Miscellaneous/other stuff.
Self-contained onboard motorcycle Vacuum brake bleeder :fiddling with fluid.
Solo Engine: running the CX motor out of the frame.
Tooled up : tool time.
Motorcycle winter survival equipment : heated jacket etc.
650 engine: inspection.
Control cable repair.
This is how i repair/shorten/lengthen or modify clutch and throttle cables.
You can buy the inner stranded wire from places like B&Q,hardware stores or bicycle shops.The thinner throttle wire is easy to find,the thicker cable for clutch cable is a little more difficult to find - i get mine from `Scats` countrystore.
The nipples i make from the un-threaded shank of brass wood screws and fix to the wire with ordinary electronic or plumbers solder - if done properly it will NOT pull out!
The trick is to countersink the hole in the nipple and `flare` the end of the inner wire before soldering - use additional flux with a small gas torch. Measure the length of the inner wire carefully by the remains of the old one - its surprising how accurate it needs to be,too short or long will render the cable unusable.
After the solder has been applied hold the cable nipple-down until it sets - you`ll probably get a small globule of solder which will need trimming off.If you use a bench grinder or belt sander be careful not to impart too much heat into the nipple or it will get very hot and semi-melt compromising the strength of the join.The safest way would be to finish it with a file.
Fuel tank repair.
I`ve had to fix about 3 leaky tanks over the years and used good `ole solder again. Its a really effective way to repair small holes but has the disadvantage of course of you having to strip off paint and leaves a visible repair so won`t be a solution to folk with clean shiney tanks who want to keep `em that way (unless the leak is under the tank and not visible) - you`ll have to spend £50 on a `tank sealer system` and a whole weekend preparing,cleaning,de-rusting,coating,and recoating with a specialist tank sealer to do the same job.....Not a problem on my kind of bikes,it`s just another advantage of this style of motorcycle;easier repairs,no worries about if it looks right or not,cheap,and enables you to use your improvisation and bodgineering skills."Let your bike wear it's visual history with pride".
A gas torch is used in my repair so first of all the tank has to be emptied and washed out - i rinse it twice with washing up liquid and hot water,then dry it out using a radiator or heater.Locate the leak and strip off the surrounding paint until you get down to good,clean steel.Apply some flux,heat the area and dap on the solder.Its possible to bridge a hole a few mm accross using cafeful application of heat and sloder,if the gap is too large i put a small patch of copper over the hole and stick that on to the solder..Its as easy as that.Job done;
Brake lever tweaking.
I like to ride with two fingers resting on the levers,and i find that the STD shape of clutch and brake levers are too `flat` for my preference:when the lever is used with two fingers the end of the lever hits the remaining digits on the grip limiting the range of travel.I prefer a lever with a more curved shape.Can also be handy if your bike falls over and bends a lever up/down round.
You can bend them to your required preference using heat.What i do is secure the lever in the vice and apply a gas torch to the area where you want the bend to take place.The ally needs to be quite hot,then i apply gentle to moderate pressure with a length of tube.When the metal is at the right temp.you will be able to feel the lever `give` a little,and keeping the pressure applied you can gently and slowly bend it to your desired shape.Doing this might ruin the black finish of some of the painted types.
Before and after;
This rather bendy one wasn`t one i modified but was the result of a spill.It was the best clutch lever i ever had! However,when i put handguards on the WE it fouled the guard so i custom-bent another lever to suit;
Wheel balance.
Workshop heater.
Spend all day in your garage during those cold winter months with this solid fuel heater made from a recycled gas cylinder - not my idea,i saw it first here.
I`ll add more soon(ish).Maybe. ------------------>
