Still a long way, but................

I couldn't help myself, especially as the last two posts had photos taken with my phone and a smudged lens. So out with the Nikon, on with the wheels, tank and seat, and out into the sunshine.

Looking good, but a lot to do. Lots of messy little bits. Next will be trying to make the best use of the airbox! At the moment I come of the carb at 48mm and into the airbox at 41mm, with a very short run to connect the two. As I have no technical reason to use the airbox - after all, I chose it as a carrier for the battery and oil tank - so I'm thinking a black silicon reduction hose, turning through 90 degree's, and topped with a foam or paper filter inside the airbox. If nothing else it will look neat and tidy, and amplify the induction noise, always a plus.

Pure Satin, Rattle Can of course......

So, armed with a couple of rattle cans full of "Tough Black - Satin" the frame gets three coats, with a quick rub down in between. OK, so it wont stand up to a close up inspection, but from even 3ft away, its finished well enough, and besides, I really have no intention of parking it anywhere near a show arena.

I was always going to use Simoniz Tough Black after PJ1 was taken off sale for failing some (probably ridiculous) European law (there's a new formula now and its available again) after it was recommended by a friend who used in some chequer plate on his Land Rover, but I had read on a forum somewhere that this paint is very temperature sensitive, needing heat to cure it, so I've been waiting patiently for a day off corresponding with some Sun. I'll give it a few more days just to be sure, but after drying in the garage until touch dry, it been baked in direct sunlight for a day. So far so good.

In the meantime:

• I'll paint a few sundry parts (I need the side stand fitted as I dont have a bike stand)
• I need to re-fabricate the headlight bracket as it sits the light a bit too close to the headstock. 
• I've picked up another rear wheel which had a TS Hub, laced to an alloy Akront rim (it was cheaper to buy this than have my wheel rebuilt)
• I'm pretty set on painting the wheels (Satin Black again)
• I've also decided to replace the headstock bearing with a tapered bearing kit, so I've ordered a Pyramid kit (£34 ouch)

Stripped - Naked and Raw

I know, I know...... It would have been easier, quicker and not that much more to have it blasted. The result would have been better, but, WTF, I'm doing as much of this myself, so, armed with drill, electric file, 4" grinder, wire brush and all sorts of Emery, Wet and Dry, discs......................................................
its stripped.

Sorry about the photo quality, should have cleaned the lens on my phone...........................