Identifying Ducati Single

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ianashdown
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Joined: Thu Jan 27, 2011 9:16 pm

Identifying Ducati Single

Postby ianashdown » Thu Jan 27, 2011 9:22 pm

Hi,
I wonder if someone can help or point me in the direction of some reference information to help me identify a '60's ducati 250 single. The engine no is 83543 DM. I think it might be a 63 scrambler, but the frame is red (could have been repainted), where the scramblers all appear to have black frames.

Any help will be much appreciated.

Ian

JimF
Site Admin
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Re: Identifying Ducati Single

Postby JimF » Thu Jan 27, 2011 9:45 pm

A picture would really help - even if taken by your cell phone,

There were two types of frames/engines, throughout most of the 60s the frames/engines were what we now refer to as "narrow case."

Toward the end of the 60's Ducati impoved the engine's bearings and widened the engine mounts resulting in what we now refer to as the "wide case" engine and so the frame was necessarily redesigned so as to hold the engine at the revised location of the engine mounts.

Frames are generally divided between scrambler and street, though some other rare frame variations exist.

If we could see a photo we might determine better if you have a narrow case or wide case engine, and what the frame might be.

Welcome to the forum!

DewCatTea-Bob
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Re: Identifying Ducati Single

Postby DewCatTea-Bob » Thu Jan 27, 2011 10:54 pm

" I wonder if someone can help or point me in the direction of some reference information to help me identify a '60's ducati 250 single. The engine no is 83543 DM. "

____ Well Ian, you then must likely have a 1962 or 63 4-speed ('narrow-case' type) 250-Monza .
On the slim chance that it may indeed actually be a Scrambler, then it's frame should include a member-support (located near the upper shock-supports), intended for supporting the rear-end of the seat. _ Also, a Scrambler-motor should have a 6mm screw & nut (or just the 6mm hole remaining) through the motor-casing just above where the chain enters !
__ Right near to the kick-starter, you should notice a black-conduit exiting the upper-rear area of the motor-case... that's the 'alternator-cable'. _ Could you please tell us how many wires are inside, at the end of that alt.cable ?


DUKE-Cheers,
-Bob
PLEASE NOTE... If this-post is not-yet signed-off with '-Bob', then I'm still in the process of completing it,, and if not also included with 'DCT' near bottom as well, then I may edit this post's wording at a later time. - Dct.Bob

ianashdown
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Jan 27, 2011 9:16 pm

Re: Identifying Ducati Single

Postby ianashdown » Thu Jan 27, 2011 11:20 pm

Hi,

Yes! There is a tube that goes across the frame from the top damper mount at the rear of the seat. OK, now how do we pin it down further? Can I posy pictures here or do I need to give a link?
The front brake plate has no scoop at the front which seem to be on the '65 but not the '63; which is how I sumised it was a '63.
Is this a rare machine? How available are parts - it needs a few!

Thanks

Ian

DewCatTea-Bob
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Location: Near SE side of Lake Michigan

Re: Identifying Ducati Single

Postby DewCatTea-Bob » Thu Jan 27, 2011 11:32 pm

" OK, now how do we pin it down further? "

____ Seems you didn't realize that my first reply-post wasn't finished, Ian. _ Please check it again.


" Can I posy pictures here or do I need to give a link? "

____ You can post 3-pix per posting... Click your post's 'EDIT' button & scroll-down & follow the given-method found by clicking: 'Upload attachment' .


" Is this a rare machine? "

____ They were originally only a little more rare than the 250-Monza but, the Scramblers were far more often run into non-existence, thus they became even more rare,, and the older 4-speed versions are therefore even far more rare, these later days !


Dukaddy-DUKEs,
-Bob
PLEASE NOTE... If this-post is not-yet signed-off with '-Bob', then I'm still in the process of completing it,, and if not also included with 'DCT' near bottom as well, then I may edit this post's wording at a later time. - Dct.Bob

ianashdown
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Jan 27, 2011 9:16 pm

Re: Identifying Ducati Single

Postby ianashdown » Fri Jan 28, 2011 2:27 am

Hi,

There does appear to be a small bolt in the engine casing just above where the chain would go in. It vertical - right? Unfortunately I don't have access to the bike right now so I can't check physically.
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DewCatTea-Bob
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Re: Identifying Ducati Single

Postby DewCatTea-Bob » Fri Jan 28, 2011 8:03 am

" There does appear to be a small bolt in the engine casing just above where the chain would go in. It vertical - right? "

____ That bolt should be a flat-head with it's threads UP-through from the inside, with it's nut on top/outside of the motor-case's drive-chain intake-cowling. _ It's meant to help hold the internal steel chain & dirt guard for Scrambler-models, so only Scrambler-type motor-cases have these added holes in these required locations (there's another underneath in the bottom as well) !
____ As for the motor's alt.cable, older SCR-models as yours seems to be, should have just two wires within (1-Red & 1-Yellow).
____ Concerning your pictures, the rear-wheel should have a 19" tire, and it indeed appears to !
There's now no doubt that you were correct that it's indeed a Scrambler-model !


DUKE-Cheers,
-Bob
PLEASE NOTE... If this-post is not-yet signed-off with '-Bob', then I'm still in the process of completing it,, and if not also included with 'DCT' near bottom as well, then I may edit this post's wording at a later time. - Dct.Bob

DewCatTea-Bob
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Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2009 10:53 am
Location: Near SE side of Lake Michigan

Re: Scrambler Ducati

Postby DewCatTea-Bob » Fri Jan 28, 2011 8:45 pm

ianashdown wrote:Hi,
If we agree that this is indeed a scrambler, just how valuable/collectable is this bike? How easy will it be to find all the missing parts? I think '63, maybe '64, any thoughts? Is there a way to confirm the year?

Thanks,
Ian


" just how valuable/collectable is this bike? "

____ While it's fairly collectible, it's probably not worth much more than 500-bucks, as it currently appears to be. _ If fully restored however, it ought to be worth close to 2-grand.


" How easy will it be to find all the missing parts? "

____ Not very easy! _ Fortunately though, this Duke-model doesn't have so very many parts. _ It could probably still be done, since most often whenever non-Dukers get their hands on these old DUKEs, they part them out on eBay.


" I think '63, maybe '64, any thoughts? Is there a way to confirm the year? "

____ I'm sure yours is an older 4-speeder, and the 5-speed models began in 1963. I don't know of any way to be real sure but, I still think it was likely made in 1962 (and probably no doubt originally-sold before end of summer-1963).
__ I base most all my knowledge on DUKEs which I & friends owned (with title-papers), starting back in the mid-60s.
Perhaps maybe someone-else here has better answers for any of these questions of yours posted here...
Anyone else, please?


Hopeful-Cheers,
-Bob
PLEASE NOTE... If this-post is not-yet signed-off with '-Bob', then I'm still in the process of completing it,, and if not also included with 'DCT' near bottom as well, then I may edit this post's wording at a later time. - Dct.Bob

Pete
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Location: Walworth, NY

Re: Identifying Ducati Single

Postby Pete » Fri Jan 28, 2011 9:05 pm

Shouldn't there be a date code on the fork leg that can help narrow it down?

Pete

grapes
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Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2010 2:47 am

Re: Identifying Ducati Single

Postby grapes » Sat Jan 29, 2011 12:08 am

My 63'blue scr has a monza-sebring type battery box, my n/c 1965/66 5 speed scr has a small battery box. Capt Paul


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