Yesterday saw the start of my new project...Time to strip down and clean, fix, touch up and restore my favourite bike...

This is what it did look like:



A few hours later...







In need of lots of tender care...Not too good at the moment... Guess a hooooooon last August at Snetterton didn't help, but boy was that fun... Cruisin around the outside of all the big bikes in the corners... Can't wait to get it all back together...

I'm rebuilding one of these as well, mine was in very poor condition though with lots of parts missing. I would say yours looks complete and in pretty good order under the crud and corrosion, plus most importantly the bodywork looks really good. A very good starting point for a nice restoration.

Are you dropping the engine out? You could soon have it looking a million dollars with a bit of vapour blasting and zinc plating, I'm also building a 28sp for racer38, here is a link to his blog: http://repsolmc28sp.posterous.com/

Just stripping down as much as possible... Will clean and inspect the engine but if I find anything it will be replaced or sorted!

I'm just looking into Suppliers for cleaning, painting etc but I will do as much as I can myself. I have plenty of elbow grease!

Will look at your blog link later...

paul g wrote:I'm rebuilding one of these as well, mine was in very poor condition though with lots of parts missing. I would say yours looks complete and in pretty good order under the crud and corrosion, plus most importantly the bodywork looks really good. A very good starting point for a nice restoration.

Are you dropping the engine out? You could soon have it looking a million dollars with a bit of vapour blasting and zinc plating, I'm also building a 28sp for racer38, here is a link to his blog: http://repsolmc28sp.posterous.com/

Wow that engine looks amazing... Hummm now I'm thinking 'engine out'....

The whole bike is looking brilliant.

Thompster wrote:
Wow that engine looks amazing... Hummm now I'm thinking 'engine out'....

You know it makes sense personally speaking I think its well worthwhile stripping the motor, generally none of these bikes have any history and if it lets go it will cost a lot more in the long run! It looks like it has been run as a standard restricted bike so the engine shouldnt have been over stressed and you would expect it to be in good order but its always best to check for peace of mind. In my opinion anyway.

Vapour blasting and zinc plating is relatively cheap and money well spent with the difference it makes to the appearance of a bike. The guy I use for vapour blasting is local to me and collects and delivers the parts as part of the service, I reckon he would charge £50 to £60 for an engine. Its worth finding someone who knows what they are doing though. A numpty could ruin your parts using the wrong blast media.

Thanks for the advice. Much appreciated. I can see this being a longer project than I originally thought!

Hey ho, will look ace once completed.

tsr vapour blasting did my cases,its well worth doing
_________________
ive seen more tarts than mr kipling

Another bike that will be finished before yours Si
_________________
If I have to take the carbs off once more...

StephenRC45 wrote:Another bike that will be finished before yours Si

Ouch!!!

i was waiting for that
_________________
ive seen more tarts than mr kipling

PaulG is doing a superb job of restoring my Repsol, which reminds me I must add a few more updates to the blog.

Loving that radiator right next to the work area...... better that my freezing shed!

Still freezing in my garage! Never mind, my will power to complete this, is greater than what ever the weather can throw at me!

Sounds like a private joke within a few of those posts!

The bike looks fantastic with all the blasting and replated parts. I'm proper jealous of the way its all coming together like a brand new bike. Will be following the blog.
_________________
After years of moaning about immigrants now i am one...

silikesguiness wrote:i was waiting for that

Think of it as a fine wine or a smelly cheese, you can't rush a good thing
_________________
Charles Gallant

exactly charles or a good single malt whiskey thompster,you will get to learn that i could be quicker to finish my bike.......thats probably the best understatement ever
_________________
ive seen more tarts than mr kipling