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Rickman build

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captaink:
Carbs have gone off to the engine machinists I have used
D & M engineering , ask for Dave look them up on net there Honda race engine and bike builders.
Very helpful and do a good job.

Regards keith

Laverda Dave:
Keith, I have a Honda Rickman CR750 I bought about 20 years ago. 
When I bought it I was told by the seller it was an original S&S tuned bike.  It certainly had the S&S exhaust that was very, very, very loud! Reading the MCN road test of the S&S Rickman from the 70's the registration of my bike is the one directly following the S&S test bike, so maybe it did have all the goodies fitted?  I couldn't check the rest of the engine for any other signs of tuning apart from having a finned alternator cover and the exhaust but as it cost less than 1.5k I wasn't too bothered, it was a genuine CR Rickman :)
Sadly it has been in bits for at least 10 years following the engine throwing oil from the breather over the rear tyre and bringing a new term to the meaning of 'riding on slicks'.  Its going to be my next restoration after the 400/4 is completed.
I do know from stripping the engine though there are no S&S bits in there, certainly not a big bore kit and wild cams so I guess at some point the original engine went bang and was replaced with another standard engine with the original S&S exhaust fitted.

Where did you get your frame re-nickled and can you divulge how much it cost as this is going to be a major expense in the restoration of mine.  I have been quoted upwards of 500 pounds for a strip, polish and re-nickel.  Most platers I have asked wont even touch it saying either their tank is too small or giving me horror stories of the nickel salts becoming trapped in the frame tubes and rotting the metal from inside out.  The other excuse is the bronze brazing of the frame becomes damaged during the stripping process with the brazing going soft and the frame deforms!  Now you have your frame back have you noticed anything untoward? My own view is if Rickman nickle plated the frames at least 40 years ago and they haven't fallen apart and massive holes haven't appeared in the frame tubes due to nickle salt corrosion they must be ok to strip and re-nickle?
Lovely bike by the way and I look forward to seeing the finished product  8)
Dave

captaink:
Hi Dave, sorry for the long delay in replying.
The frame was re nickle by Capital Chroming co in the Old Kent Rd. London S.E. But they didn't want to do it, as you say there tanks are not big enough. They sent the frame away to someone else to strip and they did not tell me who.
It was returned to them,they then polished it as best they could but some of the areas are really not very accessible. They then nickel plated it.
The finish is very good overall but not sure if they would do one again, you need to ask.
I had quite a few bits nickel plated such as the swing arm etc. and quite a lot chrome plated as well as all the ally engine parts polished so not sure how much the frame on its own was. The whole lot was around £ 1400 and took about 4 weeks.

Some updated pictures of the engine build although its a little further along from this now.

captaink:
The frame overall was very good Dave, as you can see there's other nickel plated parts, these will always turn out nice as there easy to polish.

Laverda Dave:
They have done a lovely job. That was a company I called a few years ago and they didn't want to do it, you are lucky they did yours! I have a local guy very near to me but he mainly specializes in zinc but he loves bikes and does my stuff for me. Bad news though he doesn't know how much longer he can keep going due to the environmental issues and he doesn't have a tank big enough otherwise he would plate my frame. There was a place I came across at the last Stafford show and they quoted £750ish but they need to see the frame first. I'm not in a hurry as the 400/4 is currently undergoing it's restoration but the Ricky will be next!
The engine rebuild looks amazing, progress is good, ready for summer maybe?
Keep the photos coming, great to see it all coming together.

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