Ultrasonics ... it's the future!

So this is what we started with:

At first look they didn't look too bad .. and I considered just sticking them back on the bike.

However - on close inspection they were in dire need of a refurb.

The Carbs are all now separated - had to do battle with a damned cotterpin - it's amazing that in a garage full of tools I do not have anything obviously just the right size to drive out a cotterpin. Anyhow in a true "Heath Robinson" moment I lopped the point off a panel pin, and it was a perfect fit. A couple of taps later and Carb 2 and 3 were free of each other.

All the rubber elements of the carbs are perished beyond reuse. To say they were manky is an understatement. If these carbs did any breathing in their former role, then they probably sounded like a 90 year old miner with a 60 a day Capston Full Strength habit! 

Once each were free from the other, I can take my time with one at a time. So with the help of a mini mole grip to loosen stubborn screws, I dissembled into separate numbered bags, one carb in bits was placed into the loaned ultrasonic cleaner (thanks Neil). Well bugger me sideways with a broom shank - convinced it wasn't doing anything I took the main carb body to the sink and watched as a bit of degreaser and tooth brush worked magic. Half an hour in the ultrasonic bath and the dirt is loosened well enough. The cleaner isn't going to miraculously make old pitted metal look polished and new, but they do loosen things up that you can finish the job with a little water and degreaser.

Quite pleased with that result ... before and after comparison.

Still the carb tops to paint and a bit of extra scrubbing of the connector rails, and I need some new float bowl tubing. 




... an finally got round to painting!

Anything to avoid carbs and electrics

I rather like working on bikes. That is as long as that does not involve fiddly or plain complicated! Carbs and electrics do come under those categories.

So in heroic efforts of procrastination I have continued to bolt bits together, test fit, grind frame lugs, and have added brakes, under tray, seat catch, rear light and have started to worry that I can no longer procrastinate!!

Under tray from Lucky 7 - another front plate to fit, but requires more lug removal



















Really does tidy up that rear end no end!


Accossato front mastercylinder, Goodridge hoses, and a set of 4 pot Nissan calipers will provide retard forces to the bike.


A little bit of Yoshimura was needed!


















Starting to come together!

The nature of building specials ... buying more stuff.

So Christmas is over. I had a few days spare where I could possibly spend some time in the garage. The best laid plans and all that!! Man Flu! I have been off work all week coughing and spluttering.

I have been deliberately avoiding eBay ... we need to not buy things, but use what we have. However, there are some things I did need, necessitated by the swop to the TL1000s forks.

I had ordered some clipons from "intobikes" - Harris 50mm risers which should lift the clipons just enough to sit flush with the upper yolks. However, the Christmas break delayed the order acknowledgment, then I assume they delayed the order, then Harris confirmed  they had no stock and wouldn't fulfil the order for 3 weeks! Damn it!

I have a TL1000S front mudguard on the way - eBay special. Add to that I ordered some paddock stand arms from eBay to go under the bandit swingers so I can get to work with the bike off the side stand. I always had buttons when racing so needed the new ones to fit to the old stand. Only they were too big. That said the paddock stand has been drilled to accept the new arms. So that's solved. Only I didn't have a drill bit big enough as the diameter was larger than my drill will take - thanks Cambridge Motorcycles again!!!

Did I mention I have a million and one "old" bolts? This may be the case, but I certainly didn't have any for the front and rear brakes, or disks. Well some shiny new bolts have been sourced from Pro-Bolt. Oh and I bought some eBay sourced M4 and M6 bolts ... just because I need some for the carbs and ancillaries.

Oh .. and this arrived ... sorry I was weak!


I love it when the postman arrives with bits. There's a matching cable clutch lever for the other side and a bracket for the reservoir.

Some real work on the bike has to start soon!


So we are just waiting on clip-ons for the forks to arrive from Harris via intobikes - should be here next week, then I plan on getting the brakes and running gears sorted. I have a ultrasonic cleaner coming weekend after next (on loan from a mate on promise of Haggis and Whisky in exchange for loan) to clean carbs (socket head bolts waiting to replace the existing flat head screws) .... then it's engine in and confirm sort out rear wheel alignment. Undertray from lucky 7 should be on the way in the next couple of weeks.
With engine in, anclilairies fitted running gear sorted, undertray fitted, I can do a few things :

• mark up the frame to decide what else can be deluged,
• Try and get the engine fired up,
• Make a decision on the rearsets and source

Onwards and upwards

Thought I'd start looking at test fitting the front light bracket and fairing today. Mmmmmm ... some fairing trimming and lug removal required to fit round the forks. They contact the front lugs on the front bracket - can't see not connecting the fairing there would be too much issue, and perhaps moving them and re-drilling the fairing further to the front might be an option if it is.

Also had a bash a fitting the chain rubber protector over the swing arm!! Would be interested in knowing how other's have done that. The bandit chain rubber guard makes it impossible to put the swing arm back in. Need to look at that one again!

Also sorted out the rear wheel, so that all inner races are now in the wheels. Couldn't fit the rear brake stay as the 180 tyres that's in the fouls on the stay.

All in all a few hours finding out other jobs that need doing!!