Technical Info

[Old Cog]

Threw Haynes at the wall again. Gonna have to re-plaster if I can't get a book I can rely on.
Searching this forum often comes up with the answer - and always comes up with something interesting, but it's a bit hit and miss.
And the manuals which are in pdf form in the Tech Section don't include one for a 250 Mk3. (The others, the parts catalogues, link to an empty black rectangle.)

Anyway, a book's better to throw at the wall.

Amazon sell these: The Veloce Manual, Ian Falloon's guide and Mick Walker's "Singles".
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Book-Ducati-Overhead-Camshaft-Singles/dp/1845845668/ref=pd_sim_sbs_14_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0826MJQ7BJ0Y8ECGNYX4&dpSrc=sims&dpST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_

What do you rely on? Any recommendation? Buy them all??

Thanks

[double diamond]

The Mick Walker book you identify is a history of Ducati singles. Not much technical information. Walker’s Ducati Singles Restoration isn’t much use either. I believe Ian Falloon’s guide is a history as well. If you’re looking for the factory repair manual, they are available from Guzzino.com as well as other sources. If you find one, the Clymer manual was a copy of the factory service manual. The factory service manual is about as good as it gets though there is room for improvement.

[Old Cog]

Thanks dd

Good to know that the Walker and Falloon books - while I'm sure they're very interesting - are not what I'm trying to buy at the moment.

The Guzzino ones (according to their site) are either for narrow case bikes - or in Italian. (I can order an espresso but... )

In fact I've just spotted that the Clymer one shown on Amazon (as in link in OP) is also for n/c machines.

So I'm better informed about what I don't want but little closer to what I do want!

(Is this all part of the "fun" of having a 40 year old bike? It seems to me a bit odd that the wide case Mk3 is the commonest Ducati single - at least in the UK - but it's the hardest to get a manual for!)

Any other suggestions?

[Jordan]

Be aware that although there doesn't seem to be a dedicated widecase workshop manual, there is the narrowcase book (Clymer did a reprint), and a supplement that covers the widecase models. Used together, it's the closest there is to a factory technical book on the widecases.
The supplement references the locations in the n/case book, of information to be updated to w/case specs.

Jordan

[Ventodue]

Hi Old Cog,

1. As others have said, Ducati never produced a workshop manual specifically for the wide-cases. Instead in December 1969, they issued a 16-page Supplement to Workshop Manual, the Workshop Manual referred to here being the January 1966 edition that was produced for the narrow-cases (see below).

The Supplement covers the 250 Monza; and the 250, 350 and 450 Mark 3, Mark3D and Scrambler. It is of some use, containing (for example) wear information and instructions on how to set up desmo valve clearances. Originals have a white cover.

2. Earlier factory manuals (all narrow-case):
a) The January 1966 edition (as referred to above) covers the 160 Monza; the 250 Monza, GT, Mark 3, Mach 1 and SCR; and the 350 Sebring. Originals have a yellow cover. Re-prints can be found with a grey or light blue cover.

b) The very first manual was printed in August 1960. It covers the 100, 125, 175 and 200 bikes. Originals have a blue cover.

c) And there was a 'in-between' manual printed in May 1965 and covering the 250s (Monza, Mark 3 (1964 and 1965), Mach 1 and SCR) with a supplement for the 160 Monza and 350 Sebring. It has a white cover. How - or indeed, if - it differs from the January 1966 manual, I know not.

3. The Clymer manual is basically a re-print of the 1966 factory manual and the Supplement. But it can have its use. It's the only place where I have seen any information on the Mototrans electronic ignition, for example. Where they got this info, I don't know.*

* EDIT: see Jon's post below.

4. Haynes manuals should always be used with caution, the Ducati MkIII and Desmo Singles being a fairly typical example of something evidently produced at speed with no great in-depth knowledge of the full range of machines purportedly covered. Often their main value is in their photographs.

5. Mick Walker's Ducati Singles and also his Singles Restoration do have some useful information (and again, photos), and shouldn't be dismissed.

6. Tom Bailey's books are also useful for reference. Just be aware that his Workshop Manual is largely a re-print of the Ducati manual (Ithink the 1966 edition, not the earlier 1960 one), with some practical comments added.

HTH

Craig

[Jon Pegler]

Further to Craig's fairly comprehensive list, I could add a little more information, although possibly not relevant to Old Cog's original question as I believe his machine is fitted with the Ducati Electronica ignition system.

Mototrans Ducati produced an eight page booklet to accompany the Ducati Road models sale in the US.
This was titled 'electronic ignition system' and distributed by the Berliner corporation and covered the Motoplat electronic set up.
Unfortunately it was translated very literally and very badly from the original Spanish text and makes for difficult and sometimes amusing reading.
Motoplat themselves produced a very similar twelve page booklet with the same title - electronic ignition system.
This booklet has a text largely the same as the Mototrans one, although much better translated and covering a few other uses such as in karting.
Both booklets are quite useful in checking and testing Motoplat electronic ignition systems.

Whilst it is not a manual as such, the Moto Ciclismo book on the Ducati Scrambler by Stefano Orio has probably the best colour photographs of an engine re-build, although the text is all in Italian.

Jon

[Jordan]

May we have a link to the Motoplat manual, please?
...if it exist online.

Jordan

[Old Cog]

Sheesh! Nothin's simple is it.

Looks like the 1966 manual plus supplement is the way to go.

(btw I've used several Haynes manuals over the years, and have generally found them accurate. Just been lucky maybe.)

Thanks to you all.

Brian

[Ventodue]

Mototrans Ducati produced an eight page booklet to accompany the Ducati Road models sale in the US. This was titled 'electronic ignition system' and distributed by the Berliner corporation and covered the Motoplat electronic set up.<snip>

Ta Jon. Now I know where Clymer got their info ...

Whilst it is not a manual as such, the Moto Ciclismo book on the Ducati Scrambler by Stefano Orio has probably the best colour photographs of an engine re-build, although the text is all in Italian.

+1.

[Ventodue]

I've used several Haynes manuals over the years, and have generally found them accurate. Just been lucky maybe.

Hi Brian,

. They do most certainly have their use, especialy when the factory manuals are not that great in the first place! But always wih caution. You've probably noticed in the Singles book, for example, that the labelling of the wiring diagrams is reversed ...

Craig