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Post by shandyboy on Jul 13, 2019 18:44:10 GMT 1
That looks very nice Dusty top job Bonnie Lad
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Post by dusty350 on Jul 13, 2019 20:19:06 GMT 1
Cheers guys Hi Alan - thanks mate. Hope you are well Dusty
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Post by donkeychomp on Jul 13, 2019 22:33:10 GMT 1
That's the duck's guts that is. Bloody brilliant Dusty.
Alex
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Post by oldbritguy on Jul 14, 2019 8:45:55 GMT 1
That looks amazing Dusty Top job. Every update is a treat for us all! Keep it going John
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Post by veg on Jul 14, 2019 10:02:54 GMT 1
That is gorgeous looking dusty a real stunner.
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Post by Tobyjugs on Jul 14, 2019 11:16:21 GMT 1
Fantastic bike Dusty.
It looks a bit of a bruiser
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neil
Thrash Merchant
my 125
Posts: 385
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Post by neil on Jul 14, 2019 22:20:53 GMT 1
Outstanding work you do! Orange hybrid is my favourite
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Post by dusty350 on Jul 15, 2019 7:20:11 GMT 1
It's the tank on this bike which is so imposing ! Such a big, blocky old skool design, which is exactly what I wanted of course. The reason why I loved my old aircooled coffin tank Rd's, and this is just "more so" This pic illustrates that look better; 20190713_124119 by dusty miller, on Flickr The finished bike will be more or less as these pics, so it's a preview. The pipes will be the last big cosmetic part of the jigsaw, and Mutts will be charged with making something short and stubby - looking that kick up a bit at the back. Whether they need to be cross overs at the downpipes to shorten the pipes, but still work, will be up to Dave. Bit of a way away from that yet, but the right pipe design will be crucial to the overall look, and short would look better than long. And I still like the idea of pea shooters, and if there was a way of adding cans when necessary, but removing them when I want, and look like cans were never fitted, that would be great. Something to mull over !! And the orange hybrid is the nicest bike I've built, I think. I should have finished it when I was doing it but the semi hybrid Lc and this Café build have pushed it back and I haven't touched it really in 2 years. I'm actually toying with selling it at the mo, as I've lost my mojo with it, and I fancy doing an aircooled build next, or maybe an Lc2. Done a few Lc/hybrids in recent years and I have enjoyed the change the café build has given me. Dusty
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Post by midlifecrisisrd on Jul 15, 2019 9:04:31 GMT 1
Looking very nice Dusty
You are the same as me. You love a bike building it but then don't really use it and move on to another
I just love the mental stimulation of building them
Steve
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Post by dusty350 on Jul 15, 2019 11:52:31 GMT 1
Hi Steve, Yea, I love building them, and that's as far as it goes thanks to my ongoing back problem Riding is just so uncomfortable now, no matter what the bike. Road surfaces around here are verging on dangerous, and there are very few "biking roads" that you could really enjoy. You've got to go miles before you hit any amount of decent scenery. But it's my back problem that stops me more than anything. So, building them is now my main involvement with bikes, and I don't plan on ever giving that up. But once finished they do get moved on to fund the next one. I would love to keep them all but space and money stop that happening ! Dusty
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Post by Mr Kipling on Jul 15, 2019 18:09:51 GMT 1
A real credit to you dusty youv,e turned that around nicely....
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neil
Thrash Merchant
my 125
Posts: 385
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Post by neil on Jul 15, 2019 19:41:53 GMT 1
Tell me to mind my own business Dusty but what have you done to your back? Im always interested to hear because i had sugery on mine around 10 years ago from prolapsed discs. Neil
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Post by dusty350 on Jul 15, 2019 19:54:30 GMT 1
Hi It's no secret. Herniated L4/L5 and L5/S1 - the usual culprits. Years of heavy, awkward lifting took their toll. I get a lot of referred pain, muscle spasms etc. Just had a bad episode last week and moving around very carefully at the mo Dusty
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neil
Thrash Merchant
my 125
Posts: 385
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Post by neil on Jul 15, 2019 21:01:52 GMT 1
I had L4 and 5 trimmed up. You havent had the surgery?
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Post by dusty350 on Jul 15, 2019 21:22:39 GMT 1
Never offered the option, and I've seen surgeons, had bone scans and MRI's and Xrays etc. Plus my Osteo, who is a mate, said avoid an op unless it's last resort. Back ops are at best, 50/50 for success. To be fair I get by ok most of the time, but it does flair up maybe 3 or 4 times a year. I'm very active and still do heavy work at times, but sitting on a bike causes instant pain in my hip, so I just don't do it. I don't lose sleep over not riding - more likely I lose sleep thinking about the next problem to solve on the bike build ! I'm happy enough Dusty
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Post by mak595 on Jul 15, 2019 21:26:10 GMT 1
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Post by midlifecrisisrd on Jul 15, 2019 22:00:09 GMT 1
You are full of good news you lol I've been having problems for years with my legs Tec Now have bowel problems too They were thinking it was Fibromyalgia but a recent MRI showed a bone spur protruding into the spinal cavity Still waiting to see a consultant🤔 Steve
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neil
Thrash Merchant
my 125
Posts: 385
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Post by neil on Jul 15, 2019 22:10:59 GMT 1
Lets face it some of the jobs on these bikes is like surgery, perhaps some folk on here could perform some surgery lol! I had to have the op they said it would never get better i couldn't sleep for more than 3 hours had to walk round the garden in the night, at the age of 26 was a worry! It does give me some grief from time to time but i just try and be careful. Being in the building trade doesn't help i guess.
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Post by donkeychomp on Jul 15, 2019 22:37:28 GMT 1
Dusty that headlight...just a thought but would the rev counter slot in there? Cleaner lines and very very retro...
