Motoscrubs.com

Hi all new here and new to Ducati singles.
Moto Guzzi enthusiast up to now. After six restorations, singles and twins, time for a change.
My interest in Ducati singles started after reading about 175TS restoration in UK VMCC magazine end of last year by member Ian, Ranton_Rambler
This has led to the purchase of 160TS Spanish import told is 1965. Frame number MD54593 Engine number MD30315. Having trouble finding date details, I think frame used for160TS is 175TS. Looks like Scrambler handlebars. If anyone can help dating engine and frame it would be a good start.
This is going to be total long time restoration having just finished Moto Guzzi Stornello 125cc that needs running in if it ever stops raining in UK
George in Essex UK

Welcome George. There appears to be tons of spares available in Spain, judging by what is on offer on Spanish eBay type sites, the problem is how to buy them, if you do not speak Spanish.

Your frame is from a 175TS with a 1964 Sevilla registration.
Your motor seems to have a number for a 125TS from about 1960 or 1961
I would check the bore to find out just what you have got. 125 is 55.2mm bore, Mototrans 160 is 62mm bore, not 61mm like the Italian 160.

Jon

Thanks for replies.
Having a clean up today 175TS decals on fuel tank and toolbox covers, Ducati 160 cast on cam cover. Will check bore as suggested when I strip engine.
Would I be correct in thinking 160 engine is based on 125 bottom end with revised piston / barrel / head / carb. and fitted to 175 frame.
Would the Spanish follow the Italian way of building machines using up parts available in parts bins, can cause some confusion when attempting restoration
Tyres 3" x 18" front and rear on alli rims.

The Spanish Mototrans factory didn't fit parts quite as randomly as the Italians did in Bologna, certainly not in the early 1960s.
This did happen more in the changeover from 4-5 speed narrowcase bikes and when widecase production began in Spain.
I would guess that your bike started life as a 175TS, which was the most popular model of OHC single produced in Spain, with not far short of 10,000 being built in seven years.
The motor is a later addition.
The 125 and 160 models use a similar bottom end, so someone may have fitted a 160 barrel/piston/head to your 125 bottom end to build a 160 motor.
175TS wheels were originally shod with 2.75 x 18 tyres front and rear. Akront aluminium rims as standard.
125 and 160 wheels were 17 inch and narrower, with narrower mudguards.

Jon

Thanks for the information Jon what you say makes sense. I wonder why Ducati made two engines with only 15 cc difference.
160 cc is a strange capacity, would that be to do with Spanish age/learner restrictions or perhaps using up old stock when 125 discontinued.
More cleaning today, looks like engine has been installed some time and I think rear number plate holder not standard. Carb is Amal 375 20
Will post as work progresses.

I would like to share this restoration with members if interested. Being new to Ducati any help or advice would be welcome.

Continued cleaning and finding out what needs doing. Getting quotes for paint job.
Drained engine oil. Drain and filler plugs mutilated, drain plug glued in. When I eventually got plug out found crankcase female thread stripped.
New plugs can be found but not sure thread can be repaired. will investigate further when engine is stripped and I know what engine I have.

Hi George,

It will definitely be possible to repair your stripped drain plug thread, probably by boring the hole and threading it for a plug with male and female threads to bring it back to standard, but it will not be cheap! Engineering is incredibly expensive.

drainplug threads can be repaired but the M22 timesert kit is very expensive .
about 500 dollars give or take .

Eldert

Here is a pic of the plate holder and rear light lens which came with my Mototrans Elite.
The top edge profile in your pic looks something similar.