Seven Year Itch

[MikeP]

Seven years ago I re-built my mate's 'Old Nail' R80/7 after he got it back from his brother-in-law who ran it with a gearbox output-shaft bearing having failed (numpty thought that the clutch was slipping ).

As it came home:

Owing to a tight budget, my mate suggested that we re-build the gearbox rather than source a replacement.

After a winter spent in his garage, it finally emerged looking like this:

Seven years on and the hit & miss gearbox re-build, being more miss than hit, finally just got too likely to let go and James Sherlock supplied an exchange reconditioned gearbox.

I've had the bike in my garage for a week or so and with the gearbox out I've taken the opportunity to attend to the last seven years worth of cosmetic wear and tear.

Now into the gluing it back together phase, always the best bit.

 

[Deleted account 231002001]

Nice work

 

[B4ndit]

I would love a nice one of those.

Good work, keep it up.

 

[timeandtide]

Very nice!

 

[Devon]

Great work. The black paint looks good Mike. I am crap at painting and generally send stuff off to be powder coated and that is a bit hit and miss for quality. Did you use areasol spray or a compressor and spraygun?

 

[MMC]

Gorgeous. Always loved those old "plain Janes". One day...

 

[MikeP]

Great work. The black paint looks good Mike. I am crap at painting and generally send stuff off to be powder coated and that is a bit hit and miss for quality. Did you use areasol spray or a compressor and spraygun?

Good old Hammerite aerosol cans. I've said it before, it's just a case of a little practice and lots of patience (many thin coats and resist the temptation to get the colour on quickly).

It's possible to do the body parts too (Halfords paints and lacquer) with the same technique:

Give it a go. You should see my attempts at plastering and brick-laying ).

Gorgeous. Always loved those old "plain Janes". One day...

I agree Mark. They have lovely, uncluttered lines and one day I may have to get one myself.

This bike rides really well (it always has) as long as you keep in mind that it requires a week's notice for an emergency stop. Hopefully the new discs and pads I have ready to fit and a careful adjustment of the calliper pivot-pins will get the ATE brakes somewhere near usefulness again.

 

[Twotter]

Lovely looking bike Mike

 

[MikeP]

Lovely looking bike Mike

Cheers.

Re-sprayed the rear mudguard, re-assembled it.........

and stuck it back on along with the re-sprayed rear sub-frame and battery tray.

 

[david a hall]

That garage is ridiculously tidy!! do you want to borrow my lad to mess it up for you what do you clean the metal work with before applying the paint?

 

[Tinytim]

Nice stuff MikeP. Thanks for sharing.

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

Beyootiful!

 

[seadog]

good work indeed!!!!

 

[MikeP]

what do you clean the metal work with before applying the paint?

Not sure what you mean. It's all rubbed down with wet & dry (if previously painted) to provide a key and then washed clean with the appropriate thinners, a quick dry-off with an air-line and then warmed-up a bit with a hot-air gun.

 

[MikeP]

Today has been one of buffing and polishing.

About halfway through:

Then back on the bike:

The silencer mounting captive nuts have long ago corroded to the point where the threads were virtually non-existent, so I tapped new, one size up, threads and added nyloc-nuts just to be on the safe side.

 

[Kenny]

Looking superb Your a quality mate to do all that work I've got Vern and Tarka !!

 

[(RIP) Tibs]

I think I'll be doing well if I get mine looking like the "before " pics. When you get bored playing with that one just be sure to give me a bell!
Tibs

 

[david a hall]

Not sure what you mean. It's all rubbed down with wet & dry (if previously painted) to provide a key and then washed clean with the appropriate thinners, a quick dry-off with an air-line and then warmed-up a bit with a hot-air gun.

Thanks thats just what i was after, you seem to have the engine finns well sorted, do you manage to get the wet and dry between the finns or is there another method for that bit? I have my old 1150 and am unlikley to sell it as i love it, but a refresh would be good.

 

[Padmei]

That looks bloody nice.
Have you or anyone else had longterm experience with the ali coloured engine paint? I'm looking at making mine look a bit prettier next year however am worried the paint may not last that long.
cheers.

 

[Rob Farmer]

Looking superb Your a quality mate to do all that work I've got Vern and Tarka !!

Ahh! Now that makes an interesting South/North comparrison