Featured 1976 One For 2022

All seems to be prepared. There's always a catch somewhere but continuing anyway.



Started with assembly of swing arm with new brass bushes, pivots, rubber covers, nut and bolt. Even using some new nipples..



A bit fiddly getting it in



Larger spacer on the left and finagle the rubbers in, getting grease all over the shop

 

Then get one of these.



And squirt enough grease into the nipples until you see the grease coming out from under the rubber covers

 

Now that's on, hang the back shocks on and bolt up



remove the old races out of the headstock by bashing out with a long piece of bar. There's two large diameter washers in there as well. Give it all a clean out as there'll be some rust in there. Put some new washers in as the new bearing races get hammered into place. Doesn't take much, just use the little hammer so as to not damage anything - paticularly fingers. Splodge on some grease...



Threadle the lower headstock bearing onto the bottom yoke. And a liberation of grease...

 

Thread the bottom yoke through the top bearing, put on the bearing cover, stick on the top yoke and do the headstock nut up (a nice new shiny one). You obviously need a few more hands than you actually have to complete this. So use your legs....



Threadle up each fork leg and hold with the pinch bolts. Then put the top nuts in. These are the originals that have the recess for the stickers that say something like "put 3 gallons of fork oil in here" just in case you forget.



But I don't like them as I'll remember without a sticker. Nice new shiney domed ones are £25 quid each so I file the originals down



And polish them up until I decide whether to get the new shiney ones

 

Bolt on the handlebars along with new spacers for the grips and complete with home made stainless bracket and speedo.



Then whack hurtie split finger with big spanner until it bleeds again. Enjoy a loud dance around the garage using those well known lyrics "bugger, bugger, bugger, bum hole, bastard, cuntie, bollox.."
Sing along now, you all know the words......

 

Had a spot of luncheon and then sorted back wheel



Looks better than the usual skinny ones I think



Moved the jack back and bolted in the front wheel and kick stand.



Sorted the puzzle that is the back brake assembly



Then remembered the back brake bracket and caliper. Numbnuts. So took out the back spindle and reassembled with the brake stuff on and then it was time for tea....
Quite pleased so far........over....

 

Engine to go in



I wheeled it round on the jack so it was closer for the Admin Staff. I had to take off the brake pedal and footrest so she was happy. And plonked it straight in.

 

Bolted all the bits and bobs back on and it's more or less there. Ok wiring etc etc etc to do but essentially done.



After ..................................................................and.................................................Before

 

Gotta get bikes running now for summer poodling so it'll sit for a while but sorted.....other than the spirit bell, still gotta sort that ......over....

 

Hmmmm, yes. I've thought a lot about getting a newer one. But not for me.

I really don't need a tilt switch as I know when the bike is upside down, I remember to put the kick stand up before I zoom off, I know what revs I should change gear at, I don't need a limiter so the engine doesn't blow up when revving the bollox off of it. I don't like to submit my beloved to some kid for inspection and a pass every year and I really don't like being ripped off massively by a dealer who has ensured that I have to take the bike to them to allow it to be maintained. I'm not really bothered about how big the TV screen is on the dash. I have a speedo just so plod don't send me bills, I rode for years without one. I open the petrol cap to see how much fuel I have. I don't have to spray some special stuff onto each part of the bike to protect it from rain, mud or salt nor do I have to clean it all with some other special stuff each time I get home. I use a map if I don't know where I'm going. I understand that when it rains the road is a bit more slippery. I don't want to do 600 miles an hour around bends on the A5 so basic suspension set up is fine with me, hardtails are better for feeling the road anyway. Nope, I'll stick to overalls, a leather, oily hands and a bike that doesn't look exactly like everyone else's except it's cost more due to a gold stripe on it and it came with a poncy watch.
And, no, I don't ride bloody girlie Sportster bobber things with straight through exhausts, nor do I have a beard that needs waxing or a bloody stupid trendy cheesecutter hat.

Phew, glad I got that off of my chest Thank you.....over...