[Guest]

Last summer I purchased a very clean 1997 900sp w/ 11K on it. It had the big bore/hi-comp engine when I bought it. I had some problems with it starting, I eventually took it to my local Duc shop (they did the original mod) and they wound up re-building the starter and putting thicker wires in to help with starting. Is there anything more I should know about running and maintaining this type of mod?

Thanks,
jeff

 

[Guest]

Re: Questions about 944 Big Bore (944sp.Jeff)

the Hotrod M944 has a Ferracci big bore kit in it. it runs great. go with the 41mm Keihin FCR's and you'll really be having some fun. the only issue to take note of is fuel selection. i thought i would have to run high octane to make it run right. wrong. i run 87 octane and it's fine. test your's starting with the lowest octane fuel (prob 87) and go up from there if you have a problem. have fun!

 

[Guest]

I am not sure if anyone else had this problem with a 944 and 41mm carb set-up, but I had a fuel delivery problem. The answer was running an elec fuel pump from a Honda VF1000 interuptor. They have a built in shut off at 4psi, and are easy to mount in the stock vacum pump location.

 

[Guest]

I have a question as well - when I purchased my Duke I was told it had "high comp" pistons in there. Unfortunately, as I knew less about the 900SS than I do now, I had no way of verifying if it was also a 944 kit.

Any easy way to know for sure? Are regular diplacement high comp pistons sold or are they all part of a larger displacement kit?

And secondly - I do get some pinging on hot days at lower rpms with big throttle inputs - I usuall run 94 octane but is there an easy way to slightly retard my ignition timing? Different spark plug? Anything?

Mr. Ted

 

[Guest]

Re: Questions about 944 Big Bore (mikeinwi.)

Thanks for your reply mike...
I did a few tests last sumer with Regular, Mid & Super...It seemed to ping alot using the lower octane fuels. I also noticed that rolling on the throttle from lower RPM's caused the engine to rattle quite a bit no matter what fuel I was running. Dropping down a gear then rolling on usually got rid of the rattle. Since I am new to Ducati's I really need to talk to my local mechanic more about this bike, he did the original work on it and would probably know more about it than I.

-jeff

 

[Guest]

that's odd. my bike runs really well on 87 or 89 octane. could be the carbs and headwork i have done help it. look at your plugs, they should be a tan toast color. if not have the jetting checked.

 

[Guest]

Re: Questions about 944 Big Bore (944sp.Jeff)

I'd suggest retarding the timing 2 degrees. Open up the left side engine cover and move the timing plate over a notch... make sure to regap the pickup coils, too.

 

[Guest]

Thank you Chris for the timing idea - how will this affect performance?

And what sort of gap for the coils?

Mr. Ted

 

[Guest]

Re: (Mr. Ted)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mr. Ted »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thank you Chris for the timing idea - how will this affect performance?
And what sort of gap for the coils?
Mr. Ted</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well, the effect on performance will be that it shouldn't ping!

2 degrees should be subtle enough so as not to be noticeable. Gap for the plugs? If you do not have iridium plugs (which cannot be gapped) then you can run anything from the recommended .6mm up to 1.0mm. Different people have varying results with that. Standard coils are stuck near the smaller end but aftermarket coils like the dynas can run a larger gap.

Chris

 

[Guest]

Re: (chris_k)

Pardon my ignorance Chris, but are you talking about gapping the spark plugs and also adjusting the coils? I have done plugs before, but I really know nothing about the coils, could you explain this? Thanks again for all the replies everyone...

 

[Guest]

Re: (944sp.Jeff)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 944sp.Jeff »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Pardon my ignorance Chris, but are you talking about gapping the spark plugs and also adjusting the coils? I have done plugs before, but I really know nothing about the coils, could you explain this? Thanks again for all the replies everyone...

</TD></TR></TABLE>

No, there's nothing to do with the coils other than to replace them.

By the way, I just noticed that ToyMonster above talks about mounting the VF fuel pump onto Monsters (which is great info!) but the SSs have the Ford Ranger 2.3L electric pump inside the fuel tank. Fuel delivery should not be a problem.

Chris

 

[Guest]

Re: (chris_k)

Chris, I think he is talking about the pickup coil "air gap". I don't know it offhand, but it is in the Haynes manual. Easy to adjust, and necessary when the timing plate is moved. I have FBF (Wiseco) HC pistons (not 944) and I also run 87 octane with no problems.
Joe

 

[Guest]

Chris, if you could give us a quick summary of what you think would be the best way to go about it, myself and I'm sure others would be eternally grateful.

Coils/plugs, timing adjustment, anything at all you can share with us. I'm thinking there's alot of 944 or high-comp pingers out there and I'm sure we all hate that damn sound on a warm day.

Obi-Wan, show us the way!

Mr. Ted

 

[Guest]

Re: (Joe B)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Joe B »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Chris, I think he is talking about the pickup coil "air gap". I don't know it offhand, but it is in the Haynes manual. Easy to adjust, and necessary when the timing plate is moved. I have FBF (Wiseco) HC pistons (not 944) and I also run 87 octane with no problems. Joe</TD></TR></TABLE>

Hi Joe,

Ah, yes, that "coil". (insert smacking hand against head icon now)

I just can't think of those as "coils" even though I know they are. In my mind, they're "pickups". Sorta. But I'm twisted.

0.027" IIRC. Just did it. I leave the pickup coils on the big plate and then iteratively adjust each pickup to the flywheel ... back and forth ... takes about 4 or 5 times to get it right.

You're running 87 octane with hicomps? And the retarded timing? That's news to me and good to hear.

Thanks,

Chris

 

[Guest]

Re: (Mr. Ted)

Hi Mr Ted,

Well as with anything, it's a matter of continuing to change things until the result is happy. (R&D) If you're getting pinging, I'd first try retarding the timing plate. You could try a cooler plug and/or messing with the plug gap. But these mods require almost scientific analysis to prove effectiveness. You could also richen up the mixture a little, which also would/could lower combustion temp.

I'd hope that the timing plate would do it...

Chris

 

[Guest]

Re: (chris_k)

Well I guess the first step would be to get myself a decent shop manual for my bike. Chris the shop manual you sell for the SS bikes goes up to 1996...Will that be ok to use for my '97 model?

 

[Guest]

Re: (944sp.Jeff)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 944sp.Jeff »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well I guess the first step would be to get myself a decent shop manual for my bike. Chris the shop manual you sell for the SS bikes goes up to 1996...Will that be ok to use for my '97 model?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Absolutely. I cannot think of a single thing that changed from 96 to 97. 1998 got 3 phase. And 99-up are styled differently and lost the analog fuel mixtures.