of the piston its black ? easily scratched ...can only think its over-spray from when perhaps the previous owner threw paint around ? ... the front and back of the piston are clean,the rings free and no obvious blow by exists in places I would think usual ....

The picture of the head shows how grim things are .... have now cleaned the valve up and the section where it was originally ground in has appeared through the crud .... the seat itself looks ok ... Wondering if valve wasn't closing properly or not being closed ... so a re-shim is in order .

Other than that had a good look round the brake hoses look to have been new just prior to me getting the bike ... no flex at all when the the lever is pulled but I will as a minimum change the fluid .

Should have the gaskets and belts arrive next day or so ...then the fun starts ! And the pestering will go up a gear or three !

Thanks for the thoughts and the air box cover offer (will be in touch ) ... I will replace the brake lines ,the clutch plates looked ok ... tho on reflection will take them out again and give them a light sanding ... Jaz is just on full 'bother bother' mode and working back at Frankie n Bennies (restaurant) to earn money whilst back from Uni and I should add pay for the parts for the bike ... I sometimes think i'm being a bit mean tho suppose to give her this Duc on top of the RVF and little Sr125 she has gathered fro me so far is a whole lot more than I got from my Dad .... can't take it with you !

The update is that have re ground and cleaned the valves in the front head and now wait for the gaskets and valve stem oil seals to fit it back up .... I do have quite a few parts that were gathered up from a 600 Pantah motor .... (are they same as for the 750 /Paso lump) ... I've got rockers .. shims .. spindles ... etc etc ... haven't looked that close yet but guessing they will be ... so anybody short get in touch .Hopefully might have the shims if needed !

Have taken a few pics which I will post up later ..... Will be taking rear head off tomorrow ...judging by the state of the valves and head a de-coke will be over due anyway . So for now ...

All the Best Dale/Jaz ....

Well Just a bit of an update .

The valve seats are looking a bit happier ... really needs new tho I reckon but as it ran before it looks a lot better now and should get it through till the summers out the way .... Jaz is looking a bit happier now things are progressing .....

We bled the brakes through though will be replacing the lines ... There marked 02/88 but really are in seemingly 1st class condition ... The big problem still seems to be on how heavy the clutch is ... All is working well tho a huge amount of crap was dug out from the master cylinder ... will pop the slave cylinder out and see if that's full of crud .
I'm more inclined to think its just a heavy clutch ... haven't yet tried taking a couple of springs out as suggested but will ... If anyone out there has fitted a smaller master cylinder or different levers ...advice welcomed.

One bit of news I've found both the air box front and its very clean/new looking Genuine air filter ... It is missing 1 horn and the clips ...better than before !

Still not found the ignition keys .. Bugger !


All the Best

Dale/Jaz

It is certainly grand to have a child who is mechanically inclined, and want to work on old bikes. Of course it helps that you have a bunch of cool old bikes to play with.

Ignition switch is similar to Paso, but the streering lock bolt is a bit short, and won't lock out the steering, if that matters. (It surely didn't to me)

While you are into it, fuel lines and vacuum lines are a cheap insurance. the stock routing is recommended with the return to the tank.

I dare say that the bike is a bit older than Jaz?

CHEERS, Phil

Still Bloody Waiting For Parts !

Engine wise things have ground to a halt .. I've had parts,mainly gaskets and seals, on order from a Ducati dealership for getting on for 10 days ... still waiting !
Also found out today just how many Torx bolts this seems to have ,most frustrating was that having packed up a tool box with what I thought would be okay ... I then realised I couldn't take either the top yoke off or worse still get the front wheel out ... should add bikes at a friends house ... So attention turned to the rear caliper ... Took the pads out which looked new and made sure both pistons were working .. what I did find tho that one pad slid easily in and out whilst the other was quite tight .... Had a bit more of a look and realised the disc itself was slightly offset to the center line of the calipers .... Looks tho thin spacers should sit between the caliper and the hanger ? Checked the parts book which doesn't seem to show any but have to say not that fond of the old Ducati parts books ... I worked in a previous life as a Parts Manger for VW/Audi so can nprmally find myself around that sort of thing .... this is much more fun .
Only other thing we found was one of the pad retaining pins had lost its wire collet ..which we've now sorted .
So tomorrow its front wheel out and calipers off ... give them a look over then back on with new lines ..

All and any thoughts welcomed ...pics to follow

Dale/Jaz

torx bolts on a Sport?