Jennifer's Makeover

[Guest]

Thanks Paul, unfortunately I am only a quarter of the way there, if that, still 380, 600 and 800 grit to go.....then we do it all over again on the other one
I am told each one takes less time than the previous...we will see, otherwise I think I have my next 15 Sundays booked up, well at least it keeps me occupied while I am financialy embarased and putting money aside for the fork seals, steering head bearings and the chrome trim that goes over the lower triple, so I can get the front end on.
The bearings and seals are no problem, a good mate of mine owns a bearing supply, but Lord alone only knows where I am going to find the trim piece.

I wish I had access to powder coating, you are so lucky, I have two cans of paint called "fine silver" on the rack, it is the most awesome silver colour, I must admit, more than once I shot a more than passing gaze at those cans...but I held strong.:dancing:

Haha well done! I was lured by the POR15 Blackcote and gave in instantly...

 

[Guest]

Looking good Flyboy!
That lower tripple tree chrome cover/trim comes up every so often on flebay, that's how i got mine. Or in the FS section here on the forum when bikes get parted.
Good luck with the search!

 

[rustybronco]

and putting money aside for the fork seals, steering head bearings and the chrome trim that goes over the lower triple, so I can get the front end on.


but Lord alone only knows where I am going to find the trim piece.

Why yes he Does!

I sent the original one I had off to Andre', when the platers buggered up his old one. so I decided to replace it just in case someone, someday, would want to put my '80 back to stock. I've a few dollars into it, but as usual, 'to me' money, isn't everything...

does that help?

 

[Flyboy]

Dale, you never fail to rise to the occasion when someone needs help.
I will take you up on that, my goal is to get my bike back to "as factory" new, and I am afraid that any one I find in a wreckers yard will be less than perfect, which kind of defeats the object of the entire build.
Just let me know what you want for it, including the shipping and I will have the money over to you in the blink of an eye.

 

[rustybronco]

Stan, it's missing the decal in the center of it and it isn't the best one out there; still she faces up nicely. should be able to get through RSA customs as a small package.

fresh off the press...

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d44/rustybronco/IMG_2481.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d44/rustybronco/IMG_2482.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d44/rustybronco/IMG_2483.jpg
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d44/rustybronco/IMG_2484.jpg

 

[Guest]

Dale, you never fail to rise to the occasion when someone needs help.

Yup, I'll second that


The center decal should still be available from Suzuki.

 

[MotoX]

Wow, you have got to love the devotion put down in a restoration like this! So nice to see somebody realy taking their time in to every little detail of the bike and making it look the way it normaly only looks coming straight out of the factory.

I will have to adapt the usage of the wire wheel, I see that it is constantly making wonders! Keep up the excellent work!

 

[Flyboy]

Thanks for the kind words MotorX, we have come a long way together and she really was looking tired, so I guess it was time.
I draw most my inspiration from the guys on this board and the beautiful bikes they build, without the guidance and excellent ideas one gets here, I am not sure how far I would get.
Glad you enjoyed it so far, I know it has been a bit boring up to know, I guess the prep work is really boring, but as soon as I get to the point where I can starting bolting stuff back together it should become a worthwhile read.

 

[MotoX]

Glad you enjoyed it so far, I know it has been a bit boring up to know, I guess the prep work is really boring, but as soon as I get to the point where I can starting bolting stuff back together it should become a worthwhile read.

Not boring at all! I especially loved the way those carburators came out. I have allways liked to get contrasts in there by having different parts in different color, so the way the carb-bodys and the hex-nuts contrast against the black tops look great! Will probably do something like that myself when I take my carbs in for dissassembly.

 

[Flyboy]

Well, made some amount of progress on the forks this Sunday, not too much, my 6 year old wanted his daddy's attention, so it cut my day in the garage short. Got one done.
I was going for a satin, natural, brushed aluminium look, well after going over the fork with 120, 380, 600, 800 grit, wet, I just could not get an even tone all over the entire fork, more wet sanding, still no, so went further to 1000 grit, still could not get an even tone all around.
It was not bad at all, looked quite good, but just not even and uniform all around.
Then climbed in with steel wool, still not good enough, now parts, here and there were starting to shine already, so stuff it, gave up on the look and just carried on polishing it up.
Anyway, the long and short of it is, we are back to polished forks.

