Removing the rear swingarm - very easy job. Yeah it was probably loose too! Seriously Mike, can't wait to see the end result. Will be following closely. Cheers from another Brit in Australia.
So a bigger pile of parts to sort out now Mike. Good work on stripping the Manxman out, I know you will be looking at everything with a fine tooth comb quite a lot to keep you busy come winter maybe? As always thanks for sharing Mike, have a great week atvb t ..
Thank you Wooley! Yes, this video is a week old and we have already visited the frame straightening company. He has seen a few more things that need attention, but he doesn't seem too concerned.. phew!
Nice work as always Mike. I must admit though to having a little giggle when the bearings scattered.. twice.. !! :) I can only imagine how nice this bike is going to be when you have finished. I love your methodical careful approach to your builds. I would do well to follow your example . Thanks Mike
Hehe. The gave me a bit of a shock. I honestly thought that it would just start edging out of the tube and never expected it to shoot out of there like a bullet! Thanks very much Jimmy, best wishes, Mike
Great stuff, soaking everything in atf acetone for a few weeks make a Huge difference, also soak rusty parts in white straight vinegar for 2 3 days also works great .Am about to restore a 71 250 Goldstar winter project, complete, sort of runs, 3321 miles but i presume more since the speedo is not functioning.Cheers from Canada...
Thank you very much David! I really appreciate it. It has been a very enjoyable project so far. I'm about a week behind on this video so I took the frame to the frame place on Friday. He definitely thinks that it can be fixed and also found a couple of other items that need some attention. So I'm feeling really good about the prospects. Best wishes, Mike
I think that the elevated bike stand is not an advantage when actually removing the engine, it is much easier if you can get above the weight, and also less of a lift onto the floor, at least all the bolts came undone easily ! I hope you are going to dump those hideous bars when you rebuild. Well done. Chris B.
Hi Chris, yes I realized afterwards that it would probably been better to try and take the engine out with the frame lower down.. I'm sorry to say, but it may end up with even taller bars!! The original spec has enormous handlebars,, but what I might do is get a of flatter bars that I will use and use the taller bars for shows, etc. Cheers, Mike
I hope you had your steel toecap boots on when you pulled that engine out. It's the kind of job I like to do a floor level and roll the engine out onto a big piece if foam.
Puling engines are always a pain in the a$$! I've learned to lay the engine on it's side propped up/elevated and the framed layed down over it then drop in the bolts. It's about the only way you can get a Honda engine in without loosing your mind.
I didn’t watch the entire video due to sketchy internet access where I am at the moment, but I didn’t see a head steady. Something that is necessary to “help” prevent the featherbed steering head from bending. Won’t save it in a crash, but best to have one on there. Folks tend to assume (as I once did) that they are on there just to control engine vibration. Did one come with the bike? I am curious as to why your frame straightener didn’t want the bike with the engine and gearbox still installed. Helps to insure that the motor mounts etc don’t get pulled out of alignment. The motor etc still might have to come out for some of the repairs, but better chance of things staying aligned for the major pull. Good luck with your project.
Hi, thanks a lot for your help. Yes, it did have a head-steady fitted. I took it off earlier. The frame straightener didn’t need the engine or gearbox. He’s done so many featherbed frames that he has made himself some jigs that simulate to the engine and gearbox in the cradle, so I’m very confident that he will keep everything in alignment. I’m really looking forward to going back in about a month to pick the frame up and hear what he did. Hoping to capture his update on video too!
Good that he has a jig. Properly done, a jig would be better than stressing the cases if the frame requires some serious work. Interesting bike you have there and good that it is being restored. Not sure I could deal with the original seat cover though... bet it will generate a few comments.
One thing I've always loved about your videos is how simple and straightforward you make your work appear. This has been the best project so far.
Thank you very much indeed!!
The Norton has found a good home. Good job!
Thanks very much Larry, I'm really enjoying this project, Best wishes, Mike
Better and better! Much improved video, audio, and captions. Thank you Mike!
Thanks a lot Steve. I'm grateful for your feedback and will continue to strive to improve the vid/audio quality! Best wishes, Mike
Removing the rear swingarm - very easy job. Yeah it was probably loose too! Seriously Mike, can't wait to see the end result. Will be following closely. Cheers from another Brit in Australia.
Thanks a lot Paul! Australia is on my bucket list of places to visit. Would absolutely love to visit one of these days! Best wishes, Mike
So a bigger pile of parts to sort out now Mike. Good work on stripping the Manxman out, I know you will be looking at everything with a fine tooth comb quite a lot to keep you busy come winter maybe?
As always thanks for sharing Mike, have a great week atvb t ..
