We are available by e-mail should you wish to contact us directly. Arthur can be contacted on amkvt@hotmail.com. Take note that he works irregular times in the oil/gas industry, this means replies may take several days. André can be contacted on mark3desmo@gmail.com. Although not in the oil/gas industry, he too is a busy bee. In any case, your e-mail will be answered as soon as we can. Thanks in advance for your understanding, and happy reading!
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Hi André,
Do you have an original airbox for a Ducati 500 SD? I have discovered I have the GTV version and it doesn’t fit properly. I could do you a trade + money for an SD airbox if interested? If you don’t have one do you know where I could get one from?
Many Thanks
Jody Gibbons
Hi Jody,
Never knew that the airbox for a GTV differs from a SD model.
I will have a check of some of the boxes I have and let you know. A swap would be a nice way to settle it !
André
Hi André!
You wrote,it is possible to buy new engine for my bike. Since that time I have been looking for some source. Unfortunately I have´nt found it. Please help me! Where can I find someone, who sell such engines.
I admit I was scared, when you talked about the poor quality of magnesium wheels. I remember the 80s, in the motorcycle factory in neighbor city was experimented to produce the light metal wheels for small Jawa mopeds. They broke too, and the designer team had a very serious accident, when the test pilot died for the reason of broken front wheel. So it is possible that I need some heavy alloy wheels too.
Many thanks!
Peter Uhrovics
Hi Peter,
There are still some new engines around. I will have a look for you later this year. Probably in september-october I will have information for you.
Regarding the wheels, I have a set used PT wheels from a 500 SD, so if you are not sure using the old magnesium wheels than you better stick to the heavy aluminum ones.
Kind regards,
André
Hoi, ik zag dat er op een command nog al wat onderdelen lagen van een GTL. Nu ben ik nog even opzoek naar een set wielen voor een GTL 500 hebben jullie misschien een set of kennen jullie iemand die een setje heeft gaat mij vooral om de naaf hiervan.
Hai Wim,
Een set wielen voor een GTL is inderdaad erg leuk maar ik heb geen extra set voor je liggen. Dat geldt helaas ook voor de naaf.
Dit zijn overigens erg veel gezochte onderdelen !!
Succes met je zoektocht.
André
Gidday Andre,
My 350SD’s tacho drive only enters the slot in the cam by 1.3mm. The cam is set up centrally for the rocker arms and using correct shims at each end. I have a couple of tacho drives and they all have the end of the drive chewed out where they have disengaged with the cam. Is this a known problem? I am looking to build up the male bit of the tacho drive so it engages into the cam further. Greg in Adelaide Aust.
Greg,
Sorry for the late reply but interestig matters are being lost between the spam.
No, I havn’t heard or seen any tacho drives beïng to short. Some do have very little contact with the camshaft.
Is it possible your tachocable is having to mutch friction ?
Is the right cam to far to the left ? …… if that is even possible !
Let me know what you findings are please.
Regards, André
Hello. Ive just purchased one of these parallel twins but it has no paperwork. There are also a few parts missing so I need to spend some money as the engine is running and sounds nice – no nasty noises or black smoke! I think its made up from bits from different bikes. Can anyone identify the model for me please? The frame No is MD350627 and the engine No is DM500.1 501346. It has a fibreglass tank silver 6 spoke alloys brembos front and rear in need of new seals for master cylinder and callipers.The frame has a single down tube at the front. Is it a desmo or overhead cam engine? It has an oil cooler and two oils pipes going to the top of the cyl head. Any help appreciated.
Dennis
Hi Andre,
I have come across a load of 500SD bikes, engines and parts. Also a 350 GTV is pretty decent conditon. While sorting through the frames and parts I noticed that there was a fiberglass fuel tank in with 2 other steel ones. I am wondering is these ever came with a fiberglass tank? I am also wondering if these is a way to tell what year the engines and frames are by thier numbers? I have two frames and 4 engines, 2 complete, and two incomplete.
How is that dry clutch working! Looks tempting.
