Project Bens GSX250 Cafe Project

Thanks Blair, yeah loving this stuff its a real challenge for me!

I understand where you are coming from, for the cost of it, and to match the exhaust you're probably right about chroming the engine covers. I called up to get a quote on a n exhaust today and in stainless/chromed it cost more than the bike. Not going to happen now. Thanks for your input though.

Cleanliness isn't so much the issue I want it to blend with the matte black engine, and the wrapping on the exhaust.

Speaking of exhaust wrap, the exhaust guy told me the heat will make it peel and flake and that its crap! I'm not so sure that I care to be honest seeing it costs $35 every time you wrap it compared to $700 for header pipes and a new reverse cone muffler

 

Nah, custom headers from stainless and a reverse cone style muffler. Not going to get it from Japan, it still costs more than the bike did. I'm just going to put this exhaust back on and wrap it.

 

Took my forks to a specialist, turns out they are pitted the moisture probabyl got under the chrome and the cost of redoing the solid chrome is higher than a new set of forks. :-(

Now, there is a slight crack in visible part of the seal but neither fork leaks. I might just wet/dry the rust off them and use them for now as they came off pretty much no trouble.

PS: Frame, tank and arm are in for a blast still, only cost $75. Pick them up Mon/Tues CAN"T WAIT!!!

 

What do you think? Worth a try right?

Also my calliper piston looks pretty rusted, and the calliper body is a little worn, I think I might get new ones instead of rescuing, painting and then rejuicing these ones. That way I can get a new calliper, pads, mamster cylinder, brake line all in one.

 

Thanks Will, I've seen a ton of them painted, and mine aren't in great condition so getting in there to polish them is going to be impossible. What are the stats though? I would've thought engine paint would still conduct a fair bit of heat!

 

I reassembled the calliper mounting unit, pads and calliper for you to see what I mean. Checked the service manual I have and it just mentions to check the piston for damage, because its rusted on the inside i'm changing it.

 

I think I found a match gents!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...akeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

 

OH! No, the brake fluid was clean and inside would be fine i'm pretty sure. Okay then if that piston doesnt matter too much then thats okay.

Thanks guys

 

So I degreased a lot of the exterior of the engine today. I want to remove surface rust from the fins and sand back the rough areas on the engine casings so that I can start polishing (yes Maelstrom I've decided not to chrome haha)

I want to get the engine fins up to a similar polish, from what I understand this is the process:

1. Degrease and wash exterior
2. Solvent to remove surface corrosion (watch electrical parts)
3. Spray with water (covering all openings first)
4. Sandpaper from 400 - 600 - 1000 using screwdriver to get between fins
5. Polish paste and polish wheel or drill w/ attachment for engine covers
6. Prime with an engine paint primer
7. Paint matte black coat (leave top fins for better cooling debatable)

How does that sound?

 

Bits came back from being blasted. When they got back figured out how to get the bearings out for the steering, will need new ones now. Also took the passenger pegs off and cut off the lugs, ground them back with Zirconia flap discs, this isnt the final result going to go over them thoroughly soon.

Anyone recommend a good primer for the frame? Its bare metal want to spray it tomorrow if I can avoid any rust appearing.

Also engine is going in for a sandblast because using sandpaper on those fins is too time consuming, I want all the rust gone before I enamel the engine.

~B