Post by shaunthe2nd on May 31, 2016 23:29:46 GMT 1
2 weeks ago I eventually got round to digging out my 350LC from the lounge thinking it would need a quick freshen up before I take it to the TT.
How wrong that proved to be!
I bought it from someone who had restored it, including rebuilding the engine with a brand new crank and re-bore/pistons/rings etc so I knew it would need running in.
I just did some cosmetic work before sitting it in my lounge and only actually rode it the 10 miles or so home when I bought it.
It turned out I had a long list of jobs to do, as one by one the problems became evident, as follows:
-thought I'd clean the carbs first, only to find when i took them off one was a 4L1, the other a 4L2. Grrr. Luckily Muttsnutts lent me his spare set of 4L0's.
-so gave it a quick service, oil change, new plugs and pumped tyres up and off i went. Then the rear tyre fully deflated about one mile from home.
-when i pumped it up again, I had massive vibration on the front end, turned out a badly balanced front tyre.
-on closer inspection the rear tyre was stamped 1978 (the bike is a 1981) so someone had fitted an even older tyre to the bike. The front was much newer as a 2002 model! So new Avons front and back, and balanced. So off we go again.
-next problem was a leaking gearbox seal. So buy a new seal and remove crank side case and replace.
-the next run out saw the speedo cable self destruct, so replaced that.
-next run out i lost the main beam, and as i had it booked in for a MOT needed to sort that. Took a few hours to find a short near the fuse box. Phew.
-the next run sees me lose the lights, indicators and horn. Oh no its not charging the battery, but luckily that just turned out to be a lose battery connection.
-well off it goes for the MOT, and unbelievably it went through. Phew. so i thought.
-on the way back from the MOT the speedo self destructs, and the needle went haywire and snapped itself off, leaving itself at the bottom of the glass. Luckily I had a spare to swap it.
-So off we go on a longer run to try get some miles under the belt to run the engine in. After about 100 miles the exhaust starting blowing like a good one, and somehow i lost a baffle too! On closer inspection someone had replaced one of the 8mm exhaust studs with a 6mm, which broke off in the barrell. grrrr.
-So have to strip the top end, which means new gaskets, coolant etc. I took the barrel for a repair, was told it needed alloy welding up, and a new stud fitting, so had that done and was up until midnight putting it back together.
-the next day i take it for a blast, only to find the stud had come loose, and exhaust is blowing again, on tightening it up it pulls straight out. Bugga. Time is running out.
-so last night i stripped the top end again, and this morning had the barrel in a local engineering works and they have put a helicoil in for me. Managed to source another head gasket locally.
-so tonight was another rebuild, followed by a 30 min blast, and fingers crossed, all seems to be going well. Will try take it for anonther blast in the morning before heading to the TT tomorrow night.
Through all the test runs I have done I've managed just over 600 miles, so engine is well on the way to being run in. now.
What a mad 2 weeks I have had. Hope its all worth it and I see you at the TT on the 350LC with a big grin on my face, and hopefully no more problems!
How wrong that proved to be!
I bought it from someone who had restored it, including rebuilding the engine with a brand new crank and re-bore/pistons/rings etc so I knew it would need running in.
I just did some cosmetic work before sitting it in my lounge and only actually rode it the 10 miles or so home when I bought it.
It turned out I had a long list of jobs to do, as one by one the problems became evident, as follows:
-thought I'd clean the carbs first, only to find when i took them off one was a 4L1, the other a 4L2. Grrr. Luckily Muttsnutts lent me his spare set of 4L0's.
-so gave it a quick service, oil change, new plugs and pumped tyres up and off i went. Then the rear tyre fully deflated about one mile from home.
-when i pumped it up again, I had massive vibration on the front end, turned out a badly balanced front tyre.
-on closer inspection the rear tyre was stamped 1978 (the bike is a 1981) so someone had fitted an even older tyre to the bike. The front was much newer as a 2002 model! So new Avons front and back, and balanced. So off we go again.
-next problem was a leaking gearbox seal. So buy a new seal and remove crank side case and replace.
-the next run out saw the speedo cable self destruct, so replaced that.
-next run out i lost the main beam, and as i had it booked in for a MOT needed to sort that. Took a few hours to find a short near the fuse box. Phew.
-the next run sees me lose the lights, indicators and horn. Oh no its not charging the battery, but luckily that just turned out to be a lose battery connection.
-well off it goes for the MOT, and unbelievably it went through. Phew. so i thought.
-on the way back from the MOT the speedo self destructs, and the needle went haywire and snapped itself off, leaving itself at the bottom of the glass. Luckily I had a spare to swap it.
-So off we go on a longer run to try get some miles under the belt to run the engine in. After about 100 miles the exhaust starting blowing like a good one, and somehow i lost a baffle too! On closer inspection someone had replaced one of the 8mm exhaust studs with a 6mm, which broke off in the barrell. grrrr.
-So have to strip the top end, which means new gaskets, coolant etc. I took the barrel for a repair, was told it needed alloy welding up, and a new stud fitting, so had that done and was up until midnight putting it back together.
-the next day i take it for a blast, only to find the stud had come loose, and exhaust is blowing again, on tightening it up it pulls straight out. Bugga. Time is running out.
-so last night i stripped the top end again, and this morning had the barrel in a local engineering works and they have put a helicoil in for me. Managed to source another head gasket locally.
-so tonight was another rebuild, followed by a 30 min blast, and fingers crossed, all seems to be going well. Will try take it for anonther blast in the morning before heading to the TT tomorrow night.
Through all the test runs I have done I've managed just over 600 miles, so engine is well on the way to being run in. now.
What a mad 2 weeks I have had. Hope its all worth it and I see you at the TT on the 350LC with a big grin on my face, and hopefully no more problems!
