Restoration assistance volunteer wanted (Wellington region)

**smmudd83_1999** · 21st January 2013, 18:57

Hi all,
An odd request maybe and perhaps a long shot,... I'm rather keen on classics but when I put the idea of a proper restoration past the wife I got that pursed-lips-and-and-furrowed-brow look. Having a modern Suzuki SV thou means my bike quota is filled (or so She tells me).
To be honest I just want to have a project or be part of a project - partly for enjoyment but also to enlargen my skill base. My time is free and I'm not completely mechanically retarded.
If you've got a potential project lying in the back of the shed/garage and want to get started and not sure where to start give me a call and we can both have no idea together. I'll give you my time (weekends and evenings only as I work for a living), and help you finish that resto job. My only stipulation is that as this is your bike and my time is free the invoices for parts and specialist services aren't coming out of my wallet. Though I will help out with small ancillaries like copper grease, spark plugs, oil and stainless fasteners.
Just to dodge some of the usual questions - I'm 29, a pome, always had a bike since 16, mech eng degree and worked as a mechanical draughtsman/design engineer until recently as a tendering engineer. 10 favourite bikes of all time?
Royal Enfield/Rickman Interceptor,
Laverda 750SF,
Guzzi LeMans Mk 1, 3 and 1100 sport,
ducati single,
gilera 500/4,
Matchless 600,
AJS 7R,
late fifties Trumpy speed twin,
Kawasaki ZXR 750 L3,
and the modern(ish) Hinckley Triumph 1200 Daytona.
I'm clean cut, newly wed and just in case you're wondering never been in trouble with the law.

If you've got a projet I can help with, or know of an old timer who could use my services - be it a BSA Bantam or MV 750 America and you wouldn't mind me being around then PM me and I'll give you my number. I live in Karori.

**carburator** · 21st January 2013, 19:49

grow a set of balls and get yourself a project..

**bogan** · 21st January 2013, 20:11

A pom who takes orders from the missus, now there's a surprise

Just explain that the project will keep you out of mischeif...

**smmudd83_1999** · 22nd January 2013, 08:30

This isn't a very encouraging response.

**Paul in NZ** · 22nd January 2013, 08:42

Have a look on trademe for a cheap bike no one wants and just stuff in into the shed. Just do it bit at a time etc. There will be things like FZR's coming up cheap now. You should be able to score a 70's mid sized bike for under a grand.

Failing that I will try to ride my bikes harder so you can help fix em ;-)

**unstuck** · 22nd January 2013, 08:45

If ya dont ask, ya dont get. Good on ya, and good luck.

**98tls** · 22nd January 2013, 11:29

Great post and good on ya,hope something turns up fella.Fwiw old jap dirtbikes are becoming popular as doer uppers,might be a cheap way of getting yourself something to tinker with,just a thought.

**smmudd83_1999** · 22nd January 2013, 21:23

Thanks for the encouragement, gents. I could cut my teeth on something simple, single cylinder, jap and 70's/80's. There's a lot of dirt bikes that fit in that category! So yeah, you might be onto something.

But I can't help thinking someone, somewhere must know an old timer with a dilapidated AJS JamPot or Francis Barnett who just can't get around to fixing it up who would like to see it back to a half decent running machine.
Or maybe not. Inviting a stranger to come round and fiddle with your bike might get most people on edge. It's a sign of the times, I guess.

I'll keep asking around.

**unstuck** · 22nd January 2013, 21:32

I was at a shearing shed with a mate the other day, and the cocky had an old bsa, bmw, norton and a ct125 under covers next to the press. He is just waiting for a bit of time to do them up. They are out there. Watch a couple of wiredkiwis videos on youtube, he has done some crackers. I think he is on here too.

