Friday 29 June 2012

Progress

So, after soaking in Plus Gas the stud came out. Result - one loose engine.


Still need to drill out two more studs at the bottom of the crankcase as they're seized. Not sure how easy getting the barrel off will be. Cast iron piston in a cast iron barrel...hmmmm. Its at the top of its stroke and both valves are closed so hopefully the corrosion is minimal. We'll soon find out. Plenty of Plus Gas in there at the moment.

More to follow.

Saturday 23 June 2012

Lights

One of the benefits of working at Great Yarmouth - salvage.

Got these strip lights for the DoomRamp garage. All are wired up and working so just need to fit them and things should be a hell of a lot brighter in there (although the standard of skating will still remain shite).

1920 Airy-ole

Been a while since I posted anything so here goes with a double blog.

First off I need to get the crankcases on my 1920 Ariel welded cos the metal moths have been at them. To do this I need to get the engine out of the frame, and then strip the engine.

Sounds easy, hey.

This is the Ariel as it is at the moment:-


Not quite a complete motorcycle, although I do have forks, makings of wheels, mudguards, seat and most of the other bits I need.

Now the engine in this bike has never turned in my ownership, and I suspect that its been sat in water or on something damp for a fair long while. Most of the bolts have freed up well but two of the lower studs holding the crankcases in the frame are seized and no amount of heat, hammering or general angryness will budge them.

So, out with the big drill:-

Even after drilling most of the stud out and more hammer and heat action the bloody thing still won't budge. So I left it full of WD40 and will wait to see whether it frees up or if I need to drill right through.

More to follow....