Tesi 904Dsr fuel pump issue - Ducati.ms

Bruce_Allison · Feb 20th, 2008, 9:14 pm

(oops....title should be "Tesi 1Dsr"...doh!)

Well I've started rejuvenating my Tesi after a 2 year "sleep"....new fuel, new oil, new battery.....and a dead fuel pump.

Of course I'm not surprised or upset. My fault for not starting her up once in a while, but my life got hectic and now there's hell to pay.

I've removed the rusty & rotted pump and filter assembly. Anyone here know the trick for removing the actual electric pump from the Bimota-specific fixture? I've removed the large circlip and the pump shows no sign of movement at all....like it's frozen onto it or perhaps some electrolysis has occurred. Heat (from a heat gun, not a flame!) and penetrating oils have had zero effect. I've considered strapping it onto my Supermono (Bimota) and letting that paint shaker have at it, but up to this point not.

Any ideas or suggestions appreciated.

Thanks,
Bruce

ZAWA · Feb 21st, 2008, 7:02 am

Bruce, Do you have a picture of it our better yet acouple of pictures.

Bruce_Allison · Feb 21st, 2008, 10:36 am

That's a reasonable request...how about 4 pictures?!

Bruce_Allison · Feb 21st, 2008, 10:44 am

...and here's the exploded view from the factory manual (I'll directly email anyone with this if it's too small to see here.....my email is: malibruce AT earthlink.net)

ZAWA · Feb 21st, 2008, 2:19 pm

Email sent.

Bruce_Allison · Mar 3rd, 2008, 12:53 am

Just in case anyone is thinking about getting into the lucrative Bimota Tesi (1st Series)repair business, I did get the pump out today (and I can send you a training video for only $300.00....order now!)

It turns out the pump was frozen into place by a hideous combination of varnish and rust. The only way to remove it was to gut the pump and crush the frozen solid shell of the old pump.

It was a relatively violent, horrible, and uncivilized way to accomplish the goal....and I don't want to repeat the exercise again....but the mission has been accomplished.

Now to purchase a Mustang fuel pump (seems to be the acknowledged closest replacement) and finish the job.

Bruce

Catimann · Mar 3rd, 2008, 10:48 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce_Allison

It turns out the pump was frozen into place by a hideous combination of varnish and rust. The only way to remove it was to gut the pump and crush the frozen solid shell of the old pump.

It was a relatively violent, horrible, and uncivilized way to accomplish the goal....and I don't want to repeat the exercise again....but the mission has been accomplished.
Bruce

Having read this I will take it as a leason to either clean out the tank or keep it full of stabilized gas. Even so I think 2 years is a bit long for gas, even if it is stabilized, no? Better to start a new thread for this.

Bruce_Allison · Mar 3rd, 2008, 11:15 am

Keep in mind this is a 1991 motorcycle with only 7,500 miles on it. Perhaps stabilized fuel would have helped...and I certainly take responsibility for ignoring the poor bike for 2 years....but what would be a normal condition for an 18 yr. old in-tank fuel pump?

Fuel injection was new technology in motorcycles in that era. Could it be that all the fuel pumps from that time frame are at the end of their life cycle?

The submerged hoses connecting the pump to the filter & outlets were severely broken down also. It was a real mess in there and I'm pleased to be cleaning it all out and restoring it with fresh new parts. The inside of the tank notwithstanding, this Tesi is in beautiful condition.

Bruce

bimmerbill · Apr 6th, 2008, 7:08 pm

Just got my Tesi 904 1D ready after it was sitting for probably 15 years, (1015 miles)
Engine out for belt replacement, valves adjusted found two cams scored! replace cams, everything back together starts and sounds great, but severe oil leak at cam seals that were not replaced, guess what have to pull the engine to replace seals engine back out replace seals, engine back in, all fluids changed, figure I am this deep put on new rubber. First ride fuel gauge show empty, take off tank float on gauge needed to be repaired but hoses were kinked in the tank going thru filter, hoes in tank were a mess like yours, all hoses repaced. This 18 year old is as good as it gets - new rubber, battery, chain, all fluids replaced along with oil lines and external and internal gas lines.

The Tesi is a true exotic, and just like a high maintenence broad worth the effort to keep it in great riding condition.

Catimann · Apr 6th, 2008, 8:44 pm

[QUOTE=bimmerbill;389634]Just got my Tesi 904 1D ready after it was sitting for probably 15 years, (1015 miles)
Engine out for belt replacement, valves adjusted found two cams scored! replace cams, everything back together starts and sounds great, but severe oil leak at cam seals that were not replaced, guess what have to pull the engine to replace seals engine back out replace seals, engine back in, all fluids changed, figure I am this deep put on new rubber. First ride fuel gauge show empty, take off tank float on gauge needed to be repaired but hoses were kinked in the tank going thru filter, hoes in tank were a mess like yours, all hoses repaced. This 18 year old is as good as it gets - new rubber, battery, chain, all fluids replaced along with oil lines and external and internal gas lines. QUOTE]

These last two posts say a lot about keeping any vehicle running. The proof is all those that are run regularly and are kept out of the weather. They never really stop. I am working on my wifes 78 Guzzi 1000SP and it also has 7500 miles (Like the post before.) and needs all of the rubber parts replaced. The metal parts are all great as are the mechanics. But that time sitting has not been very nice to it. Nothing about $1200 (so far) and lots of work won't fix. LOL