neels
10th January 2010, 12:09
My RLA 125 finally has all it's attaching parts reattached :woohoo:
About 22 years ago for reasons long since forgotten I bought this thing for $120.
After a few unsuccessful attempts at getting the thing to run properly and due to a lack of a permanent garage in which to pull it apart it was parked in a shed and more or less forgotten.
It arrived at my garage one day when the owner of the shed in which it was residing was cleaning up to move, and since I actually owned the garage I decided to do something about it.
The thing was basically complete and running (badly), so after a quick test to check that everything still worked I stripped it to a bare frame and started working my way back up from there.
In the process of dismantlement I discovered that the reason it wouldn't run was that the muffler was inserted in the frame wrong, so the only escape for the exhaust was the rust holes in the header pipe. New exhaust header built, muffler inserted correctly and hopefully no more clouds of blue smoke from under the seat ;)
After much cleaning panelbeating and painting, and repairs to the rusty bits of the bodywork, the beast was reassembled. Other than new rings, wheel bearings and cables it consists of original parts except for the gearchange linkage which was worn out and the fuel tap that was missing. A new gear linkage was made from an Anglia throttle linkage, and an adapter and ball valve fitted as a fuel tap until last week when a brand new reproduction one turned up on trademe.
After a few issues with 50 year old electrics like starter button not working, relays shorted to ground, and a couple of voltage regulator issues leading to very bright then blown bulbs and the starter operating as soon as the battery was connected, it now starts and stops when you tell it to, charges it's battery and generally operates as advertised.
It has been out for a couple of test rides, I don't know if the fuel consumption is as advertised at 138mpg but I can confirm that it does it's rated top speed of 45mph.
Finally have the paperwork sorted for a bike with no known rego and no papers etc, so it's off to the vehicle inspection people this week and hopefully road legal again, then do something about the hellishly uncomfortable seats and I'll see you on the road.
About 22 years ago for reasons long since forgotten I bought this thing for $120.
After a few unsuccessful attempts at getting the thing to run properly and due to a lack of a permanent garage in which to pull it apart it was parked in a shed and more or less forgotten.
It arrived at my garage one day when the owner of the shed in which it was residing was cleaning up to move, and since I actually owned the garage I decided to do something about it.
The thing was basically complete and running (badly), so after a quick test to check that everything still worked I stripped it to a bare frame and started working my way back up from there.
In the process of dismantlement I discovered that the reason it wouldn't run was that the muffler was inserted in the frame wrong, so the only escape for the exhaust was the rust holes in the header pipe. New exhaust header built, muffler inserted correctly and hopefully no more clouds of blue smoke from under the seat ;)
After much cleaning panelbeating and painting, and repairs to the rusty bits of the bodywork, the beast was reassembled. Other than new rings, wheel bearings and cables it consists of original parts except for the gearchange linkage which was worn out and the fuel tap that was missing. A new gear linkage was made from an Anglia throttle linkage, and an adapter and ball valve fitted as a fuel tap until last week when a brand new reproduction one turned up on trademe.
After a few issues with 50 year old electrics like starter button not working, relays shorted to ground, and a couple of voltage regulator issues leading to very bright then blown bulbs and the starter operating as soon as the battery was connected, it now starts and stops when you tell it to, charges it's battery and generally operates as advertised.
It has been out for a couple of test rides, I don't know if the fuel consumption is as advertised at 138mpg but I can confirm that it does it's rated top speed of 45mph.
Finally have the paperwork sorted for a bike with no known rego and no papers etc, so it's off to the vehicle inspection people this week and hopefully road legal again, then do something about the hellishly uncomfortable seats and I'll see you on the road.