[Ducati] 900SS - Wits End

[Alex Pearsall]

Hey folks,

900SS with a new set of JE 11:1 drop-in's.  Rings gapped at .020" to be 
safe, squish set at .065" on both cylinders (also to be safe).  Retarded 
the ignition two degrees (via pickup plate) and switched to 93 octane 
fuel.  Bolt it all back together, new spark plugs, viola, starts up on 
the first turn.

Sync the carbs, but now the bike won't idle.  Adjust idle screw until 
the bike idles, but a touch of the throttle sends the revs racing, 
usually they don't come back down.

Pull  apart the carbs, clean and blow-out every jet and circuit.  Clean 
the float-bowls, set the height, clean the float needles.  All together 
again, and the bike does the same thing.  Idles good, but revs race at 
the touch of a throttle.

Examine the plugs.  Vertical cylinder is a little black, but the 
horizontal cylinder is white as a ghost.  Ahh, must be an air leak. 
Examine carb boots, replace both gaskets on intake mainfolds and 
re-torque.  The bike does the same thing.

Scratch my head a bit, before I get brave and decide to spray some carb 
cleaner all around the intake manifolds.  Engine doesn't turn any 
faster, or slower.

Finally figuring I may have made a mistake, I pull off the ignition 
cover, re-check the pickup air gap.  Both perfectly in spec at .711 mm.

What am I missing?  I'm plum out of ideas!

-Alex