Tinkering thread! What are you up to?

[airsafari87]

Stuart Fordyce said:

Also, degreaser recommendations please? Currently got the Guy Martin Proper, which is OK if you use twice the amount and really hot water. Gunk is epic but a bit nasty, is there a middle ground?

The Muc-Off one is pretty decent.

[Stuart Fordyce]

Rather too much of the back of my FZ6 S2 is in my hall cupboard. Bolts are being derusted, subframe will need a repaint, and I've ordered up a new Shock Factory M shock. As far as I can tell it's on the original Kayaba that's done 44,000 so should be an improvement!

[Krikkit]

Stuart Fordyce said:

Also, degreaser recommendations please? Currently got the Guy Martin Proper, which is OK if you use twice the amount and really hot water. Gunk is epic but a bit nasty, is there a middle ground?

"Elbow grease" can get it on Amazon and various high street shops like Wilco's.

That and a washing up brush will sort just about anything, it's brilliant stuff.

[Stuart Fordyce]

Krikkit said:

"Elbow grease" can get it on Amazon and various high street shops like Wilco's.

That and a washing up brush will sort just about anything, it's brilliant stuff.

They sell that in my local Savers, happy days! The swingarm is going to be minging so that's timely

[fred bloggs]

Neil1300r said:

From this


To this.



Haven't worked on cars or bikes for 35+ years as I'm rubbish. So obvious thing to do is upgrade brakes as first project! Made me remember what a pain in the arse bleeding brakes is. Bought a vacuum pump kit to solve that

You do know that 'upgrade' will make zero difference to the braking effiecency, right ? I guess it gets rid of those horrible 6 piston calliers though.

[KTMsm]

Stuart Fordyce said:

Also, degreaser recommendations please? Currently got the Guy Martin Proper, which is OK if you use twice the amount and really hot water. Gunk is epic but a bit nasty, is there a middle ground?

I used kerosene for years but recently tried this stuff as I'd been using his other products for years - I can highly recommend it - doesn't smell much either

https://www.autojoy.co.uk/vehicle-washing-autojoy-...

All his own brand TFR, wheel acid etc are excellent

[Stuart Fordyce]

Thank you KTMsm

[Pothole]

I've given up on the scooter and pushed it to the local bike shop. As long as it doesn't cost too much they can sort it...

[KTMsm]

Pothole said:

I've given up on the scooter and pushed it to the local bike shop. As long as it doesn't cost too much they can sort it...

Can I ask what they charge an hour ?

I was surprised when I heard the back street place I use for MOT telling a customer his rate £65 !

[Merch131]

Finally got the Gpz1170 engine in the Z650 frame, though it put up a fight. We had to remove the sump and cut back a tab that had been added to mount the Z1 side panel. The latter being done after the engine had gone off to be rebuilt. There's enough left of the tab that I can drill and mount a replacement for the piece we had to hacksaw off. Thankfully it behind the side panel so will be hidden from view. Note that the front rubber engine mount has been replaced with a solid mount, using top hat spacers.

[Stuart Fordyce]

So this morning was getting the shock out. Had to use a lot of WD40, and paused to check the Fowler's parts website to check replacement collars and nuts available. Then the mole grips came out...



A lot of paint has worn off the swingarm. This has been poorly and locally repainted. There's black, two shades of grey, and bare metal where it's gone altogether. I might as well do the whole thing: I found another tin of black Hammerite looking for the axle stand so might as well crack on.

Edited by Stuart Fordyce on Thursday 20th May 19:58

[Stuart Fordyce]

fred bloggs said:

You do know that 'upgrade' will make zero difference to the braking effiecency, right ? I guess it gets rid of those horrible 6 piston calliers though.

Does it give access to higher friction pads or a greater pad/piston area?

[Pothole]

KTMsm said:

Pothole said:

I've given up on the scooter and pushed it to the local bike shop. As long as it doesn't cost too much they can sort it...

Can I ask what they charge an hour ?

I was surprised when I heard the back street place I use for MOT telling a customer his rate £65 !

No idea yet. I'll let you know

[fred bloggs]

Stuart Fordyce said:

Does it give access to higher friction pads or a greater pad/piston area?

Not when he's using the same disks. even if his disks were as big as the wheel ,and pads were ginormous, then you just skid the tyre.

[Benni]

Merch131 : I see you create a serious Hot Rod Bike there, but will this run stable with engine size doubled to standard ?

I think these Z650s were good , in their day, with their stock engine, or do you also beef up the chassis ?

[Merch131]

Benni said:

Merch131 : I see you create a serious Hot Rod Bike there, but will this run stable with engine size doubled to standard ?

I think these Z650s were good , in their day, with their stock engine, or do you also beef up the chassis ?

The frame has been extensively braced, even the swingarm pivot has been increased in diameter and strengthened. The engine is also solidly mounted. Its having modern suspension, swing arm from a ZRX1200 and 17inch wheels we made, that came off my old drag bike. Its a road bike, doubt I'll be getting my knee down on it.

[limmy01]

Spent the weekend and most of today cleaning the front end of the 916, not bad for 22 years old

[Tango13]

I got the bike out a couple of weeks back to discover the brake lights, indicators and horn weren't working, some Google Fu sugested the ignition barrel was fubar. So as I would have to pull the top yoke off to change it I thought I might as well get a replacement and paint it. Turns out that Triumph changed the design at some point, something I only discovered after getting the new one powder coated and pulling the bike apart

I wasn't going to let a minor detail like that stop me...


/\ Tap image to play

And it's all back together and working

Edited by Tango13 on Wednesday 26th May 22:22

[thainy77]

I changed the pipes and then rear light and fender setup tonight. It was too cluttered for my liking before.

[GYTRDave]

Fitted some shiny bits, Gandini sprockets, Tsubaki chain, melotti racing top yoke finally fitted, samco hoses, few more bits to sort and fit, but progress.