Forks are in, so is the swingarm. The swingarm complained but Mr Rubber Mallet was in no mood for arguments. Patrick and I got the motor in easily enough with a towel protecting the lower frame tubes from damage. The bolts didn't fit too well at first so we had to loosen all of them and jiggle a bit until we got them all in. They turned out to be an ecclectic collection of metric, whitworth and even a BSW, which I think might have come out of an old Massey Fergussion tractor. Very popular in the agrarian sector, they were.
Faith and begorrah it's been a while. Life has been getting in the way of this project. The project has in fact gone from being the grandly-named and ambitious restoration to a refurbishment, since it seems unlikely that the first bike is ever going to be fully restored. It was too far gone and parts for these are too hard to come by in our little backwater. At the beginning of the project I was able to speak to an experienced restorer who imparted some absolute gems ... and as I have gone on, I am realising just what he told me. One was his recommendation to get painting done during the summer. It's been pissing down, on and off, for a month or so and I've waited for a day warm and fine enough to get some painting done. Finally ... The early coats go on the tank. A couple more, then two-pot clear coat to follow. Forecast for tomorrow is good so I just might get a couple of coats on - the two-pot is supposed to be fuel-resistant. The shock springs came back from the powder coater. As an experiment I had them clear coated over the bare metal. Interesting concept and I was pleased with the look - has potential for some other uses. Figured I'd roll the beastie out into the sun for a pic. (Rear shocks temporary only). Then I started to look at the electrics. What a mess. The coil has a series of really ugly connectors spliced in. The "fuse." It's just rotten inside. The rectifier, various bits and pieces and the ignition switch with various wires clipped off. I put it away and decided to look tomorrow. Or next week. Or never.
