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Post by donkeychomp on Dec 5, 2018 23:51:59 GMT 1
Cheers! I do try to retain a sense of humour...and to be honest it's not easy these days! I have made one tank decal, I'll get the other one done and post some pics later on.
Alex
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Post by donkeychomp on Dec 6, 2018 20:26:28 GMT 1
Made up a decal and had a trial fit... Very happy with the way it turned out but I'm going to do a couple more designs and see what one suits best. Alex
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Post by donkeychomp on Dec 24, 2018 23:31:05 GMT 1
Had a little spare time today and hacked off some of the tabs on the frame. There are 4 lower ones for a belly pan and I think it might suit the bike so for now the tabs can stay. Oddly this model had no side stand as I have discovered, so one will be found and a bracket made up and welded on. Had a trail fit of the cut down footrest hangers too... Well, one. The other side needs mounts welded on... I 'borrowed' these from the LC...sorry Elsie. And I finally got the steering damper on...thanks Dusty for that! Alex
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Post by donkeychomp on Jan 7, 2019 23:21:20 GMT 1
Did a bit of research and the clutch cable I was told is for an RD50 is actually an RD250 one...so that can be used on the drag bike. Got the correct one today and huzzar! a working clutch! All I need now is the exhaust to fit and get the LC rear sprocket skimmed. Off tomorrow to the engineers place armed with both sprockets, hoping they'll do it there and then. Alex
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Post by donkeychomp on Feb 25, 2019 21:17:55 GMT 1
And no I haven't forgotten the Popsicle! I got the sprocket today. This is a 48 tooth 420 but machined to fit on the LC wheel and yep it bolts straight on. Then came crunch time, I was convinced the chain would line up even though in theory it shouldn't... Well it does line up. At least it seems to. Tomorrow I'll do some careful measuring and check properly. With that hopefully done I need an exhaust and some basic wiring. And the foot rests mounted and that's it! Alex
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Post by donkeychomp on Feb 26, 2019 23:20:24 GMT 1
After a lot of crawling around measuring things it is out. By 2mm. I can live with that! Front sprockets...16 tooth is a tad to big and the chain rubs on the inside of the casing. Original 13 tooth means the chain rubs on the swing arm dammit! So I have ordered a 14 and 15 and see what works best. Another option is to use a shorter shock, maybe the original RD50 one. That will lift the swing arm up a tad but I do think a 13 toother is a bit too small. Alex
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Post by marrcel on Feb 27, 2019 10:38:12 GMT 1
Or up the rear sprocket🤔
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Post by reggieperrin on Feb 27, 2019 17:45:19 GMT 1
Now, I don't mean to be the party pooper but the mounting for the steering damper is probably going to flex quite a bit and negate the use of the damper... But I imagine the damper may just be there for looks.. It wants to be connected to something rigid if you want it to work..
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Post by donkeychomp on Feb 27, 2019 18:17:48 GMT 1
Putting a bigger rear sprocket on will just make the angle of the chain more acute!
Damper is there purely for looks lol. Might get used on the drag bike instead...
Alex
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Post by muttsnuts on Feb 28, 2019 12:09:26 GMT 1
if there is room on the top shock mounting why don't you make up some offset spacers (concentric) so that you can move the shocker forward, you probably only need 2mm or 3mm to make the chain run better, just allowing the top shocker mount to move forward that little amount will give you what you need, to prove it, just remove the top bolt on the shocker and lift the rear wheel until the chain run is how you want it, then check how far the top mount has moved forward - hope that makes sense
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Post by donkeychomp on Feb 28, 2019 12:15:40 GMT 1
Good idea and one I may well use mate. But the sprocket was only £3 and I'll try that first. Shock needs to come out anyway to get the coil painted so I will have a tinker!
Alex
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Post by alankelly on Feb 28, 2019 19:59:12 GMT 1
Hi Alex
Wondered what the sprocket was for😉😉😀😀
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Post by donkeychomp on Feb 28, 2019 23:08:05 GMT 1
Haha! Fits like it was made for that LC wheel. Big thanks Al for doing that for me, must take a lot of time and skill (and machinery!).
Not much left to do now!
Alex
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Post by donkeychomp on Mar 3, 2019 21:34:52 GMT 1
So the 14 tooth front arrived and on it went. It helped quite a bit but I still think the chain is too close to the swingarm. Off came the Mito shock and the original RD50 one went back on (minus the coil as that is being cleaned up). What a difference! Chain clears easily now. I'll give the Mito one a refurb and that may well get used on the drag bike... Alex
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Post by donkeychomp on Mar 8, 2019 21:26:40 GMT 1
The rear shock is all done and back on. Loads of chain clearance now! However the bike now sits a bit lower. Not sure if I like it like this. I need to jack it up a tad somehow...maybe an RD125LC one might do the trick? Alex
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Post by bezzer on Mar 10, 2019 23:40:38 GMT 1
Nice to see work has recommenced on the ‘PP’ mate!👍🏻
Good to see you’re overcoming the ‘challenges’ the build is throwing your way. I’ve got all this to look forward to when (or if) I ever get my 500 engine back 😐.