Thanks
Johnny
Hi Johnny,
Nice that you came across some bikes and parts. the GTV is still on my whish list ……. Fiberglass fueltanks were fitted on the Mototrans versions but they were longer and more rectangular (1980 onwards) . if they are the same as the SD/GTV tank than they could be race parts or replicas. I have never seen a list of engine and frame numbers so I cannot tell you what year they left the factory by there frame number.
The dry clutch is an other story …… I just haven’t got around to try it. Maybe this year I will have some time on my hands to get to it.
Just send some pictures, I might be able to help you with the tank.
Where are you from by the way ?
Kind regards,
André
Hi, I am another stubborn 500sd owner from Australia and have just found your site, great work, I love my old 500 and whilst it has tested me at times, I have thoroughly enjoyed the bike. On the issue of electronic ignition, I have a tri spark electronic ignition fitted, I worked through it with the owner, he programmed the electronics and I made the mechanical parts, it works extremely well, if anyone is keen contact tri spark, he also has the drawings for the mechanical parts. Hope this helps someone. Cheers, Steve
Hi Steve!
Thank you for your reply.
it seems that around the world more and more people are fidling around with electronic ignition that was enticipated.
I will have a look at Tri Spark and see what they have.
Thanks again Steve for the update and keep the beautiful girl up and running !
Regards,
André
Hallo,
I just bought a 500SD, but became a suspicion, that the engine should be 350. Is there any outside difference between 350 and 500 engine, or something what I can easily measure without removing the head?
Thanks,
Michal
Hi Michal,
It is not easy to find out the differance on the outside wether the engine is a 350 or a 500. On the left side of the camshaft support the 350 says “350” and on the 500 there is nothing. Just behind the cilinder on the left side on top of the cranckcase there is the engine and type number. On a 350 the engine number will start with DM350 and the 500 will start with DM500. If these numbers are not visable in any way than you can messure the intake diameter. On the 350 the intake channel would be 25mm across and on the 500 this should be 27mm. The carbs of the 500 are 30mm Dell Orto’s and the 350, 26mm.
Hope this helps Michal !?
Kind regards, André
Thank you for your reply, André.
What do you mean with the cam support on the left? You mean the cam cover? I didn´t find there any number.
The engine type number is stamped again, what I found and compare to the internet photos. There should be “DM500.1” in one line, but the “DM500” is like line upper over the “.1”, it´s not on one line together.
Carbs are 26, but they look like very new, I knew that when buying, so I thought, that someone put there “what was on stock”. Outside diameter of the intake channel is about 33-34mm, so that should be big enough for PHF30 carb. I can´t now measure the inner diameter. Previous owner look like he has no chance, that those carbs are from 350, before he beleived me and gave discount, he telephoned to half Italy.
Now I found that the rear sprocket is 45 teeth and this was also on 350…
In the vehicle registration documents (old booklet from 1976) is everything original – no changes, but I stopped by the performance. There is 30 CV by 6250 rpm. But this doesn´t fit to any desmo engine 🙂 They rev higher. I had the cam cover down and the engine is surely desmo (maybe just Italians wrote what they want!?).
Chassis number on the neck DM500*501405 correspond with engine and documents.
So it´s chaotic, everything correspond with everything on first sight, but also nothing with nothing 🙂
Regards, Michal
Well Michal,
That is the point. Everyting thing fits to everything. Your bike could be put together with all different kind of parts and still work fine. I bought a German 350 with a 500 engine. On the enginecase the old numbers were gone and DM350 was stamped on the same place. This was done for TUV perpose. With your bike the same could have happened.
There is maybe another thing to distinguiss the 350 and 500 now your valve covers are of. The chain sprocket that drives the chain cam have different amount of teeth between the 350 and 500.
how many teeth does your cam sprocket have ?
Regards, André
Afternoon André,
I’m so glad I found this site! Its terrific you put this together.
I have owned my 1978 500 Sport Desmo for 5 years now and riding it has been a real pleasure. I can send some pictures across if you like.
