Mystery Clutch

Buttoned up the left side engine case and discovered "the world's stiffest clutch". Actually "stiff" does not adequately describe the feel of the clutch, maybe "fused" or "unmovable" might be a better descriptor. I can actually snap a new clutch cable in less than two dozen attempts at disengaging the clutch, holy crap! I'm not sure if the problem is related to the clutch pack thickness, a bent plate, or maybe some kind of "super clutch springs", but now I must once again remove the right-side engine cover. I have read about "friction plate swell", but I have never actually seen it... Who knows?

I have some extra EBC friction plates and some stock clutch springs to play with. I'll measure the clutch-pack thickness and mix the springs (3 Ferrado and 3 OEM stock), then test the whole setup before remounting the right-side cover.

It is the journey that counts, not the destination. Right?

I have started eyeballing the heap that is my second RD400 and dreaming about the start of my next build. Pure masochism! Not sure how the second build will end up, but I am thinking "Street Tracker", something I can ride two-up with my wife. I am also not going to modify the engine as much, so that I can let my daughter ride the bike without feelings of dread and nervousness.

Seat Finished!

Sub-frame done, check! Tail mount done, check! Undertail battery mount done, check!

Next I modify and mount the rear section of the wiring harness under the sub-frame and in the tail section. Can't work on the bike Sunday afternoon, religious obligations, MotoGP at Phillip Island!

Ghetto Sub-Frame

Attaching a vintage TZ250 tail-section to a 1970's era RD400 requires some ingenuity! My solution began with an old sheet aluminum street sign (purchased, not stolen). Lots of measurements, cutting and some grinding..... Voila, my "Ghetto All-Aluminum Sub-Frame".

The sub-frame eliminates any flex in the fiberglass and allows me to securely attach the tail-section. The battery pack will be tucked away inside the tail-section and should allow me to trim several pounds off the bike. Deutz fasteners will secure the tail-section in place and allow quick access to the battery pack and electronics underneath.

Getting closer....

Ducati Demo Days

The Ducati Truck is coming to Dallas, Advanced Motorsport to be exact. This weekend I am heading over to test ride the new Monsters, the 696, 1100, and the "OooLaLa" 1100S.

I am hoping to keep my wallet in my pants and my butt out of divorce court, but the temptation will be great..... I will be strong! I will be strong! I will be strong! I will be.... I want a Monster!, I want a Monster! I want a Monster!.....

After Saturday at the AMS Ducati test-ride, it is back to the garage for all day Sunday! Finally, back on task, back on Project RD400 Racer!

Update----------------

A bit of a let-down, the Monster is not that much of a "Monster" in the flesh. I guess my true love would have been the Street-Fighter 1098S, that is until they fired up the Desmosedici RR.... Holy Shit! I'm in love! The bike sounds like Desmo-Sexicci! A bike, even a bike as sweet as the Desmosedicic RR, should NOT cost $70K! WTF, who the hell pays $70K for a sportbike?

OK, I do like the Monster, not the 698, not the 1100, but YES...... the 1100S is a nice bike, but is it $14K nice? I say, NO! I could get the 848 Superbike, with the cartoonish "Captain America" custom paint scheme for the same price!

My advice on Ducatis, buy used or just steal one!

This YouTube Video Says it all for the Desmosedicci!

Desmosedicci Truth....

Weekend in the Garage

Friday evening it started to rain and it rained all the way through Sunday. Temperatures dropped and the garage became quite comfortable, mid to low 80's F. I spent Saturday in the garage playing with the RD.

Work completed this weekend......

• Dialed in timing with the dial indicator (3mm BTDC)
• Completed fabrication of aluminum under-seat subframe
• Mounted ignition switch
• Mounted digital instrument console
• Fabricated kill-switch mount
• Fabricated battery box mounts
• Experimented with wiring harness mounts (still undecided)
• Mounted and wired cylinder head temp sender
• Mounted and adjusted new throttle cable assembly
• Ordered dzus fasteners for tail section bodywork
• Watched Italian F1 GP (OK, not RD-related, but mandatory!)

Now off to the movies with the wife.

MZ Ignition

Nothing makes an RD scream like a little throw-back technology from behind the old iron-curtain. The MZ ignition is the hot mod when it comes lighting up the pre-mix....

Break out the dial indicator and dial in the speed...

Back On Task

Summers in Texas are HOT, too HOT to work in my garage! I feel like a complete slacker, but I have not had a chance to work on the RD for the past three months. I went to Forida for a long break, got bogged down at work and tried to spend as much time as possible with my daughter before she departed for UT.

Now that the weather is starting to cool off (below 100F), my daughter is off to college, and work is returning to normality..... Work is once again progressing on the RD. My target date for completion is October 2009, maybe!