1953 Terrot 125cc

[JoeJ]

HI,

I agree and have come to the same conclusion.  I was looking at the wheel yesterday and there are a series of holes along parts of it and it does seem like it is not structurally sound.  Time to look for a new wheel!  One good thing about the evapo rust is that it does remove rust so one gets to see the bare metal, good or bad....

[JoeJ]

Hello!

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!!  I hope 2016 is safe and healthy for everyone.  Thanks for the advice and encouragement this year; my goal for 2016 is to get the frame stripped and primed and to make some progress on priming some of the parts. Hope springs eternal!

Joe

[murdo]

And to you to Joe.
Keep at it, it will be worth it in the end.

[peterfeets]

hi,for terror parts,check out,2dehand.be or 2dehand.nl or MARKTplaats.nl .these are second sites in holland and belgium,belgium has a lot of terrot bikes,and everyone speaks english.good luck peter.

[peterfeets]

hi,for terror parts,check out,2dehand.be or 2dehand.nl or MARKTplaats.nl .these are second sites in holland and belgium,belgium has a lot of terrot bikes,and everyone speaks english.good luck peter.

[JoeJ]

Hi,

Thank you very much for the advice - I will check them out.  I am actually going to Amsterdam in May, oooohhhhh very tempting to try and track down one of these places!!

I did make a bit of progress yesterday on the frame.  The front fork bolts were immoveable for a long time - try as I might I could not get them to turn.  Well, for about 4 months I sprayed them with WD40 every other day and just let the stuff sit.  Yesterday I turned the frame over and with a rachett I was able to loosen one of the stuck bolts! Oh yeah!!  The other two bolts need a different size rachett, but I will look into getting one soon and will give an update.  One I have the forks off I will bring the frame into get media blasted.  Can't wait.

[JoeJ]

So I have run into a bit of a problem and could use advice. I got 2 of 3 bolts off that attach the fork to the frame but the 3rd one is stuff.  The racket keeps slipping off and the wrench does the same. The identical bolt on the other side came off, but this one won't budge.

Any advice on loosening up this third bolt?  So close but yet so far!

Thansk, Joe

[murdo]

I would try heating the area around the bolt with a gas torch or blowlamp and give it another go while hot.

[Rex]

+1 for heat, preferably oxy acetylene.
Don't use WD40 though, it has it's uses as a lubricant but is pure crap at a release agent. PlusGas is far better, though there are others as good on the market now.

[JoeJ]

Hi,

Thanks.  I need a bit of clarification as I haven't used heat previously.  Oxy Acetylene - what is that?  PlusGas - is that something I use in place of WD40 or with the heat?  This whole restoration process is opening up areas I know nothing about - that is a good thing!

Thanks again.

[R]

An oxy acetylene torch is a gas flame - mild or seriously hot, depending on settings.
I've removed quite a few stubborn or mangled bolts, that otherwise wouldn't budge, with a bit of heat.
If they get red hot for a moment, it usually frees them right off, no damage to anything or anyone...

A little gas flame from a propane etc torch may do the same job, I'd think that is the other one mentioned. May not be hot enough to get a red heat on the bolt though ?
hopethishelps.

[murdo]

Oxy Actetylene is gases (as in not petrol) in two bottles that is used for welding of metals. You will find these in most engineering shops.
The propane torch is used with gases from a BBQ bottle, and can get quite hot if used with a large hand held torch on a high setting.
I have found the best rust release agent to be a product called 'Rost-off' made by the German Wurth company and available from engineering/automotive supply shops.
Glad to know you're learning Joe. 

[JoeJ]

Well as we are coming into the winter here in Boston Massachusetts USA, I am a bit disheartened to say I have not made much progress with my dear ETM. As mentioned previously I am stuck with having removed one bolt of the front fork, but the other is stuck and I've had too much house projects going on to focus on it.  But I do go to bed each night thinking about the restoration, so I hope that counts for something......

I shouldn't think of the "next" bike to restore when this one is no where near finished, but I am drooling at the thought of restoring a flat tank Terrot.....

Hope everyone is well and thank you for the advice, I will and have put it to good use!

[murdo]

Good to hear from you again Joe. Keep at it and you will get there.