Projects/Trips for the New Year

[Steve Lake]

had a bantam in a basket (no, its not a pub meal) for several years... I fancy tricking it up a bit, and getting it registered and roadworthy, its 52 years since my last bantam... so all the bad memories of pi$$ poor lights, pi$$ poor power and general uselessness are long gone... I just remember the fun bits.... like the flap of my police riding coat, clamped between my knees and the tank... occasionally flapping about round the spark plug... when wet.. a very interesting couple of Kvolts round my neck when the old bit of towelling used to stop rain dribbling down was wet.. rain splashing back off the tool/battery box into the carb...  engine then spluttering...and dying... 10 mins kicking to get life back into it... oh the joy!

trips planned... #1 son and myself will do assen this year... not sure whether to do Superbikes or Motogp... and would like to do IOM for the classic (new format) looked good last year... but that depends on whether the Steam Packet thieves are still going to charge a kings ransom to ferry bikes,
I mean, 3 times the normal rate to travel over for the TT is just taking the pi$$....

I hope everyones projects & plans come to fruition
pip pip

[Dave#22]

Hi all, A few days back I took the engine out of my DR800 (the one used for Germany last year) to try and cure it's oil consumption, new rings...terrible price...and a near new barrel now fitted, decoke and valve reseal completed, so it should be back in and running shortly...fingers crossed.
Travel....our big trip this year will be to Croatia on my Guzzi Quota, the location was voted on at last years Rally in Wales, Ferry booked and two days accomodation booked at a resort up in the Mountains and the rest....we shall have to see.
Problem is...it's the same weekend the TC rally normally is....shame, as I'd love to do both.
 Dave.

[Furry John]

Problem is...it's the same weekend the TC rally normally is....shame, as I'd love to do both.
 Dave.

Any thoughts by anyone on the 2014 Thumper Club Annual Rally, last years was very good thanks to Mark, before that was v. good also thanks to the Irish Brotherhood, before that we had The Baron at Bucknell, courtesy of Martin and Boyd, any offers for this year?

Furry

[mini-thumper]

Make sure you keep that head covered.

Mark

ps. and a happy new year to you.

Thankfully this will only apply to Cath when we venture into the Medieval Theme Park that is Saudi Arabia - she won't be able to drive and must cover her hair with a scarf; the rest of the Middle East has a fairly relaxed attitude to western women not covering their hair.

Boyd

[Mark]

Make sure you keep that head covered.

Mark

ps. and a happy new year to you.

Thankfully this will only apply to Cath when we venture into the Medieval Theme Park that is Saudi Arabia - she won't be able to drive and must cover her hair with a scarf; the rest of the Middle East has a fairly relaxed attitude to western women not covering their hair.

Boyd

Ok then, burn you c0cky bu99er.

[andy230]

the rest of the Middle East has a fairly relaxed attitude to western women not covering their hair.

  Now I could make a smutty remark there, but at the risk of causing offence on an otherwise rather "hair trigger" forum, I wont.  Those french pseudo-weather girlies must have got to me!

My plans involve getting the skorpion finished (within spitting distance now) and ready for the reasonable weather, such that my commute into town will be all poncey and sleek, and maybe getting the silver car down to London.  I got it "finished" and MOT'd in Glasgow late last summer before a million things all went wrong and now the gearbox is out.

Note to self- stick to bikes!

Toodle pip. May you all achieve greatness in 2014.

a
 

[themoudie]

Aye Andy,

Gearbox out! Supplier of wheel bearings required? 2014 appears to be your year of purgatory with the Del Boy from Belfast. I hope not. 

Can we help with bearing suppliers, if we know what the sizes and type required are? 

Projects! MMMmmmm. Morini the Minx 125 and a Dusplati 436cc, the latter has to be ready for a "Doon tha watter!" on Mona's Isle for the Classic. 

Slainte, Bill.

[andy230]

Dusplati 436cc, the latter has to be ready for a "Doon tha watter!" on Mona's Isle for the Classic. 

Sounds magic! 

Aye Andy,

Gearbox out! Supplier of wheel bearings required? 2014 appears to be your year of purgatory with the Del Boy from Belfast. I hope not. 

No, its fine, when one is in love, anything is forgiven!   

I got an MOT last year, and planned to bring it south.  I knew I needed to do two wheel bearings, (same side), so decided to do all 4.... Sounds daft, but I would have to get 4 wheel alignment done, and the other other 2 bearings would likely fail in not too many thousand miles, so I thought I'd do all 4.  Investigation of suspension rubbers had me jumping up and down, and not with joy.  However they are not too dear, just requires a lot of stripping and pressing (ooo-errr, those weather girls are going to be busy!) in order to do them.  In 2012-13, I put new front springs and 2x front shocks on, but bought tho did not fit the back ones.  So the rear ones are going on now. 

The clutch was slipping post-MOT, so the box came out, and as it was all apart it made sense to do the bushes.   Sort of.  And of course rebuild 4x CV joints not replace, just strip, clean, re-pack and new boots.  Also not dear.  Clutch is Renault 25.  Also very reasonable.  Box itself was fine, and seals not leaking.  Good oportunity to clean everything up.

The wheel bearings I seek- are available.  But I want good uns.  Not unbranded.  Not chinese.  Not even QH (they are the latter).  SO SKF/ FAG/ SNR etc etc.  ONLY!!  Fronts are easy- SKF VKBA 559.  Cross references to a Yugo!!!  (among others)  Available for about 18 quid delivered.  Rears are much harder.  SKF VKBA 725.  Cross references to Porsche 911, or an Alfa (cant remember which).  Expensive Bastard!!  And no-one stocks them!

I just need to keep an eye out and buy one when they come up.  Anywhere between 40 and 80 quid.  So I'll wait! 

And thats what was in the green bar.  An amazon ad for a 61 quid wheel bearing.  NOPE!!  Thanks but no thanks!

[themoudie]

I will ask and may either report with a    or a  depending upon the outcome!

Maybe by PM, rather than cluttering up this thread!

Slainte, Bill.

[Furry John]

Rears are much harder.  SKF VKBA 725.  Cross references to Porsche 911, or an Alfa (cant remember which).  Expensive Bastard!!  And no-one stocks them!

Hi Andy, seems Alfa was right for SKF VKBA 725, a quick Google brings up at least 20 suppliers at around £70/80, as you say pricey but not way out, might be worth the odd phone call.

Furry

[andy230]

Hi John,

Sorry, should have said Porsche 911, AND and Alfa (can't remember which MODEL). 

Just being lazy!

Cross references are available on UK delorean forums.

Yes, there are suppliers available at 70/80 quid, and Quinton Hazel for about 45 quid.  BUT!  QH wheel bearings are now (aparently) to be avoided and quality bearings can be had for about 45 quid.  There is a good automotive bearing shop in East London who can get me a SNR GB12010 (same bearing) but its an hour's commute each way.  I got one, and should have bought two, but was just trying to get one online (preferrably with free postage!!)

I know, I am beeing an eejit.  And I'm very slow.  Thats why my projects take for ever!!

Cheers for now,

a