Alex
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Post by dusty350 on Jul 16, 2019 7:16:54 GMT 1
Hi Alex Don't think that would look right tbh - dials in headlight shells were a much earlier, old Brit kind of thing, plus it wouldn't fit anyway. I like the "sat up" tacho - that was always the plan, centrally mounted on the yoke. Digi temp gauge will sit on a bracket on the right clip on. I did the tacho in the same way on my old 400 - that was a white faced R&R item. Ian, who owns my old 400, has since changed the R&R for an all in one Koso that is mounted to the bars so sits higher, but it's more or less where I had fitted it back in the 80's !! You can see it in this pic - not the best but you get the idea 20180527_150356 by dusty miller, on Flickr There is nothing I want to change on the front end now the headlight sits back a bit - that's made a huge difference. I ordered a chain yesterday which should arrive this week so can get the chain run confirmed, then I can strip it all for powdercoat. Dusty
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Post by donkeychomp on Jul 16, 2019 22:08:06 GMT 1
I see what you mean about the old Brit bike thing. That 400 is still a cool looking bike...you should do another matey.
Alex
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Post by dusty350 on Jul 17, 2019 7:26:22 GMT 1
The 400 - I have a cunning plan !!! Dusty
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Post by Stef on Jul 17, 2019 12:05:20 GMT 1
That looks ace! I love the clean frame, particularly the triangular section with the webs/guests, it kind of frames the shock. Beautiful build again Dusty.
Stef.
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Post by dusty350 on Jul 17, 2019 15:10:18 GMT 1
Thank you I really wanted that part of the frame to be as clear as possible, hence the rear brake master cylinder mounting to the rearset plate so it's out of the way. My new idea for an oil tank will mount at the front end of the bike too so no oil lines going through that area either. And the "holed" brackets turned out well. Doing the extra work on the frame around the area where the old twin shocks used to mount has made a massive difference to the bike's looks and tidies up that area nicely. Dusty
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Post by dusty350 on Jul 19, 2019 18:55:48 GMT 1
Not done a lot on the bike this week - back is still really sore, so although the chain has arrived I've not trial fitted it yet. I did make a smaller bracket for the speedo pick up though; 20190719_170505 by dusty miller, on Flickr And I cut a piece of card the same size as my rear light, and got it central on the tail fin so I could gauge how it would look; 20190719_170520 by dusty miller, on Flickr Just got to summon up the enthusiasm to cut into my seat ! Mouse had a good point too regards MOT and size of rear light, so I better check that as well before I start cutting. Dusty
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Post by dusty350 on Jul 21, 2019 16:57:55 GMT 1
Fitted the chain today; 20190721_122141 by dusty miller, on Flickr I deliberately ordered a longer chain, so cut off some links and it fits well. Chain run is good with the 3mm offset front sprocket, and it was worth the effort getting the frame modded for the clearance; 20190721_144855 by dusty miller, on Flickr One issue the chain has shown up is the chain protector isn't gonna work. Where it needs to go means the 2 fixing holes aren't in an ideal place for the rivnuts to be fitted, so it looks like I may need to make my own. Now the chain has been fitted, there is no reason not to strip everything down again and get the last bit of welding done on the frame, and then it can go for powdercoating, and then final build. One small thing I wasn't happy with is where I sat the headlight back, the wiring cable from the tacho unit had to bend around the headlight shell, and it looked a little "tortured". I drilled a hole in the top of the shell and fitted a protective grommet, so the tacho wiring can run through the shell and out the back; 20190721_144935 by dusty miller, on Flickr Shell will be blasted and powdercoated black. I also got another HRC overflow bottle, which I intend to use as an oil feed tank. I plan to get another steel bracket welded on the left side rad brackets to mirror the right, and will fit the bottle upside down so the spigot is at the bottom; 20190721_124442 by dusty miller, on Flickr Decided this was the cheapest and easiest way to get an oil tank ! Whilst it's all apart there will be some little jobs to do, but the rebuild should be fairly quick, hopefully ! Dusty
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Post by donkeychomp on Jul 21, 2019 22:15:46 GMT 1
Was that tank made up for you Dusty? It seems to be tailor made for the bike. And the headlight idea was a good one!
Alex
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Post by dusty350 on Jul 25, 2019 20:31:24 GMT 1
So, back to "square 1" today ! Completely stripped the bike down, and made a fairly long list of stuff to do Main job is to get the frame to Clive the engineer. I need 4 threaded spacers made up and welded to the frame for the footrest plates to bolt to. Also need another plate on the left side to mount the overflow bottle to, so it can act as a 2 stroke oil reservoir. Then that really should be it with the welding. Trouble is Clive is snowed under with film work at the mo, so it may be a bit longer yet Once that's done, I have a pile of bits to go with the frame to Jamie, the powdercoater. All parts will be gloss black, namely frame, side stand, headlight shell, headlight brackets, front wheel spacer, no. plate bracket, electrics tray, engine mounting plate, plus a couple of smaller brackets, plus I'm thinking of doing the rad guard in black too. I've also got a pile of bits for the polishing mops - nothing too shiny though. I made a template for a chain slider before I stripped the bike so that's another job to do. Couple of bolts need cutting down, and I need to source some odd sized washers, so plenty to keep me busy ! 20190725_130320 by dusty miller, on Flickr Once the frame comes back from coating I can start the final build Dusty
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Post by donkeychomp on Jul 25, 2019 22:14:30 GMT 1
If you powder coat the spacer will it still fit? Or will he mask over the sides for you?
Alex
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Post by dusty350 on Jul 26, 2019 7:14:21 GMT 1
It's the internal bore of the spacer, where the spindle passes through. Jamie is bike mad - he will know exactly where to mask off Dusty
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