How to care for an old Ducati?? - Ducati.ms

MTScott2 · May 8th, 2011, 5:18 pm

A person I know has an old 250 restored he does not ride it or fire it up , Now and then he kicks it over a few times . It seems hard to kick and I was wondering if he is doing it harm , He still has the plugs in it. If I wanted to turn it over I would take the plugs out and might even put some oil in the spark plug holes . If it was mine I would ride it a few times a year ..

Is he doing it harm or not, by kicking it over ???

SP3 · May 8th, 2011, 6:44 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTScott2

Is he doing it harm or not, by kicking it over ???

No

MTScott2 · May 8th, 2011, 7:24 pm

Thanks .
It seems to have a lot of compression!
The previous owner who restored it is very well respected mechanic and is sort of a legend , he ice raced well into his 70's ,
The fuel tank is empty , the bikes in nice shape .
Is there anything he should be doing to it ? It sits in a garage not heated and is exposed to the humidity changes and temp changes...
Should it be fired up now and then .with fresh fuel changed every few months?
I would hate to see it deterioate just for lack of proper care..

Duccout · May 9th, 2011, 12:28 am

Definitely NOT fired up, unless it is taken for a long ride to get the engine up to operating temperature. When an engine is run cold, it produces a lot of condensation, and if not run long enough, this will stay in the engine and corrode everything. Additionally, most wear on an engine takes place during the first five minutes running. There is a product available which screws into the spark plug hole and removes condensation from the engine when left standing; museums use them, but your friend's bike is probably O.K. as it is, just keep turning the engine every now and then. Does'nt the 250 have a decompressor lever?

SP3 · May 9th, 2011, 6:15 am

Agreed, unless it's going to be ridden a good while, don't start it. Dessicant plug is a great idea in this case. You'd have to seal off the intake and exhaust to get any benefit though.

As for the decompression kit, unless the Scrambers had them specifically, 250 were not fitted with them.

MTScott2 · May 9th, 2011, 7:31 am

Appreciate the info , I will relay this to the owner...
should he squirt a small amount of oil into the plug hole?
and should the plug be removed for turning over purposes?

Gawd that bike would look better in MY garage...
It is for sale , I just (correction Wifey) would have a hard time justifing the ,+ or - $10,000.oo" INVESTMENT" at this stage , when contemplating retirement...

What is your thoughts on the bike as a whole ?
The numbers on the motor and the frame ,metal plate is removed , but it comes with one , I dont think match ,

I was going to show him the MTS and get his take on it , and that would be a good time for some pics of the Scrambler , is there any pic angle that would be interesting from an apprasel point of view ? Meaning to find the most likley Faults ( bad word) it does look very clean to me...
Stuff like if the wheels are correct , or the suspension , etc. etc. carb
Again thanks for your insights ,

The owner doesn't give a rats behind about any of that , he likes what is there and it is Golden to him .. He is not buying he is selling , is his point of view...
He does appreciate the info.

Duccout · May 9th, 2011, 11:45 am

A couple of squirts of oil down the plug hole is a good idea, but I don't think that it is a good idea to remove the plug to turn the engine over.

SP3 · May 9th, 2011, 2:49 pm

Squirt/fog is a good idea. I'd pull the plug to kick it over as you'll never get any oil flow otherwise (won't be much regardless). I'd like to hear the reason for NOT pulling the plug.

Duccout · May 10th, 2011, 12:19 am

Only practical reasons really, chance of grit entering the engine; chance of stripped thread; I'm a believer of leaving things alone!!