Iota progress

[mack]

I know my signature says I'm in the process of restoring an E but haven't posted any progree reports, so here what I've done so far.
Chrome has been completed.

Powder coating is almost done. Still have the wheels, rear caliper and thrust plate to do.

The motor has been stripped and all the internals have be cleaned. I've cleaned and polished the covers and dry fiited everything today.


As you can see, one of the locating dowels is preventing the Jugs from dropping in. If I remember correctly it was tough getting one side up during removal. I can't get it out so I have to figure out something on that.



The fairing, hard bags, sides and tank have been painted but I haven't taken pictures. So it's coming. I hope to have it ready to ride for the spring. Next thing will be to plasti guage the big end, crank mains and cams. Then I can start putting the motor back together. If the big end bearings don't pass, I'm screwed. I've looked but can't find any new brown shells. Without them, what I have here is several big piles of very good parts.

[crazy steve]

Purty.........

[Gmac]

Have you checked any manufacturers to see if there are cross matched bearings that you can use?

I can't believe something like a bearing shell could not be rebuilt or built outright by one of them if they had the originals to work with.

It might not be cost effective but it sure beats a pile of expensive parts.

That chrome is outstanding btw.

[mack]

Steve I haven't forgotten our discussion. I'm keeping track and will give it all to you in one big shot, photo's, video's etc.

Gmac- I'm not going to get too worried until after the guage testing.

[DiverRay]

I have a few mains, but I'm not sure what colors I have left. I WILL need some for my '78 project, so once I gauge mine, I'll know what I can part with. Let me know when it gets close, as I'd like to try and keep one more on the road....

[Radioguylogs]

Mack:

That's an incredible job. Museum quality.

Nice work area too!

How did you pick the chrome plating place? Most refuse exhausts because it dirties the acid tank.

[timoteo539]

How much did the chrome plating cost?

[mack]

Diver Ray- The mains aren't the problem it's the connecting rod halves I may need. I bought a complete kit of main shells earlier this year and only need one colour, so if you need some colours later just PM me.

Radio - I took the chrome to a guy in Ottawa who does all the copper roofs and stuff there. He cut the exhausts in half and rebuilt them from the inside out using copper, then he nickled, then chromed them. They will never rust out again! He was the same guy who did the gold plating on my LH.

[mack]

plating

Tim- I think it was 2K for everything you see on the table and a couple things under it that wouldn't fit on the table while I took the picture. That also included the exhaust restoration.

[Schming]

Prettiest Pile O' Parts I've ever seen

Is it possible to clearance the jugs, where the locating dowel resides, so it will drop down where it belongs ?

Do you have any pics of the exhaust internals, stock and the reconstruction ?

[MPittma100]

Plating

Diver Ray- The mains aren't the problem it's the connecting rod halves I may need. I bought a complete kit of main shells earlier this year and only need one colour, so if you need some colours later just PM me.

Radio - I took the chrome to a guy in Ottawa who does all the copper roofs and stuff there. He cut the exhausts in half and rebuilt them from the inside out using copper, then he nickled, then chromed them. They will never rust out again! He was the same guy who did the gold plating on my LH.

Hi Mack,

Looks very nice. You mentioned that your guy did some Midnight Special gold plating. Does he also do black chrome for the exhaust? Could you post his contact information?

[jetmechmarty]

Miike,
The border between us and Mack could make using his vendors a challenge. Put "Spica restore" in the search block. He documented everything very well.

Cermaic exhaust coating
The product for the exhausts was from Techline Coating and is called Thermo Chrome. The colour was 2000 degree Black. On top of that to give it a shine was a product called Therma seal. Both applications are applied by spray then baked on at 600 degree.
__________________
mack

[Eveready1100]

Mack, to remove a stuck dowel, get a 10 mm dyna bolt



get a smallish ring spanner, or a piece of flat steel with a suitable hole in it and slip it over the shaft of the bolt sleeve, then stick the bolt down into the dowel and tighten the nut till it binds with it. Slide the spanner (or piece of steel) back up under the nut and tap it upwards to pull the dowel out of the hole.
Once out, undo the nut and you should be able to pull the dowel off the dynabolt, give it a clean up with.a file to restore a looser fit in the recess, and refit it.

I've done this a number of times in the past, and it worked great every time.

[James England]

Very nice indeed! It's looking like a first class, lovely job.

[mack]

Thanx

Thanx everready, great tip, this is why I love this site so much. Not just because I love these bikes, but also because the knowledge their riders have is profound.