Adding Another Duke to the Stable...

[joe46ho]

I don't really "need" another project, but I could not pass this up.. $810.00 early 250 scr, I have any and every part needed to restore it to original specs (except headlight and mounting ears) anyone know what the very early 250 scr proper headlight arrangement was ? and did it have a brake light ? or no ? he listed it as a 65, but I believe it to be earlier...possibly 62-64 ? any thoughts or info are greatly appreciated, I just paid for it via paypal, and Im going to pick it up this weekend.... Joe

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... K:MEWNX:IT

[JimF]

Congrats! I hope you post pictures throughout your restoration.

[Eldert]

Hi Joe

nice find , it is a 5 speed engine so 65 could be right

Eldert

[joe46ho]

Thanks Jim and Eldert... I have a 10 hr drive each way to pick it up... but i think its worth it. You don't see many complete dukes for sale that aren't several thousand dollars. its a little on the rough side, but i've somehow managed to accumulate a lot of n/c parts, so even if the engine is completely un-useable I should be ok...

Eldert
i've been meaning to ask you, do you balance duke single cranks (for other people) I noticed in one of your posts you have a vertex balancing stand. If you only do work for yourself I understand, but I was curious if you do any for others. I have the a 600 ton press at work and ive made the tooling to press apart duke single cranks, but I have yet to actually repair/refurbish one, press it back together and true it. Mainly because the one I was going to do was my brother's 450 scr crank, but he was in too big of a hurry, so off to syd's it went and malcom did it... he did a good job with it of course, but as i am planning on building 3 n/c engines over the next year ( originally 2, one for my 250 mach1 "look-alike" im piecing together, one for my ex-cafe racer chassis I bought on ebay) but now a 3rd for this duke I just acquired, sending 3 cranks to syd's is out of the question... I never saw the invoice from syd's but my brother said he got nausea from the phone call/estimate he received...i realize parts are expensive, and he did get a new con. rod, crank pin, bearing cage/rollers, thrust washers, etc. I have built countless engines, but the vast majority of my experience is auto related (mostly ford), Suzuki race replicas (GS/GSXR) and Caterpillar heavy equipment. I know I can rebuild my own cranks if needed, but 2 of the 3 engines will not be receiving stock pistons, and I believe one crank was "balanced" previously and if by the same individual who "rebuilt" the engine, im positive they did it wrong, as I have had to repair a lot of there "handy work" So ( I assume) these cranks will need to be balanced ? Any info at all you can provide would be greatly appreciated, even if it is simply to point me in the direction of someone else to do it... The machine shops around me (even the well known reputable ones) are not equipped to do it, and have just given me a puzzled look when I asked/showed one of the cranks to them...

[JimF]

A week ago I added another new Duc too.

A good friend offered me his 250 for a bargain price.

I was waiting for a new set of clip-ons to arrive so that I could mount them and then photograph the bike and make the announcement.

Jim

IMG_0711.JPG

[krupp13]

Great Bike Jim!!!! I cannot wait to see more pictures!

Congrats!

[MotoMike]

Joe
Looks like a good deal. you are fortunate to have a lot of parts to make the bike complete.

Jim
looks great. the seat and tail make it look like a period cafe cruiser. looking forward to the pics once fitted out.

Mike

[joe46ho]

Jim

Very nice Duke...I like the color/paint scheme, also like the tail/seat pan/tail lamp...
So many times ive seen people install a fiberglass seat pan/tail and put a gigantic lamp on the back, I like the look of a less pronounced tail lamp like you have there. The side panels are a nice touch too, I am looking to fabricated something similar for my "cafe project" I just need to think of a good, non-destructive way to attach them first.

[double diamond]

Joe,

Looks like a good starting point to bring back another SCR. Headlights were either the “pan” headlights installed on the ’64 SCR and Diana (hard to find) or the “bullet” 130mm headlight with speedo hole installed on later years. Headlight ears are common to SCR, Monza and Sebring N/C models (used the type with a hole for H/L bolt, not the W/C slotted mount type), so pretty easy to come by. 19” front and rear rims marked “Agrati Monticello” were installed on the ’64 SCR so rim size/mfr. is an indicator of year. Seems to me the ’64 also had the Campagnolo hubs with no false air scoop on the speedo drive plate (can’t tell from ebay pics, front wheel is reversed) and 7 fin hubs. But, the sprocket drive plate on yours is ribbed, which indicates Grimeca hubs which were installed on ’65. Also looks like it has folding footpegs which were later years. Curious thing about this bike is it looks like it has a kit megaphone of the type Jim has spec’d in his megaphone post. If you’re interested in swapping for a correct SCR exhaust pipe in like condition (i.e. pretty beat up) I have one I’d be glad to provide.

Ciao,

Matt

[joe46ho]

Hey Matt, Thanks for the post...

I just woke up from much needed sleep, I had to drive farther than I originally planned, and wait through hours of construction to pick-up this duke, It was in Joplin, Missouri (MO/Ok state line) but I think it was worth it, especially for the price. I see e-bayers asking, (and getting) triple what I paid for ones in similar condition. I have only had a few minutes here to actually start looking at things/measure parts... But I do know now, it does have folding footpegs, 19" front wheel with Grimeca hub, 18" rear. The lower fork sliders are steel, is this normal ? I really don't know much about the n/c front ends/wheels at all... Most of my exp. is with the 250 n/c engines. I have a 130mm bullet headlamp already so I guess i'm covered there...the other style you speak of I've seen, and they seem to be treated like gold... (saw one sell for 1,100 dollars !) The 130mm one i have I suppose would be correct for this model, It has a speedo hole, and 2 warning/indicator light holes NO headlamp switch hole, or key switch hole though ? I will need to source headlight ears, but If they share the same ones as other n/c models, then I've seen plenty around for sale. Also need upper spring covers, upper triple is cracked but my brother says he has a nice one, fork tubes are rusty, and I believe them to be longer ? than the street version dukes ? either way, I will try to keep the original ones, I work in the heavy equip. industry (Cat) and I can take these to our hard-chrome guy, if i'm not in a hurry he will do them free, he owes me at least one or two favors... The centerstand is missing ? also, although i'm not sure they all had centerstands ? The exhaust is definitely wrong, and I may be interested in the exh. you have, but I really dont think you would want this one, it is very rough, I can send you better pics if needed. All in all though, the hard to find parts are mostly there, seat looks bad in pic. but only the cover/foam are damaged, rest is mint. I gather from the prices people pay, these seat pans are hard to find too... The ss127d carb is all there and I have the correct air cleaner for it in my stash...i'm assuming this is the right carb...if not, I have a vhb I could put on it, also have another old scr carb. Back to work now... I will be disassembling it, and making a full list of what I need soon.