Subject: Wish my Ducati motor was this easy to work on.
Author: Rich Zink
Date: Feb 20, 2001, 10:14 AM
Post ID: 1705526116
Over the last week I pulled the top end off of my Ambo to fix a
right side base gasket weep and almost blown (well it leaked till warmed up)
left side head gasket. So, I replaced all of the gaskets on both sides
(base, head, o-rings, intake and exhaust), replaced the piston circlips and
replaced a hacked short cylinder stud (what did you do? Previous owner). I
reground the exhaust valves and seats as they failed my quick and dirty
leakdown test, lapped in all of the valves, checked the chrome (looks OK to
me) bores, torqued and then (a day later) re-torqued the heads and set the
valves. Not even bad fitting the cylinders back on 4 ring pistons by hand.
When all said and done a couple of seconds on the starter button and Voila,
the sound of music to my ears! The only area of note or concern found was a
sleeved left side intake guide which I can only assume was the outcome of a
busted pushrod the previous owner reported happened on a trip. I don't
consider myself a great (hell or even good) mechanic but it's fun working on
this engine as opposed to the other Italian in the garage. Maybe I should
sell my Alazzurra and build an 850T Hot Rod? Hmmmmm.
Rich
PS. Hey Mark @ MG Classics. Do you ever bother to shim the valve springs?