So its been quite a while since I posted anything here, well the pace has been relentless and the problems plenty. I have a new bike, more work than ever and the future is looking bright.
Wind back two months.
Late May I rode back from uni after the final exams for this year with worries about a job, the future of uni and to be a honest no real plan for the summer. This was soon changed by the offer of an old friend, well actually my old college tutor, to bring a sportster lurking in the back of a garage back to life. Two weeks later and I blew up the engine in my bandit on an early morning motorway run, but I'll talk about that in a mo.
So the sportster came to me loaded up in a trailer covered in rust, dust and cobwebs after having been ridden into the garage and left there seven years ago. After a good clean and degrease it revealed a very complete bike, but with heavy corrosion on almost all the chrome and pretty deep rust on the frame. Oil was put down the bores at the first opportunity and most of the rest of it given a good soaking in wd40. Next was stripping of the rear end in order to sort the frame, this resulted in a few sheared bolts and plenty of swearing. This was followed by the caressing of a flapwheel and grinder to the offending rust on the frame followed by a couple of coats of gloss black enamel. The rear end was then reassembled with new stainless bolts and is currently awaiting the fitting of the once chromed parts. These have been treated to a coat of wrinkle black, with the top coat to be added this coming week.
While waiting for the paint to dry a new battery, fresh oil and plugs were fitted and an attempt was made to fire her up. At first nothing. Lights on but nobody home. This provoked an evening with the multi-meter that diagnosed a faulty switch. That was then duly stripped and cleaned the next morning and she fired into life with a cough of smoke from the unsilenced headers and small pop from the open carb. Choke was needed at first but then she settled into a heartbeat like lolloping idle, indicating the engine was little worse off for its period sat, checks were made on the oil pump and charging circuit and all was fine.
That's where the sportsters currently at, waiting now to rebuild the forks and to finish off the black parts before a little tweaking of the electrics and cosmetic bits,then off for a tentative test ride and MOT. I'll let you know if it turns out that simple in due course!
Meanwhile I was stuck without transport after blowing the bandit up, an experience that gave me a hell of a wake up call. It had decided to shear a bolt on the big end of a conrod and propel it out of the crankcase just coming up to a ton on the motorway. Luckily quick reactions with my clutch hand prevented any mishaps and I was able to drift over to the hard shoulder without locking the rear wheel. A new engine has already arrived and she will be looking different again after a second rebuild, keep you eyes peeled here to see how that progresses.
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| The fate of the current bandit engine |
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