We'll it has been along time! My studies and work in the garage have taken priority. I mentioned I took in a Kawasaki KZ750 twin, to get it started, the big problem with old bikes - this one 1976 is that everything rubber has perished so as soon as you touch something you inevitably end up replacing the rubbers, so as well as changing out the battery, filters, engine oil, fork oil and brake fluid, and changing the head gasket and doing the valve clearances, I also ended up, regrinding the valves (2 were leaky) and installing a new brake master cylinder kit. Currently the only job left is to sort out an electrical issue with the indicators, a new relay is on order!
I have finished the RG, this time I had 2 sets of cranks rebuilt with thrust washers on the crank rather than at the small end. I used one crank at the front and left the rear crank as was, because the pistons need changing with the new cranks, and as the crank at the rear had not failed the pistons are still OK. I understand what I mean! So have 2 new Wossner +50 pistons at the front running on a newly built crank. The guy who built the cranks (a guy from Meyrieux) didn't use Suzuki bearings and recommended using a bearing cement Locktite to fix them in position. He should know what he is talking about so..... I have rebuilt the bike completely although a dodgy stud at the front, may need looking at later.
The new bike in the garage is a Ducati 888, the result of a divorce settlement, the bike has spent it's last year in a garden covered with a plastic tarp. The bike is basically sound but pretty grubby, lots of rusty bolts etc, but will hopefully be shiny to use this summer and sell on this Autumn or next spring. I have cleaned it up, and so far changed the brake fluid and clutch fluid, and changed out the fuel filter, the tank was a very dirty looking rust colour, but on further inspection it has already been treated with an epoxy covering so it will just get swilled out refitted. The fuel filter is a KL145 (same as the Daytona and BMW K100. When I was messing in the tank a wire broke off the fuel pump so had to get that out, it is just in a rubber holder, I crimped on a new terminal, and filter. To get access to the gubbins, you have to remove the fuel cap, which has a green viton o ring and also a black rubber gasket which keeps out water. Getting the cap back in was a challenge, but with the help of some silicone grease, it eventually went in although it's on the bonk so will have to be loosened off again to turn it slightly.
When the Ducati is running I will use it for the summer and the next job is to rebuild the 350 engine, it was slipping out of second gear and also a weird problem with fuel leaking so both of these need fixing.
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