69 Ducati 450 Jupiter Resto

[Scout63]

Hopefully this will be quick and dirty refresh.  I bought a ‘69 Jupiter last month in Western MA. It starts and runs fine, but the wiring is very crispy.  I’m going to install a Sachse electronic ignition and convert the bike to 12 volt and rewire everything. I love the patina.  Grease and dirt will come off but not rust (yet).

[Canuck750]

Nice project!

[pressureangle]

I had one circa 1983. It was set up for hillclimbs (?) with a huge rear sprocket. Trail rode it, and ice raced it some. The chassis was a terrible ice bike. I still miss it.

[cliffrod]

I’ll be watching, Ben. 

Like I’ve mentioned, I really liked my keeper Jupiter.  A friend got it at a yard sale in KY, then called me and I traded him a pair of webers on intakes and vertex mag for a TR3 for it. Nice bike.  I miss it.  I’ve got that tank on my 250 bitsa now.  Not sure if Ducati copied it from the Norton P11 tank, but it’s very similarly good looking.

How are the rims?  Those Radellis are very prone to serious deep rust.  Check them well for very thin spots & perforations when you have the tires off.  Of all the things that often cannot be saved on those bikes, an old Radelli rim is at the top of the list.

[Scout63]

You nailed it Clint.  The one thing I’m really worried about is the condition of the rims.  I may have to lace up a new set and I really don’t want to. They would be much too shiny.  If I go that route maybe a new set of Borranis from Buchanans. That would almost double the cost of the bike.

[cliffrod]

Original Borranis were getting crazy expensive long ago.  If you watch for some similar profile used & imperfect akronts (like Husqvarna and Bultaco) they’ll look the patina part and be a direct swap.  They need to be drilled for full width drum brake.  Lots of Husqvarna and Bultaco had such flanged WM3 akronts on the rear.  Finding a properly drilled WM2 for front is harder but still doable.  I can probably help you with reading the drilled dimple to know what to buy or avoid. 

The Mototrans Ducati singles came with WM2 & WM3 flanged akronts like this , although they had heavier gauge spokes with larger drilled holes for the nipples.  So you have to be more creative to use them.  I also understand thicker spokes are not as strong (based upon elasticity)

Edit- forgot to mention.  as far as I know & based upon the Ducati singles I have had, all original spokes were mild steel painted argent as original equipment.  They never came with stainless spokes.   One of the biggest tells that a bike’s wheels has been changed or redone are polished stainless steel spokes that people use.  If you want it to still look old and you replace the spokes with ss from Buchanan’s, a quick spray of argent paint will help them look more original and subdue that extra bling.  Seeing Borranis with painted spokes on a Ducati single is one of those little very original very esoteric details that I love to see.

As far as rebuilding old rims-  My understanding is that the used spokes will be indexed/registered to the respective used hole in the hub.  As long as that same hole & spoke remain together, neither the spoke or hub flange will be additionally stressed or fatigued by having to produce a new register.  Remove the old rim, leave spokes in place in hub (or carefully document each spoke & hole if they’re removed from hub during rehab) and then lace hub & spokes to a replacement rim.    Be careful removing old nipple to not bugger them or twist the spokes.  I rebuilt numerous rims like this on some of my Ducatis to improve the bikes without a full $$ resto.  Never had a problem.

When I sold my singles, I had over two dozen spare borrani & akront rims for future use, plus more on respective bikes either installed or allotted.  Getting ones already drilled to the same angle is the issue.   They sold very fast.  You can also look for rims from a later HD Sprint, usually also Radelli.   For some reason, they don’t seem to explode with rust as quickly as the comparable rims on Ducatis.  The drillings on a steel rim are more forgiving.  borranis for sprint hubs are drilled at a different angle than those drilled for a Ducati hub.  They can work but are not ideal.

[vintagehoarder]

Sweet!!

[Scout63]

I installed a Fuzeblock switchable 12 volt fuse box on the rear fender behind the battery.  They make wiring simple.  One switched wire from the battery to the box triggers a relay that powers 6 circuits with mini fuses. Also six ground ports. Here it is with and without the cover.






Also pulled the rear wheel and chain, cleaned everything up and spooned on a new Shinko Trials tire.  The rear rim has a lot of surface rust and the chrome is gnarly, but it and the spokes are pretty solid.  It has a great Mad Max vibe. I’m going ugly early Clint. Maybe later I’ll try to source better rims, but not unless I’m going to pretty up the rest of the bike.

