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Messages - bobv7
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271
« on: November 27, 2019, 02:00:20 PM »
Really depends where about you are in London...it's a bloody big place. I know a mechanic who is a legend for his work on Moto Guzzi but easily has the skills to work on any other bike. Try calling 07536 116176 and don't be put off if he's a bit short with you 'cos he's like that with everyone until he goes to know you!
272
« on: November 06, 2019, 12:17:12 AM »
Ta Julie, breaths a huge sigh of relief! 
273
« on: November 05, 2019, 03:31:07 PM »
Since leaded fuel is no longer available have any of you bothered to replace the valve seats, or just as gone with a lead replacement additive?
274
« on: October 27, 2019, 09:49:36 AM »
Is this the taking over as the new Great Oil Debate! For many years I've used an impact driver to free off tight cross head screws but a JIS driver to refit them. As I'm not usually being bothered about keeping bikes totally original I prefer to use allen (socket) headed screws anyway.
275
« on: October 17, 2019, 02:18:39 PM »
They were from a 1972 CB500 Four. The repair work is excellent, not so sure about the finish but that's that. I decided not to name the company for all the very good reasons you give. It's only my side of the story and without the other side giving their version it can quickly turn nasty and spiral out of control. I only posted it as a reminder that life can be like a greasy cucumber; you think you have a firm grasp and next second your eyes are watering! 
276
« on: October 17, 2019, 02:03:57 AM »
If anyone needed to find a classic restorer from around this area they could always drop me an email.
277
« on: October 16, 2019, 09:16:25 PM »
Funnily enough I agree with Trigger's comments for exactly the reasons he gives. Not looking for sympathy just a warning to be a bit more careful than me before getting involved in expensive restoration work. However, I wish I had known about the apparently vast number of headlamp brackets going spare 'cos I spent a lot of time looking for the bloody things and I couldn't find any! 
278
« on: October 16, 2019, 05:36:50 PM »
Finger pointing is not my style and I said it was my fault for not getting the cost in writing and that would be my advice to anyone looking to get this sort of work done. Being new to the West Sussex area I don't have the same familiarity with the reputations of the local trades and dealers I did have, however as with any specialist dealers you need to be careful of classic car restorers as their ideas of costs and values may not be quite in the same world as the rest of us! 
279
« on: October 16, 2019, 04:33:08 PM »
Hi James Kind of you to say that; many others will think I'm just a mug! As a couple of them are in a poor state I had been going to go for a new set of pipes when DS get them back in stock but not sure if I'll bother for now. Fork tubes have been re chromed with new seals and the headlamp/bucket has been replaced, as have the crumbling warning bulbs holders. The side panels have been previously patched up but aren't too bad, but probably could do with being replaced if and when I get around to repainting the tank. I'm in two minds about the tank as it has quite a nice patina that's not unattractive. Hmmmm... The seat base was good so I had it rebuilt and covered, not stock but with a bit more comfort and lower to suit my creaky knees. Now maybe I'll wait until I'm in a better frame of mind before deciding to do any more, and it's not costing me money for the bike to sit in the garage!
280
« on: October 16, 2019, 03:19:46 PM »
Have you ever been driving down a road and it suddenly dawns on you that you must going the wrong way, but if you keep going because it might be the right one just around the corner? Well, that was my brain fade state with these two cheap bits of pressed steel because I was paying at each stage of the process. Still can't believe I got sucked into it, just like a alcoholic or gambler waiting for their next fix for whom I now have the greatest sympathy!  At no time did I expect the cost to rise so high and the guy doing the work didn't bring up the probable final cost, but now none of you will be likely to fall into this trap, will you!  At least the 6 rubbers supporting the underside of the seat only cost me £45.00 from our friends in Holland. Time for my tablets, I think.
281
« on: October 16, 2019, 10:38:15 AM »
I've already said that not getting an estimate for the work was my fault so in my book if you get someone to do a job then you pay them. That's it. Julie has correctly explained the economics of mass production and how they differ from working on an hourly rate. I very much doubt many of us could afford any hand built product and it's good there are still folks around who do have those skills. It's easy to underestimate the cost of everyday items until you look closely at what actually goes into them. Try building your own flat screen tv!
282
« on: October 16, 2019, 09:27:26 AM »
Not a joke, wish it was. The brackets were badly damaged off an imported 1972 CB500 Four and if I could have found some good ones or repro I would have bought them instead. I've never been a rivet counter and every bike I've owned has proved this but in this instance I decided to get the bike back to something like original. My mistake.
283
« on: October 15, 2019, 11:27:29 PM »
Back in May I couldn't find any headlamp brackets to replace my quite badly damaged ones and so I took them to a restorer. What I didn't do was to get him to give me an estimate before he started work on them. Six months later and I'm getting them back and he's done an excellent job of fixing them. At a cost of just short of £1,500.00. Now they may be worth that to someone but not me. No one to blame but myself so I'll put them in a glass case as a warning not to do anything like that without weeks of research first! 
284
« on: September 13, 2019, 06:04:42 PM »
Just mulling over an alternative plan for my new bike and part of that would be replacing the current rear chrome mudguard/numberplate/lights with a tail tidy. I had intended to keep it totally standard but some of the parts prices are a bit daft and I'm getting bored. Don't want to chop anything as I might want to put it back to standard again!. Told you I was bored! PS Might want to change the front mudguard for a plastic one. CB250/350? Can't remember what I used on the 400/4.
285
« on: September 06, 2019, 06:06:51 PM »
Appreciate the welcome. I put the times I got down to tight leathers, a skinny frame and maybe some sneaky ways of stripping weight off the bike without being too obvious. Being a city centre lad traffic lights were my speciality anyway. Would have put the pics here but I can't see how to do it...the one of my Missus with the bike is much nicer!
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