These days I don´t do much other than work on the racer. There´s still lots of small stuff to attend to. My time is split between the garage, the computer and different shops all over town looking for parts, tools or material.
Yesterday I came in contact with a graphics business here in Stockholm that could help me getting the correct numbers on the bike. Remember I need the number "12" as my start number. That is what "ESSO" had on it when he won the Swedish GP. Those numbers would be fairly easy to get done. I sent them a mail with good pictures of the characters and they will make new ones from the pictures with the correct font and the right size. Check!
They, Södermalms snabbkopiering, will also duplicate the "BP" shield for the fairing sides and change the measurements of the "Dunlop" and "CHAMPION" decals to fit better. The rest of them are done by Johnny´s friend in Kristinehamn.
OK, having the graphics done, it was time to start working seriously on getting the fairing back on the bike. This is a job I´ve been putting off for some time. I know it will be a pain getting it right and failing getting the fasteners and brackets right is NOT an option...
First I had to attend to the transmission vent hose.
The original part number, 92059-025 Pipe breather, hasn´t shown up during the three years I´ve been looking. Now it was time to get something else. The problem is the tube fitting on the oil filler cap is 14 mm thick and all fuel/oil hoses with that inner diameter tend to have very thick walls, some of them with reinforced rubber making them even thicker. I visited a few automotive stores, VVS stores and ended up at an hydraulic line shop.
They had a small piece of this 10 mm inner diameter textile braided tube. I kind of liked the look of it and figured I would be able to get it on to the oil filler. Not so easy...
I had to get the braiding off and use my heat gun and still it didn´t look right.
On to the next option.
This one was a very thin-walled general purpose tube that looked OK if it wasn´t for the color... Blue is not going to fly here. I considered painting it with some kind of vinyl spray but realized that would never work...
How about some shrink tubing?
Why not? That worked fine. I changed the color on the tube in a very simple and effective way. This will do fine until the correct type of rubber tube shows up somewhere along the way.
Let´s move on to the fairing. It has been put off long enough now.
I wanted to make sure there would be a small clearance all around the pipes, clutch and ignition cover. ..
During my efforts to sew my own seat cover I had bought a patch of 1 cm thick padding that came in very handy now. (Never, ever throw anything away....!!)
This way I can be sure the fairing will be placed at a suitable distance from the engine and pipes.
Time to get cracking with the fairing parts...
It was a bit challenging, to say the least, getting it on and getting it on straight and level with the rest of the bike.
I only had ONE secure point as reference, the top front one.
That hole was still intact and presumable in the correct place. Getting that attached was easy. And then I noticed the fairing could be turned and pressed in numerous ways all around the bike getting very different references for drilling the remaining 4 fasting holes. The hours passed...
I figured I needed some kind of fixed reference and decided it had to be the frame tubes just above the engine. Placing a level there showed how the bike was leaning on the lift.
Placing the level on the fairing bracket up front made me realize I was off by a bit in adjusting the bracket. Down a fair bit on the right side.
Now I knew the front bracket was level with the frame tubes. That should mean if I could get the top part of the fairing to fit nicely up there it would be quite close to level also at the rear.
Here we are getting closer... There´s ample clearance all around the motor and pipes, even the ignition cover is free from it. Thankfully I made my frame lugs slightly longer than needed. That can be adjusted later on for a more perfect and slim fit of the fairing.
Time to do the scary bit!
After checking, double checking and triple (!) checking I did it!
I put the drill in to my freshly repaired and repainted H1R fairing!
"No guts, No glory" as we say in the airline industry....
I actually think I nailed it! A few hours of fettling back and forth got it done in a very acceptable way.
I thought about leaving it for the day, but figured I might just as well proceed with the clear wind screen.
That was a decision I deeply regretted a few moments later...
First I clamped the screen to the fairing at the rear ends to line up the edges of the screen with the rear ends of the fiber glass fairing. This to see if it would fit as anticipated.
