Welcome back indeed!!! I echo Mike's sentiments. The years do fly by, but we must keep going yes? I'm glad you are back! Lou

Thanks Lou, and Mike. A big part of the problem is that I work away from home, Since 2013 I have been working on and off in Poland (5 big projects) Hungary, Germany and the UK. My current stint has been 8 months in Wrexham, North Wales. I only get home two weekends a month.

Before I had my heart attack in 2016, I was a PPL holder, the aeroklub was over 100km from home. Then I collect watches, so watch fairs and the like. After my first heart attack I just ran out of steam. My bikes are about 1/2 a mile from home, and it was always a case of 'tomorow, i'll go tomorrow!' not helped by the second heart attack, a persistent kidney stone, and an Implanted Cardioverter Defibrillator fitted in my chest

But this weekend (back to Wrexham tonight ) when I finally decided "This is it, now or bust.. get your a** off the chair and get down that garage!" and when I got my boy to help me thoroughly clean that garage and check each and every box... I was like a kid in a candy shop

And then searching my old photos files... I discovered things I forgot.... 7 sets of Verlicchi throttle controls, two sets of Carello 'headlights' both sets converted for use on the F1. More Carello and Olso 'brake lights' than I can count, Magnesium valve covers, non magnesium TT1 valve covers. Magnesium clutch case for a 900SS motor. I bought a brand new Marvic front wheel (and I have no idea where it is :-O ) two spare sets of Marzocchi MR1's

And loads and loads of other spares and project spares. I also have a 851 'kit' so I have spares for that too (including a spare strada frame and one of the original 748ie 1987 Bol d'or race tanks) I cant wait until I am home again in two weeks time, but I am taking some bits with me to the UK to be worked on.

I also need to find a decent Aluminium welder in the UK to copy my 851 swing arm. which I will convert into the TT1 F1 swingarm...so if anyone has some tips feel free to pipe in.

Hello all, well a little progress. Working abroad throughout the summer meant little work done, and then my ex went and crashed her BMW bent the fottom fork clamp and snapped the axle mounting on one of the forks.

so rather than work on the Ducati's me and my boy have been repairing bits to fix her bike and we're still awaiting spares to finish it off, hopefully by mid next week.

However there is some progress. I finally got off my jacksey and bought some clear Caswell tank sealer. what a palava that was.

1. Glass fibred in the two fuel tap fixings. and filled with plasticine for when I put the sealant in.
2. Struggled to find the end of the fuel tank breather pipe, to also seal with plasticine. Its not just a short straight pipe but is a long pipe glass-fibred in under the top of the fuel tank to curve well behind the rear fuel filler cap.

3. my mitts are too large to fit comfortably inside one of the filler holes!

4. the sealant dripped like stalactites from around the underside of the filler cap screw bolt holes.
5. Dremelled that smooth-ish yesterday (not easy getting a dremel extension cable in there either but managed it).
6. both fuel caps fit fine, but with a fibre gasket underneath and the rubbers on top (below the cap body) I need to get longer bolts methinks.

whilst I was in the UK I sent my replica (91-97 900ss) rev counter to a shop in Scotland to get it calibrated, but they buggered up the reassembly, jamming the pointer needle, so I had to prize off the bezel. which had been really really secured well.

It looks awful now but I will try and roll the bezel back on as much as possible and bung some silicone around the bezel/instrument body interface

To be honest, its now just a case of fitting the carbs ( if I can remember how they go) getting a 916 battery to fit in the seat hump, checking that all the relevant electric bits are in place and secured, and banging some fuel in a remote mini tank....I can hopefully get the bike started by the end of next week.

Then it will be a long run getting all the cosmetics done. Wish me luck.

All bits in the right places methinks!

About 12 years apart. My boy, who's responsible for kickstarting my interest again.

Put the carbs and tank on. The throttle cables fitted for the first time.

Found out that I forgot what I have done with the ignition switch.

Cant find where the battery leads are.

Have far more electrical connections than I expected.

Should get it running for the first time ever within the next 10 days

You’re on a roll now, looking great!!
The lad has no trouble reaching the bars now

Paul

Yes... 15 years old and taller than his dad at 188cm (6'2")

It surprised me how relatively little work is required now. I had forgotten how far I had progressed

The bikes turning out to be a beauty, but I love the pictures of your son on the bike. Puts things into perspective in a lot of ways. Some projects take longer than others, but it's the journey that makes them special. Keep up the good work! Lou

The expression on your son’s face says, “yeah, we’ll see”. Hope you get it done soon. MikeV