[Ducati] 900SS Damper

Tue May 2 18:40:12 EDT 2006

Normally to replace spring and spacer the damping rod does not need to be removed. Damping rod is in fact bolted into fork leg from the bottom of forks, usually bolt is accessed through hole in bottom, normally that is not something you need to do unless accessing damping rod or if a cartridge fork the cartridges. Only a complete fork rebuild involves doing this, typical fork spring, preload spacers etc etc do not require you get into any of that. Also to remove the inner damping parts rewquires some experience, meaning you will not just loosen it with a wrench....You either use a tool to hold the innards in place or you remove bolt with an air ratchet, impact etc, something that can spin that bolt fast will take it right out. Normal hand tools need not apply unless you have the means to hold rod from inside while working nut from outside. I learned this at an early age when a broom handle just was not enough to hold all while I tried to work bolt with other hand. This is
 an impoosible thing to do while working in a parking lot living in an apartment. Fortunaetly for me Larry McBrides shop was up the street. In any event a lot of water has gone under the bridge since those days. You can pull one fork leg at a time, removing and turning upside down to drain, spring and spacer may fall out. I have never had to do that but never worked on a fork where spacer was in the bottom. Rich 

"Wright, Dirk" <Dirk.Wright at USPTO.GOV> wrote:  It isn't clear that the spacer is made from metal. It is black in color in the Haynes manual. The cap has to be unscrewed from a rod that runs down the spring. In order to pull out the complete assembly, you have to unscrew something at the bottom of the fork also. I only need to replace the spring, so I didn't study that aspect closely. 

-----Original Message-----
From: ducati-bounces at ducati.net [mailto:ducati-bounces at ducati.net]On
Behalf Of Rich Roberts
Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2006 12:10 PM
To: Ducati Owners Group
Subject: RE: [Ducati] 900SS Damper

On use of PVC, I always sand edges, deburring of all loose or potentially loose material. Once cleaned up of all rough edges should be fine. I cut in 1/4" increments as even a 1/4" is noticeable. Sorry spacer is at bottom of Marzocchi's, bummer. But should be just take top loose extract spring and instead of on top of spring it is under spring..right? So use one of those magnet extension retraction thingies to get it out. Rich

"Wright, Dirk" wrote: Hi Dave, I now have the Haynes manual for my bike and I do have Marzocchi forks. The spacer is at the bottom and requires significant disassembly to access. I have found a source that is willing to work with me and I will be buying a new set of stiffer springs from him. I just have to figure out how I'm going to support the bike while taking the fork springs out. I need a sky hook, got one? 

-----Original Message-----
From: ducati-bounces at ducati.net [mailto:ducati-bounces at ducati.net]On
Behalf Of Dave Verrecchia
Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2006 12:44 AM
To: Ducati Owners Group
Subject: RE: [Ducati] 900SS Damper

They are the same diameter fork legs whether or not they Marzocchi or Showa, so it doesn't matter. If you measure the springs, you can get anything from Race Tech to Ohlins for them. 

You can also use PCV pipe as a pre-load tool. You basically cut it in different heights to vary the pre-load (like 1/2", etc... a little bit makes a big difference). This is ghetto, oakland style, but it works and people have done this for years... but there maybe be something with PVC flaking off and getting into the fork oil.

I was originally repsonding saying Munroe has 2 steering dampers for 1994-1998 SS's in stock. They are pretty trick, red-anodized from Italy... they'd probably sell them cheap... email me off list if you are intersted.

Dave V

"Wright, Dirk" wrote:Racetech doesn't list my bike in its product index. I do not know if I have Showa or Marzocchi forks. I have read references that say either could have been used. There doesn't appear to be any maker's mark on them. They are unadjustable, that's all I know. I sent Racetech an email asking about stiffer springs. Hopefully they will have some that will fit. 

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Ducati On Line thanks its sponsor and friend, Cycle Cat, maker of 
some of the most beautiful products ever for Ducati's.
Visit http://www.cyclecat.com/

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Visit http://www.cyclecat.com/

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