It did, it sure did! On the left here is the first hole drilled in the screen. You need to start at the center and work your way rearwards screw by screw. So far so good!
And that was when disaster struck....
Trying to ever so lightly press the screen upwards to get a better angle for the screws the rear clamp gave up and I shredded the screen at the front screw....
What I thought and said in the garage isn´t appropriate for writing in a family motor blog.
OK, the damage already done. I might just as well try and get it on for fitment of the other screws. A quick call to "Tullar´n" asking if he could possibly make me another screen and have it ready next week?
No answer.
I left a message and decided to try and get it on as best I could. Now I felt like a complete idiot and it would escalate from that point.
It proved very difficult to drill holes in the screen. I used a 5 mm drill bit, new and sharp, but I could feel how it almost cracked the screen every time I tried to drill a hole.
Being slightly angry at myself,, pushing a bit to hard made me crack it a few times more drilling the retched holes... D*MN!
Well, I finally got it on there and, Thank God, it was straight and level and actually looked quite all right apart from the cracks and missing pieces...
And here´s the proof of my total ignorance when it comes to mounting wind screens...
A large, very visible crack from one of the screws angling upwards over the screen.
Still no reply from "Tullar´n" so I started to figure I had to do with this screen for next weekend and the show.
No big deal, I have no problem confessing my own shortcomings as a mechanic or as a human being. That is part of life. Learn from it and move on!
From a distance it looks fine. That´ll do for now. Getting the last two fastening screws in place at the top rear of the fairing was easy enough. No mishaps there. Straight and level and a nice, snug fit all around the bike.
A small happy dance anyway...
A view from the left hand side. The seat cover will be changed for the show, but apart from that it is getting finished for its premiere show... First test with the original display tank. Looks fab!
The right side of the bike. The engine vent hose can be seen inside the fairing.
Now all it needs is a little patina here and there. Let´s hope I can get that at the track. I hope I´ll be able to, at least, start it up in the pit. Driving is uncertain due to sound restrictions at the track. I will NOT put silencers on my original, completely restored original expansion chambers...
I solved the issue with the cracked wind screen in a very simple way. "ESSO" worked with BP for a number of years even selling fuel at the races to other drivers and even at car races. I found an original sticker from "ESSO´S" widow and put it over the crack.
Yeah, it works. For now.
As it sits today. More or less completed and ready for its first start-up in over 40 years.
Nervous? Yeah, you bet!
Three years of loving labor and tinkering in the garage and at the computer, meeting lots of wonderful people all over the world sharing the same passion for these old race bikes.
It is a wonderful story coming to an end very soon.
Later last night I got a call from "Tullar´n".
He will make me a couple of new wind screens! Yeah, I ordered two... Just to be sure.
And the next time I will use a ceramic tile drill bit! Never use an ordinary drill bit on plexi glass!
I´m pretty sure he mentioned this to me when I got the screen last winter, but I have forgotten all about it! You learn as you go along. Always.
Now, the weekend is off for some family time. I actually do need a break from the garage right now.
Hopefully I´ll be able to try and start it up next week when I can borrow Janne´s pit starter. I´m NOT going to invest 1000£ to get my own.
There´s a limit to what is economically viable .
Have a nice weekend and stay cool in the heat!!
/Per
Yesterday I came in contact with a graphics business here in Stockholm that could help me getting the correct numbers on the bike. Remember I need the number "12" as my start number. That is what "ESSO" had on it when he won the Swedish GP. Those numbers would be fairly easy to get done. I sent them a mail with good pictures of the characters and they will make new ones from the pictures with the correct font and the right size. Check!
They, Södermalms snabbkopiering, will also duplicate the "BP" shield for the fairing sides and change the measurements of the "Dunlop" and "CHAMPION" decals to fit better. The rest of them are done by Johnny´s friend in Kristinehamn.
OK, having the graphics done, it was time to start working seriously on getting the fairing back on the bike. This is a job I´ve been putting off for some time. I know it will be a pain getting it right and failing getting the fasteners and brackets right is NOT an option...
