1981 Ducati 500SL Pantah resurrection

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Thought I'd start this now, even though any actual work is unlikely to start for some time.

Fresh out of the Eurovan, the morning of Sept. 8th, 2020.






For easier storage and so I could see how I fit on it, I put the bodywork and other bits on loosely.



Original air filter assembly included.


Thanks to Jim/canuck750, I have these nice Tarozzi "high rise" clip-ons which I may use if the rather low originals are an issue.


Inspection stickers and lots of "patina".


The upper surfaces of the fairing has this "orange peel" texture, which I'm guessing is a result of the fiberglass out-gassing causing tiny bubbles under the paint?


Tony repainted the rear wheel and installed a Shinko 712 tire. I'll probably have both wheels repainted/powdercoated in a shade closer to the original gold. Not sure if I'll just use the Shinko and buy a matching front or replace both with more sporting rubber. In this shot you can also see that the mufflers have been "bobbed" - a shame really.


Fox Shox in place of the original Marzocchis.


Most of the original tool kit, missing pliers, a rod for the socket and/or a screwdriver I'm guessing.


The original voltage regulator and warning light control box. The latter are known to be problematic.


Manuals! I found them online, but it's always nice to have original print ones.



That's it for now.

[danomar]

Wow, an original airbox. I do not think I ever saw one of those before.

I look forward to this thread slowly progressing!

 

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Y'all might want to pace yourself eating that popcorn... 

[Canuck750]

Nice score finding the manuals + the original tool kit is icing on the cake! I think matching manuals and tool kits to a vintage bike really adds to the value, they complete the bike.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Nice score finding the manuals + the original tool kit is icing on the cake! I think matching manuals and tool kits to a vintage bike really adds to the value, they complete the bike.

Thanks to Tony/Rough Edge racing for those and the original airbox. I'd found the manuals online, but it's nice having original print copies.

Spent about an hour just fiddling around with the Pantah yesterday. Making a list of needs and what parts need to be replated, repainted/powdercoated, rechromed, etc. Stein-Dinse has a lot of what I'll need for the resurrection and the cost is surprisingly cheap. Brake rebuild parts are the same as small-block Guzzis, so no problem there. Ignition system is the same as the V50 II as well. 

[Groover]

Another fun one, watching!

[Swedemoto]

Watching also!! I'm slow getting into my 600SL. Holding for a move.
Curious about the manual though, i'm not sure if what is posted is complete.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Maintenance record (written on the inside back cover of the workshop manual).

[Rough Edge racing]

 I cleaned extensive rust from the rotors, flushed the brake fluid and put in inexpensive pads...a road test will determine if the rotors need to be skimmed on a lathe.
   The valve clearances were within specifications...Ne w timing belts from Gotham Ducati parts.The engine started ok and ran long enough to warm up with no smoke or funny noises,but didn't idle reliability unless the choke was on. Above it was smooth...I cleaned the carbs by soaking them in cleaner for a few hours but not much better. They may need more sophisticated  cleaning.It did not seem to have intake air leaks. Looking through the spark plug hole while hand turning the engine the valves were fairly clean. I statically  checked ignition timing after rewiring the pick up....when the left side engine cover was off there was no debris to be seen. Same as when the oil was changed...I believe the engine is sound. If you put the bike in gear , pull in the clutch, it does release, but didn't  road test it..
 I really wanted to keep I but a 61 BSA A10 deal seemed more my type of bike....Charlie will make this Ducati all good again...

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I cleaned extensive rust from the rotors, flushed the brake fluid and put in inexpensive pads...a road test will determine if the rotors need to be skimmed on a lathe.
   The valve clearances were within specifications...Ne w timing belts from Gotham Ducati parts.The engine started ok and ran long enough to warm up with no smoke or funny noises,but didn't idle reliability unless the choke was on. Above it was smooth...I cleaned the carbs by soaking them in cleaner for a few hours but not much better. They may need more sophisticated  cleaning.It did not seem to have intake air leaks. Looking through the spark plug hole while hand turning the engine the valves were fairly clean. I statically  checked ignition timing after rewiring the pick up....when the left side engine cover was off there was no debris to be seen. Same as when the oil was changed...I believe the engine is sound. If you put the bike in gear , pull in the clutch, it does release, but didn't  road test it..
 I really wanted to keep I but a 61 BSA A10 deal seemed more my type of bike....Charlie will make this Ducati all good again...

 

[cliffrod]

That sure is a nice looking bike.  Even with the imperfections, are you planning to leave the bodywork paint and decals original (that's my vote) or repaint?

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

That sure is a nice looking bike.  Even with the imperfections, are you planning to leave the bodywork paint and decals original (that's my vote) or repaint?

Yes. Having all of the bodywork parts painted would cost much more than I plan on spending right now. So it will wear it's "patina" proudly. One sidecover (squarish piece, half black, half light blue) has a big chunk missing around one of the grommets where it attaches to the frame. I'll be rebuilding that missing area with 'glass and touching up the black paint that surrounds it. I will be painting things like brake disks, chain guard, fork lowers, etc. as well. Wheels will likely be powdercoated in as close to the original gold as possible.

