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Re: New LC project.... Restoration... I know, I know...

Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2017 1:49 am
by hondaror
I would use the parts you want to. Not so worried about 100% right. Live a little Jon!

Re: New LC project.... Restoration... I know, I know...

Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2017 2:28 am
by JonW
Haha.... well yes! ....but this one is a resto... tho as usual, I cant leave it totally standard, not that any of us did back in the day either LOL!

Re: New LC project.... Restoration... I know, I know...

Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2017 3:23 am
by hondaror
Like you said, you can always change out the goodies to stock later.

Re: New LC project.... Restoration... I know, I know...

Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2017 3:30 am
by JonW
true dat. cheers Rory, I'll add the mods, why not :)

Re: New LC project.... Restoration... I know, I know...

Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2017 2:32 am
by hondaror
Exactly, live for now. Change later, when you can.

Re: New LC project.... Restoration... I know, I know...

Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 1:08 am
by JonW
And slowly forwards... I'll admit that Ive had a few health issues the past months which are of course still ongoing, so this will be a bit as-n-when for a while, but fingers crossed progress will be made between the boughts of downtime due to forced recuperation...

Ok, all that said, my main update is that the center stand is now repaired and along with the bars and the swinger its all painted black and I should have all the frame parts now ready courtesy of my natty spray gun I bought in the USA a few years back and some paint from good ole VG in Sydney. In fact I actually welded/fettled/fixed 3 LC and and an RZ C/stands and a bunch of other parts and the work also included painting the 421s frame... plus, I've done a bunch more powdercoating for all my projects - more examples of just some of my hard work (I blast, clean and powder these myself) pictured below... plus I've dropped a bunch more bolts/axles/brackets/springs and other parts at the platers, Im trying a new place more local to me this time. not cos the last place were bad, they werent fast but did good work in fact, but they are an hour and a bit each way from me and this new place is closer.

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Next up was to build up the footrests. The pic shows the selection of parts... yeah, looks messy! but all are either new or refurbished with brand new front footrests, refurbished passenger pegs and hangers that I did earlier and replated or new fixings:

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These were then bolted to the frame using replated OEM bolts and look amazing - like new! spooky that. One thing I did notice was some corrosion under the clear powder on one footrest bracket, that's annoying and I'll refurbish another set and see if i can get a better finish as even though you only notice it when it catches the light it need to be better on this build since its a restoration. I might actually clear them with KBS Diamond clear instead of poweder as it dries very hard, we'll see.

Before I put the frame on the lift and started building I needed some tyres, so a set of BT45s was put on the refurbished 350 wheels:

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They now have the refurbished disks fitted with replated OEM bolts and new locking tabs as well.

I also built up the forks as totally refurbished legs; including new OEM seals and OEM clips, fully removing the scratches and then re-polishing and graining the lowers and the set of rechromed stanchions I had done locally by A1. FWIW I decided to use the progressive springs I had in the end and some of the cool Silkolene fork oil I like, lets hope they work well when fitted. I only filled the oil to the OEM settings, I might need 5-10mm more, we'll see.

Next plan is to build up a roller with all the new and refurbished parts and then add the engine which i will build later.

Re: New LC project.... Restoration... I know, I know...

Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 8:02 am
by JonW
Today I managed to collect up my next lot of zinc plating, this time from a new company - Elite Plating in Sydney. They barrel plate and suspend larger parts like axles and the hoops and its very bright indeed. Nice job.

This has a bunch of stuff for my projects in it, including this one, now i can start the build proper!

What do you recognise in the selection below... LOL

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Re: New LC project.... Restoration... I know, I know...

Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2017 8:32 pm
by JonW
Ive not been doing many pics as Ive just been building up from my stash of already restored sub assemblies, plated bolts and of course lots of new / nos parts... Argh... so many nice parts, so much money lol. And... For the real 'original experience' I added OEM brake pads and shoes, should be interesting lol!

Anyway, finally got the back wheel in yesterday:

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Joking aside about the brakes though... the front brakes have brand new brake hoses, fully refurbished calipers with new pistons and seals and the old cardboard boxed OEM pad kits came with new pins, shims and clips, I even fitted a NOS OEM (250) 1/2" master (to give more brake feel) with all new OEM bolts, lever and I even added an OEM brake light switch. The only other thing I could have done was face the disks on a brake lathe, I could still do that I guess, I have access to one... So, really everything is new in that system, I figure that if these brakes really were shit back in the day we will know when I start to use em lol. The rear has the 350 wheel with fully refurbished brake backplate with new OEM shoes (comes with springs) and a re-plated wear indicator and all the rod parts, bolts, nuts and springs mated to the RAL6006 powdered pedal with all new fixings.

