45 time

Plans are being put into motion for the 45 project.

Knocked up an engine stand today, gonna be putting up a shed to build the engine in at the top of the garden that is free from iron filings and the like!

Rain, Rain go away!

Had enough of this bloody rain holding me back with the bike, so I had a word with myself and got out there working on it!

Not so many photos due to the rain but ticked off the list was:-

Fit the new spindle that toddy shortened for me (no more stunt pegs)
Pulled the bike out and cleared all the crap from around it
Turned the bike round to make the wiring easier
Welded on the kickstand (so pleased that's on!)
Installed the Boyer system in the head, and set the timing
Fitted the clutch cable (although it needs adjusting)
Widened the hole in the fakey oil bag
Made up the ht leads and tightened up the spark plugs


Tonight's bollock is that the exhaust clamps didn't appear to fit into the engine!

Need to have another look, but think I'm gonna have to cut them AGAIN!

Fiendishly close to finishing now!

I did have to give into the rain after 3 hours, it was hammering down!

What goes round comes back around

Been flat out with work, which means no bike time. Got home today after an especially long and shit day, poured myself a hefty glass of bourbon and checked the post.

Ogri from dirty bobbers sent me a load of brass nuts and bolts. I'd sent him a bike light a while back, and he sent some t shirts before that...



I bloody love the camaraderie between the guys I've met with the bikes! Long may the ebb and flow of parts and rusty shit continue!

A top bloke, and this is his blog:-

http://metalflakemormon.blogspot.com/





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Oil Tank and Kill Switch

Recalled an old petrol tank that I originally donated to mr bobcat and gave it a clean up with the scotch pad



I intend to use it for both the oil bag and electrics holder by compartmenting it to house the electrics.

I picked up this killer button and surround a while back. It's gotta be a kill switch for this bike. I intend to put a kill switch behind it in the compartment. I turned up this holder for it tonight so I can sink it into the tank



And this is the holder I turned up....



I'll weld the holder flush into the tank once I have worked out how to mount the switch and welded it together to a waterproof seal.

Stock Bike Running

Spent a bit of time yesterday getting my stock (ish) xs650 back running. a bit of wiring, and a charge of the battry and it was up and running! Only thing is that it looks like its going next weekend, a mate wants a project, and its just sitting there at the moment, so its time for it to go..


Pretty  gutted as its one of those bikes I had plans for, but there is only so much a guy can do with limited time and space. It will be put to good use with a first time builder close to me, so I guess i'll still be seeing it on a regular basis!

Front end done

Shaun lent me some tools to get the forks back together. I didn't realise that you had to use a threaded section to pull the stantions back up to be held with the yokes.

Unfortunately the tool that Shaun lent me had the wrong thread on it, so it wouldnt screw into the ends of the stantions.



I improvised and turned up some nylon to screw into the stantion.



Worked a treat....





Really pleased with how they are looking!

Also made a quick headlight mount...



Had a nice headlight in the stack, had to scotchbrite it to dull down the chrome, and it's looking ace!



The only issue I have is the front wheel spacing. It's very tight between those skinny forks, and with it being a twin leading / trailing shoe (delete as appropriate) this is about the only place it will sit. This obviously doesnt give me the right angle for the torque arm...

Mini Apes - Take 2!

Worked out the forks, with a light shined down the outer tube, there are 2 slits to insert a tool into, which can be twisted to allow the fork to be broken down. I haven't got any tube the right diameter to make up a tool, so will have a look in the week.

A productive, yet wallet lightening morning in Newark today. Got loads of little bits and bibs that I needed for both bikes.

One of my bargains, 3 sets of bars for 8 quid! Got home and had to have a crack at re-making my skinny apes...

Kept it simple by only cutting the middle out, and slugged with 80mm of 16mm steel I turned up.

Checked them in the yokes, and were looking grand!



Flattened them out on the bench prior to welding ( surprising thought how out they were compared to the eye) and en welded them up. Fitted a cheap set of pit bike levers I got at a previous auto jumble, and the biltwell grips I got from sumo. I cut the ends down a bit as they were too wide...

I'm well happy with them!



The pics aren't great, but with a bit more of a clean up, they will be spot on.