Alright, let me tell you about this Ducati 750SS I’ve been tinkering with. This isn’t some textbook rebuild, it’s a proper, hands-on, learn-as-you-go kinda deal.
It all started when I saw this beat-up 750SS sitting in a mate’s garage. He was about to scrap it, said it was too much hassle. Of course, I couldn’t let that happen. So, I talked him into selling it to me for next to nothing. Bargain!
First thing’s first, I hauled the thing back to my workshop – more like a glorified shed, really. Gave it a good once-over. The engine was seized, the electrics were shot, and the bodywork looked like it had been used as a crash test dummy. Basically, a proper basket case.
Started tearing it down. Everything came apart. Engine out, forks off, wheels off. Just the bare frame sitting there. Took loads of pictures as I went, because trust me, you’ll forget where everything goes otherwise. Bagged and labeled all the nuts and bolts too. Don’t skip that step!
The engine was the biggest challenge. Took me a week just to get the pistons moving. Penetrating oil, heat gun, gentle persuasion – eventually, it gave way. Once it was apart, I could see the damage. Rust, corrosion, worn bearings – the whole shebang.
Sent the cylinders off to be re-bored and honed. Ordered new pistons, rings, valves, valve guides – the works. While I was waiting for the parts, I cleaned up the crankcases, polished the connecting rods, and generally made everything look a bit less like it had been dredged up from the bottom of a swamp.
Rebuilding the engine was slow going. Had to double-check everything, torque every bolt to the correct spec. But finally, after what felt like forever, the engine was back together. Looked like a piece of art, if I do say so myself.
Next up was the frame. Stripped it down to bare metal, repaired a couple of rusty spots, and gave it a fresh coat of paint. Went with a classic Ducati red, naturally.
Then came the forks. New seals, new oil, cleaned everything up. Rebuilt the brakes with new pads and lines. New tires on the wheels. Slowly but surely, it was all starting to come together.
The electrics were a nightmare. The wiring was all brittle and cracked. Ended up replacing the whole harness. New battery, new regulator/rectifier, new everything. It was a real head-scratcher, but I got there in the end.
Finally, the bodywork. Repaired all the cracks and dents, sanded it down, and gave it a fresh coat of paint to match the frame. New decals, new windscreen. It was starting to look like a proper Ducati again.
Put it all back together. Engine in, forks on, wheels on, bodywork on. Filled it with oil and fuel. Held my breath, hit the starter button, and… nothing. Bugger!
Spent the next few hours troubleshooting. Turns out, I’d forgotten to connect the fuel pump. Rookie mistake! Connected it up, hit the starter again, and it fired right up. Sounded like heaven!
Took it for a spin. It ran like a dream. Handled beautifully. All that hard work had paid off.
It wasn’t a perfect restoration, by any means. But it was my restoration. And that’s what mattered. Plus, I learned a ton along the way. And now I’ve got a sweet-sounding Ducati 750SS that’s guaranteed to turn heads wherever I go.
So, yeah, that’s the story of my Ducati 750SS rebuild. A lot of sweat, a lot of swearing, but totally worth it in the end.
