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Re: 1946 bitsa project

Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2022 5:18 pm
by SEDoan
I'm surprised "breather brackets" could generate so much interest - this next one should really stir the pot. :lol:

The girder was bent, not badly, but looking closer I was worried I wouldn't be able to straighten it. I know this is specialist work, and I'm not. However, given the expense and risk of sending it half way around the world during a pandemic winter, I thought it was worth a try. And the info might help others.

The upper triangle pivots are out of alignment, but that it is a simple twist.
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Clamped to a strongback and put in the press to take the twist out.
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Of course this kicked one leg forward causing a mis-aligned axle.
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That leg also had an S-bend near the dropout lug.
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To straighten the S-bend and align the axle meant the dropout had to be removed. The lugs are pinned. Locate both ends of the pin and drill from both ends through the lug. Melt the brass and knock off the lug - it takes a lot of heat.
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Re: 1946 bitsa project

Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2022 5:43 pm
by SEDoan
The fork tubes are easy to manipulate individually. I used heat and a close fitting steel pipe to straighten the S-bend. It is possible to lever with the pipe opposite the heat so the tube is not dimpled. With the upper fork clamped to the strongback the individual tubes can be pushed or pulled by hand cold - no heat needed. They bend at the lower pivot lug. Very little movement is required to align the 2 sides of the fork.
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Test fit the lug to make sure the fork is aligned for both front to back and length from lower pivot to axle. Replace the pins, check again and braze it up.
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The assembled fork. Not the prettiest, but I think it will work.
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Re: 1946 bitsa project

Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2022 8:13 pm
by simon.holyfield
Thanks for sharing, very interesting.

What did you heat it with?

Re: 1946 bitsa project

Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2022 11:52 pm
by SEDoan
Correction: Oxy/acetylene heating tip to separate the lug and re-braze it, and a standard torch tip to straighten the tubes and finish braze.

Re: 1946 bitsa project

Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2022 6:34 am
by SEDoan
Here's the frame and fork together from a couple months ago:
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The rear engine plates were a mess - foot rest supports and mag platform brazed on and both plates badly bent because no spacer was used between them when tightening the foot rest tie-bolt.
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Re: 1946 bitsa project

Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2022 10:45 am
by Paul Slootheer
Great job Sean, well done!

Re: 1946 bitsa project

Posted: Fri May 13, 2022 5:01 am
by SEDoan
Thank you Paul.

Today I took most of the bicycle to the painter for a coat of black, but there were a few things to do first...

Didn't have enough good parts to restore the brakes so decided to make self-energizing brakes from Triumph Spitfire car rear shoes (cheap). They are about 1/8" too wide.
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Treated the brake plate to a new stainless trim ring from club spares - thanks Allan!
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Had a few bits chromed:
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Welded and re-drilled some egg-shaped holes.
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Re: 1946 bitsa project

Posted: Fri May 13, 2022 5:18 am
by SEDoan
Big time was spent on a cheap India made tank that didn't fit and has a long list of errors. (It is from an ebay seller VintageBikeUSA who advertised pictures of a well made tank and then sold a POS.)

New mounting pads were needed and they needed to raise the tank to clear the 500cc rocker boxes. Not pretty but seemed to work.
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Once the tank fit I could take the parts to the painter. I delivered them today - hurray!
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Looking forward to building the forks and wheels and having a roller.

Re: 1946 bitsa project

Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2022 5:09 pm
by SEDoan
The parts were painted more than a month ago, but it's been put on hold until some house projects are done.
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Re: 1946 bitsa project

Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2022 6:06 pm
by JohnnyBeckett
hi , it is coming along very nice now keep up the good work 8-) :)