I now have the engines out of 3 bikes, awaiting dismantling.
Lots more been done since last update. I now have the engines out of 3 bikes, awaiting dismantling. Another 2 pairs of instruments restored by Marcel and ready to fit. Superb work especially as one pair were almost thrown out as I thought they were too far gone. Nearly finished another series 2 Jota, just waiting on the front mudguard to return from the painter. It was supposed to b at the Scottish bike show this weekend, but that was postponed until April due to the Beast from the East. The bike will be up for sale once finished.
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Lots of bits and pieces this week. Progress continues on my fuel tank that is being expanded so I have a greater touring range on my own bike. Back from blasting, time for welding in the new inserts and panels. Stripped, cleaned and rebuilt a set of carbs as they were starting to get gummed up by degraded fuel. The fuel I drained off was green/yellow and had a consistency of olive oil.
Again, another long time without updating, apologies. Things have been really hectic, as well as 2 bouts of illness and a house move, so I'll try and bring things up to date. I have rebuilt 2 engines (RGA and series 2 Jota) as well as a hundred other jobs. I have taken 3 sets of bodywork to the painter, who I think will do an excellent job. The bodywork is due back February/March, and I want the first set (for the series 2 Jota) back by the end of this month so I can hopefully show the bike at the Scottish bike show in Ingliston on 3rd/4th March. I have also restored 3 pairs of Ceriani shocks for a customer. I've had 2 pairs of instruments restored already, with 3 more pairs in the pipeline for various projects including my own bike. I want to tour on my bike this summer and for that purpose I bought a really beat up tank and have plans to repair the damage and increase the capacity. It's work in progress at the moment. Watch this space. The bike will also be treated to a new colour...
Been busy so apologies for the long time in updating the blog. Got the Zane back to a happy owner. Had to replace the fuel tank as it looked like it was breaking up and clogging the filter. What an SOB that was to change out. Had to remove the entire rear end above the swing arm. Anyway, learned new things, so Zanes don't scare me now. The Harris eventually sold to a German guy, and I acquired a new project in a round about way. So much potential... Got another batch of 1200 stripes produced. These are quality items. See the For Sale section for details if interested. Produced and sent out this year's Laverdaforum calendars. Each year I invite members to enter Laverda-based photos into a poll where the top ones make it through to the calendar. It's a ball ache organising but I still come back for more. 150 were sold this year. I also sent off 5 sets of instruments to CB750Faces.com. So far I have 2 sets back. Quality work. I also had some more photos of finished restorations laminated in A3 format. If anyone is interested I can have more made and can sell them for £7.50 each plus P&P. I am also in the middle of restoring 3 more pairs of Ceriani shocks. Contact me if you need Ceriani or Marzocchi Strada shocks restored. £375 plus P&P. Finally, I'm playing around with a beat up tank. My plan is to do some touring next year so I want a tank with a bigger fuel range. Just thinking out loud at the moment, but want to cut and extend the tank for at least another 5 litres.
It seems I'm a Jack of all trades, master of none at the moment as I have had to deal with so many different things, not just Laverdas.
I repaired a Chinese scooter for a friend as no one seems to want to work on them these days. Actually I found it easy to work on and, once I cracked the system, spares were readily available. A little bit of diversification. So, it's been pretty busy here for a while now. I finally had all the parts for the RGA engine so started to rebuild it. And that's where it is for now, waiting on new Kevlar clutch plates to arrive. I also had to bleed and refill the Zane 750S coolant, check the fan and some other stuff to sort out a cooling issue. All running well now, and MOT tomorrow and then back to the owner. Looks like the Harris 1200 has sold. Just sorting out details at the moment, but it's all ready to go now. And finally, since selling the van I have now bought a trailer and car, so I'm able to move bikes around again. I have no plans for long distance work but happy to travel as far as I can return home in a day.
Many varied things to report. Issues with the silver Jota after it blew 2 brand new starter relays turned out to be a dud starter motor. This has delayed completion as I was waiting on parts. Ironically the Zane bike progress was also delayed when it's starter relay stuck on as well. Now fitted a replacement and it starts well now. Prepping it for it's MOT yesterday and the main beam headlights don't work. So it will be off with seat, tank cover and fairing next to access bulbs and wiring. But progress is definitely being made. Finally received new mainshaft and sleeve gear for the RGA so that will get rebuilt. Received barrels and new pistons for RGA and series 2 Jota too. Still waiting on the series 2 head back though. In the process of having new stripe kits made for the early 1200s. First draft test sample arrived this week. Hopefully I will be able to offer them for sale soon. And finally I have sold my wee van. After over 100,000 miles in 5 years or so it was time to part ways. I thought it would be difficult to sell an LHD van in the UK but I could have sold half a dozen of them. One guy even offered over the asking price. In the end it went to a guy from London who came up in the train and drove it back same day. I just didn't need the van as I have stopped doing long distance transport, and will eventually return to car and trailer for local stuff. Goodbye old friend, we had some grand tours together.
Progress is slow on any particular bike at the moment as I'm working on 6 bikes at the moment and trying to sell 4 more. I have nearly finished the silver Jota. Engine now back in frame and all connections nearly finished. Hope to get it running this week, then MOT'd for the owner to collect very soon. I started work on the Zane 750S. Packaging of components is tight so in order to access the battery I had to remove rear wheel, rear mudguard and rear undertray. Once the new battery was in place the bike started easily, not having been started for 8 years. First thing I noticed was fuel peeing out under the bike. Eventually traced it to a burst fuel hose near the injectors. Accessing that area was tricky but after about an hour I got there. I had to remove the seat, dummy tank and air box (with injectors still attached. However, on taking the lid off the airbox it was obvious a mouse had made a den there, with shredded paper and shredded air filter. The 2 air hoses from the fairing to the airbox were the perfect doorways for the mouse to come and go. Currently waiting on new hose to arrive and then try to remember how it all goes back together! Just advertised a beautiful and very rare Harris Laverda 1200 in the For Sale section. Check it out! Work here progresses. I now have 2 cylinder heads back fully restored and ready to fit. Also 2 sets of crankcases have been vapour blasted and these can now start to be rebuilt into fine healthy engines again. Work on the green bike continues. I re-did the seat as I wasn't happy with the bought-in foam I had initially used. It now has original seat foam and an Eldorado seat cover. Sorted.
Lots to do these days.
Big push is on to finish the silver Jota engine. I should get the head back tomorrow and then I can button it back up and fit it in the frame. The owner did not want a shiny bike so I didn't get it vapour blasted and polished. Still, it's all shiny on the inside, where it matters.
Work continues with the green bike too. Today I have been re-covering the seat as I wasn't happy with the seat foam I bought from a professional seat restorer. You live and learn. When I set the valve gaps on the silver Jota I'll do the second shimming of the green bike too and then I can add the carbs and airbox to it.
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