Hi Terry, yes for sure. This is going to take a little while. I hope all is well with you, Best wishes
Somebody really did a number on the frame didn't they. Good you had another to show the difference, good going on the project.
Thank you Wooley! Yes, this video is a week old and we have already visited the frame straightening company. He has seen a few more things that need attention, but he doesn't seem too concerned.. phew!
Nice work as always Mike. I must admit though to having a little giggle when the bearings scattered.. twice.. !! :) I can only imagine how nice this bike is going to be when you have finished. I love your methodical careful approach to your builds. I would do well to follow your example . Thanks Mike
Hehe. The gave me a bit of a shock. I honestly thought that it would just start edging out of the tube and never expected it to shoot out of there like a bullet! Thanks very much Jimmy, best wishes, Mike
Great video again! Thanks!
Thanks very much! Best wishes, Mike
Great stuff, soaking everything in atf acetone for a few weeks make a Huge difference, also soak rusty parts in white straight vinegar for 2 3 days also works great .Am about to restore a 71 250 Goldstar winter project, complete, sort of runs, 3321 miles but i presume more since the speedo is not functioning.Cheers from Canada...
Thanks a lot Andy for your note. Good luck with your project! Best wishes for 2020. Cheers, Mike
Hope you found all the bearings 😂
So enjoyable watching you work, you make it look so easy.
Looking forward to the next instalment.
Thank you very much David! I really appreciate it. It has been a very enjoyable project so far. I'm about a week behind on this video so I took the frame to the frame place on Friday. He definitely thinks that it can be fixed and also found a couple of other items that need some attention. So I'm feeling really good about the prospects. Best wishes, Mike
Some good hammer action there Mike!!
Hehe. That caught me by surprise! I thought it would just inch out and it shot out if the tube like a rocket! 😊
I think that the elevated bike stand is not an advantage when actually removing the engine, it is much easier if you can get above the weight, and also less of a lift onto the floor, at least all the bolts came undone easily ! I hope you are going to dump those hideous bars when you rebuild. Well done. Chris B.
Hi Chris, yes I realized afterwards that it would probably been better to try and take the engine out with the frame lower down.. I'm sorry to say, but it may end up with even taller bars!! The original spec has enormous handlebars,, but what I might do is get a of flatter bars that I will use and use the taller bars for shows, etc. Cheers, Mike
Looking forward to the project thank you for sharing
Thanks a lot Derek. Best wishes, Mike
I hope you had your steel toecap boots on when you pulled that engine out. It's the kind of job I like to do a floor level and roll the engine out onto a big piece if foam.
Hehe, yes I did have a nice padded floor mat to place the engine on! It wasn't so heavy thankfully, being a 650cc engine. Cheers, Mike
Good stuff... In the time you did all that I only managed to rebuild the carbs and adjust the valves on the twin..:-)Cheers,Eric
Hehe, thanks Eric. I was under the gun to get that completed. It helped having a little motivation! Cheers, Mike
Puling engines are always a pain in the a$$! I've learned to lay the engine on it's side propped up/elevated and the framed layed down over it then drop in the bolts. It's about the only way you can get a Honda engine in without loosing your mind.
Thanks, yes, fitting it may take some help and a lot of protective covering for the nice paintwork! Best wishes, Mike
I didn’t watch the entire video due to sketchy internet access where I am at the moment, but I didn’t see a head steady. Something that is necessary to “help” prevent the featherbed steering head from bending. Won’t save it in a crash, but best to have one on there. Folks tend to assume (as I once did) that they are on there just to control engine vibration. Did one come with the bike? I am curious as to why your frame straightener didn’t want the bike with the engine and gearbox still installed. Helps to insure that the motor mounts etc don’t get pulled out of alignment. The motor etc still might have to come out for some of the repairs, but better chance of things staying aligned for the major pull. Good luck with your project.
Hi, thanks a lot for your help. Yes, it did have a head-steady fitted. I took it off earlier. The frame straightener didn’t need the engine or gearbox. He’s done so many featherbed frames that he has made himself some jigs that simulate to the engine and gearbox in the cradle, so I’m very confident that he will keep everything in alignment. I’m really looking forward to going back in about a month to pick the frame up and hear what he did. Hoping to capture his update on video too!
Good that he has a jig. Properly done, a jig would be better than stressing the cases if the frame requires some serious work. Interesting bike you have there and good that it is being restored. Not sure I could deal with the original seat cover though... bet it will generate a few comments.
First, thanks for the video Mike - I needed a fix to face the work week ahead LOL! Also, poor Shep... another year??? ;)
Haha, thanks Brendan. I do hope that I can get to Shep sooner, but this one may take a little while. Perhaps I could do both together??
Poor Shep☹️.
Hehe, It was looking a little sorry for itself, wasn't it! Best wishes Neil