SOHC.co.uk Forums > Project Board
TL125S
Johnny4428:
These look fantastic Dave nice paint job, good progress.
Laverda Dave:
A brief update on the TL build.
I got the exhaust back from the powder coater a couple of weeks ago; he advised me NOT to Cerakote it as the corrosion on the front header pipe would be really noticeable. Instead he used a high temp powder coat to build it up. It looks good and hopefully it will last. When I came to fit the exhaust I encountered two problems. The first was the cheap and nasty unbranded rear shocks that came with the bike fouled on the silencer box. The original Honda shocks are very thin like candlesticks and are of course no longer available. Every shock listed on the web for a TL will not fit, the springs on aftermarket shocks are 52/53mm OD and will only fit if you junk the original exhaust and fit a Sammy Miller type replacement. Enter Falcon Shocks in Dorset and a phone call to Robin the owner who told me he could make a pair with the spring offset by 2mm. A few days later they arrived and following a bit of fettling to the bush diameter and length (everyone needs a lathe) they fitted, perfect!
The second issue with the exhaust was the flange supplied by the owner as a genuine spare was way too big, the collets just fell through it so I was forced to use the flange the bike came with, a big aluminium competition item that was covered in hammer blows and was very manky. I put this in the lathe and faced it off and turned it down to remove the hammer blows, not standard but I think it looks ok.
Next on to the nightmare of the wiring, I purchased connectors and cable from VWP and set to. First job was to make another headlight earth tab. I was lucky to have one for the other side and I made a new one using the original as a pattern, not great but it’s acceptable. I’ve begun to make the loom and used my new ratchet crimp tool for the first time, what a revelation these are, every home needs one of these and an automatic wire stripper (along with an air fryer I guess) they make the job so much easier.
More to come..........
Bryanj:
I guess the air fryer is to shrink the sleeving!
Rozabikes Tim:
Dave more nice work but.... It may be the image making it look too big but are you really sure about the exhaust header clamp. Everything else looks so original....?
Laverda Dave:
I know Tim, it's ermm.....big! That was fitted when I was given the bike along with a 'new' OEM item that didn't fit. I've got fed up keep organising the parts etc so thought this can just go back on after a bit of lathe time.
I've got another 10 week wait for more chrome (the rear light bracket) but I've had enough of doing this bike now, it's just so frustrating finding bits that are missing and getting parts that don't fit. It's costing me £50/month having to rent garage space to store my own bike whilst I do this one. I want it gone by end of September so the original rear light can go back on if the chrome isn't ready.
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