Another project ... a 400 four

[dieffe]

Hi all, it's been a while. Now that the K1 is done I am having a go at a 400 four although it's not mine.
I have tidied the engine up a bit, it is a good runner (or so I am assured) so it just needed cleaning.
The rolling bit is in good nick but the fella wants it café racering (if that's the phrase), which is a shome as it would make a bloody good resto.
Still, it's his bike.
Here are some pics, not good ones of the bike, sorry.

[mike the bike]

This is what we want.... Someone getting their teeth into a restoration project and keeping us informed and entertained as it progresses.   I wish you well with it.

[ST1100]

The rolling bit is in good nick but the fella wants it café racering (if that's the phrase), which is a shome as it would make a bloody good resto.

Kinda interesting trend that those who have a nearly intact bike, requiring only minor efforts to achieve full restoration, insist on café-ing it, whilst others struggle getting beaten up, neglected rigs back to OEM condition...

Nice shiny engine already! Was it parted for painting or kept assembled?

[Orcade-Ian]

I certainly agree with ST on that one, a real shame to alter what is heading towards a great bike.
Is it possible to persuade the owner to let you finish it and then sell it for strong money to finance a cafe job built from cheap non standard stuff?  He could end up with exactly what he wants for less overall outlay and someone else gets a nice useable classic.
Plenty of frames with V5 out there and enough bits around to satisfy his needs, I would have thought.

Ian

[dieffe]

It was his late dad's bike who always wanted to café it. He says he will never sell it and wants to keep it.
I would do what Ian said and buy another one to café. It's not as if his dad is going to find out is it. 

[Orcade-Ian]

A rock and a hard place then,
I realise his Dad will not know, but I think I would respect his wishes and not sell, but if he is insistent on that particular bike being cafe'd, then implore him not to sell the standard bits he removes and not chop lumps out of anything.  These bikes in that condition are on the up as everyone on this forum knows and parts are getting more difficult but if those apparently unwanted bits are moved on (even if we would love to buy them!) they will be difficult to come by if a change of plan emerges.  I'm not claiming the moral high ground here, we all did this in the 60's with now priceless Brit stuff.
Ian

[Chris400F]

Does he want to café it or does he want to just because his Dad did?
By all means keep the bike but if the current owner would prefer it in standard form then keep it that way - he will still have his Dad's bike.

I have sort of had this dilemma myself. I inherited my late father's 1956 BMW R50 which he had owned since about 1976.
I had every intention of keeping it but realised it really wasn't my type of bike, so sold it and bought the 400/4 that I had always wanted.
No regrets, but I thought about it a lot before doing the deed.

[dieffe]

What I am going to do is keep everything that is not needed and make everything I do reversible just in case.
It would be sacrilege to wreck such a good bike and I am hoping to convince him to have his café racer for a while until he gets fed up with it and then restore it back to original.

[Orcade-Ian]

Hopefully, everyone's a winner that way,
Ian

[dieffe]

Progress is slow but steady. I am zinc plating all the bolts that I can to save having to replace them but it is quite time consuming. (fun though)

The pics are crap again, sorry.

[dieffe]

Hi Oddjob,
The engine has been painted with Holts silver engine enamel, I hope it does last.
I shall remember to tighten the locknut up, cheers.

[ST1100]

I am zinc plating all the bolts that I can to save having to replace them but it is quite time consuming.

Nice work so far!
What procedure are you using for plating the engine bolts?

[dieffe]

The zinc plating is done using one of those home plating kits, works well.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Zinc-Electroplating-Plating-Kit-for-Car-and-Bike-restoration-FREE-multimeter-/262180517329?hash=item3d0b2d35d1:g:5jYAAOxy1VlREOYU

[ST1100]

The zinc plating is done using one of those home plating kits, works well.

Durable? Or should one also peek at nickel plating? (more "bling" though, but maybe better corrosion protect...)

[dieffe]

The zinc is ok if you passivate them with clear, blue or yellow. The nickel is better but more tricky to do.