[cliffrod]

That’s good news.  If they’re sound rims, I wouldn’t change them either. They’re supposed to be covered in mud and dirt anyways.  Going pretty is a slippery slope.  So there’s lots of ugly on bikes and cars around here.
 
it’s great to see the rear fender hasn’t been bobbed. So many were chopped off. Looks like it’s got the right short silentium and tip as well.  Very cool. 

[Scout63]

I pulled the muffler. There is nothing left inside it. Now to source a replacement. In the process of pulling the countersprocker cover I snapped off the adjuster screw below the shift lever. I thought it had to come out but it didn’t. Front tire mounted.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I pulled the muffler. There is nothing left inside it. Now to source a replacement. In the process of pulling the countersprocker cover I snapped off the adjuster screw below the shift lever. I thought it had to come out but it didn’t. Front tire mounted.

It it this one?: https://motostoricheitaliane.com/scarichi-moto-marmitte-moto-d-epoca/ricambi-ducati-scrambler-450-mark/

[Scout63]

I ordered this one Charlie. I’m not sure if they are the same:

https://www.officine08.com/p11323_exhaust-muffler-ducati-450-scrambler-busso-chrome-short.html

Front wheel is cleaned up and back on. Clutch cover off.  Needs new friction plates.  The crank gear and clutch basket look good.  I’m wiring the bike and installing electronic ignition and 12v rotor/stator/regrec all at the same.  What could possibly go wrong.

[Scout63]

New rotor and stator installed. Electronic ignition installed and timed. Reg/rec mounted on skid plate.  Mostly wired.  I just need to wire in the new left switch assembly and then loom everything. Wiring is basically a headlight bucket toggle switch to engage the Fuzeblock, and another headlight bucket toggle switch to turn on lights. The bike has great compression.  I needed the decomp lever just to be able to rotate the crank with the piston stop in place.

[Canuck750]

Nice electronic upgrades, that fuse block looks slick.
 
Which brand of reg/rec did you use?

[Scout63]

Nice electronic upgrades, that fuse block looks slick.
 
Which brand of reg/rec did you use?

It came as part of the 12v rotor/stator kit from Electrex in the UK:

https://www.electrexworld.co.uk/acatalog/STK-163.html

I have a lithium battery in it that needs a lower charge point.  I’m going to watch the voltage carefully and maybe switch to an AGM battery. Here’s the Fuzeblock link. They make wiring neat and allow you to energize everything with one switch:

https://www.fuzeblocks.com/Fuzeblocks-FZ-1-Distribution-Block_p_1.html

[Canuck750]

Thanks Ben!

[Scout63]

Wiring is completed and loomed/ zip tied. LED headlight bulb installed and lights and horn work.  I installed a Fiamm low tone horn and it is loud.

[Scout63]

The Scrambler refresh is complete. I left the patina but moderned up the basics:
Tires and tubes
12 volt conversion
Sachse electronic ignition
Fuzeblock switchable power hub
Full rewire with Ancor marine wire and terminals.
Replaced missing center stand
New clutch plates
New muffler

I’ll ride it a bit when the weather warms up and decide whether to keep or sell it.  It will be competing for garage space with the SR, which is perennially about to be sold anyway.



 

[cliffrod]

Very cool.  I hope you get to enjoy it a little before it goes away. 

[Scout63]

Very cool.  I hope you get to enjoy it a little before it goes away.

I’m going to haul it up to Vermont and wake up your ancestors Clint.

[Muzz]

So, have you hauled it up to Vermont and let 'er rip yet Scout?

Always liked the look of those Duc singles. I still think the 250 Diana Mklll to be one of the prettiest bikes ever made.

[Scout63]

So, have you hauled it up to Vermont and let 'er rip yet Scout?

Always liked the look of those Duc singles. I still think the 250 Diana Mklll to be one of the prettiest bikes ever made.

I’m still sorting Muzz.  I had to wait a month for a clutch pushrod to come in from the UK.  i think Vermont will be snowy and then muddy for a bit. I’m also a little nervous about the starting drill.

[Scout63]

Clutch is sorted.  I also finished fettling the shifter box, which is a separately sealed unit sitting over the counter sprocket.  I had bodied the adjuster bolt, which necessitated a new part from the UK and full disassembly. Then I temporarily lost an internal spring. All is back together for a first start.  Then no spark.  Maybe next weekend. I just want it off the lift.

[Scout63]

Bodged not bodied.