
1946 bitsa project
1946 bitsa project
into the stew

1937 Guzzi GTV, 1939 VH bitsa, 1947 VH, 1981 Guzzi Monza, 1983 Guzzi Lemans
- Bob.Murphy
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Re: 1946 bitsa project
I love that wall . . . some beautiful stonework there (I have some very old 'whinstone rubble' walls that need work
).
But, what is in the 'stew' . . Evaporust ??
Bob.

But, what is in the 'stew' . . Evaporust ??
Bob.
My avatar shows the late Len Rich in 1970 with the bike I now have - a 1958 Ariel VH
Re: 1946 bitsa project
Thanks for the compliment, but the wall is nothing fancy - cast concrete blocks made to look like stone. Yours is much more interesting. It does make a very stable workbench out in the weather.
The stew is 3lbs of lye in about 25-30 gallons of water. The tank is the bottom of a 50 gallon electric water heater so it warms up to 130F or so.
It strips paint and grease well but aluminum quickly rots away. Brass and bronze survive much better, but I suspect they would also eventually corrode away. Iron and steel only!
The stew is 3lbs of lye in about 25-30 gallons of water. The tank is the bottom of a 50 gallon electric water heater so it warms up to 130F or so.
It strips paint and grease well but aluminum quickly rots away. Brass and bronze survive much better, but I suspect they would also eventually corrode away. Iron and steel only!
1937 Guzzi GTV, 1939 VH bitsa, 1947 VH, 1981 Guzzi Monza, 1983 Guzzi Lemans
- Vincent.vanGinneke
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Re: 1946 bitsa project
So.... do the brazings stay o.k. ? 

Re: 1946 bitsa project
The brazings and brass seem fine sitting over night or even for a couple days. I can't see a change except the grease is gone. It probably corrodes due to electrolysis like zinc anodes on a steel ship.
Yesterday & today:
Yesterday & today:
1937 Guzzi GTV, 1939 VH bitsa, 1947 VH, 1981 Guzzi Monza, 1983 Guzzi Lemans
Re: 1946 bitsa project
Machined a late axle to fit the early frame. Had to make some spacers too. This is the first real work done with my new (to me) 1955 lathe.

1937 Guzzi GTV, 1939 VH bitsa, 1947 VH, 1981 Guzzi Monza, 1983 Guzzi Lemans
- Vincent.vanGinneke
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Re: 1946 bitsa project
Good work !
- Bob.Murphy
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Re: 1946 bitsa project
So what's the lathe ??
I have a 1950s Denford and a 1977 Colchester Triumph 2000 - Its becoming yet another hobby
.
Bob.
I have a 1950s Denford and a 1977 Colchester Triumph 2000 - Its becoming yet another hobby

Bob.
My avatar shows the late Len Rich in 1970 with the bike I now have - a 1958 Ariel VH
Re: 1946 bitsa project
10" South Bend ("heavy 10") from about 1955. It too has become a hobby. I've rebuilt the lighter colored sections.Bob.Murphy wrote: ↑Sun Dec 19, 2021 1:09 pm So what's the lathe ??
I have a 1950s Denford and a 1977 Colchester Triumph 2000 - Its becoming yet another hobby.
Bob.
1937 Guzzi GTV, 1939 VH bitsa, 1947 VH, 1981 Guzzi Monza, 1983 Guzzi Lemans
- Vincent.vanGinneke
- Holder of a Platinum Anorak
- Posts: 4211
- Joined: Sat Apr 09, 2011 12:14 am
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Re: 1946 bitsa project
very nice! I used to have a small 9"Model A but I swopped it for a Weiler LD220 as I could not get my head around the Imperials 

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