**actungbaby** · 23rd January 2013, 22:06

Originally Posted by smmudd83_1999

Hi all,
An odd request maybe and perhaps a long shot,... I'm rather keen on classics but when I put the idea of a proper restoration past the wife I got that pursed-lips-and-and-furrowed-brow look. Having a modern Suzuki SV thou means my bike quota is filled (or so She tells me).
To be honest I just want to have a project or be part of a project - partly for enjoyment but also to enlargen my skill base. My time is free and I'm not completely mechanically retarded.
If you've got a potential project lying in the back of the shed/garage and want to get started and not sure where to start give me a call and we can both have no idea together. I'll give you my time (weekends and evenings only as I work for a living), and help you finish that resto job. My only stipulation is that as this is your bike and my time is free the invoices for parts and specialist services aren't coming out of my wallet. Though I will help out with small ancillaries like copper grease, spark plugs, oil and stainless fasteners.
Just to dodge some of the usual questions - I'm 29, a pome, always had a bike since 16, mech eng degree and worked as a mechanical draughtsman/design engineer until recently as a tendering engineer. 10 favourite bikes of all time?
Royal Enfield/Rickman Interceptor,
Laverda 750SF,
Guzzi LeMans Mk 1, 3 and 1100 sport,
ducati single,
gilera 500/4,
Matchless 600,
AJS 7R,
late fifties Trumpy speed twin,
Kawasaki ZXR 750 L3,
and the modern(ish) Hinckley Triumph 1200 Daytona.
I'm clean cut, newly wed and just in case you're wondering never been in trouble with the law.

If you've got a projet I can help with, or know of an old timer who could use my services - be it a BSA Bantam or MV 750 America and you wouldn't mind me being around then PM me and I'll give you my number. I live in Karori.

Dude with all that Knowledge u should be theaching people how to fix bikes

Just get yourself a cheap twin or single cylinder 80s bike cheap of trademe , get something

Thats not door stop, and just work where you want to start, maybe you want rip into it

And take engine out do a repaint of the frame , or you dont want do what i tend to do

Rip into take a good working bike to bits then have no money to but it back together.

Alot folks buy bikes like my vt 500 then run out patience or just gets to big hassle give up

iIf you have the brains and you do give it a go , roll up your selves get dirty, get away from the

misses she probley think its great too.

But bigest thing i rekon you need staying power its certainly not all glamour.

ps recomend you get a bike with aleast not de regestered and its bitch to get it certified.

And sometimes means u buying a doorstop if you do.

**silver_duck** · 23rd January 2013, 22:19

Here you go fella...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-551673007.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-555321532.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-553553394.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-555055234.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-554448557.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-555694852.htm

All of these bikes are less than 2k.

You buy it, your wife yells at you and your banshed to the garage... now you've got some time to start work.
Look it over, take some photos... do a bit of research, then pull the blighter apart.
Respray, tidy up, bit of basic maintenance and your done. (no big magical mystery)

Then ride the bike you saved from the ravages of time.

IF you had fun, sell it and buy another one.

I'd like to see some pictures of your new project when you make your mind up please.

Paul.

**actungbaby** · 23rd January 2013, 22:29

All of these bikes are less than 2k.

You buy it, your wife yells at you and your banshed to the garage... now you've got some time to start work.

yes work it dude thats the best part shes so cross , And dont tell her ,till bikes in the driveway

She be really angry by then and when she leaves for mother place you got the run the house

Mind you doesint work for me my wife just fumes in the house txt me and think its okay

or safe to go indoors then wham ....no not with frying pan but the door slaming ohhhh

Got so bad even couirer driver was telling me of mind you i think wife had got to him.

Even my workmates where telling me stay of trademe Michelle be angry

Look it over, take some photos... do a bit of research, then pull the blighter apart.
Respray, tidy up, bit of basic maintenance and your done. (no big magical mystery)

Then ride the bike you saved from the ravages of time.

ravages of time have you seen my mrs i think some putty whould be good hehe

IF you had fun, sell it and buy another one.

We are still talking about the bikes here not the wife

'd like to see some pictures of your new project when you make your mind up please.

Paul.[/QUOTE]

and paul please dont encourage me i stoped looking at trademe i blame you when get to more

hot water

**smmudd83_1999** · 28th February 2013, 11:25

Update:

A chap called Lawrie happened to have a Suzuki GT 200 X5 that ran until a little while ago. It's all there and pretty original. It looks like an early one - spoked rims & drums. It's good fun as neither of us are hotshot mechanics but we kind of egg each other on - luckily the bike is pretty simple and comes apart easily.
First priority is getting it to run.
Then we'll turn back the clock 30 years.

Fun project. A good level to cut your teeth on.
There's oil in the generator. I assume this should be dry to produce the sparks at the right time? So suspected crank seal gone? Also needs a wiring rethink - being a learner bike at some point in it's life means it's had some hatchet repair job. New regulator/rectifier or sumfink, too.

Anyways, it's a positive start to cool little project.