16
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17
Tech Talk / Shocks on-line ??
« on: April 08, 2015, 06:58:25 pm »
I'm thinking of ordering some shocks for the pre-'78 bike online. They want to know all the distances and the weight of bike and rider etc., which makes good sense.
But I'm just wondering how good they are at getting the spring and damping rate right first time ? Has anyone done this successfully, or does it end up with having to send the springs back etc etc ?
Anyone been down this track lately ?
Ta
Nitram
But I'm just wondering how good they are at getting the spring and damping rate right first time ? Has anyone done this successfully, or does it end up with having to send the springs back etc etc ?
Anyone been down this track lately ?
Ta
Nitram
18
Tech Talk / Re: Gearbox shimming.............
« on: March 13, 2015, 08:44:18 am »
Just for the assistance of anyone who is out there looking for shims (or am I the only person in VMX dumb enough to mess about with an engine that needs shims in the gearbox 
) .........................
None of the half dozen bearing supply places in Sydney and Brisbane that I rang sold shims, except for Statewide Bearings' Sydney shop at Smithfield, who quoted me between $90 and $110 per shim................!! And I've still got the emailed quote he sent me to prove it ! Surely he was dreaming......? I had to strongly resist the urge to write back and inquire about the non-gold-plated ones......
Fortunately I was lucky enough to be given the number of Precision Shims in Melbourne who turned out to have exactly what I needed, rang me back twice to sort it out, charged me a pittance (well.......$5 per shim isn't nothing, but I'm now aware that gearbox shims are actually a pretty scarce commodity......), didn't gouge me too badly for postage, and were totally friendly and helpful in the process. If you need shims, give them a call- 0397230199
Cheers,
Nitram
) .........................None of the half dozen bearing supply places in Sydney and Brisbane that I rang sold shims, except for Statewide Bearings' Sydney shop at Smithfield, who quoted me between $90 and $110 per shim................!! And I've still got the emailed quote he sent me to prove it ! Surely he was dreaming......? I had to strongly resist the urge to write back and inquire about the non-gold-plated ones......
Fortunately I was lucky enough to be given the number of Precision Shims in Melbourne who turned out to have exactly what I needed, rang me back twice to sort it out, charged me a pittance (well.......$5 per shim isn't nothing, but I'm now aware that gearbox shims are actually a pretty scarce commodity......), didn't gouge me too badly for postage, and were totally friendly and helpful in the process. If you need shims, give them a call- 0397230199
Cheers,
Nitram
19
Tech Talk / Re: Gearbox shimming.............
« on: March 05, 2015, 07:33:14 pm »I will be replacing the rear gearbox seal, but no shaft to mess about with on this sweet little thing........
Guzzi 500 Nuovo Falcone.
I'm in the process of assembling the gearbox roughly with normal (non-hardened) washers and then I should have a close idea of exactly what I need to get by way of hardened shims. Getting the shimming right is quite a drawnout process, but therapeutic in a masochistic kind of way. There's a surprising amout of info out there about these engines once you start digging around. Unfortunately its mostly in Italian, and surprisingly often in German. But that's all part of the adventure.
Sounds like Statewide Bearings might be the go, 'though I'd be surprised if there isn't someone in Sydney or closer to hand: yep I'm in the blue Mountains. I'll give Statewide a ring in the morning.
Thanks for the replies.
Cheers,
Nitram
20
Italian (Moto Villa, Beta, SWM etc) / Re: Swm not revving out?
« on: March 04, 2015, 11:12:02 pm »
Hamster, the TF1 looks just like a Can-Am Bombadier engine. Not sure where you live, but find your local Can-Am enthusiast, and borrow their stator assembly- i.e the RHS crankcase cover with the ignition bolted inside it.
Let me know if you're in NSW and I can probably help.
Cheers,
Nitram
Let me know if you're in NSW and I can probably help.
Cheers,
Nitram
21
Tech Talk / Gearbox shimming.............
