Ducati 450 Desmo rebuild

xbacksideslider said:
I had two Desmo singles, 350 and 450, both 1967 MK III D models.

Like this?
Ducati 450 Desmo rebuild


These are very sought after now.

The early Duke singles were great. They were one of the very few bikes of that era that people could race virtually out of the crate. I didn't have my narrow case Mark 3 that long. It was almost identical to the Mach 1 but without rearsets and without the large rev counter, and had flywheel magneto ignition:

Ducati 450 Desmo rebuild


Not long after I sold it, I entered the 450 Desmo you see in this thread, bog standard, in my first ever road race in Dublin's historic Phoenix Park venue and was passed out on the straight by the guy who bought my 250!
 
Yep, those are the ones.

That tank on the Desmo may be a re-paint. Both of mine had chrome thigh panels and candy style paint, the 350 was candy electric blue and the 450 was candy apple red. Leaks were a common problem with those tanks. Likely because of the chrome plating but also because of those long straight panels on both the inside and the outside of the rear section of the tank, they resonated and cracked at the seam at the bottom rear, near the petcocks. Brazing/welding gas tanks of course is problematic. I tried tank sealant and it kinda worked. The thighs of my jeans would smell of gasoline - not a hit with the fairer sex! The other problem with welding those tanks is that the chrome would blue/blacken and then you're gonna chrome it again ? ! ? and make that steel even more brittle and weak ?- so that's why you see silver painted tanks, the paint on the silver thigh panel portion is covering up the burnt/blued chrome in the vicinity of the crack repair.


The tank on that Diana is the smaller, standard one, of course, same goes for the headlight. Mine had the Veglia tach with tach drive of course. There was a number plate that came with the bike too.

In 1979, I sold the two Desmos and a pickup truck bed full of Ducati parts to an Australian to help pay for school.

In 1983, after two years of lane splitting on it down the Hollywood freeway to get to school, I sold the Diana in 1983 to pay to finish school; a Japanese gent took it to Japan.
 
I have yet to meet a person who owned a Ducati single and sold it and didn't wish they still had it. I've done it every time I sold one. Now I only have 1 and won't sell it, my son has his eye on it.
 
Yeah, regrets. My truckload of parts and the two Desmos went to Australia, so maybe you'll run across some of my stuff.
 
Hello John,
"so maybe you'll run across some of my stuff."

Maybe I already have? this is what I started with, plus a bent frame. And this was before Ebay so all the parts came from Australia

Ducati 450 Desmo rebuild


there were a few parts needed over 8 years, maybe some were yours?

Ducati 450 Desmo rebuild


Do you remember who you sold them to?
There doesn't seem to be many early desmos here, mostly 71 on Silver Shotguns and Yellow bikes. (or maybe that's the ones that survived?)

graeme
 
Got the tank stickers yesterday from Classic Transfers (http://www.classictransfers.co.uk).

Ducati 450 Desmo rebuild


I gave them to the paint shop with instructions on precise positioning and trimming. Looks like they are for the 750 Sport and the black stripes need to be trimmed to the dimensions of the singles (I got the painter to measure the ones already on the tank).

I should have the yellow bits back by the weekend. Photos should be posted here by early next week.

One obstacle I have yet to overcome is the exhaust system. A friend who can weld stainless pipe was going to make a system for me but he is now not available. For the moment, I have fitted an old header and an old Conti that do not look great but will work so that I can get some running in miles on it.

My aim is to get the bike ready to run at this event: http://www.dunboynemotorclub.com/html/Photos.htm. When you get to the page, click on Spirit of Dunboyne 2009 and there are lots of photos of the event from last year. It is for cars and bikes, and is based around the old Dunboyne Race Circuit, last used in anger in 1967. Some of the greats rode here, including Hartle, McIntyre, Bryans and Robb. We even had a few race winners from Down Under. The public roads are closed off and we get to have a gallop around the route of the old circuit.

Since I won't be able to fabricate a system in time, I will use my old left side exit race pipe; we definitely do not need silencers for this event!
 
http://www.cutgrafix.com/

That's a good decal site. don't forget the "450" on the seat, and the "desmo" and stripe on the side covers, and "ceriani" on the front gaurd.

The site above has these, Rod is the fellows name. Good quality decals.