Keep it up Alex, looking great.
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Post by donkeychomp on Mar 11, 2019 21:30:07 GMT 1
Thanks! She's getting there... Still trying to get the correct ride height and avoid chain rub. The small RD shock is off and the YPVS one is on. So now I have the ride height but there is a little chain rub but that does go away when I sit on it! That's perfect. I have ordered a 15 tooth front sprocket and fingers crossed that will help. Then the rear brake... Bolts on nicely but the brake arm is rubbing on the swingarm! So I mounted it upside down... That now works but the mounting brackets for the footrests on the frame were bent inwards... A bit of heat and brute force and now the footrest is dead level and I have a working brake! Alex
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Post by donkeychomp on Mar 20, 2019 22:44:33 GMT 1
I have now tried 4 different shocks in the popsicle and the only one that lets the chain run properly is the original one. However the bike loses a whopping 100mm in ride height with it on. So some form of spacer to make the shock length a little bit longer is needed. I have also added a much fatter bolt to hold on the centre stand and she now stands up on her own! Also got a brand new kickstart for 99p. Yes, 99p. The postage was a lot more lol. It isn't for this bike but the knuckle fits so maybe later on a straighter shaft can be bolted on. For now this will do and it clears the brake pedal...just... Not much left to do. Bleed front brakes. Finish the tank. Figure out why the carb cable won't go into the carb and I'm awaiting news on an exhaust. Then when it's all assembled and working I'll get the frame off to the engineers for some welding! Alex
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Post by Tobyjugs on Mar 21, 2019 23:44:55 GMT 1
Hi Alex this one of my favourite builds. I just love the shape of the bike, keep it up.
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Post by donkeychomp on Mar 23, 2019 0:39:43 GMT 1
Thanks. That means a lot. Adopted your idea of some way of extending the small shock. Only needs to move by about 15mm. I have a design in mind and will make something up.
Alex
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Post by donkeychomp on Apr 7, 2019 22:25:53 GMT 1
Apologies for the lack of movement on any of the bikes but funds are short so...it's just tinkering at the moment. The tank got it's final coat of purple... Then had a test fit to see if an LC Allspeed would fit... Yes. Amazingly the diameter of the exhaust matches the RD head. If I can get some studs fitted it would just bolt on. More pondering afoot methinks! Alex
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Post by veg on Apr 7, 2019 22:40:42 GMT 1
Pondering is good Alex it’s what all builds need. I love just sitting and looking and thinking. Looking good matey
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Post by donkeychomp on Apr 7, 2019 23:06:34 GMT 1
Thanks Tim. Looks like my TZR is actually going to be collected and paid for so I will have the funds (fingers xxd) to get this wee beastie on the road and maybe the drag bike up and running too!
Alex
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Post by dusty350 on Apr 8, 2019 7:10:55 GMT 1
Hi Alex Do the exhaust header holes line up with the barrel stud holes ? If so, that's good. I have a couple of spare exhaust studs if you need them (Lc type) Dusty
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Post by donkeychomp on Apr 8, 2019 20:14:45 GMT 1
The RD engine has a collar design that the exhaust screws onto! Limits the choice of zorsts to almost nothing. I really need an RD50 Micron and I saw one for sale a while back. Think he wanted £295 and it was very rusty...Dusty . So I reckon some sort of conversion needs to be done. That or try and find an even bigger engine. Been looking at RS100 and 125 lumps and YBR100 too. But I will take you up on your offer matey. Perhaps Clive could weld some studs on... Alex
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Post by donkeychomp on Apr 21, 2019 20:27:27 GMT 1
The last piece of the puzzle arrived. The exhaust. It looked awful, and for a fiver (yes £5) it's exactly what I expected! However after a bath in caustic soda it didn't seem so bad. I even got the downpipe off... Had to have a trial fit... I have got the baffle out too. The exhaust seems to be intact. One small ding and a little surface rust is all. I ran out of acid (amazing how many parts I had that needed a bit of that!) so have ordered some more mainly to do the downpipe as that is pretty bad. Not far off from getting this bike running now! Alex
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Post by dusty350 on Apr 21, 2019 20:38:33 GMT 1
Great buy on that exhaust mate That's gonna save you a load of time and hassle You can always get something fruitier later on. Dusty
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Post by bezzer on Apr 21, 2019 20:46:10 GMT 1
+1 on Dusty’s comments r.e. the exhaust mate 👍🏻, proper LC ‘cigar’ shape imho!.
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Post by donkeychomp on Apr 21, 2019 22:37:02 GMT 1
Yep that has got to be the deal of the century! Seller described it as 'for repairs'. Needs none really Alex
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Post by donkeychomp on Apr 28, 2019 21:04:27 GMT 1
The exhaust isn't as bad as the seller made out. Though it did have many, many years of carbon in it! Loads of caustic soda and... Then a few coats of BBQ paint followed by lacquer... Not too shabby for a fiver! Alex
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