Zed thou restoration restarted

[RALPHARAMA]

I have now finished (almost) building my new office and workshop so I no longer need to drive into the filthy smoke (Bristol) to work.

I have worked my arse off since July so now it's time for some Zed play. I've pulled the lump out, and am nearly finished stripping the old girl down to get the frame and bits powder coated. The tank and plastics are going off for painting. I've already taken the head and barrels off. She has a Wiseco big bore kit (approx 1050cc 1mm oversize) as I have previously mentioned on here. The pistons are as new and haven't even horn of the machining marks. They are however not a very good fit in the barrels! The obvious solution is to have another re-bore, but it seems a shame as the pistons are perfect. Perhaps I should keep my eyes open for a standard size but worn set of barrels and have them bored out properly? I've bought a set of new Wiseco rings, but I fear that I may be pouring good money after bad. Had the bores glaze busted but I am now fearing that teh old girls might still continue her bad habit of smoking! The valve guides were shagged and I have had them replaced at huge expense. I had bought another head before the building project started, but after spending a mint on having it vapour blasted, it transpired that one of the valve guides had been very badly bodged, leaving the valve running on the piss - bloody flea bay! There were also crack between the valves and plug holes and whilst I could have the guide sorted I think I'll concentrate on the bikes original head as this seems in much better shape. After my initial experience of vapour blasting I'm not sure that I like the level of glass and allied crap left and think that I'd rather have the engine slightly dirtier on the outside than me left with ground glass in the innards. Any ideas for cleaning the grubby engine without vapour blasting? Tried little brass wire wheels in my dremmel, but these seem to leave a thin coating of brass behind - presumably a big wheel would be worse. This year I invested hard cash in a little Clarke parts washer from Machine Mart and bought a gallon of the prescribed juice for it which is dilluted with water. I cant say that I've been overly impressed with the results. I have found that my original method of squirting IPA on the part and wiping with a rag seems more effective - anyone any thoughts on this?

I'm struggling the get the dynamo rotor off. I remeber I took the rotor off my old A2 years ago and I have a feeling that I used a big bolt as a puller, but so far I can't put my hands on a suitable bolt - anyone know what thread it is? I could cut one in a bit o bar on my lathe if I can put my hands on one. All this hassle cos a bit o dirt jumped down in when the barrel were carefully lifted - I was well carefull, with Henry on standby to catch the shit before it dived down, but even Henry can suck that quick! I guess it's not a bad idea to see what state the innards are in while I'm at it - anything to get out of bloody Christmas .. Bah humbug!
To those who like Christmas I wish you a good time and to the rest of you, look on the bright side, another week and it'll be over for another ... five months?
Ralph

[chrisu]

you're not supposed to do it but diesel in the parts washer works better that the water based ones.

[Garn 1]

Vduk, I usually remove these dynamo rotors by using the large head-stock bolt (or alternatively the large swing-arm bolt) with a 3/8" ball. You can hold the rotor with a suitable sized oil-filter remover. Watch out for the key after rotor has been removed, it usually sticks to the magnetic rotor, if it is loose in keyway.
RegardZ.

[Steve Cooke]

I think the wheel spindle fits if my memory serves me correct.

[paul doran]

correct Steven
award that man 1 mince pie

[RALPHARAMA]

The swingarm bolt was the right size Rear wheel spindle was too big.

I don't like the idea of diesel as it stinks to high heaven. The auxilary engine in my sailing boat is a diesel and I dread servicing it as one enevitably gets the filthy muck on the puds (disolves Jonny gloves like there's no tomorrow) and is particularly carcinogenic, which is why diesel fitters often get cancer of the wedding tackle!

A friend today suggested ultrasonic cleaning as being a good method for cleaning parts - any thoughts on this?

Ralph

[london calling]

Ultrasonic is great,can just drop the whole motor in if your tank is big enough.
Enviro solve is a company that supply fluid for parts cleaners but always use the correct gloves not puff gloves as they don't like solvents.

[Pasc]

Jack, I didn't realise puffs get different gloves to the rest of us.

[RALPHARAMA]

Are ultrasonic tanks expensive? Is it something one could make oneself? Can't see any on fleabay that would be anywhere near big enough to take a Zed head.

I made a 316 SS diesel tank for my boat, so welding up a bit o stainless isn't too scarey.

By puff gloves, do you mean Johnny gloves? If I don't wear Johnny gloves working on my bike, the current bride removes certain privileges - goes on about hygiene an stuff!

[Steve Cooke]

Front wheel spindle?

[PJones]

Hi Guys, my good friend is a director of envirosol based in west bromwich,

If anyone need anything I could ask him!!

cheers

pj

[london calling]

Ralph,large ultrasonic tanks are still quite expensive but the smaller ones have got much cheaper over the last few years.
Basically it's just a stainless steel tank with heater element and an electric current is passed through the liquid,washing up liquid and water will do.
I iamgine if you do a google search on the internet you should be able to find more technical information on ultrasonic cleaning.
Puff gloves,Johnny gloves must be the same thing??
Disposable latex examination gloves.
As for you Pasc "how very dare you"

[RALPHARAMA]

I've been agonising over how to paint the old gurl. I've now dceided that I really don't like the Thou A1 colour / lining out ... looks a bit as though someone had sprayed the bike themselves and bought a cheap roll of gold pinstripe and added it as an afterthought. I was tempted by the A2 colours but felt that they were a bit bland - had kinda lost the original zed bite. So I have decided that a compromise is the graphics from the year before the '76 900 in green. Is it possible to buy the lining out/graphics? If I could get a flat copy of the artwork I have a CNC vinyl cutter, but God alone knows how I would transfer a 3D tank/side panel graphic to a flat bit o vinyl and then make it wrapable, with any realistic hope of it looking anything approaching good! I have a good body shop to paint the parts but they don't really specialise in bikes, so I have to hand it to them on a plate really. It's all tied up with a business deal so I'm keen to use them and their quality is excellent. When I popped in before christmas they had a newish Aston Martin in for a colour change - you don't get that sorta work if you're not A1.

[Steve S]

ooooh i love Aston Martinsssssssssssssssssssss

[floydsz1]

Mate of mine got an ultrasonic tank from aldi or netto, ( i always get them mixed up). it was only big enough to put one carb in but seemed to work, and was cheap.