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175TS in UK

Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2017 2:32 pm
by ranton_rambler
Hi all - I've just joined this forum to try and find out a bit more about a Ducati 175TS that is advertised locally to me here in UK.
It's all in pieces but I am told it is all there, and the current owner apparently bought it as a complete but non-running bike. I have been doing a bit of general reading around about these small singles, but my main query is whether there are common major pitfalls with working on them, and what the parts availability is like. I have a couple of 70's Guzzis already, but have never owned any Ducati previously. I would consider myself a competent DIY mechanic and have access to friends with more advanced skills and better tools. Thanks in advance, Ian

Re: 175TS in UK

Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2017 9:44 pm
by Jordan
I'd guess that parts availability could be a challenge for a rare model.
But, some parts might interchange with more common models.
For example, my '73 350 has parts with 175 cast on them.

Re: 175TS in UK

Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2017 8:20 am
by Ventodue
Hi Ian,

Welcome to the Forum.

Coupla thoughts:

1. Do you know, is the bike a Spanish or an Italian built bike? This is likely to influence the parts availability. You should be able to tell by looking at the engine number. If the prefix is DM (= Ducati Meccanica), it's Italian. If it's MD ( = Mototrans Ducati), it's Spanish.

2. Otherwise, speak to:
- Barry Jones at Classic Ducati, 07970 861910, http://www.classicducati.com/index.php.
And/or Nigel Lacey at Lacey Ducati, 01597 870 444 , http://www.laceyducati.co.uk/ducati-parts/

HTH

Craig

Re: 175TS in UK

Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2017 6:51 pm
by ducwiz
Hi,

in this old thread http://www.motoscrubs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1638#p11959 you may gather more information on the 175. A link for downloading the workshop manual (italian language) is also provided.

cheers Hans

Re: 175TS in UK

Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2017 6:57 pm
by ranton_rambler
Thanks all. I haven't been to see it yet, but will check the numbers when I go.
The seller says it's a 1957 bike, but that doesn't seem to match up with being a TS.
I'll keep looking on the web to increase my knowledge, and will certainly talk to the specialists.

Re: 175TS in UK

Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2017 7:12 pm
by Jon Pegler
The Italian 175TS will have an engine number and frame number in the range 02xxx to 07xxx, with a 1957 bike starting 02xxx.
The Spanish 175 will have a number starting at 50000 going up to 57xxx, with MD stamped on both the engine and frame, as Craig mentions.
Spanish 175's were produced from 1961-1966 and had many parts interchangeable with the Italian 175's.
In fact, they were probably more similar to the Italian machines than any other machine built by Mototrans in Spain, so parts may not be a problem.

Jon

Re: 175TS in UK

Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2017 7:50 pm
by Ventodue
Hi Ian,

If it really is a 1957 bike, then it's most likely to be either a Sport or a Tourismo (i.e. either a 'S' or a 'T'). The 'TS' = 'Turismo Sport’ didn't appear until 1958 - or 1959, according to who you believe.* And according to Mick Walker, this TS model wasn't sold in the UK until 1960. Many were built, however, it being popular in Italy.

Oh! And, btw: it will be an Italian bike :) .

Fortunately, according to Ian Falloon, frame and engine numbers can help in identifying both year and model. The former is stamped on the rear frame tube, just by the battery; the latter on the front of the crankcase.

175 Sport frame and engine numbers start 75001. In 1958, the numbers changed, starting now at 76001. And so on each succesive year: 77001 = 1959. 78001 = 1960.

175 Turismo numbers start 00001 (1957) and then changed mid-year (dunno why ...) to 02001. Then 03001 = 1958. 04001 = 1959. 05001 = 1960.

So see if you get the numbers from the seller and then come back to us ...

Ciao

Craig

* e.g. Ian Falloon; Marc Poels.

Re: 175TS in UK

Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 10:02 pm
by ranton_rambler
Well I've bought it, although not fetched it home yet. It's got DM prefix engine and frame numbers, but I don't think it can be a 1957 bike.

Once it's here, I can make a plan for what to do with it. Full restoration is tempting, but so is just doing the minimum to get it running and usable. I quite like the unrestored look, but I think the tank is a bit too far gone really.

Re: 175TS in UK

Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2017 6:12 am
by Ventodue
ranton_rambler wrote:Well I've bought it, although not fetched it home yet. It's got DM prefix engine and frame numbers, but I don't think it can be a 1957 bike <snip>.


Well, go on - spill the beans :) . What are they?

Re: 175TS in UK

Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2017 7:15 pm
by ranton_rambler
Frame is DM175 07982, engine is DM175 08235.