Back with a 500 ....

[Sesman]

Thanks for the reply, very enlightening. I’m pretty sure mine was a genuine 17km miles example judging by the deed of entitlement and letter I received from the previous owners widow ( his name was Delbert D Trotter of Illinois honestly - no kidding). The engine was immaculate with no visible or measurable wear on any bearing surfaces, cam or big, small ends. As you say, looks like I got a genuine low mileage, well maintained motor.

[Trigger]

Thanks for the reply, very enlightening. I’m pretty sure mine was a genuine 17km miles example judging by the deed of entitlement and letter I received from the previous owners widow ( his name was Delbert D Trotter of Illinois honestly - no kidding). The engine was immaculate with no visible or measurable wear on any bearing surfaces, cam or big, small ends. As you say, looks like I got a genuine low mileage, well maintained motor.

I hope you had a good deal from D Trotter 

I have had loads of emails over the years asking, how much do you charge to rebuild a engine and my answer was always the same. I would not know until i strip it down and do a full assessment report, as every engine is different.
Take two 550 engines at 17000 miles. One has a oil change at every 1000 miles and the other at every 5000 miles and when you measure up every part you will see which one has been well maintained and which one has not.
Never have i come across a engine that has the identical measurement on piston to bore clearance when doing a strip and assessment report.   

[Johnny4428]

Interesting Trigger! Possibly quality/type of oil and the way it is ridden to have a bearing on wear and tear? (no pun intended) 😉

[Sesman]

Yep, a reasonable good deal. Old trotters was bit of lad according to his obituary….he passed away in 2021. DDT bought it in 1985, crashed it then left in his garage till his death.

[Bryanj]

Those Illinios titles are pretty arnt they, my No 36 came from there

[Johnny4428]

Thanks for the reply, very enlightening. I’m pretty sure mine was a genuine 17km miles example judging by the deed of entitlement and letter I received from the previous owners widow ( his name was Delbert D Trotter of Illinois honestly - no kidding). The engine was immaculate with no visible or measurable wear on any bearing surfaces, cam or big, small ends. As you say, looks like I got a genuine low mileage, well maintained motor.

D Trotter! “For real” I thought someone was taking the piss!😂😂

[Sesman]

No, it’s genuine. It’s actually quite a common name in Illinois.

His family wrote to me, sending the DOT and providing a brief history of DDTs bike ownership. The mileage is genuine at 17k. DDT bought the bike as a traffic beating ‘get to work’ machine, rode it for about 2000Miles, but dropped it. He then stowed it, but never got round to mending it. The forks were bent and the frame slightly damaged, which would have required a complete engine out job to fix.

I’ve actually got his obituary somewhere, but won’t post it as it seems a bit macabre to do so.

[Bryanj]

Sounds like a great deal and good info to keep

[Sesman]

Yes, I was very interested in his life story. A really active guy with a very wide range of interests and hobbies.

The only thing I’m short of is a seat. F2 items seem to be incredibly illusive and I don’t want a copy. I have the original base and foam, I’ve even got someone lined up to refit it, but the base needs the skills of a good metal basher to reclaim it. It’s suffered from the usual ‘side stand’ rot.

[Rozabikes Tim]

Yes, I was very interested in his life story. A really active guy with a very wide range of interests and hobbies.

The only thing I’m short of is a seat. F2 items seem to be incredibly illusive and I don’t want a copy. I have the original base and foam, I’ve even got someone lined up to refit it, but the base needs the skills of a good metal basher to reclaim it. It’s suffered from the usual ‘side stand’ rot.

Side stand rot?? As in water gathering in one place  with bike at an angle?

[Laverdaroo]

That’s it Tim. Like my exhaust were, all rusty but only
On one side where the juice had collected, does the same to the pans on these by all accounts. I had an upturned skateboard on Mejima when I got here so cant really comment but read it elseware….


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Sesman]

Yes, it’s classic symptom of storing the bike on the side stand.

I’m guessing that my quest for decent F2 seat pan is forlorn hope.

[Oddjob]

I have one or maybe 2 in my loft Phil. I use them as storage shelfs, your box of seashells sit on one of them. Every now and then I hit them with a hammer as they annoy me for some reason. The seat pans not the seashells, they calm me, I put them to my ear and listen to the sounds of the sea, on one you can clearly hear a pensioner shouting at the seagulls, F*** off you flying vermin he usually hollers. Oh how I laugh at his antics.

[Oddjob]

Just for you Phil.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/385262783308?hash=item59b3738b4c:g:UdMAAOSwElljhYxZ&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA4Pkr5ES%2BTduWhm%2BnhFCtn2m2qmb0b0Q6AVxE6M5qBOrDE4IfeKRdMiiWhiN9T7G4IB7hAdHBfy5pRBCRiTsCwg5cY8arjgoyVBvkML4q5Pz%2BTcoFB%2F1M9%2FQxJ1zL62I8HzogOGKhr3H9G4oA9EJH1sGA7aVpdq0tsY3DJGMxO7kCRGytVVRWSau5DziQX2BY6RLsvJ5v4X0YJHNWTUmYqbWet%2FUnQD32RrMsj6jj8kXB0sxI4uvRAtBbAq6ku7fs7o%2B4SQejrKIhMpJF6B5hbh%2B4xqLBcCFFgb49hmMjahpf%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR8aE9NPVYQ

Bit of welding, good as new.

[Sesman]

Thanks Ken.

You are the master searcher, but at that price I’ll ask my panel beater to set about the original seat, spending the money on an English craftsman rather than a teutonic bandit😳