Rear mud guard

I had a painting session. I got some spray enamel and the exhaust hangers, rear mud guard spreaders and and the brake lines. I had previously washed the braided lines withe Swafega which brought them up a treat. I created a sort of spray both and gave the items four or five coats of paint during the evening. By the time I go to them late the next day they were completely dry. I offered up he rear mud guard. No surprise it was a good fit. I sorted out the right length Stainless bolts, washers and nuts. It was just a case of fiddling under the mud guard to place the nuts and tighten them up. Next I fitted the indicator bar and the rear/brake light cowl. I rooted out the rear mud flap and rear/brake light lens. I gave them a wash and set then aside.

I tighten up the bolts on the rear suspension. I took ten minutes to polish up the panniers frames. The previous owner had lacquered the frames but now it has yellowed. I think I have a job on there.

I go the front brake calipers out of the box and dry fitted them. The brake lines are ready. I just need to get the brake pads.

Panniers at last.

After better than a year of looking I managed to find a set of panniers and the frame. They were on Ebay. I have lost several auctions for panniers. I have tried to get just the frames or just the panniers in the past but never secured the goods. The set I won is as good as one can get second hand. The panniers are perfect. The frame is in need of a good polishing with Autosol which should restore the chrome plating. The set is by Krauser and fit the bike perfectly. The frames even have the rubber anti-vibration pads. The frame is also the solid frame that includes the built in rack rather than the version that has the rack as a bolt-on extra. The one piece is much stronger. They even came witha full set of keys. So a major result.

Tins are back

I could not get the indicators to work. Eventually it dawned on me to check the fuses. They were blown. It was the devils own job to fit the new ones. Having got the fuses in the indicators now work a treat. I think I need to make a better job of cleaning up the connector to the rear light loom.

The collected the tins on Saturday. The chap at Granville Motors has made a very nice job of them. I had the paint scheme done as an R75/6. A nice black base with white pin striping. I think it very striking and classic looking. The pressure is on to get the brakes done and other little jobs so the bike can be ridden.

Rear wiring loom

The new rear/stop light unit came in the post during the week. I spent time cleaning up the multi-connector of the rear light/indicator wiring loom. Now I just need to find time to put the wiring loom together. At the moment the indicators are not working but I expect they will as soon as I get the rear part of the indicator loom hooked up.

I got a pair of roundrels for side of the tank when it comes back from paint. The painter rang to check on the colour for the pin stripes. I should be picking the finished tins up in a couple of weeks.

I bought some spray enamel black paint so I should get on and paint the brake lines and rear mudguard brackets. Some of the paint has to go on the Land Rover too.

I must not forget to top up the oil in the bevel box.

A breezy day

I have been waiting for a breezy day and one where I have a few hours to myself. I need to empty the petrol tank of fuel so I can send it, the mud guards and side panels off for paint. Today was that day. I managed to get the job done with spilling any fuel in the garage. When I went outside I managed to tip a cupful all over my trousers. The breeze soon evaporated the spill but not before H had seen the stain on the trousers. I hope to drop the tins off for paint tomorrow. The painters say they need a month. Now that the back wheel is sorted I must use up the month to get the front brakes, the instrument pods and head light sorted. I think I have a puncture in the front tyre so that is on the list too.

New Bearings

The new taper roller wheel bearings, oil seals and thrust washers arrived in the post today. Whilst H was watching the TV I went into the garage and set about fitting the new bits. When I checked the codes on the new bearing I found they were different to the existing ones. It was easy to see the difference. The new bearings are narrower. The difference is enough to take away the play. I did a dry run on the rear wheel putting the bearings, seal and trust washers together. They fitted perfectly. I disassembled it all again then greased up the bearings and reassembled the wheel. The thread on the "new"stainless steel wheel axle is damaged and try as I might can cannot recover the thread.

That means I have had to go back original standard steel item. The original item was rusty where the axle was exposed to the weather. The got the Dremmel out, fitted a sanding wheel and set about de-rusting the axle. It only took a few minutes but it was clear the rust had badly pitted the steel. I cleaned up the worst of the rusting without damaging the diameter of the axle. I not the black spray paint tin out of the cupboard and gave the exposed end of the axle a good coat of paint. I shall try to fit the axle at the weekend. The paint should be hard by then.

More Wheel Bearings

I had a brain wave this evening. Took off the bevel drive and put the rear wheel on the bench. With the wheel off and dust covers out the bevel fitted perfectly on the wheel. I put the bevel back on the bike and offered up the wheel again. It still was a good fit. I took the wheel off and fitted the inner bearing and re-fitted the wheel. Again a good fit. Wheel off. This time I added the oil seal and re-fitted the wheel. Eureka!.....play. So now I know where the issue is. There seems to be few options for sizes of dust seals. I will have a chat with the parts suppliers to see what can be done.

I have also order the instrument pods that will house the volt meter and clock. Hopefully I will have them before the weekend.

I accidentally hit the start button whilst moving the bike; the ignition key was in the on position whilst I checked the volt meter reading, and the bike burst into life. So now the bike wants to run.