Vento 350

[Harvey]

Sorry I lost track of the threads objective, that it was a springer.
Yes better to keep all the bits together.

[machten]

I have a very late 450 Mark 3 with the highest engine and frame numbers I've seen so far - 32mm crank pin, etc. Earlier in this thread there was speculation about a specific 450 cam. I had the head off mine today and took a picture.

Which cam do you think this is?



Kev

[DewCatTea-Bob]

" Which cam do you think this is? "

____ It would be a more-useful shot if the center of your cam.lens was more perfectly aligned with the center-hole of the shaft, but,, with what detail can be seen here, it appears that your camshaft-model is quite-likely the (fairly dreaded [for a 450!]) 'w-c.250-Scr.cam'.


Dukaddy-DUKEs,
-Bob

[machten]

it appears that your camshaft-model is quite-likely the (fairly dreaded [for a 450!]) 'w-c.250-Scr.cam

Thanks. That's what I expected based on the performance characteristics when I ride it ... Great down low and mid range, not much happening above that.

Kev

[DewCatTea-Bob]

" Great down low and mid range, not much happening above that. "

____ Right, that's how 450s run with that cam, (decent low-end torque, and that's about it). _ It provides the kind of power ya ought-to expect from a Scr.type model, (but NOT from a 'Mark-3' !).
We can thank the 'bean-counters' (whoever those cheapsters might've been), for leading to the compromise of employing the '1968 w-c.250-Scrambler' cam-model for the springer-engine 450-models.
That particular cam.model is fairly hot for a 250, (and about perfect for a 350 'Scrambler'),, but it's much too mild for a 450-engine, (which is why I've proclaimed that it "doesn't have any business being in a 450 !").
__ There was at-least one entity at Ducati -(probably Dr.T) who was like-minded with those of us like myself... That EACH (particularly different) Duke-model SHOULD exclusively employ it's very-own particular camshaft !
And for the most-part, that rule-of-thumb played-out fairly well, (but with some sad exceptions !).
__ The 450-Scr.model would've exploited notably better mid-range power & slightly better high-end (with no notable loss of low-end torque), if only that 450-model had been properly equipped with the slightly hotter '450Scr.cam' !
Also, the 450Mark-3 would've MUCH benefited in mid-range and especially high-end (with only a slight loss of low-end), if only that 450-model had always been properly equipped with the fairly wild 450M3-cam.model !
It's my understanding that a (unknown) number of 450Mark-3 models were indeed equipped with THAT appropriate cam.model. _ It's too bad that your 450Mk3 wasn't !
__ The next-best performing camshaft-model for the 450-engine would be the '350M3-cam', and following that would next be one of the Gray-cams -(either the n-c.M1-cam, or the w-c.250Mk3-cam), and following that would next be the Red-cam -(n-c.250Mk-III).
In 450-engines, I've only ever tried-out three different cam.models... the 'w-c.250Mk3-cam'; the '350M3-cam'; & the '250F1-cam'. ...
Of those three cam.models, I believe the 350M3-cam provides the best overall power-output -(not to be confused with best 'peak' power !),, however I found that the 450-motor is most FUN to ride with the w-c.250Mk3 cam.model, as it seemed to provide the steepest coming-on-the-cam rush-rate, (even-though it's peak-point isn't quite as tall as that [rather more gradually] reached with the 350M3-cam).
But of all those cam.models, I'm pretty-sure that the BEST choice of all for the 450-engine, would be the originally-INTENDED '450M3-cam' -(part# 0615.29.010) !
Even-though I've never actually tried-out a 450 with that (real-450!) 450-cam.model installed, I'm still fairly confident that it would provide the best overall power-delivery because, not only do it's specs seem to be well suited, but also of-course, it was actually designed (probably by Dr.T) and specifically intended for the 450-engine !
__ I highly recommend switching-out that stock-cam (which you unfortunately got stuck-with in your 450Mark-3), and replace it with any of those cam.models I've mentioned-of here-above !


Duke-Cheers,
-Bob

[machten]

I'll keep my eyes open for another option.

The current cam setup was perfect for the mountains when I was using it in Europe, as the torque on tap made the bike very suitable for the long distances of tight uphill switchbacks that were common in the Dolomites and Alps. Now I'm back using it in the flatlands, it's more long open sweeper type roads and a bit of extra grunt higher up the range would be kind of nice to have.

I know whenever my friend Lex and I encountered a road that allowed us to strech the legs a bit over there, his 350 Mark 3 routinely gave the 450 a pasting above 50 mph. I could hear the very distinct change of note as it "came on the cam" (as he was about to go past me, unfortunately...)

Kev