Update

Skiing was great, but back to reality, and in the garage again today (Sunday). Managed to fit my carbs, and fit my gear change support, which should finally make my gear changes improve (I hope), and although I managed to munch a screw, which will need replacing everything went to plan, also refitted my original radiator, as I don't think I have time to fit the bigger one I had bought off ebay. I also discovered that the gearbox sprockets I had bought do not fit, as I need to have an offset sprocket and the ones I bought did not have the offset shoulder...... I will try to resell them.

Took a photo of my heel protector for a guy on the Pro Classic forum here :-

Should get the bike finished next weekend, I just hope it gets warm enough to finish painting the trailer. Speak to you soon.

Phew....

Well, I managed to get the heads on yesterday, and I was dreading torquing down the heads, because any stripped threads, would have been a disaster in my timing. Well good news,  I managed to torque down firstly the barels (27NM), and then the heads (nuts 24NM and small bolts 12NM) - if my memory serves me correctly. I hope reusing the cylinder heads gaskets does not prove to be a foolish move.....

I will change the jets on the carbs to 240 this evening in preparation for my return from vacation.

The last big job will be to fit the ZXR radiator, but I can always fall back on the RG one if I don't have time before the 7th March.

barrels are on

Well had a relatively stressful start to the rebuild, as things are significantly different. The guys on the French forum are saying I shouldn't be using Motocross pistons as they have a higher percentage of silicium in them and could expand more, they were also moaning about the different shape of the pistons, they have a cut away on the skirt, plus they are less domed which will mean the combustion chamber will be a different shape, and Mark (tuner) Dent has probably had to reshape the heads to account for this..... anyway - it's enough to give sleepless nights.... Oh and the guys from the gamma list were saying that I would probably pull the studs out when tightening the heads as the threads and cylinders are made of cheese.

Anyway as you can see the pistons are on and the barrels back in place, and the pistons go up and down at least! 

Going skiing next week, so if I want to be running in at Ledenon on the 7th March, my days are numbered, I have one weekend left to finish painting the trailer and get the bike running, then I will need to stress about what jets to use...... Speak to you soon.

Bits are back...

3 days is what it took to get my engine back from Mark Dent's. I was a bit disappointed to see the pistons are 2 ring, but I suppose it should make them transfer more heat quicker which was a worry with single ring pistons (or so I had read!). Mark's work looks neat, difficult to tell what has been moved, machined as my original photos are not that detailed, but here are some of the finished job.

Just got to put it all back together again now.

second coat and they are done