Wednesday 27 November 2013

Dilemmas.

Well, there's not much to show for it but I have been busy over the last few weeks.  The frame, forks, swinging arm and tank (plus a few other bits) are now off for blasting.  Once the old paint is off it'll be time to decide on whether to paint (expensive but the best finish) or powder coat (cheaper, so much cheaper!).

I've decided to get the original plastics painted.  As standard they're colour impregnated plastic and I really wanted to keep the finish as close to original as possible.  However, if I have any parts powder coated then the colour will have to be a RAL code and there isn't one that is an exact match to the original colour (Honda R-2 Scarlet).

One of the main dilemmas with this project is how far to take the restoration.  I often find myself tempted to go for a "concours" restoration, to make the machine as good as when it left the production line, as this should fetch the highest price.  But I need to trade off the desire to raise as much money as possible for the charity with the fact that I'm funding this myself and that there is a law of diminishing returns as a restoration approaches a "concours" standard.

Trying to find that balance affects all aspects of the restoration.  The finish on the chassis, paint versus powder coat, is one example.  Another is the exhaust, mentioned in an earlier post.  I've not managed to find a single example of a C110 silencer (or muffler for our transatlantic friends) in Europe.  I've found a couple in the US, however finding a company willing to ship to the UK appears to be difficult.  Even then there is a choice to be made.  Do I buy NOS Honda part, at ~$300, or do I buy a NOS pattern silencer (made in the '60s) at ~$100?  Once the silencer protector is fitted (don't get me started on trying to source a good example of one of these!) then will anyone notice the finish on the silencer itself anyway?  Although I'm led to believe the pattern silencer is a pretty good reproduction...

In other news, the new wheel rims and spokes have arrived.  The hubs are sitting in a box of bits ready to go off for vapour blasting, they are filthy but I'm assured they'll come up as new.  Fingers crossed!

I am hopeful that by Christmas I should be able to start building up the rolling chassis, we'll wait and see...



Tuesday 12 November 2013

Tyred out.

Removed the tyres from the wheels tonight, in preparation for rebuilding them.  The rear tyre is a late 60's Avon, not in too bad condition considering it's age but no good for using anymore.

                            

The hubs look as if they may clean up OK, a bit of elbow grease and there appears to be unpitted aluminium underneath.  The spokes and rims are only fit for the bin though.



So the question is, do I attempt to rebuild them myself or spend a bit more money and get a wheel building specialist to do them?  How hard can it be?! 


Thursday 7 November 2013

Shiney, shiney...

Little real progress to report, I'm not yet up to spending an evening in the garage after a day at work.  However, some New Old Stock (NOS) parts have been turning up!  Something about motorbike parts in their OEM wrapping makes me very happy.