Ducati 250 Mototrans Deluxe?

[Johnnie Mototrans]

Hello eveyone

I have just acquired a Ducati single and would like to know what I have.

Frame number MD 91769
Engine number MD 91751
Spanish registration B 717876

Having scoured this site and some others I think I have established it is:
250cc, it says so on the cam cover.
Spanish rather than italian
A Deluxe model from some time in the later 1960s.
The registration is from Barcelona. Can anyone tell me what year?
Painted 'pea green' which is clearly nonsense.
It has been blue metalic, then red, perhaps silver, black in places and goodness knows how many other colours before reaching the current fetching hue.

It is not a Desmo of any sort.......yet.

If I can figure out how to add some pictures then these will be below.
If not then some imagination might be needed.

Any help initially on what it is and whether it is older or younger than my wife would be greatly appreciated.
Then we can think about where this is all going.

Many thanks

Johnnie

[ducwiz]

http://www.lamaneta.org/numerochasis/ducati.html
http://www.motoscrubs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2652

cheers Hans

[Johnnie Mototrans]

Thanks Hans
For the prompt reply
Still trying to add some pictures.
Will get back to you when i have read through your prompts.
Johnnie

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[Jon Pegler]

Your Ducati is a Mototrans 250 De Luxe.
The Barcelona registration dates from 1969, which looks correct for your machine.
It should be a 5-speed De Luxe.
A couple of things have changed since it was first built, notably the rear light which is incorrect, and the cylinder barrel, which has come from a Road 77 model from 1978.
Otherwise, a fairly complete machine that could probably benefit from a coat of paint in a different colour.

Jon

[Johnnie Mototrans]

Thanks Jon

Good to know that at least some of what I thought I knew matches your views.
In particular thanks for the 1969 dating and the 5 speed gearbox information.

So far I have drained the oil and removed some engine covers.
While the oil was a worrying shade of brown I have not found anything terminal mechanically speaking.
Eveything that should go around seems to do so and the valves, rockers cam etc all seem to be doing what they were designed to do with no nasty noises.
One puzzle is the oils strainer which is in three parts

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Is this something particular to Mototrans and will a standard narrow case strainer fit and do the job?
The electrics are another story with much of the insulation cooked and crumbling.
I have purchased a 6 volt battery as a starting point but that is for another day.

Johnnie

[Jon Pegler]

The three part oil filter is a standard Mototrans item.
It is possible to fit an Italian one piece filter in it's place, although it can be a bit tight fitting the small end into the RH case where it is threaded.
I would re-fit the original three part affair so long as it is in reasonable condition.
Regarding electrics, it is quite easy to wire the bike up as a 12 volt machine. I wouldn't waste time with 6 volts.
Jon

[Johnnie Mototrans]

Thanks Jon
If a standard narrow case strainer fits then that is the future.
The existing strainer and centre threaded section are in poor condition.

Meantime, I decided to reassemble everything and flush with fresh oil.
I warmed the engine with a fan heater and the oil in hot water in the sink.
(This is Scotland in November)
Once topped up I turned the engine over by kickstart until I got bored.
Then I turned it over in gear with a battery drill and socket on the gearbox sprocket until the battery lost interest.
A checked behind the cam cover confirmed that the pump was working and fresh oil was reaching the head.
I will leave things to 'steep' for a while before I drain it again.

Good to know that a 12volt conversion is straightforward .
If this is covered elsewhere on the site perhaps you could point me in that direction.
I have seen some kits but at a cost I am not yet ready to embrace.
I think I will press on to wring 6 volts and a spark out of what I have got.
It must have worked once upon a time.

Johnnie

[ducwiz]

Hi,

inspecting two different parts lists for the 250 De Luxe it seems to me that 2 different alternators were used over time. To give the right advice for a conversion to 12V, you should tell us the number of wires coming fro the alternator coils, 2 or 3.

Hans

[Johnnie Mototrans]

Hans

Many thanks for the reply.

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There are three wires from the generator.
1 x red
2 x yellow
You can see the general condition of the wiring on the photo.
The existing motoplat box seems to say RC 6v which is why I assume it is a 6 volt system.
A modern 12v system with electronic ignition looks to be £300+.
While it is tempting to buy a complete kit to bring the electrics forward by 50 years, there is a lot of other things to do first.
If there is a 'budget' 12 volt conversion then you have my attention.
I am currently working from a 250 Strada parts book.
If you have one for a 1969 Deluxe model then please can you let me have a copy.

Johnnie

[Jon Pegler]

The 250 Strada parts book will not be much use on a 250 De Luxe. Almost everything is different.

There are at least three Spanish parts books that cover the 250 De Luxe. If you have a 5-speed model you will probably need more than one parts book, one to cover the cycle parts and one to cover the motor.
The 4-speed parts book would be fine for your cycle parts.
You will need a book covering the 200TS or the 24 Horas models as well as the 5-speed De Luxe to cover the motor.
There are a couple of 4-speed parts books for sale on the Spanish Todocollecion site at present. Items no. 169974706 and 28206176
I can't find a 5-speed book for sale at the moment, but they come up for sale fairly often.

If you have the Motoplat alternator with two yellow wires and a red (Not red yellow and white ), you can buy a cheap solid state single phase regulator and connect the two yellow wires, ignoring the red wire, and you will have a 12v outlet. Change the battery, coil and bulbs and you are away. The horn will be OK with 12v running through it. It will probably cost under £100 UK.

Jon