Just been through a shit load of mechanicals!!!! - In the space of 3 days.
1) Fork seals go on CB500 - Dismantle and take legs to get fixed on ST1300
2) ST1300 picks up a nail near Manston Airport, rear completely flat. Plug with repair kit and limp to garage, drop off CB500 forks, blow up Pan tyre and ride home. Dismantle Pan ahead of new tyre next week.
3) Next day, I rode the 950 to collect CB500 Forks. As I rode along, I remember thinking 'Sounding fruity today!' By the time I'd reached Manston the front header pipe had cracked straight through! (dunno what it is about Manston, but things were getting me down at this point)
Collect forks, limp 950 home and dismantle. Reassemble CB500.
The following day, I dropped the header pipe off metal mans shop for welding. That night I suddenly woke up (2am) and realised a slight fly in the ointment. I'd not given metal man the bracket that attaches the header to the cylinder head.
I did this because I am terminally dim.
:
'Never mind' I told myself, metal man said it wouldn't be ready until next week sometime. Called him first thing.
'Don't weld that pipe up, I've got a bracket that needs.........'
'Too late mate, I did it yesterday afternoon'
Today he cut through the bracket and then welded it back together, this time around the pipe! Which was nice.....
Anyhoo - the Orange beastie is now reassembled and lives again, although I'm not sure whether cracked front header is a known issue, anyone got any ideas as to why it should go? - I wondered whether the system had been put back on with some stress points (ie tightened up before everything reached it's 'sweet spot') I'm also not convinced that the repair will endure the heat cycle, but we'll see.

1) Fork seals go on CB500 - Dismantle and take legs to get fixed on ST1300
2) ST1300 picks up a nail near Manston Airport, rear completely flat. Plug with repair kit and limp to garage, drop off CB500 forks, blow up Pan tyre and ride home. Dismantle Pan ahead of new tyre next week.
3) Next day, I rode the 950 to collect CB500 Forks. As I rode along, I remember thinking 'Sounding fruity today!' By the time I'd reached Manston the front header pipe had cracked straight through! (dunno what it is about Manston, but things were getting me down at this point)
Collect forks, limp 950 home and dismantle. Reassemble CB500.
The following day, I dropped the header pipe off metal mans shop for welding. That night I suddenly woke up (2am) and realised a slight fly in the ointment. I'd not given metal man the bracket that attaches the header to the cylinder head.
I did this because I am terminally dim.
:'Never mind' I told myself, metal man said it wouldn't be ready until next week sometime. Called him first thing.
'Don't weld that pipe up, I've got a bracket that needs.........'
'Too late mate, I did it yesterday afternoon'
Today he cut through the bracket and then welded it back together, this time around the pipe! Which was nice.....
Anyhoo - the Orange beastie is now reassembled and lives again, although I'm not sure whether cracked front header is a known issue, anyone got any ideas as to why it should go? - I wondered whether the system had been put back on with some stress points (ie tightened up before everything reached it's 'sweet spot') I'm also not convinced that the repair will endure the heat cycle, but we'll see.
