Rust and skinned knuckles

[guest7]

The mounting points for most sidecars are in the floor of the tub and you need triple jointed arms to get a spanner on each end of the bolt. Add 20 years (or more) of rust and it always ends up with you skinning your knuckles as one or both spanners slip off. This was the case the other evening when I set about stripping down the XBR500 sidecar outfit that my brother has bought me. The tub is now sat on the floor and the bike and chassis are easier to examine.

Some areas of the bike frame are very rusty and will need a good going over to see if they are sound. They have passed the pokey screwdriver test, but time will tell. It's the areas out of sight that worry me. The swinging arm looks to be past it 

The plan is to strip the bike down to the last nut and bolt and to powdercoat everything that needs it. I've got a spare engine so the original can be shelved for later prodding. The bike will be sat on leading link forks and a special 15" rear wheel from my last XBR outfit. Front and sidecar wheels are 16" reverse comstars (the same pattern as the XBR). This will mean that I have to make a new swing arm and axle for the chair chassis and I am drawing up a copy of the Velorex arrangment.

GC

[Mark]

It's good to see you getting on with it.

Mark

[Andy M]

You need one of these:

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/clarke-cew1000-electric-impact-wrench/path/impact-wrenches-and-drivers

Devise some means of holding one side from sockets,extenstion bars, mole grips, old tank bag magnets, sellotape etc, then just hit the otherside with the magic gun and emerge with your manicure intact 

Andy

[guest7]

It's good to see you getting on with it.

Yeah I know, the outfit only made it into my garage last week. But now it's there I can potch to my hearts content 

GC

[squirrelciv]

Happy spanner twirling GC 

[guest18]

What they said! 

[guest7]

Cheers Smudge. I haven't tried to start the bike, but am I right in thinking that the engine is fubar? Was it running when last parked up?

And... how's parenthood? How old is your little 'un now?

GC

[guest18]

tbh I can't remember if the motor has run since the head was off  Shouldn't be anything *major* wrong with it... I think!  if you have a known spare that's probably faster and easier though.
Certainly the fuel tank is full of s**t though and will need thoroughly cleaned.

Parenthood is good, he's just over 4 months now and certainly keeping us on our toes  not *quite* moving about under his own steam, but it wont be long now 

[guest7]

Parenthood is good, he's just over 4 months now and certainly keeping us on our toes  not *quite* moving about under his own steam, but it wont be long now 

You're getting to the stage where you have to start moving the dangerous stuff to higher and higher shelves  Unfortunately my 18 year old can reach wherever I hide the vodka 

GC

[guest18]

I'll just lock it all away and tell him a bogeyman lives in our garage, should keep him out for a year or so...!