Tweaking

Life is very complicated at the moment!

Agreed to sell our house yesterday, so that's marriage, kids and house move in 2013! I had an hour tinkering with the bike, then half hour out riding to see how she's riding.

Worked out where TDC was thanks to the instructions of Tombo, and making a piston stop from an old sparkplug. that allowed me to have a look at the timing on the Mag - certainly seemed to be out - so when I altered it and took it for a ride there was a marked improvement.

I think the carbs need attention next, I've ordered some bigger jets - so next chance I get they will be installed.

The amazon is also up in the barn now - need to get building a compound to keep it all doubly safe this weekend.

FINALLY! She's a runner!

Hot on the heels of Tombo I got my bike on the road today after over 3 years of heartache and headscratching!!!!

Its the raddest thing ever in the world, I'm totally smitten with it now its been away from the side of my house. I got it all sorted and on the road this afternoon. Loads of little bits to iron out - I haven't tightened the head bearings being on major one, haha!

here she is outside the post office while I got her taxed...





I've been smiling so hard my face hurts!

its still not running 100%, it gets to about 1/3 throttle then bogs down, its ok for pootling around town, but not performing like it should. Its to be expected with the stock jetting in the carbs and the pipes.

Tombo has more patience for reading up on these things - he's suggesting that I should increase the main jet size???

your comments would be GREATLY appreaciated!

cant wait for it to be running right!

Tank Fubar!

FINALLY! I got some time to work on the bike.

It was a bloody cold one today, didn't get above freezing, and was snowing, but I was determined to get some progress.

Got the carbs on, noticed the throttle assembly is knackered, so will need to fix that... Need to order some more jubilee clips for the air filters...

Thought best to get the engine in tight, went to put the head steady on; had to drill the mounts and the frame to get it to fit. I got it all on after a load of jiggling and fiddling, then went to put the tank on....



Holy shit, how did I miss this.... Hadn't tried the tank on with the head steady on!  

FUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCKKKKKKK!


Had to have a sit and a thing and a very hot strong coffee....

There was 2 options, make a skinnier mount, or change the tank....

Now I've heard a lot about head steadies not wanting to be too rigid. With the heat of the engine, everything grows and what not, puts stresses on the frame etc....

So even though it would be a ball ache, I decided to cut the tank!!!!!!!!!

I didn't want to destroy the paint, so would have to be as delicate as a mad man can be with a grinder and welder....

Marked up what I would need to cut and kept the tank on an old jumper so it didn't scratch too bad..



Took a while to cut it out, then clean all the paint off..



Made up some trays or inserts to put in the tank.... 



Then tacked and welded the buggers in place





Finally the tank was put on the bike, and hallelujah! The bugger now fits!


It's a bit 2 steps forward one back, but good progress none the less....

Spring is coming!

Not much progress been made on the bikes, but a few things going on behind the scenes. Got an import xs650 which will be daily for the beginning of the year. hoping it will go down pendine sands too.

 I did start making a cafe racer seat for it the other day, dont know when it'll make it on. probably after the relic is finished.

 The relic is ticking on, the snow and a dose of manflu have slowed progress, but we are nearing completion now....

 Things are getting a bit busy at the side of the house, much to the future Mrs P's dismay!

Also sorted a good laser cutting supplier. Tombo sorted out the drawings and picked up the adapter plates today - they will be made into adapters so i can run an amal Mk1 carb....

Tank mounting - Sunday fettle

Busy times at the moment, far too much work and not enough play!

Sneaked a couple of hours in today on the 45.

Started cleaning up the tanks....



After Indi asking about the integrity of tanks that have been chopped I had a run over the welds to make doubly sure...



I've been putting off doing anything to the frame, the fear of buggering up Toddy's hard work, but thought it best to man up and take my time to get the tanks mounted. Turned up some stainless bungs to weld into the frame, then set a string line up to ensure the bike was vertical. Plenty of marking and measuring, then time to drill....



Happy with that effort, I used some laser cut tabs (well worth buying in IMO) for the base tab...





That allowed me to have just one tank mounted, so I could check clearances.... The tank was sitting too high, and there was plenty of room for me to drop it, so I trimmed the front of the lip....





I had a little play with bars for 5 mins, and these bars were shovel bars until mr grinder had his way... Contemplating some of cro's handlebar clamps if I go down this route....



Matched the second tank to the first, and they are beginning to look how I want! Still the front mounts to figure out, which will also even the spacing out between the 2. The plan is for a 5mm gap down the middle of the 2, a bit of metal beating, and I'm afraid some filler before that looks right though...







Oh, and the seat came with an xs650 project I bought to sell on. It's comfy as hell!

Friday Feeling

Completed the second side this morning.





I think its quite a neat solution, and will defo use this method again.

I dont know if you can see from this picture, but the brake side was sloping downwards...



with plenty of heat I got it standing to attention as it should be!




I then sat on the bike for a good hour. I made bike noises, prtended to be a bad ass - drank a huge cup of coffee, I didn't want to get off. Pegs have a bit of flex, but are fine, had my full weight on them no bother (17+ stone) so should be good to run.

so, all major fabrication done, just little bits and bobs left to weld on....




had to sit back and have a look for a while longer....


oh, and paint these up!

Onwards, Ever Onwards

Day 1 of the real holiday (the missis back at work while i'm off!)

Despite having a river running over the floor of the side of the house, its full steam ahead!

Cracked on with re-making the backs of the air filters - I had to make them offset so they fitted correctly, plus I wasn't happy with the welding on the outside. I decided to weld a seam on the inside of the filter, so cut a hole for the tube to locate to, then welded away.



of course I did the same to the other one as well...



drilled the holes so they located on the main part of the filter..



then trimmed up to the shape of the main part with a grinder...



stripped them down, cleaned them up with the old Jizer, then a good scrub in the sink with soap and water. I'm normally rubbish at having things laid out in preparation, but today...



the black foam is ramair sponge. its a 2 part foam that can be cut to size / shape...



fits like a glove!



tried them on the bike with red tubing, but it looked a bit gay!





so I opted for black instead...





still need jubilee clips to hold it all together. but very happy that all the effort has come good (in my eyes anyway!)

Next up i turned up some spigots to locate the seat springs too..



and welded the buggers in place





Chucked a bit of black paint on to cover it from the weather...

Its coming together slowly!!