Author Topic: What's the worst decision you made when rebuilding a bike?  (Read 5335 times)

Offline Oggers

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Re: What's the worst decision you made when rebuilding a bike?
« Reply #15 on: October 13, 2020, 11:34:26 AM »
I disagree. A pressed steel chaincase is an inherently poor design. It is akin to a Porsche 911 - any engine should never hang over the rear wheels for obvious well-founded reasons. For sure Porsche eventually solved the issue  - about 25 years later, and by spending gazillions stubbornly making a silk purse out of sow's ear. Same with a pressed steel chaincase. Yes they can be made oil tight, but only after time and effort, and if they are in any way put out of shape, the problem is magnified immensely. Far better to design it right in the first place - engine mid-mounted or up front, and a cast/forged chaincase.   

Offline iansoady

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Re: What's the worst decision you made when rebuilding a bike?
« Reply #16 on: October 13, 2020, 12:39:00 PM »
"Just needs finishing" - one of the classics. Like "just needs timing sorted out", "will pass MoT no trouble", "was running when I put it away" etc etc.....
Ian
1952 Norton ES2
1986 Honda XBR500
1958-ish Tre-Greeves

Offline mini-me

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Re: What's the worst decision you made when rebuilding a bike?
« Reply #17 on: October 13, 2020, 04:16:26 PM »
anyone who owns a Porsche deserves all they get.


Offline Oggers

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Re: What's the worst decision you made when rebuilding a bike?
« Reply #18 on: October 13, 2020, 06:04:17 PM »
anyone who owns a Porsche deserves all they get.




Well I wouldn't say no to one for sure.

Offline john.k

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Re: What's the worst decision you made when rebuilding a bike?
« Reply #19 on: October 18, 2020, 04:29:41 AM »
Most notable of mine was in a rebuild of a Manx Norton,the owner was very keen to run the bike in a track day,so I used a Bedford truck gudgeon pin bored thinner ,just to get the motor going for a "demo run ".......as might be imagined ,owners son ignored orders to just chuff around for a couple of laps,and floated the valves down the straight........gudgeon broke ,engine smashed to pieces ,even the mag was knocked off and ended up on the track.

Offline R

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Re: What's the worst decision you made when rebuilding a bike?
« Reply #20 on: October 21, 2020, 04:43:35 AM »
Which duly went down in the records as 'magneto failure'  ?!