Progress is slow with the little nibbles I take at it when I can. I think we're in for a long haul! I keep finding little extra jobs I want to do.
I've got the filler cap where I want it now. I polished the outer ring and it's got enough twinkle now. The gold on the lid is a little marked, but it's way too daunting to think about taking it apart to re-paint it. All those fiddly little springs and pins!
It will get Ti screws when I get some money.
The two tanks are just about ready for primer, with all the filling now done. It remains to be seen if I have enough air to do a decent job, might have to rig another tank.
A job I can do without spending anything is to sort the centre stand, so I got down and dirty with it.
I removed the rear brake torque arm and "S" special under mudguard extension.
Noting the spacers, I removed the bottom footrest hanger bolts both sides and the torque rod bracket. I worked out the spacers needed to fit with the centre stand and managed to find some the correct thickness. The stand has already been fitted to my SS when it underwent some fettling so I'm pretty deft at getting it on and off. Left hand bracket goes on first and is bolted up tight-ish. The insert that takes the bolt for the breather hose guide has to come out of the right hand side. Loosen the bolt, give it a tap inwards and then jiggle it out with the insert on the bolt. It's a kind of expanding rawlbolt type of thing.
The right hand bracket remains assembled onto the stand complete with spring and then feeds onto the left hand pivot and into place on the right side. It's fun jiggling all the bolts into place, but not too difficult with patience. A long bolt goes right through the rear of the crankcases and stand brackets.
I need a couple of easy mods. The assistor arm hits the left silencer, but not by much. I need to move it outwards by 15mm to clear it. Clearance from the back tyre is tight and I'll grind out the stand crossbar/brace and weld a plate back in to give some more comfortable room there, so I can fit a new tyre or chain and still have some room.
I had hoped to keep the "S" under guard but there's not enough room for that, so I've abbreviated the original in order to keep what of it I can and maybe protect the stand a bit, it will also keep the thread holes for the mounting screws nice and clean if I have screws in them. Don't worry I have a brand new intact one in the cupboard.
I tried to keep the long leg on the left to help keep chain goo off the tyre, but had to cut it off after a try fit anyway.
It's easy to get the bike on and off the stand so I'm well pleased with it so far. I could never understand why centre stands went out of fashion. Is it just Ducati or have they all stopped fitting them? Used to be that the side stand was the extra and the centre stand was standard and essential equipment.
I'm looking forward to parking the bike in the workshop and taking much less room than on the lean. Also good for lubing the chain in the field and wheel removal should it be needed in an emergency. I should be able to get more petrol in the tank too if I fill it level on the stand. (It'll never catch on!
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