It is currently having some electrical work done to its ignition – there was no spark. It was upgraded to electronic ignition prior to my ownership (Boyer Brandsen electronics) but it now needs replacing. I have seen several related posts on this subject and I have been in touch with Pazon. Although I am thinking about going back to points – cheaper and quite reliable, as it won’t be used as an everyday bike. Are these parts available – points, condenser, pick-up, etc?
Many Thanks
Jody Gibbons
Hi Jody,
All my bikes are with points ignition and I had never problems with them as long as you set them up right.
Points and parts can be found here and there (both types) but are useually old, corroded and would need some work as are the condensors.
Just let me know what you need and I can see what I can find out for you.
Greets,
André
Hi Andre
I have been looking for engine parts for my ducati 350 GTL project when I came across your article “Bike and spares”.
I m trying to find a cam shaft, piston rings and a full set of gaskets for the engine. So far I have had no luck. At the moment this is a show stopper and the only thing that I am short of getting the old girl back on the road.
I you happen to have any of these parts Could you please contact me. If you have any other major engine parts please let me know as well as I may be interested as well.
Thanks for your help
Kind regards
Iain
Hi Iain,
Let me know what kind of major engine parts you need. I might could help you there.
Cam shaft I can’t help you with unless you are looking for a very bad one ….. 🙂
I have some new gaskets just let me know which ones you need.
Regards, André
> http://www.philaphoto.com/images/PA-Epicycle500-02.jpg
> http://www.philaphoto.com/images/PA-Epicycle500-03.jpg
> http://www.philaphoto.com/images/PA-Epicycle500-04.jpg
epicycle 720 racer
I have 5 locals who are interested in a cdi kit so full steam ahead. with points no longer available + a pain to adjust it will make the bikes much easier to live with. If I end up with 10 orders price should be around $350 and post to anywhere in the world for around $25 as it will weight under 500 grams
Hi Phil, I realise the age of this thread but I have purchased a ‘75 500GTL and am looking for replacement points/cdi system for it, I’m located in brisbane and was wondering if you or anyone else could point me in the right direction?
Contactable via email st80mind@hotmail.com
Thank you
just found your site – I have ALL the leftover 500 twin parts that came to Australia and new Zealand. closing shims – I have hundreds. I even have new heads,rockers,cams,engine covers,pistons,rings,camchains and cylinder blocks for springer models – tons more parts in stock as well. my website – roadandrace.com.au – does not have any specific 500 twin parts listed but I am working on a couple of pages to add to it.
I have made molds for the sport model louvered frame covers that are impossible to find as well. anyone need parts just hit me with a list of part numbers for a speedy reply.
I fitted a single to a sport frame that we featured in classic bike mag years ago as ” lost factory model ” as no one had done one at the time.
I am also working on a cdi kit for them – hope to sell for under $400
billy van der zan races one down under with reasonable results – I rebuilt the head for him with factory race cams – not listed anywhere that I saw but available – similar grind to pantah TT2 grind
the EPICYLE big bore/stroker twin,720cc is getting rebuilt as we speak. will just be paraded as a bit to fragile to race these days
Hi Phil,
Thank you for visiting my site and share the information, I will add your site on the “friends” list so people can get in touch with you.
Lucky you to have so many parts ! Maybe you think they take to much space in your storage but we at Panigaletwins and our world wide friends are happy about it. Shipping from Australia is always an issue due to costs and customs but never the less it is a good thing you have these parts. Fitting a single to these frames is a very good option, these frames are so ridgit and give allmost perfect road handling. I have heard in the people have done it with succes….. maybe that was you !
A CDI kit for a reasonable price is allways welcome. There are many people around who are working on it but there are just a few who actually will use a electronic ignition so that makes it financially not interested if you are looking to make a lot of profit. So any developement in that corner would be a very nice welcome Phil.
I am very interested in factory race cams, there has been many talks about race parts for Parallel Twins but Ducati still denies all. They say the Parallel Twin is a black page in Ducati history and is best not to talk about it.
Please send me some pictures from the 720 big bore …… I’de love to show it.
Cheers, André