The mystery of part number F5532

**Paul in NZ** · 2nd August 2006, 11:33

Well the engines installed and while there are no holes left to insert bolts or bolts without nuts, there appear to be several bolts without holes…. Hmm.. It appears that in some sort of mad ordering fit I have obtained extra bolts or replated bolts I never intended to reuse or something.

The worst part is, all the ‘tricky’ areas were recorded in a note book. I dutifully wrote down all the things I had to do and all the things I needed to replace / refurbish etc and it appears that the simple things were NOT recorded. Guess where the issues are…

For example – take part number F5532 (page 41 of the 1970 650cc parts book), item 5, 'Distance piece' .....

Its just a big fat washer and the parts books says I need 4 of them and helpfully shows where they go… I have 6 of the darn things but whats worse, while I can see a logical use for 2 of them there is no way the other 2 (or 4) are useable in any way shape or form.. Drat. Naturally – I assume I’ve made a terrible mistake and jump on the interwebby thingy.

Turns out the parts book is wrong (shock horror) and that the second set shown there are in fact a mislabelled set of ordinary flat washers. Hmm.. Interesting Triumph trivia but, how did I end up with 6 of something when I really only needed 2? I remember buying 2 because I was not quite sure what they were and they cost cents and one assumes there were 2 with the bike originally that I probably threw into the ‘get re-plated’ box but that leaves 2 other brand new distance pieces?

What is happening? Has my garage become a repository for un needed Triumph parts or more likely, have I opened up a worm hole to the British Spares stock room through which surplus parts are flowing in while cash from my bank account is flowing out?? A disturbing thought. Will I eventually drown in an avalanche of distance pieces and right hand knee pads (left hand ones are non stocked)… I think I need a safer hobby..

**sels1** · 2nd August 2006, 11:50

lol it woulnt be a proper rebuild if you didnt have nuts and bolts left over

**Cajun** · 2nd August 2006, 11:55

projects always leave extra nuts,bolts, washers, which magically apear out of no where, and have no place to go home to.

So its my understanding is they build bikes with extra nuts and bolts, which apear magically out of thin air when you rebuild them, just in case you lose one or two in the process, you have spares avaiable(but saying that they are never the right size/shape for that one critical nut/bolt you need to do something really important)

**Korea** · 2nd August 2006, 11:55

I think that has happened to everyone at some stage.
I just swapped the fairings around on my 125 last weekend.
Off with the heavily scratched-up practice cowls and on with the shiney original ones.
About an hour later... Done! WTF? 2 left-over bolts...
Hmmm....?

**Paul in NZ** · 2nd August 2006, 12:07

Hmm - this is obviously more widespread than I feared.

I have been thinking about this - you know when you are working on the bike and it involves some critical part or nut / bolt and (like always) you drop said part (which then turns out to be made of unobtainium) and you distinctly hear it hit the garage floor but... Its gone and no matter how hard you look, it cannot be found (until you purchase or make a new one)

Well maybe a wormhole opens and the part heads off to another garage where exists a similar vehicle - perhaps - like magnets the parts attract each other?

Worth a thought anyway...

**Motu** · 2nd August 2006, 12:16

I pulled my XT down a year ago,then ended up with 2 1/2 engines apart - I've got left over bits everywhere,and I wonder if some of them are important...like,if I have 3 parts left over should I worry.

**crashe** · 2nd August 2006, 12:20

Well there is only one logical answer to this problem.

Pull it all apart again and start all over, until there are no parts left lying around...

**kickingzebra** · 2nd August 2006, 12:26

Originally Posted by Motu

I pulled my XT down a year ago,then ended up with 2 1/2 engines apart - I've got left over bits everywhere,and I wonder if some of them are important...like,if I have 3 parts left over should I worry.

Hmm, bearing that in mind, my terrano might need some work, are you still the man to see?!

The brillaince of it is, some bits of my zzr, actually fit onto the gsxr! Its sacriledge, I know, but when a man needs a screw, a man needs a screw!!

(liberal substitution of the words Screw for Bolt applied to sentence for attempted humour)

**Paul in NZ** · 2nd August 2006, 12:39

Originally Posted by crashe

Well there is only one logical answer to this problem.
:

Well actually - applying some 'man thinking'....

What i have is the basis of a third bike - I mean I already have some of the parts so.....

**Ixion** · 2nd August 2006, 12:43

Originally Posted by crashe

Well there is only one logical answer to this problem.

Pull it all apart again and start all over, until there are no parts left lying around...

Nono no. Each time you pull it apart MORE parts will appear. And some of the ones you DIDN'T have extras of will mysteriously disappear. It's all to do with quantum.

Personally, I think it's all done by transmutation. Consider, the two great mysteries of the universe are where all the odd socks go to (everyone ALWAYS has a bunch of socks with no mates). And bikes bits left over. I reckon that the socks are transmuted into bike bits.

**Paul in NZ** · 2nd August 2006, 12:52

Originally Posted by Ixion

Nono no. Each time you pull it apart MORE parts will appear. And some of the ones you DIDN'T have extras of will mysteriously disappear. It's all to do with quantum.

Personally, I think it's all done by transmutation. Consider, the two great mysteries of the universe are where all the odd socks go to (everyone ALWAYS has a bunch of socks with no mates). And bikes bits left over. I reckon that the socks are transmuted into bike bits.

Could explain it - I lost thick wooly sock into the washing machine black hole a while back.

**WRT** · 2nd August 2006, 13:37

Just work on the assumption that the bike knows best. If it wanted those extra parts, it would have given you somewhere to put them, wouldnt it?

However, if it is really bothering you, then remove the air filter, pop the two washers inside, and fire up the engine. If the washers are needed, the engine will automatically insert them into an available space. Just stand by the exhuast ready to catch them incase the engine decides they arent needed after all.

Oh, and wear earmuffs. Can never be too safe, you know.

**rogson** · 2nd August 2006, 13:50

Worm-hole?
You might have stumbled onto something here. Perhaps you should focus on getting it to flow the other way.
Would be problematic for completing the reassembly - but think of the bank account!