A Mexican Ducati rescue and rebuild - Page 12

Airhead Wrangler · 06-11-2012, 08:04 PM

A little after work sanding and polishing today got one of the belt covers from a nasty mess of flaky chrome and oxidized aluminum to a perfectly presentable (but not perfect) condition. These two covers were in similar shape beforehand. I prefer polished aluminum to chrome any day. I started with 160 grit wet/dry to strip what was left of the chrome, then 320, 600, 1000, 1500 and finished it with mother's aluminum polish. I could've gone a little deeper with the 160 in a few places as there's still a little pitting from oxidation in places, but it looks fine as-is in my book. I think I'll go with this process to strip all the flaky chrome on the other cases. I'd do the other tonight, but my right arm is done. I need a polishing wheel.

GoinPostal · 06-11-2012, 08:43 PM

Looks great Spencer. Looking forward to seeing it done (hopefully) the next time Randy and I are in town.

Airhead Wrangler · 06-12-2012, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoinPostal

Looking forward to seeing it done (hopefully) the next time Randy and I are in town.

...in 2015.

It's just going to be a big parts explosion in the guest house for quite a while yet.

alister102 · 06-12-2012, 05:42 PM

looks fantastic! makes me itch for a new project...

limeymike · 06-13-2012, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alister102

looks fantastic! makes me itch for a new project...

It's easy to read about a project and see nice pictures of the finished parts. Projects are about all the stuff between the lines, frustrations, cut fingers, bruised knuckles, broken tools and parts, wishing the god of metal would come pick up the piece of shit and drop it in the almighty crusher. Yes, I've been there too, and still get that itch.

Yes we are MAD.

Wirespokes · 06-13-2012, 07:13 PM

And you left out - cursing the PO how he could have done such a dumb stupid ass thing. Or wondering where the hell to find another one of those. Or, " a replacement costs HOW MUCH!!!????" For THAT silly ass little piece??? Or, since I'm not going to spend that crazy kind of money, how can I fix this part? Learning a new skill, like welding, to be able to fix something nobody wants to touch. Buying new equipment - like a soda blaster - to make it right!

It goes on and on...

Airhead Wrangler · 06-14-2012, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wirespokes

Or, " a replacement costs HOW MUCH!!!????" For THAT silly ass little piece??? Or, since I'm not going to spend that crazy kind of money, how can I fix this part?

The one thing I have going for me here that I don't have in the states is access to CHEAP machine shops. They do pretty decent work and only charge me $8-10 / hr for their time. When I find something broken or missing I can just have it made for me. I already had a new set of 4 engine mount spacers made as two of the originals had been replaced by slices of black iron gas pipe and were cut horribly crooked. There are some pluses that go along with the numerous minuses of living here.

Airhead Wrangler · 06-22-2012, 10:08 PM

motivation to get through all the sanding, polishing and painting. same model, same year, same heavenly racket (hopefully)

Rinty · 06-24-2012, 08:29 AM

Nice!

SOLO LOBO · 07-06-2012, 01:09 PM

Airhead Wrangler · 07-06-2012, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SOLO LOBO

Yeah, I know. Busy with work, ran out of parts, still no movement on the frame getting painted, etc. My girlfriend's heading back to the states in a couple weeks and will smuggle back some duc-specific tools I need to get the cams out, a gasket set, a stator, and a couple carb rebuild kits. Forward progress is imminent. No, really... I promise.

SOLO LOBO · 07-06-2012, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airhead Wrangler

Yeah, I know. Busy with work, ran out of parts, still no movement on the frame getting painted, etc. My girlfriend's heading back to the states in a couple weeks and will smuggle back some duc-specific tools I need to get the cams out, a gasket set, a stator, and a couple carb rebuild kits. Forward progress is imminent. No, really... I promise.

bk brkr baker · 07-10-2012, 08:39 PM

Same frame as yours modified to accept mono-shock.

Keep the juices flowing.

east high · 07-10-2012, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bk brkr baker

Schwing!

Houseoffubar · 07-12-2012, 12:56 AM

Bad ass!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by bk brkr baker

Same frame as yours modified to accept mono-shock.

Keep the juices flowing.

06-11-2012, 08:04 PM	#166
Airhead Wrangler ^OP More tacos than you Joined: Mar 2008 Location: Manzanillo MX, occasionally Seattle Oddometer: 5,102	A little after work sanding and polishing today got one of the belt covers from a nasty mess of flaky chrome and oxidized aluminum to a perfectly presentable (but not perfect) condition. These two covers were in similar shape beforehand. I prefer polished aluminum to chrome any day. I started with 160 grit wet/dry to strip what was left of the chrome, then 320, 600, 1000, 1500 and finished it with mother's aluminum polish. I could've gone a little deeper with the 160 in a few places as there's still a little pitting from oxidation in places, but it looks fine as-is in my book. I think I'll go with this process to strip all the flaky chrome on the other cases. I'd do the other tonight, but my right arm is done. I need a polishing wheel. __________________ R80ST Gets The HPN Treatment Ducati Pantah 500SL Rebuild Seattle to TDF on an airhead WTB R100R Mystic sidestand and mount. Airhead Wrangler screwed with this post 06-11-2012 at 08:36 PM

06-11-2012, 08:43 PM	#167
GoinPostal Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2007 Location: Sonoma, CA Oddometer: 370	Looks great Spencer. Looking forward to seeing it done (hopefully) the next time Randy and I are in town. __________________ Charter Member 'Group of Fools' Group Of Fools Mexico Adventure 2012 Dust 2 Dawson 2012 Group of Fools Central America Adventure 2013 2012 Triple Black GSA

06-13-2012, 07:13 PM	#171
Wirespokes Beemerholics Anonymous Joined: Jul 2002 Location: Jackson's Bottom Oregon Oddometer: 7,354	And you left out - cursing the PO how he could have done such a dumb stupid ass thing. Or wondering where the hell to find another one of those. Or, " a replacement costs HOW MUCH!!!????" For THAT silly ass little piece??? Or, since I'm not going to spend that crazy kind of money, how can I fix this part? Learning a new skill, like welding, to be able to fix something nobody wants to touch. Buying new equipment - like a soda blaster - to make it right! It goes on and on... __________________ Wanted: Dead, smashed, crashed or trashed gauges BMW GAUGE REPAIRS - TACHSPEEDOCLOCKVOLT METER PODs & LIGHT BOARD*

06-22-2012, 10:08 PM	#173
Airhead Wrangler ^OP More tacos than you Joined: Mar 2008 Location: Manzanillo MX, occasionally Seattle Oddometer: 5,102	motivation to get through all the sanding, polishing and painting. same model, same year, same heavenly racket (hopefully) __________________ R80ST Gets The HPN Treatment Ducati Pantah 500SL Rebuild Seattle to TDF on an airhead WTB R100R Mystic sidestand and mount.

07-10-2012, 08:39 PM	#178
bk brkr baker Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2006 Location: The Bluegrass Oddometer: 4,143	Same frame as yours modified to accept mono-shock. Keep the juices flowing. __________________ RR's Catnip Hill to Peoria ___Loopin' Seattle to WestFest It started with some beers __1500 miles to the Dentist Skeedaddle to Seattle______ A 30 year old on a Three Flags Run

06-12-2012, 05:42 PM	#169
alister102 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: May 2008 Location: Western Massachusetts Oddometer: 250	looks fantastic! makes me itch for a new project...

06-24-2012, 08:29 AM	#174
Rinty Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2011 Location: Calgary, Alberta Oddometer: 418	Nice!

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