New work bench finished - completely over-engineered but happy with the result! Even Little Miss approves!
Fork legs back form Rad Hard Chroming, won't say that it was cheap at $420 AUD (straighten and rechrome) but perfect job. In comparison the new pattern fork legs that I bought for by GT250 74L were about the same after shipping - in chatting with the bloke at Rad, his reply was that his chrome will be thicker and last longer - as I can't see either bike doing 1000's and 1000's of kms and definitely not parked in the weather so I don't think it really matters. So that took me back to my favourite job - polishing - MORE MESS!!!!!! I thought that I would try Walnut Shells in my blast cabinet - didn't work so well continually blocking the syphon tube - tried different air pressures and nozzle sizes but nothing seemed to work. Looking on line at different sites and was thinking of fitting a metering valve in place of the syphon tube gun.......so for the interim I used glass beads. As a prep to polishing it took a lot of the hard work out - removed the factory lacquer and cleaned all the impossible corners.
A couple of great projects there Damian, I have a t500 that I ride and a Gt380 project on go, look forward to meeting up for. 2 stroke Ride
Thanks for the welcome Gents - will post updates but don't hold your breath - as we all know these things take time and money, both usually on short supply. Just as well I have other bikes to ride!
Working on a better dust extraction system for my blast cabinet - now have two cyclones in series fitted up with a cheap ALDI vacuum (on sale for $40 this week) . the primary stage catches 95% of the dust, the 2nd stage just has a slight dust layer - the inlet hose to the vacuum is completely clean! I turned up some aluminium sleeves - everything just slips together and held in with clamps - no taping or gaskets needed! Necked down the bearing area on the head-stock spindle so that I can use taper roller bearings rather than the antiquated ball bearings that Suzuki use. So with the sandblaster back in operation - started on all the small odds and ends - blasted with crushed glass and etch primed.
eBay..... $25 Chinese copy of the Dust Deputy....100mm stormwater pipe with an inspection cap. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/High-Ef...4?pageci=0f292db4-3883-441d-9373-f5e7d23d7727
Did about an hour blasting with the new extraction system - I might call it a success. First stage catches just about all of it, with the 2nd stage just taking out some of the fines. There was a slight dusting in the inside of the duct pipe into the vacuum but nothing detectable in the vacuum filter. Joys of blasting - can see what you are getting into - if anyone has a spare Suzuki GT250 A, B or C air box about, please let me know before I spend countless hours repairing this one.
Picked up my frame and bits form the powder coaters - $360, fairly happy with that, quality work. All the treads and bushings taped. Like a Kid at Christmas, just had to unwrap it. NOW WE CAN START THE FUN BIT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Progress has slowed - time and money, both in short supply! Forks rebuilt with re-chromed legs and new seals. I'd wasted many hours on the internet attempting to find out what was correct for the bike regarding the headlight brackets and housing - Chrome vs tank colour vs painted black - gave up in the end and just powdercoated everything at the same time as the frame. When I picked up the bike it was all rusty painted black so I have to assume that is how it was delivered back in the 70's. After many more hours on eBay I ended up finding two NOS headlight brackets and affordable prices - for some strange reason there are almost no left hand ones available - I can only assume that the bike falls on that side more often with its dodgy side stand???? Caliper sand blasted and painted with High Temp. rattle-can black. Used a rebuild kit form Cruzinimage. The piston and seals fitted perfectly but couldn't assemble the two half's with the supplied O rings on the bolts. Even after machining a gentle lead on the bushings the O rings wouldn't sit in place and ended up cutting them. Replaced the O rings with some I had in a grab kit - Viton 10mm x 1.5mm - worked perfectly!
The O rings aren't in contact with the brake fluid - it is on the mounting bolts greased with rubber grease.
Having the same issue on the gt380 with oem seals , was going to seek help from a mate who is an ex Suzuki tech
Found some on eBay to restock the grab kit. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/10x-Gre...2a7c:m:mY-1WxkhpAAXJtoyUHGYz4w&frcectupt=true