1967/1969 Bonnie Rebuild Desert Sled Project - Any Advice

Ok, I’ve got the lowbrow tool. Merry Christmas SpeedR.

 

OK, I'll have to make a note of this!

 

I’m getting ready to reassemble my clutch shock absorber unit with new rubber bits. I’ve also got new screws since the old ones were messed up a bit. I’d appreciate any comments on how to get this together as I’ve read getting the new rubber bits in can be a challenge. Also - what it the recommendation for loctite? I’m assuming a bit of red loctite? Thanks for any advice!

 

Thanks Iron, yes, I've watched this great video several times. It is what helped me find a way to get those rubbers in. I have a rubber strap wrench that I put around the basket. Then I had a piece of angle steel that just fit into the inner gear. With this secured in a vise I was able to rotate the outer piece with the strap wrench and insert each piece with a bit of leverage. Do you have any advice on using loctite here - red, blue or none? Thanks!

 

Thanks again. I broke a screwdriver bit with my impact driver taking off one of the 6 countersunk screws on the clutch shock absorber unit. I don't think tI want to loctite any of these.

 

I’ve been waiting on some new cams and tappets so went to work on the frame, completely disassembling it. I took the forks apart tonight and would appreciate any comments. I am pretty sure these are forks from a 1969 Bonneville. The insides were a mess, lots of corrosion, so I’ll be needing to get a number of parts. These measure 6 3/4 inches stanchion to stanchion. On the right side stanchion there are a couple of pits about mid-way so I’m wondering if this is a problem to rebuild? On the left stanchion there are a couple of pits also, however they are very low on the stanchion. Thanks for any comments.

 

Darkman, thank you for this input. I've been looking at all the parts books from 67, 68 and 69 trying to figure out what I have in these forks. I will likely be replacing all except for the yokes and slides and a few nuts here and there.

 

I’m working to get the frame parts ready for painting or powder coating. I see that on the main frame the main tube ends with an open hole. Is this suppose to have some sort of cap on it? I have not seen anything in the parts books but it seems like it would be a good idea.

 

Well, OK then. I'll keep it open. Thanks

 

Rocker arm question. See the photo of one of my rocker arms. The face of the tappet adjuster is banged up so I am intending to replace these. I purchased some adjusters with the mushroom type head. Also see the ball end, mine have the hole in the end. I have been reading about changes made to the rocker arm and the difference between the ball with the oil hole and the ball end without. Is the ball end something I should replace also? If so, since this is a pin I’d appreciate advice on how to the the repair. Thank you.

 

Nice explanation. I’ve another ask. I’ve looked at the ball end of the rocker arms and the ball surfaces seem smooth and polished so I don’t believe I need to attempt to replace them. I am curious as to why the adjuster ends are so gouged up and pitted. It would seem to me that they shouldn’t wear in this manner. I’d appreciate any insights as to why these might be in this condition? Thanks.

 

What year are my rocker boxes? So, My engine number is EC 19971 T120R. From my look at the engine year data I believe this means it was built in E “May” of “C” 1969, number 19971. Do I have this correct?

If so, I see that my rocker box assemblies are of the older type with the lubrication hole in the ball end. From my reading (in the tech notes from thebonnevilleshop) it reads, “the drilled hole in the rocker arm to supply oil to the ball end was deleted in favor of a notch at each end of the rocker arm bearing,” and that this happened during the later part of 1968, beginning with engine number DU79965. Have I got this right? If so, it appears that while my engine cases are from 1969, my rocker box assembly is from an earlier time, some time later in 1968 or earlier. My frame on this bike is number DU49062, 1967, so I suppose the rocker boxes could have been from the motor original to the frame. Thanks for any comments/insights. I’m trying to get a full idea of what I’ve got here.