Just back from a week on the East Coast. Mostly gentle touring with Karen on the pillion, Gooner in the chair and a ton of luggage, but a couple of off roady bits just to prove the brick will do forrest roads and see what drops off (nothing as it turns out). Tidying up and starting MOT prep today I was going to have a rant at the previous owner whose grasp of anything electrical, bolt torques and corrosion resistance were sorely lacking when I started to compile a list of just how rough I've been getting the outfit usable. To date:
Exhaust leak (OK it was two 50p sized holes through the pipe just before the silencer bandaged up badly) temporarily cured for the trip away using welded on baked bean can (ASDA Smart Price, less galvanised than say Heinz!), gunk, bandages and wrap. (New silencer now arrived, stainless pipe sections on order).
Difference in new fork diameters and triple clamp set "cured" by judicious use of an Imperial (1 & 27th 68ths and half a groat or some such useless size) socket, extension and the hammer to open up the clamps.
Engine oil drained by taking the filter out as the drain is siezed in (need a pit to get the gun on).
Gearbox filler removed using stud extractor and oil changed using fish tank hose and the sort of syringe that'll frighten anyone whose ever the sort of medical complaint that stops you sitting down. (drain is blocked by sidecar subframe and will no doubt be rusted in, needs a QD frame section adding)
Final drive filler removed using a hammered in allen driver and the magic gun (impact driver).
Brake callipers removed using a selection of allen bits , extensions and silver sockets in direct violation of the instructions on the magic gun that tell you only to use black ones. (the pads were 100% rust with the material held on by gravity
)
Major use of Hammerite to cover bits that might give the idea that this bike isn't in A-1 conditon.
In my defence the above is part of a programme involving a major rework, stainless bolts, return to better than new condition etc. that will have the outfit in first class condition for year round use (can't have it off the road just now in case it snows and I need it for work), but at this stage it really is at the carving knife and saw stage rather than microsurgery.
So, as I'm blaming you lot for my knowledge of such rough**** techniques (I'm a graduate Engineer Don'tcha Know), anyone else care to share any useful ideas or shameless bodges?
Andy
