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Topics - andy120t

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 6
1
Misc / Open / Are all Schraeder valves the same?
« on: March 25, 2024, 06:13:12 PM »
I found a 550 wheel/ tyre without a valve, so I took one from a brand new mountain bike tyre and popped it in. It fits and seems to be holding air .....I assume they are all built to the same standard so no reason for a bicycle one not to work on motorbike. Pressure is probably similar.

Any thoughts gratefully received!

2
Misc / Open / Eat the Peach film
« on: March 03, 2024, 07:21:11 PM »
I started to watch this film - Eat the Peach - on BBC iPlayer.

 Motorcycle film from 1986 / Ireland.... started off well with an early 80's Honda dirtbike and a three-wheeled Honda thingy ( I recall watching the lady-Mayor of Hull flipping one of those before they were outlawed!). I only watched 15 mins because I'm rubbish at sitting in front of the telly, but it looks pretty watchable - and it's on BBC iPlayer so it's free!  Thought it was worth mentioning!

Plus, it also referenced Roustabout by Elvis, which inspired the film and led me to a film of Elvis on the Wall of Death ( check out YouTube). Awesome!

3
Misc / Open / Tank painting thoughts
« on: February 16, 2024, 02:44:11 PM »
I'm slowly getting round to painting a tank for an old GSXR. It'll just be a shed/ rattle can job so nothing fancy, but I want to make as good a job as I can.

It's previously been stripped to bare metal then left outside which means it has a lot of little rust dots on it. I rubbed it down to flat and sprayed a bit of black paint on it - the dots reappeared but haven't got any worse after 14 years.

Question is - any thought on an appropriate undercoat/ treatment I could use to stop these reappearing when I spray it?
Thx!

4
Tricks & Tips / Freeing stuck brake pistons with basic tools and no mess!
« on: January 31, 2024, 04:15:03 PM »
I've been struggling with extracting 6-pot pistons from my ZX6-r (which has sat through lockdown and beyond and slowly seized up,) and I've been slowly trying to fix. They were stuck solid..all 12 of the little blighters.

I've seen various other tips but haven't found them easy in my garage and with limited tools;
- grease...I've only got a tiny grease pump and it didn't seem to get any pressure going. Plus it's putting lots of muck in the caliper.
- compressed air ...attaching a line always seems tricky. I've used this before on a garage forecourt but never felt it seemed very safe. Plus, with these caliper body shapes it's been quite hard to hold or fix anything to ensure one didn't pop out too far and still leave the rest.

So I found this clip online (and from Yorkshire!) and it certainly works. I split my calipers first so I could get to three pistons at a time. Jam the inside of the piston with screwdriver bits ( or small sockets) and a large allen key which you'll use to turn it. Once you start turning and it all jams up the piston will start turning. Then twist it upwards and it will slowly wind out. Amazing! And no mess.

I tried it a few weeks ago and managed to get them all turning but they were still not keen to come out.So I sprayed a lot of wd40 around the pistons and forgot about them until today. Today they just twisted out relatively easily. Genius!

https://youtu.be/HZ1SLCHR8EI?si=qUrjdM7dwXy6Itv9



6
Other Bikes / Folding moped anyone?!
« on: September 02, 2023, 06:36:30 PM »
This isn't something I've seen before. My initial thought was 'wow, I want it....and I could hide it in the garage so the boss doesn't see it etc etc..', Then I looked at the single bolt that stops it from bending in the middle and thought that maybe it's not such a good idea!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285448661469?hash=item427610e9dd:g:w1kAAOSwyfhk8HNK&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAsEVFcqXxDsFuPJw%2BlP9MfAWc4ZWUJh9nxtrolBky5ZfvkPlZHlStWoFr1%2BAQ2Vy%2BIqFAqfdPBS1WiEyL2xJ2JgXv9TLgsH9M69HbJGvdAn%2FiVw4%2FeSroUl%2FekQNb69y9r2Ezk%2Ff36XqqG3DBNhRtWDXlaa6OWGncqc%2B7Xpph996NjplqtyLQtKKNTPlIALmCmAclvsDhsH8%2ByeIEAcxlgqZFW82C%2FQ86dlTCGu1ACPYm%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9Sq3u7KYg

7
CB500/550 / Pattern rhs switch gear - is this incorrect?
« on: June 28, 2023, 11:43:51 AM »
I bought this on eBay - seller sent me an offer so it was ten pounds cheaper than normal, so it being Saturday morning/hungover I pressed 'buy'.