First I had to attend to the transmission vent hose.
The original part number, 92059-025 Pipe breather, hasn´t shown up during the three years I´ve been looking. Now it was time to get something else. The problem is the tube fitting on the oil filler cap is 14 mm thick and all fuel/oil hoses with that inner diameter tend to have very thick walls, some of them with reinforced rubber making them even thicker. I visited a few automotive stores, VVS stores and ended up at an hydraulic line shop.
I had to get the braiding off and use my heat gun and still it didn´t look right.
On to the next option.
Why not? That worked fine. I changed the color on the tube in a very simple and effective way. This will do fine until the correct type of rubber tube shows up somewhere along the way.
I wanted to make sure there would be a small clearance all around the pipes, clutch and ignition cover. ..
During my efforts to sew my own seat cover I had bought a patch of 1 cm thick padding that came in very handy now. (Never, ever throw anything away....!!)
This way I can be sure the fairing will be placed at a suitable distance from the engine and pipes.
It was a bit challenging, to say the least, getting it on and getting it on straight and level with the rest of the bike.
I only had ONE secure point as reference, the top front one.
That hole was still intact and presumable in the correct place. Getting that attached was easy. And then I noticed the fairing could be turned and pressed in numerous ways all around the bike getting very different references for drilling the remaining 4 fasting holes. The hours passed...
Now I knew the front bracket was level with the frame tubes. That should mean if I could get the top part of the fairing to fit nicely up there it would be quite close to level also at the rear.
Time to do the scary bit!
I put the drill in to my freshly repaired and repainted H1R fairing!
"No guts, No glory" as we say in the airline industry....
I thought about leaving it for the day, but figured I might just as well proceed with the clear wind screen.
That was a decision I deeply regretted a few moments later...
First I clamped the screen to the fairing at the rear ends to line up the edges of the screen with the rear ends of the fiber glass fairing. This to see if it would fit as anticipated.
Trying to ever so lightly press the screen upwards to get a better angle for the screws the rear clamp gave up and I shredded the screen at the front screw....
What I thought and said in the garage isn´t appropriate for writing in a family motor blog.
OK, the damage already done. I might just as well try and get it on for fitment of the other screws. A quick call to "Tullar´n" asking if he could possibly make me another screen and have it ready next week?
No answer.
I left a message and decided to try and get it on as best I could. Now I felt like a complete idiot and it would escalate from that point.
Being slightly angry at myself,, pushing a bit to hard made me crack it a few times more drilling the retched holes... D*MN!
A large, very visible crack from one of the screws angling upwards over the screen.
Still no reply from "Tullar´n" so I started to figure I had to do with this screen for next weekend and the show.
No big deal, I have no problem confessing my own shortcomings as a mechanic or as a human being. That is part of life. Learn from it and move on!
A small happy dance anyway...
Now all it needs is a little patina here and there. Let´s hope I can get that at the track. I hope I´ll be able to, at least, start it up in the pit. Driving is uncertain due to sound restrictions at the track. I will NOT put silencers on my original, completely restored original expansion chambers...
Yeah, it works. For now.
Nervous? Yeah, you bet!
Three years of loving labor and tinkering in the garage and at the computer, meeting lots of wonderful people all over the world sharing the same passion for these old race bikes.
It is a wonderful story coming to an end very soon.
Later last night I got a call from "Tullar´n".
He will make me a couple of new wind screens! Yeah, I ordered two... Just to be sure.
And the next time I will use a ceramic tile drill bit! Never use an ordinary drill bit on plexi glass!
I´m pretty sure he mentioned this to me when I got the screen last winter, but I have forgotten all about it! You learn as you go along. Always.
Now, the weekend is off for some family time. I actually do need a break from the garage right now.
Hopefully I´ll be able to try and start it up next week when I can borrow Janne´s pit starter. I´m NOT going to invest 1000£ to get my own.
There´s a limit to what is economically viable .
Have a nice weekend and stay cool in the heat!!
/Per
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