[cliffrod]

Yes. Having all of the bodywork parts painted would cost much more than I plan on spending right now. So it will wear it's "patina" proudly. One sidecover (squarish piece, half black, half light blue) has a big chunk missing around one of the grommets where it attaches to the frame. I'll be rebuilding that missing area with 'glass and touching up the black paint that surrounds it. I will be painting things like brake disks, chain guard, fork lowers, etc. as well. Wheels will likely be powdercoated in as close to the original gold as possible.

Very cool.  I like old paint.

Seeing that bike brings back good memories.  Had a friend in NOLA in 94 who rode an identical 500SL sans upper fairing that was broken and then another in Asheville NC later that year who rode a very similar if not identical 650SL with me on my V7 Sport.  Fun times.

[Turin]

I like prismatic powders gold metallic for wheels. Pretty close to the Dow 7 Zinc Chromate coating. I went to the Indianapolis motor speedway museum and no wheels had the same gold color.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I could always use the last can of the Wurth gold metallic wheel paint that I bought 35 years ago! It's still good. Pretty amazing.

[Turin]

Hell, ya... and if it doesn't come out, they'd have to strip before powdercoat anyway !

[Groover]

I'd check with Eastwood and see what they are using to do this finish

https://www.eastwood.com/holley-sniper-efi-2300-self-tuning-kit-classic-gold-finish-550-851-58635.html

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I'd check with Eastwood and see what they are using to do this finish

https://www.eastwood.com/holley-sniper-efi-2300-self-tuning-kit-classic-gold-finish-550-851-58635.html

Not quite the correct shade.

I was just kidding about the Wurth spray bomb. Prepping the wheels (sanding) for paint would be murder on my hands and arms, so they'll go off for powdercoating.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Bought the first piece for the project - the missing rear turn signal bracket. Unfortunately, it's really only good to use as a pattern to make a new one. One end has been shortened and threaded in the wrong pitch. The central tab has had sections ground out of both sides. Why someone did any of this is a mystery to me.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

My friend Liam sent me this huge (27" x 39") poster:




and another friend, Dale, sent me these two Cycle magazines with Pantah articles in them.




Pantahs don't come with a sidestand, and I had visions of me trying to hold the bike up while swinging my leg over that tall, pointy tail while trying to get off and dropping the bike on top of myself. Probably in front of a crowd.  The later, Pantah based Cagiva Alazzurra did come with one however and the guys on the Facebook Pantah group say it will fit. So, I've been sporadically searching for one, without much success. Until Sunday evening. I was searching for another thing I want (original Marzocchi shocks) and found a pair for an Alazzurra. Not a bad price, wonder what else he has, I thought. A sidestand for $40 Buy-It-Now! I didn't hesitate hitting the button. On it's way, should be here in a few days. 




image uploader

[Canuck750]

Nice finds! 

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Posted a "wanted" message on a Pantah forum, seeking a pair of uncut original mufflers. Got the responses I pretty much expected: "buy a set of Staintune Conti replicas" and "put a 2 into 1 on it, it run much better".  Eventually a gentleman in Australia offered me an entire original exhaust in very nice condition... for $1500 + shipping!  A bit over budget, much more than I can afford. 

[Canuck750]

Ducati parts prices are silly expensive!

[Turin]

https://www.italianiron.com/products/ducati-pantah-conti-exhaust-mufflers-set?variant=48240617491

ughhh. original is pricey. A BUB 2-1 does sound amazing 

Long shot... have you tried Ed Milich ?

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Ducati parts prices are silly expensive!

Some, but not all. In my Stein-Dinse shopping cart I have all the cables, every rubber piece on the bike, filters, gaskets and more. The total? 206 Euros (+ shipping).

https://www.italianiron.com/products/ducati-pantah-conti-exhaust-mufflers-set?variant=48240617491

ughhh. original is pricey. A BUB 2-1 does sound amazing 

Long shot... have you tried Ed Milich ?

Was it Midas that used to have the commercials "I'm not going to pay a lot for this muffler!". I feel the same way. $1k in mufflers isn't going to happen unless I hit the lottery. 

I could buy a new pair of these short Contis, my cost is still ~ $700.

[Turin]

Anything for a Ducati seems to carry an extra premium.  I found a set of bub mufflers for a ducati 900 of some sort a while back, might be time to let them go.


upload pictures to internet

Don't think these will fit a pantah, they sure don't fit my paso.

[Rough Edge racing]

 Nice to see some progress on the Pantah from Charlie who cares about the bike original...

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I'm trying not work on it until I've finished the Morini, but it's been hard to restrain myself.  Real progress probably won't happen until late Winter, early Spring.

[Rough Edge racing]

 When I had the bike running it was not too loud with the bobbed mufflers..Not the best look but they are better than nothing  until you find a reasonable prced replacement....Damn, we all hate those exhaust prices.
    My original plans for the bike were to strip off the body work and a different fuel tank for a cafe look....But after comments about it not modifying it....well...here it is....

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

When I had the bike running it was not too loud with the bobbed mufflers..Not the best look but they are better than nothing  until you find a reasonable priced replacement....Damn, we all hate those exhaust prices.
   

I have numerous alternative "plans" for the exhaust: Plan A: make cones to fit to the ends of the present mufflers, Plan B: figure out how much was cut off, and have new sections made and welded on, Jet Hot finish. Plan C: completely new mufflers made from stainless, to match the original profile. B & C could cost as much as the new short Contis I posted above.