Now it's here, it doesn't look anything like my original and crucially it's missing the lights ./p/h switch. Is that correct for any CB550 - or is this just wrong. The seller lists it as compatible for a whole list of 550's - but I assumed they all had te light switch on this side.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-Right-Hand-Switch-Gear-CB360-CB400-CB550-CB750-GL1000-F-K-35130-377-P00/115776266808?pageci=2cbcd3e5-0565-4485-888f-e25657f726bf&redirect=mobile#vi-desc-maincntr

Nb...bike is a bitsa, my original switch is missing the starter button and run/stop internals. For this replacement  I just want to be able to run wires outside the bars and connect under the tank, but the light switch is needed too.

Aside from that, the casting is pretty rubbish and the but the starter button is in is far deeper and squared than my one. 😞

9
Misc / Open / SSOHC
« on: May 04, 2023, 07:57:15 AM »
https://www.ssohc.co.uk/

One of the local societies in Hertford.....Currently our post boxes are covered in knitted hats!
They are amazing and must take hours to make -  the website doesnt do them justice but the previous projects has more piccies, as does Facebook.
Perhaps we should ask them to create a bike-themed topper?!

10
Desperately Seeking!! / Ace bars for 550
« on: February 02, 2023, 08:54:15 AM »
I thought I saw a thread last week with a set of Ace bars and various other handlebars for sale....but I cant find it now. If there was one, can anyone point me to it?;

11
Misc / Open / ITV Mad Max is on NOW
« on: January 31, 2023, 09:36:38 PM »
Check out those air-cooled fours... My favourite film ever!

12
Other Bikes / New bike for local rides.
« on: October 23, 2022, 09:23:51 AM »
I picked up this `bargain` 550 Zephyr last week (aka potential moneypit/disaster). Sold as a non-runner/ not running very well, but otherwise loads of new parts and ready for an MOT. ..

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Fuel didn't seem to be getting through despite all the relevant bits having been replaced or rebuilt, so I added  my ancient Easy Start and after a minute or so turning over whilst squirting that into the air intake it seemed perfectly happy and fires up on the button.  I managed ten miles yesterday...gear change was a bit high so I adjusted that, braking isn't two-fingers good, so I need to bleed again and see if that can be improved. Aside from that it seems all seems fine. Result - winter riding is sorted on the first of the retro bikes!

13
Has anyone used a motorcycle transporter from Scotland/Glasgow to England (I'm near Hertford)? If so, any recommendations gratefully received.

I was working with one company but that hasn't worked out, so just looking for an alternative asap.
Thanks!

14
Other Bikes / CB400/1100 ! on ebay
« on: September 03, 2022, 04:01:02 PM »
I can't post the link ... tablet isn't very user friendly, but the auction site has a 400 superdream with a Honda factory 'CB1100f lookalike' bodykit  and fairing. Not something I had ever seen before, so if anyone can find / post the l link it might be of interest?!  Seller even shows the original brochures, which seem to take the p*ss out of the whole concept. ...a bit of Honda history.

I searched Honda 400 and it came up as a result.

15
Out & About / Out and about near Saumur
« on: July 29, 2022, 07:19:33 AM »
https://grandprixretro-puynotredame.com

Holidays with the family, nothing much to do but eat bread and cheese and read the local tourist-office offerings about yet another chateaux and then, at the bottom of the page and just ten miles away, the local 'classic grand prix'! I'm only free today which seems to be 'arrivals day' but it'll make a change from vineyards. Hopefully a few good pictures to follow.

The evening session tomorrow looks awesome, but we'll have moved on by then.

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