My Struggle, (first time resto job)
Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 4:18 pm
On my 16th birthday I bought a vespa 50 off my mate and slapped some "L" plates on. I asked him if I needed any lessons and he said "yes, dont f*#k with lorries". With those words of wisdom ringing in my ears I set off, spending the next few years happily riding round on a number of different scooters until finally throwing my Lambretta in a hedge on a particularly rainy day in the late 80's and walking home swearing that I would never touch one again.
Everything was going well, until last Spring when (in a moment of weakness) I bought this GP 150 Indian import off ebay.
The plan was to get a dodgy MOT and some insurance ,then register it, ride it through the summer (to find out what was wrong with it) and then strip it down over the following winter and restore it to its former glory (WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG ????)
So I sorted the wiring, lights, new tyres, brakes, horn etc then took it down to Alan at Diablo for new front suspension springs and dampers.
At the same time I sprayed the front hub abd rim and started playing around with colours (I'll have this on the road in a few weeks)
It failed on a dodgy rear wheel bearing. Back down to Alan who said if I was going to change the wheel bearing I might as well strip the engine down and put new oil seal and bearings (and a new crank) as well as new clutch and chain
So I stripped the whole thing and took it to the shot blasters (cheers George, dirty deeds done dirt cheap) although he pointed out that the frame was bent, so down to Damian at "Checkered past" to sort that out. (no pictures I'm afraid but top job)
Etch primer, rubbed it down, another coat of primer (proper job) In the mean time took the flywheel cover and head cowling to powder coaters (Alex at MPL Nuneaton 02476374761) did a fantastic job so cheap I took the rest of the bike back to the shot blaster (cheers George) and then to Alex to have everything powder coated (except the side panels which needed filling)
Started the dry build and everything was finally starting to come together
By this time it's getting towards the end of the summer and my pockets are quite a bit lighter (ended up buying new leg shields, running boards,wheel rims, seat (I liked the original one, but gave in to peer pressure) front mud guard plus loads of bits and pieces. Although I liked the look I though it neede some colour on the side panels, so sprayed them blue and gave myself a chest infection that put me off work for two weeks (should have worn a mask)
Bythis time the wife is giving me grief about the costs (good job she didn't see all the reciepts) and the fact that I spend more time on my GP than I do on her (I did point out that their were only a limited number of GP's made and half the population is female, but this didn't go down to well)
Started to get the engine back together, fitted everything myself (first time I've ever really picked up a spanner) then over tightened the chain guide nut, shreared it off and tried to drill it out (back down to Alan at Diablo) stripped it down again, welded the area and re drilled it and tapped it
New bearings oild seals, etc etc again, and finally got it back together (although I cracked the engine casing (think I didnt tighten the drive assembly bolt enough (paranoid about stripping it again as I did when I tried to use it to pull the crank into position
Quite pleased with the results (although its not quite finished) and I still haven't got it MOT'd and also I can't ride it as I haven't passed my test (even though I've been driving for over 20 years (dont get me started)
Am now looking out for a series 2 (preferably Indian) as I dont want to spoil a proper one.
Hope you like it
Everything was going well, until last Spring when (in a moment of weakness) I bought this GP 150 Indian import off ebay.
The plan was to get a dodgy MOT and some insurance ,then register it, ride it through the summer (to find out what was wrong with it) and then strip it down over the following winter and restore it to its former glory (WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG ????)
So I sorted the wiring, lights, new tyres, brakes, horn etc then took it down to Alan at Diablo for new front suspension springs and dampers.
At the same time I sprayed the front hub abd rim and started playing around with colours (I'll have this on the road in a few weeks)
It failed on a dodgy rear wheel bearing. Back down to Alan who said if I was going to change the wheel bearing I might as well strip the engine down and put new oil seal and bearings (and a new crank) as well as new clutch and chain
So I stripped the whole thing and took it to the shot blasters (cheers George, dirty deeds done dirt cheap) although he pointed out that the frame was bent, so down to Damian at "Checkered past" to sort that out. (no pictures I'm afraid but top job)
Etch primer, rubbed it down, another coat of primer (proper job) In the mean time took the flywheel cover and head cowling to powder coaters (Alex at MPL Nuneaton 02476374761) did a fantastic job so cheap I took the rest of the bike back to the shot blaster (cheers George) and then to Alex to have everything powder coated (except the side panels which needed filling)
Started the dry build and everything was finally starting to come together
By this time it's getting towards the end of the summer and my pockets are quite a bit lighter (ended up buying new leg shields, running boards,wheel rims, seat (I liked the original one, but gave in to peer pressure) front mud guard plus loads of bits and pieces. Although I liked the look I though it neede some colour on the side panels, so sprayed them blue and gave myself a chest infection that put me off work for two weeks (should have worn a mask)
Bythis time the wife is giving me grief about the costs (good job she didn't see all the reciepts) and the fact that I spend more time on my GP than I do on her (I did point out that their were only a limited number of GP's made and half the population is female, but this didn't go down to well)
Started to get the engine back together, fitted everything myself (first time I've ever really picked up a spanner) then over tightened the chain guide nut, shreared it off and tried to drill it out (back down to Alan at Diablo) stripped it down again, welded the area and re drilled it and tapped it
New bearings oild seals, etc etc again, and finally got it back together (although I cracked the engine casing (think I didnt tighten the drive assembly bolt enough (paranoid about stripping it again as I did when I tried to use it to pull the crank into position
Quite pleased with the results (although its not quite finished) and I still haven't got it MOT'd and also I can't ride it as I haven't passed my test (even though I've been driving for over 20 years (dont get me started)
Am now looking out for a series 2 (preferably Indian) as I dont want to spoil a proper one.
Hope you like it