I did take a liberty with the forks and have added progressive springs but used all new OEM seals and clips, new aftermarket plastic slider bushes and re-chromed OEM legs. They are attached to the frame with powdercoated (RAL and satin black) triples with taper bearings with re-plated fixings and wire run clips. Of course, where parts are not available OEM Ive used new aftermarket if it worked best, ie the new horns that have been made recently on an OEM RAL coated bracket with new horn loom and plastic cover, this looked and worked much better than using the older parts that I had. Where possible Ive bought OEM though, ie all the cables are brand new OEMs much of which is still available new from Yam. Ive even sourced NOS OEM sprockets (never ever would have considered buying either those or OEM brake pads back in the day as they were too expensive) and even my headlight/rim and gearchange are NOS, grabrail too... Clocks are refurbished OEMs with original clean faces with really nice red tacho markings and of course are set in all new covers with RAL powdered bracket and new OEM bolts with plated fixings, new rubbers etc etc and the list goes on and on like that with all that you see here and should give you an idea as to the level of whats Im trying to do, what car guys call 'a full nut-n-bolt resto', ie. if its not new its been fully refurbished or the best of the aftermarket. Am I mad? probably... It's a huge undertaking, To give you an idea of the task, I've been working through the photos online of brand new old stock bikes and my own pics of bikes I've dismantled to ensure the correct re-plated OEM bolts with the correct heads and washers are in the right places. I don't recommend this work for anyone really, it's too stressful to try and build what is basically a whole new bike and do it like it was 30+ years ago! :smt012

So... Am I happy with it so far...? well, yes and no... I obviously have to employ high standards with this build (if you set out to do this work, you must do I guess?) as visitors to my shed have encountered this week when I complained about bits that are not as perfect as I would have liked. One of my good mates has told me to take a breath and stand back and look at it less closely, he is right... I shouldn't complain, it's quite stunning and much better than the pic suggests really. Everything sparkles like new... cos it is! LOL!

Next up is to build the motor up from my stash of parts.... more when that's done...

Re: New LC project.... Restoration... I know, I know...

Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2017 11:58 pm
by hondaror
That is absolutely stunning Jon!
Mad? You sure as hell are. Lol. That will be a rolling museum piece. I hope that you do ride it.
As far as perfect parts...I would be as anal as you care to be, because, as you say, it's stunning just the same...you're the bloke doing all the work.
I'm happy to say, that my ground up builds are purely function motivated. I don't sweat the vanity stuff. Takes so much pressure off, lots of fun. You, my friend, will be extremely proud of the finished product, guaranteed!

Re: New LC project.... Restoration... I know, I know...

Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2017 9:02 am
by JonW
Thanks mate, very kind of you.
It will get ridden, hopefully next year when im back on my feet.

Re: New LC project.... Restoration... I know, I know...

Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2017 2:30 am
by hondaror
Big thumbs up!

Re: New LC project.... Restoration... I know, I know...

Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2017 10:17 pm
by nath
Hi Jon,

What is your source for the fork springs ? Also, couldn't quite tell from the photos which version they are.. I also can't seem to find the photo showing the difference in springs :/

Did you have your stanchions re-chromed locally ?


EDIT: Oh, I see they are LC forks now.. obviously..

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Re: New LC project.... Restoration... I know, I know...

Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2017 1:03 am
by JonW
No worries Nath, yes Lc forks. The progressives were actually in some forks I bought and looked to be new so I thought why not give them a go.

The legs were rchromed by A1 in Lidcombe, Sydney.

Re: New LC project.... Restoration... I know, I know...

Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2017 2:31 am
by nath
Cool Ta :) I've still got a pair of 83 LCII forks I need to try and find springs for..

Do you mind me asking what they cost to get done ? I've got a couple of pairs that need doing.

Re: New LC project.... Restoration... I know, I know...

Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2017 3:47 am
by JonW
$350. They straightened them out as well as they were a bit bent and pretty rusty. I had my worst set done to see what could be achieved, they did a lovely job. Give em a call, they might do you a deal, seemed like good guys.