Tuesday 31 August 2010

a good weekend on the bike, started on friday with cutting the rear end off the XS, and fitting the new TC Bros rear.

Instructions were pretty clear that came with the frame, and it seems like a good solid unit. fairly simple to do really, cut the back end off the frame where it curves off to the seat tube, then cut the bottom rail off. When mocked up it looked a bit like this:-

Had to fit the spare engine in to keep the think nice and straight while welding, then cranked the new TIG out!



(me hard at work!)

I was really pleased with the TIG, found it dead simple to use, got good penetration, and some clean and tidy welds.

This is the frame lifted outside for mocking up:-


My mate Donny did a stirling job putting the front end back together, and with the new rear wheel and tyre, plus my seat pan in place its starting to take a bit of shape!


we just put the tank on for mocking it up, and its pretty clerar that i need a small peanut style tank to get it looking nioce.

Next job - finish all the welds and get the engine cleaned polished and running!
Ive got the frame stripped down ready for the cut and shut!

A couple of hours this moring the bike shed (AKA Shed 1), to sort this seat out.
gave in last night due to a nagging missis, but have carte blanche today. Looking at the photo i put up last night, it sucked, although it was very much a work in progress. Got a ball hammer to use, and found it much easier - althoug still using the trusty gas bottle!
i am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO pleased with how this looks, just goes to show that a bit of perseverance goes a long way, the hardest part was getting it fairly symetrical.




just a shame that i'm gonna be covering it with leather!

Wednesday 18 August 2010

had a spare hour, and had a start at actulaay making something. Got meself some 1.5 mm steel (or 1 gauge if your my dad!) and started on the seat. angle grinder for the rough shape, and then let loose with the hammer!
Didnt have a ball hammer to hand, so just used a normal claw one. Used an old empty Calor gas bottle to hit agains, and it seemed to work a treat!






Not finished by a long chalk yet, but not bad for a swift hours work! let me say its v therapitic after dealing with idiot clients all day!

May also refine the shape a bit when ive shaped it some more, its the first step anyways!
So i get home today to find a nice letter from parcelforce saying that they have a prezzie for me, but i owe tax on it! swines!

3 guesses as to what it is





apparently i had to pay VAT on it for another £30.


if you have exhausted your 3 guesses, here it is once the kittens and my leatherman had ripped the packaging off!



nice shiny new TC Bros weld on hard tail for the XS650!


Really looking forward to making a bit of progress this weekend. managed to get the shed no2 up on the weekend, so just need to empty shed 1 a bit and get looking at what i have or havent got!!!

So i picked the bike up. Had a cracking little drive from leeds to wolverhampton in a hastily arranged pickup from a client (cheers CDC Draincare!).

Picks of the bike here (in its various parts)
Ive managed to get a XS650 in bits off Ebay, not sure that its all there, but at the very least i'm not destroying nice example (plus not paying full whack!) The plan consists of a bit of nip and tuck, followed by the addition of a TC Bros Hardtail (just been ordered from over the pond), then engine re-build and get it going.

Ive a decent level of knowledge on the fabrication side of things, but with engines its probably best to assume that I know nothing!

Picking the "bike" up on wednesday so i'll have more of an idea of what ive got (or not got as the case may be!!!)

I will be asking for a LOT of sdvice from you guys over the next few weeks / months. The goal is to get the bike running by my birthday at the end of June.

As for style, i'm gonne be basing my bike loosely on this bike