Lost my way

I've lost my way a bit.... time to fess up - put things straight, and get myself together.... this might be a long rant.....

I've been trying for months to buy a barn - well more of an old stable and workshop - its been eating away at me - I lost it once to a higher bidder, then it came back on the market and I had an offer accepted.

The banks decided not to lend me what they agreed to - no idea why just "company policy on lending changed" surely we keep hearing shit about the government releasing cash for start up businesses and the like. Nah - you need to find 35% not 20% for the deposit...

So - the knuckle engine went - got good cash for it - and was the right time for it to go...

next the bank undervalue the unit - you need another £5k up front..... Great.....

I get an offer on my Indian (which I wasn't selling), so had to consider it.... next the bank say it needs an asbestos survey - no problem, I have good contacts and could call a favour in - oh no it has to be one of the "banks" suppliers, and paid for through them - just to pull some more cash out of me....

Anyway - it got silly - I would have to pay for half the unit up front, and still owe then for 75% 'cos of their stupid rules - Time to cut out and say balls to it. Weirdly the family Solicitor was the sound one - and didn't charge me for his time spent - top man!

So after much soul searching, and pontification I pulled out of the Indian deal, and put it aside for another day. 

Work is crazy, and i'm all over the country, but that means pennies in the bank I guess

oh, and not only that - I've got hooked on Instagram

All is now well and i'm back to myself - I've just bought another xs650 project that I don't need, but may be parting on!

De-clutter and detail

Tombo popped round to make up some shims on my lathe this morning, so I just pottered about doing little bits and bobs on the relic. Nought much to shout about, but I'm bored, so this is what I got upto....

Removed the big bulky Brit switchgear I had on it and replaced with these micro switches. Much much better, and nice hidden wires.....

Started to tidy up the headlight mount, not finished, but looking a damn sight better than the one I rushed to put on there...

Oh, and I really shouldn't be left alone with letter punches.....

Carburation for the nation

Ordered a manifold from Riverside Motorcycles the other day, turned up today so I thought I'd fit it to see that it's right. Seems to be fine, just needs a clean up along with all the engine.

I got a mikuni 32mm carb a while back that I will probably use, been reading up that Amal mk1 carbs work well....

Primary cover

Picked up a panhead cover for 15 quid delivered from eBay. Thought it was a bit of a bargain....

Anyway, it arrived tonight, so I thought I'd offer it up to the 45. With a bit of tinkering it'll fit....

I want it to be an exposed primary, but I may have a guard to stop my leg being eaten by the chain, so this may well work.....

45 bars

Picked up these bars for the 45 project. thought the package was a bit small - hadn't realised that they were half bars attached in the clamp!

I think they are shovelhead bars, with the internal throttle. As cheap as buying the bends to make a set, so these will have the chop treatment to get what i want from them (don't quite know what I'm doing yet mind you!)

Manflu medicine

Feeling like death warmed up this weekend. Instead of feeling sorry for myself I had a little stint in the shed, wrapped up like a mummy!

Tibbs - my Kiwi chop riding buddy - had emailed me asking about the LED's I fitted in the relic light. Although those ones wouldn't quite work with what he wanted, I've loads of different size and colour LED's here to play with, so I got him to send up the light for me to have a look at.

A really cool light, especially with the staggered mount - gonna look sweet on Tibbs bike. The original light had a clear lens to the back and a red to the front. As Tibbs only wanted the front lens I saw a good opportunity to try out my recently acquired ball turning attachment for my lathe...

I drilled out the back of some aluminium to give some space to mount the LED, then made a tight interference fit onto some brass...

Here's the ball turning attachment

First one done...

And both done. They will probably need some glue in there to hold them together, but should look really cool.

Need to work the LED innards out this week and then wire it up....

Handlebar Jiggery Pokery

The handlebar clamp I got was .... well ..... a bit shagged!

The casting being the important part which was complete for the purposes of what I needed.

After consultation with Toddy he gave me the solution to how I would remake the parts, and importantly make a jig to align the bars, so i'm not making them on the piss...

Being a bit of a dunce I had to try and draw out what he suggested in words to make sure it was right. Its a lot quicker and easier than making them all and finding out I got it wrong...