Well, I guess shiny forks it is, not to phased about it, it will still show up good....I think?

One of the problems, was not having a vice to hold stuff while sanding or polishing, but of course a plan can always be made, drill a few holes in your work bench and bolt the forks to it

Then tonight I get home to a letter from the body corporate of the complex that I am renting in.
Something along the lines of;

RE: Major Repairs
Complaints were recieved regarding "Major Repair" in the garage of unit xx (motor cycle rebuild) This is an infringment of the Conduct rules of XXXX Body Corporate, Rule 5, Para 5.3 and sub para 5.3.1
The trustees therefore request your co-operation in this matter to stop this practice immediately.
If more complaints are recieved, there shall be a penalty of R500.00 induced............and yadda yadda yadda....

So it would seem that has effectivly brought Jennifer's makeover to a grinding halt. F&*king SOB's

 

[cowboyup3371]

Dang-blasted homeowner associations. Why can't we just get rid of all of them? Who's it really hurting if any of us work on our stuff in our own garage?

So what you going to do now?

 

[rustybronco]

I see there are D-bags* the world over...

any space at one of those hangers you fly out of?

* dirt, douche,...

 

[Flyboy]

Yeah Scott, I don't know where to from here, to pizzed off to think about it now, will sleep on it and see where it goes.
I can understand that they don't want people turning thier garages into trade workshops, it is a residential complex. But I only work on my bike once a week and only during the day, never at night, so there is no noise that can be heard outside of my garage, the lodest thing I have is a bloody 250w drill, for stuffs sakes, its not like I am running a compressor or angle grinding or welding or anything. All my work happens within the confines of my garage, not a foot outside.
Besides we have a guy here who has a workshop in town, who is forever working on all kinds of Opel's in and outside his garage, we even have a darky here who is busy rebuilding an entire Mini from the ground up in his garage.
So what is the deal with a little bike wrenching, once a week for a couple of hours.
First order of business is to find out which SOB complained, I may have a use for the fork stantions before they go back into the lowers.

 

[Flyboy]

Hi Dale, problem is the airport is 30km away from home, if I spend anymore time there I will have a divorce case, but yes I may look for space ther to work. Will sleep on it.

 

[Matchless]

Ooh, wielding that power must have given them a rush!

Thats not good news!

 

[Guest]

I would (in writing) contest the term "major repair" and call it an "ocassional, personal, noiseless hobby" and also invite them to see for themselves... and continue your work until you hear back from them...

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

All I can think of is...
WTF?!

 

[Guest]

First of all, great work on the forks!!!

As to the complaint... people SUCK! Well, not all people, but you get what I mean...

I'd be asking two things:

1. What proof do they have? Innocent until proven guilty right?

2. What constitutes "Major Repair" in their bylaws, and how does that relate to the actual work you performing at the time of the complaint?

Sounds to me like you need to have a word with the fellows doing the car work and putting the wind up them a bit by telling them that they'd better beware of the possibility of complaints and show them your letter.

You may then get some support from those guys to shove it fair up the idiots who are more interested in sticking their nose in your business and trying to tell you what you can and can't do rather than worrying about their own issues (of which they obviously have many).

 

[Flyboy]

Right, got home early tonight and went across to have a chat to Mr. Caretaker dude about this nonsence of me not being able to work on my bike in my garage.
Anyway, hell of a nice bloke and he basically has no problem with it, but because he is the caretaker he has to do something when someone moans, understandable.
Well after a nice chat, end result is, he said, carry on, go ahead, if someone wants to bitch, just to send them to him, he will deal with it.
YAY, rebuild back on track.............:dancing::dancing::dancing:

 

[MotoX]

Right, got home early tonight and went across to have a chat to Mr. Caretaker dude about this nonsence of me not being able to work on my bike in my garage.
Anyway, hell of a nice bloke and he basically has no problem with it, but because he is the caretaker he has to do something when someone moans, understandable.
Well after a nice chat, end result is, he said, carry on, go ahead, if someone wants to bitch, just to send them to him, he will deal with it.
YAY, rebuild back on track.............:dancing::dancing::dancing:

I'll head out in the garage and light up a cigar right away to celebrate! Congrats!