LondonClassic
Senior Retro Guru
I lack both Mig welder and skills so agricultural methods it was.
Motorcycle recommission project - Suzuki GS750
- Thread starter LondonClassic
- Start date
Iwasgoodonce
Old School Grand Master
One of the many tools I don’t have space for but keep anyway is an old Clarke fluxcore ‘MIG’ welder. I know I would need it as soon as I got rid of it. I have even used it for welding in a bodywork patch on our old car when it failed the MOT for a crusty wheel arch.
Very cool project BTW. It will look similar to the bike (not a bike person) to the best card in my Top Trumps (not the orange version) pack I had back in the 70s.
LondonClassic
Senior Retro Guru
Thanks
I would like to learn but I'm accumulating extra tools as I do this and running out of space. FB marketplace had offered up a compressor, a scissor lift, a tyre de-beader, wheel balancer and brake piston kit for not much monies. I have a great metal fab shop 5 mins from home and unlike me the guy knows what he's doing. I would like to learn basic welding at some point - I might try and start with those Aldi/Lidl cheap kits they sell every now and then.
Yep tool storage is a problem for me as well.
10 foot or so of tool cabinets, 2 x Mig welders, Tig welder, Arc Welder, 6 foot tall vertical compressor, scissor lift, tyre machine, parts cleaner etc. Just about to purchase an electronic tyre balancer as well.
This of course doesn't include all the DIY tools.
10 foot or so of tool cabinets, 2 x Mig welders, Tig welder, Arc Welder, 6 foot tall vertical compressor, scissor lift, tyre machine, parts cleaner etc. Just about to purchase an electronic tyre balancer as well.
This of course doesn't include all the DIY tools.
LondonClassic
Senior Retro Guru
aw man...I was so close to getting to the blasters this morning as well...
LondonClassic
Senior Retro Guru
Frame was cleaned back to 1979 by my local blasters who did a great job. The finish is just slightly rough enough for a primer to key into. As I live near the seaside and the weather down here is both showery and windy I didn't want this to sit around and develop too much flash rust - so I got on with it in quite windy conditions today.
I used 2K rattle cans on my Coventry Eagle respray last summer and opted to go the 2K route for primer. This is a really easy 2K kit to use. 2:1 ratio of primer to hardener, no thining required and sprays at around 30psi with a 9 minute flash off time. Not bad for £23 and more than enough to coat frame, swingarm and brake torque arm (I reckon enough to do x3 bicycle frames in this kit, easily...as long as you had them lined up to go. Once mixed it lasts for around 2 hours so you'd have to be on it. I used the cheapest available Clarke gravity fed gun.
Like I said, bit windy down here so less than ideal conditions. My compressor was christened as a result.
Happy enough with the finish. It was just dry enough for me to manhandle into the shed before it threw down rods of rain, the gods smiled a little at me today. Plenty of bits here to wet sand flat when its all dried out. Still debating on spraying the black chassis paint topcoat or sponge brushing on. There are some pretty functional (ugly) welds that neither paint finish is going to disguise. I suppose its going to depend on the weather and the time window I have - but at least there is something on the bare metal now, so the pressures off.
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LondonClassic
Senior Retro Guru
I also had a decent result on the brakes front. I was baulking at £445 for two EBC front discs (as anyone would!) and was lucky enough to win this wheel on the bay.
Its from a 1979 bike and the discs are both 6.5mm thick (service limit is 5.5mm). £45 from a bloke called Del.
Its from a 1979 bike and the discs are both 6.5mm thick (service limit is 5.5mm). £45 from a bloke called Del.
Guinessisgoodforyou
rBotM Winner