A good idea to use an old header until you get the timing and mixture correct so it doesn't blue the new chrome or stainless.

Also, you mentioned a Seely G50? I was reading about Seely Condors that used left over G50 motors in these for the road? Have you seen any? Pictures of your Seely would be appreciated.

graeme
 
No, don't remember the name. I even forget how much money I got for the lot. The guy explained to me that there was great demand in Australia and Japan for 60's Britsh and Italian bikes; he said he was buying them and putting them in containers for shipping to a partner in Australia.
 
http://www.eurobrit.com.au/article/1

I would bet it was Frant Trento Eurobrit in Melbourne. He has sold out of single bits years ago.
Or maybe Phil at Road and Race.
Maybe some of your parts are in my 450???

I do know heaps os Desmo singles were restored and sent to Japan and Germany from Australia.
 
Since so many Ducatis found their way to Oz, I wondered how many were actually produced. The only figures I could find were on this site: http://www.ducatimeccanica.com/ducati_since_1973.html. I don't know how accurate they are. The figures are for the period 1973 to 1977. Have a look at the numbers; each roadster model only in the high hundreds, but a lot more scramblers. Anyone know more about this?
 
GRM 450 said:
http://www.cutgrafix.com/

That's a good decal site. don't forget the "450" on the seat, and the "desmo" and stripe on the side covers, and "ceriani" on the front gaurd.

The site above has these, Rod is the fellows name. Good quality decals.

A good idea to use an old header until you get the timing and mixture correct so it doesn't blue the new chrome or stainless.

Also, you mentioned a Seely G50? I was reading about Seely Condors that used left over G50 motors in these for the road? Have you seen any? Pictures of your Seely would be appreciated.

graeme

Thought I had replied earlier to your post but mustn't have submitted it. The other stickers were with the painter so I could not photograph them all, but I have omitted the fork stickers, which I will have to get now, since you mentioned them! Thanks for the tips on the exhaust too.

You've done an amazing job on your 450. Ridden, and polished! Can't quite see what carb is on it. Also, your silencer looks like a Conti. I had to make a sleeve for mine to fit the standard header. How did you adapt yours?

I remember seeing a Seeley Condor in the flesh only once, at a classic show. They are very rare birds indeed. Sure, will rustle up some pics of the Seeley for next week.
 
I mistakenly said Ceriani decal on the gaurd. I meant on the bottom front of the fork legs.
The carb is 32 Dell'Orto bored to 36. the muffler is a stainless conti copy but shorter
 
GRM 450 said:
The carb is 32 Dell'Orto bored to 36

Neat.

GRM 450 said:
the muffler is a stainless conti copy but shorter

Did you have to sleeve it down to get it to fit the header? How did you shorten it? Do you have the standard header pipe? I might follow your example. Could you post a close-up pic?

Dave
 
I LOVE the Mark IIID... I could use a 250 !!! just to look at it! I had years ago a 450SCR and,after rebuilding it, I did not really like it....

Ducati 450 Desmo rebuild


Philippe
 
daveh said:
GRM 450 said:
The carb is 32 Dell'Orto bored to 36

Neat.

GRM 450 said:
the muffler is a stainless conti copy but shorter

Did you have to sleeve it down to get it to fit the header? How did you shorten it? Do you have the standard header pipe? I might follow your example. Could you post a close-up pic?

Dave

The Muffler was made by Motorcycle Exhaust Professionals in Brisbane. The header is a standard 450 header.
They have a press to replicate the dimples on the bracket, same as a Conti.
It is made from stainless and made to fit the standart header diameter and is shorter than a conti from a V twin.

Ducati 450 Desmo rebuild


If you want to PM me with your email address I will take close up high res pics with measurements and send them to you

graeme
 
GRM 450 said:
If you want to PM me with your email address I will take close up high res pics with measurements and send them to you

graeme

Yes, will do, thanks.

Dave
 
There's another thread about Keira Knightley and I spend all my time looking at these things instead. More please.
 
The 450 started and ran first kick, which was a pleasant surprise. I ran it for about 15 mins, until everything was nice and warm. I have checked and re-tightened all the casing screws and the cylinder head bolts. Next time it runs, it will be with the tank and seat, which are still with the painter, who now says he won't have them ready till Monday. I need to adjust the idle mixture and check the charging.
 
Back
Top