| Always problems……
Miffed does not really sum it up really.
I honestly think I’ve spent more time working on my Duke than riding it now!
But just in case something of recent events is of use to anyone, I’ll do a bit of spleen venting !!!
I’ve had a few projects planned and deciding I wanted to do the Cadwell trackday was the catalyst for it all really….so lets go…..
Service Time
Went OK really …. Mobil1 10/40 and a new K&N oil filter (Very Good),
Check air filter, clean plugs and through check over resulted in the present of a non-starting bike. Charge battery back up again and she fired up a treat.
Checked over nice Magnesium Marchesini I want to fit only to find it was built up previously for a 20mm front axle and mine is a 17mm front axel. Order all parts needed to rebuild.
Buy nice Toby steering damper and Pirelli Diablo Corsa tyres from BFM distribution and am very happy with sticky rubber doughnuts that arrive two days later.
Downhill…
Take bike in for MOT…..failed on loose rear wheel bearings….warned of slight buckle in front wheel…
Won an auction on Ebay for an old, old standard rear wheel that is going to need overhauling before use anyway so, time to get some practise in.
Back wheel out, quite difficult to remove bearings even using a long parallel sided flat punch. So used destruction technique I’ve posted about (removing a bearing cage and moving the balls around to be able to dislodge the inner sleeve).
A quick run over to a bearing stockist later, £6.50 ea for the bearings. Thankfully, the sprocket carrier bearings were fine but the MOT guys were spot on, the outer bearing was starting to break up and the whole plot feels much better once renewed.
(NB…..I did try checking for play in both wheels but, the slack could only be detected in one or two places in the back wheel so, it pays to check right around the full rotation of the wheel, I guess).
Grrrr…another half fee paid for MOT…but at least the grubby little document is in my hands.
Enjoyable afternoon and a nice blat back from Croft are about the best bits I can remember recently !
New front wheel parts arrived from ‘specialist’…..WRONG SIZE……they sent 20mm !!! Darn. Phoned back quoting chassis number to be told there were some variations for my model year…..Ho Hum…..always use ZDM number I guess, old parts sent back…awaiting correct parts now.
Found someone local to overhaul my forks for me so, time to try my hand at building some supports so that I can suspend the front end. Thanks to Skidlids for posting a link to a site for fork overhauls and providing the idea for building some….thankfully I was able to procure a nice solid nickel bar of just the right diameter as well…..piccy enclosed later.
So, forks out and taken to work then, unable to get hold of the rebuild guy and almost wasted a journey. Finally made contact and can take then to him early next week for quick turn around.
BUT !!! (yes, more)……felt a bad notch in the steering head bearings that I only renewed for the MOT last year, its at about 45° between centre and the right lock. Can’t notice it when the bike is stood on its wheels so, I’ve pulled the headstock out and cleaned the bearings up again that had dirtied up surprisingly in only a year. I’ve degreased them and will have to try them again, fingers crossed.
Thank god I have a holiday block coming up before the trackday as at this rate I’m going to be using rebuilt forks, new tyres I’ve never tried before, a lightweight front wheel with new semi-race pads (going to try some new Bendix pads) and I have a feeling I’m running out of time already for fitting the gear indicator I’d planned.
I’m so glad I don’t have a real job !!!
Frazzled Frank  |