« on: March 04, 2015, 11:01:19 pm »
Hi All,
I'm working on an old motorbike engine (OK, it's not a VMX bike...) and trying to sort out the gearbox (OK, it's Italian... 
.). The thing must have been put together by a bunch of drunks late on a Friday afternoon (OK it's a Guzzi....... ) because the shimming is not within a bulls roar of what it needs to be (OK, it's a late 60s bike........ 
) and it's no wonder that the gears and selector forks are all mangled and blued (OK I paid too much for it....... 
)
So here's my question, apart from trolling through the parts book for part numbers and then writing to a million Guzzi spares places around the planet looking for NOS, where can I find gearbox shims ? I'm talking about hardened steel shims- the kind we find in gearboxes). I initially expected that they'd be available through bearing supply places, but all my inquiries so far have drawn a blank. Phil H. suggested I talk to someone who works on automatic gearboxes in cars, but again my inquiries so far have resulted in vacant stares and an unashamed suggestion that I'm wasting their precious time.......
But surely I'm not the first person who has tried to fix a gearbox's dodgy shimming ? In truth, as a previous Montesa rider, I have gathered together a considerable collection of gearbox (and crankshaft shims) but none of them suit the Guzzi, which has a proliferation of 17mm, 19mm, 25mm and 35mm i.d. shims, in .010", .020" and .040" thicknesses.
Any ideas/suggestions, apart from that I ditch the engine and replace it with a nice Yamazuki one ?
Cheers,
Nitram
I'm working on an old motorbike engine (OK, it's not a VMX bike..
.) and trying to sort out the gearbox (OK, it's Italian... .). The thing must have been put together by a bunch of drunks late on a Friday afternoon (OK it's a Guzzi....... ) because the shimming is not within a bulls roar of what it needs to be (OK, it's a late 60s bike........ ) and it's no wonder that the gears and selector forks are all mangled and blued (OK I paid too much for it....... ) So here's my question, apart from trolling through the parts book for part numbers and then writing to a million Guzzi spares places around the planet looking for NOS, where can I find gearbox shims ? I'm talking about hardened steel shims- the kind we find in gearboxes). I initially expected that they'd be available through bearing supply places, but all my inquiries so far have drawn a blank. Phil H. suggested I talk to someone who works on automatic gearboxes in cars, but again my inquiries so far have resulted in vacant stares and an unashamed suggestion that I'm wasting their precious time.......
But surely I'm not the first person who has tried to fix a gearbox's dodgy shimming ? In truth, as a previous Montesa rider, I have gathered together a considerable collection of gearbox (and crankshaft shims) but none of them suit the Guzzi, which has a proliferation of 17mm, 19mm, 25mm and 35mm i.d. shims, in .010", .020" and .040" thicknesses.
Any ideas/suggestions, apart from that I ditch the engine and replace it with a nice Yamazuki one ?
Cheers,
Nitram
22
Tech Talk / Re: Ohlins bites the Gloucester dust....... :-(
« on: May 05, 2014, 07:42:51 pm »
Jeeze Lozza your memory must go back a long way !......... Ken and I did think about a cable tie repair job...........
But these things cost a motza, and the other one's perfectly good ! Surely someone will have a buggered one in the past and have a half a set still in their shed?
Nitram
But these things cost a motza, and the other one's perfectly good ! Surely someone will have a buggered one in the past and have a half a set still in their shed
? Nitram
23
Tech Talk / Ohlins bites the Gloucester dust....... :-(
« on: May 05, 2014, 07:33:45 pm »
Sadly one of my precious Ohlins piggybacks met a sticky end in the scramble for Gloucester's first corner on Saturday, leaving the Can Am with a pretty bouncy and wild ride for the rest of the weekend........... :'( :'(
I don't suppose anyone has a spare salvagable Ohlins shock body gathering dust in a corner of the shed ? From memory the shock is around 400mm eye to eye, but it could be that the bodies are all the same
Or is that just wishful thinking .......
