Oil Drain

[Duccout]

The oil drain pipe on my 250 had (like everything on the bike) been tightened by a gorilla, with the result that the faces of the banjos were seriously distorted. I tried facing them and also tried Dowty washers, but could not stop the leaks, so I bought a new drain pipe from the Ducati Vintage Company, in Italy. The part looked nice, but the faces of the banjos were crudely ground leaving them very rough, with the result that the leaks were worse than before! Eventually I had to stone the faces down to achieve a sealing surface, which was not easy because of the chrome finish.

It is strange, because any brake banjo available on eBay has a smooth finish, so I don't know why the Ducati Vintage Company could not have sourced better finished ones. So, if anyone is looking at buying an oil drain pipe it may be worth trying the Spanish ones available from Recambio Usado.

Cheers,

Colin

[blethermaskite]

Colin, maybe a bit late for you now, the over tightened oil drain pipe is very common. I have always managed to recover these by sweating the faces with soft solder and dressing flat again. Cheers George.

[themoudie]

Afternoon Colin and George,

Not sure about George's MKIII's, but none of mine have chromed drains, all of them are weathered finish brass and copper. Used to get a wee weep when using annealed copper or aluminuim washers, so I swapped at the last rebuild to Dowty washers and so far after 16,000 miles, no weeps. You wait this year it'll do a Torry Canyon on me!

Persistant, since Boxing Day, sleet, snow, to start for the first 2 weeks and now for the past 3 weeks rain/drizzle, so tending towards hibernation. Last canter out was Saturday after Boxing Day, when things dried up a touch and the sun keeked through the gloom, but ruddy cold at 4°C.

Still, the blue sky is always above the clouds and I'm sure it'll be along soon.

Good health, BillR

[Duccout]

Hi (first) George,

Thanks for the tip about the solder, I will have a go at it sometime.

(Second) George,

It sure has been wet and miserable and cold! I am just off for a quick ride out this afternoon while the sun is shining.

Colin

[themoudie]

Aye Colin, I hope the canter went well, no let up here and if the seaweed fondlers are to be believed that not happen until Monday for a couple of hours, afore the next lot arrives until Sunday the 15th! Time will tell.

Good health, BillR

[Bevel bob]

I have had a persistant leak from oil Banjo's on a vintage bike , after many failed efforts ,i had a brainwave and checked the banjo faces for paralelism. They were out! . Check with a mike accross the banjo. file up till both faces are parrallel across the width.