Any suggestions ?
Cheers,
Nitram
I don't suppose anyone has a spare salvagable Ohlins shock body gathering dust in a corner of the shed ? From memory the shock is around 400mm eye to eye, but it could be that the bodies are all the same
Or is that just wishful thinking .......Any suggestions ?
Cheers,
Nitram
24
Bike Talk / Re: Chain support ( guard )
« on: February 12, 2014, 10:05:49 pm »
Will this do the trick ? It's a piece of 7mm nylon, and it sits about 1/2" away from the chain's lower run.
25
Competition / Cessnock VMX- pre-'75 friendly ?
« on: February 04, 2014, 09:12:42 pm »
Just thinking about hosing the dust off a Can-Am for HEAVEN Round 1 at Cessnock. Has anyone ridden an old bike around there ? Is it the kind of place a pre-'75 bike is going to survive, or is it rough as buggery with huge jumps ?
Just wondering...
Cheers,
Nitram
Just wondering...
Cheers,
Nitram
26
Competition / Re: Heaven Round 3 - Lake Glenbawn 15/16 June
« on: June 17, 2013, 10:28:38 am »
I know these pix won't be up to Ms Hardo's standard, but they're my favourites from the ones I took on the weekend.
See you next time.
Cheers,
Nitram
Ken with his shiny new Honda.
Smiley Greg.......
1st corner of the EVO Open
Noel in full flight.
See you next time.
Cheers,
Nitram
Ken with his shiny new Honda.
Smiley Greg.......
1st corner of the EVO Open
Noel in full flight.
27
For Sale / Re: Rossi VMX boots- free to good home !!!
« on: December 16, 2012, 07:35:40 pm »
SOLD !! To the man with six feet......
Enjoy.
Nitram
Enjoy.
Nitram
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For Sale / Re: Rossi VMX boots- free to good home !!!
« on: December 15, 2012, 10:47:16 pm »
No worries Firko. Maybe we need to form a counselling/support group for all the ex-Rossi wearers who have clapped-out buckle-ups in the shed, but can't bring themselves to toss them in the bin ! 
So many memories attached to those boots !! :'( :'( However did our ankles survive !!
Cheers,
Martin
So many memories attached to those boots !! :'( :'( However did our ankles survive !!Cheers,
Martin
29
For Sale / Rossi VMX boots- free to good home !!!
« on: December 15, 2012, 09:05:19 pm »
Rossi Boots- three pairs !! Classic Rossis to go with your open face and goggles at CD11 !
There are no sizes on them, but I'd say close to 44, 43 and 42. All well-used, but quite useable, if that's what you're into......
They are free to whoever wants to come and get them, but there are conditions attached:
1. Take one, take all !
2. Must come and get them a.s.a.p. from me here in the Blue Mountains- Springwood area- i.e. in the next week or so or they go in the big bin !! Don't ask me to post them unless you want to make it worth my while to go to the trouble !!
Cheers,
Nitram 0412 169255
Classic Rossis to go with your open face and goggles at CD11 !There are no sizes on them, but I'd say close to 44, 43 and 42. All well-used, but quite useable, if that's what you're into......
They are free to whoever wants to come and get them, but there are conditions attached:
1. Take one, take all !
2. Must come and get them a.s.a.p. from me here in the Blue Mountains- Springwood area- i.e. in the next week or so or they go in the big bin !! Don't ask me to post them unless you want to make it worth my while to go to the trouble !!
Cheers,
Nitram 0412 169255
30
General Discussion / Macquarie Towns Motorcycle Restoration and Preservation Club
« on: December 04, 2012, 07:55:30 pm »
I've been trying to find some info about this club but drawn a bit of a blank with the usual Google searches etc.
Does anyone know if they have a website ? Any contact numbers ?
Ta
Nitram
Does anyone know if they have a website ? Any contact numbers ?
Ta
Nitram