three day weekend here ...cant make the alpine rally ...work on sat morning ...blast

but anyhow decided to repair the fairing ...after the layover event at the "Karuah River Rally " some months ago now





at first it seemed just a crack along the side ....but further investigation revealed that previous repairs let go at the fibre compound that they call fiberglass ...where the fairing Tree mounts ..in the top right corner







anyhow repairs are happening



but also found the tree to be cracked ...quite severely  at the bottom and at the spread bar at the top




fortunately have a spare from werewasi   ...thanks mate

so hopefully fiberglass repairs will all go according to plan ...and a newer tree will fix the flexing of the fairing I have been noticing lately

more repair pics coming as the resin sets and I get to clean it up

hopefully for a repaint process later tomorrow ??  well at worst ...Monday ...

bit chilly round here just lately ( a good 15 deg c lower than normal overnight ) so I hope that doesn't affect the whole process  
 
send me luck guys...so much to do in such little time

she doesn't look too bad fairing less...... in the last rays of sunshine

hmmm



just joking

Knowing that part of the world, all shall be cured.

just an update

the job went well ...over 3 days in total ....cant hurry paint and resin

Saturday night ...layed the resin and fiberglass along the cracked section





and investigated the cracked fairing tree a little further ...just out of interest



ready for an undercoat



just a spot or two needing further putty to remove the divots



with some colour on first thing Monday morning




fairing tree looks good to go


and with quite a bit of manipulation to the headstock and lower fairing brackets .... she went on





some time later and last for the weekend








almost 30 year old girl has benefited and looks newish ....psst ...just don't look too hard ...she needs a good wash in all those dark and creepy places

Looks great Charlie...just like new. Amazing how the old bikes can be reinvented and in many ways they are far more reliable than the new ones

Looking good, Charlie. 

I was camping next to two new BMW boxer thingies at the weekend and I can't imagine being able to repair the fairings on them; just the metallic paint would be impossible to touch up successfully.

Paul.

thanks for the comments guys ...keeps this old bloke going

indeed paul there seems to be so much "alien ware" extruding from irregular places every year ...just to elaborate the "new model " for more attention   with new fasteners and electronic features ...things that bmw survive on I suspect ...seems the irregular and impulse buyer has the control on the companys design engineers efforts ?

they have produced a well handling an innovative platform though ... despite the sales target management executives input.

giggles ...

ill stick with the k for a while I predict ...with your enthusiasm and fantastic input

ride report

the fairing is sooo much better with the newer fairing tree ( and the mount repairs )

far less movement is noticed

The colour , with the new seat cover makes it almost ghost like.

I was thinking the same thing when I saw the photo in the "floyd visit" thread...ghostly.

Nice work Charlie, nice work indeed.

just an update about things happening around here, just this last little while

I have had to search for a new car ...the old one ...whilst a fantastic drive with lots of power and really good suspension and handling  is suffering from rot in the body ...too many things to consider for an old bloke without welding skills etc
I had thought to transplant al the good stuff to a new(er) body with a little tidy up of details along the way ...but !

the new beast ...which has been a totally mind consuming adventure over the last few months
(and supressing my project file quite markedly .....im very sorry to all the blokes out there waiting for solutions on stuff I have in hand but it has been quite a challenge for me )     finally it has been decided

she , it , he ...whatever, has arrived tonight

with a massive power reduction (to what i'm used to) ...and after the test drive ..im convinced it is a total bag of sh#t with bad performing motor performance and totally buggerd suspension  ...
although trying to think positively , some 14 years younger and with lots of the luxuries I have been missing for almost as long . like keyless entry , an airconditioner that actually works , vvt technology , lots of space for things , and the list goes on .

my inspiration was my brother mentioning a Suzuki ignis "sport " model ...with some terrific features and extremely light vehicle with lots of room and fantastic power to weight ratios . nice look as well

after missing several quick sale prices reduced from over my affordable budget to well within my affordable budget .by just an hour or so ...my brother saying he had a couple ready to finish off and I could have one ...just for the asking . and then recanting the offer ...I was blitzed out, totally peed off by now .) finally  I have settled on not a "sport" version but something kinda similar but with possibilities to explore if needed  a "holden (gmh) Cruze " all wheel drive .

statistics ... the sport has a 1.5 litre motor ...so does mine ...the sport as 11.4:1 compression ratio ...mine is 9.5 ( making the sport 80 + kw ...mine 73 kw )

the sport has 185x 55 x 15 tyres and rims to match   mine has 165 x 75 ?x 15 and god awfull rims but that's ok ...

the sport has lowered- tuned suspension with better than average shocks - mine wanders all over the road so far,,, whilst in a corner ...any corner yes any ..

its unregistered and not road worthy ..so far

the previous owner was of indian descent  and wasn't prepared to pay for the replacement of the leaking gearbox driveshaft seals ...in fact it was ...don't spend any money at all ...as usually the case from such types of conservative thinkers ...I just wonder what was serviced over the last few years of his ownership

the good bits ....with that in mind ...and the fact that it still runs and with little more than 95,000 on the clock (most with the same vintage have well over 150,000 more towards 220,000 )  I get to do all the things that should  have been done over the last few years and some more along the way .

a few plans have been laid out in front ...but first thing, as per "gerty"  get it on the road and safe to drive ...then sort out the nice things

its a all the time 4 wheel drive ...so as you would expect with poor shocks, front tyres are rounded and rears totally flat ...hmm swap ?

method to madness  redeeming features are ...if I sold just the gearbox (including rear transfer ) I would get back almost as much as I paid for the car  ...they are in high demand and there doesn't seem to be many replacements currently available ( thinking of doing a front wheel drive conversion for just a few hundred bucks and a stack of extra weight and losses to the drivetrain ) fortunately except for the seals on the drive shaft left hand side its just as new ...with little or no noise at all ...woohoo win !!

besides I like the look of the rear end  in difference to the Suzuki version


so  here it is as it arrived, just an hour or so ago




mr Klompy has noted the colour as being the winner vote ...but honestly I hadn't considered it till he mentioned it ...lol

I had been looking at black colours ...till I woke up and remembered that  that is not a good colour for the heat conditions up around these parts

I asked if he thought that a little "Maddison " colour might make it look like part of the "colour de jour "  no replys yet

sorry this post is off topic ...but I am kinda excited with a new prospect ...with this one crash wonder (very low rate of repair in any major incident )
but I will try it out and see what can be done ..
cheers

Charlie, you have got yourself one of the most reliable cars on the market. We have 3 Suzukis in the family...kids have an Ingis, Swift and we have a Grand Vitara.If looked after they go forever and there are specific Suzuki people who import parts at a very reduced price.
This colour coding of motorized weapons worries me...are you setting up a new benchmark for us? I have a red basic and a red tractor...does that count?
I now am waiting for photos of you putting a 16 valve K motor into the car..less weight...but quick off the mark.
Looking foward to the progress.

hmm now there's an idea stan about the same horse power too perhaps a k1200 with a bit more ? omg

id be interested to hear if you have details of these importers
I know where I can get a sport engine already for under 500 and the wheels as well for a bit less

cant equate the expense this month though ...unless the rolla sells for parts ...the camshafts are worth more than the car

cheers

One of my friends runs a Ford Escort Mk2 rally car with a mid 90s Suzuki Swift 1300 GTI engine. This thing puts out 175 BHP at 9000 revs, so power is possible Charlie. Mind you the engine cost around 12000 Euros to build!!! Power starts at 5000 revs and tourque curve is almost flat from 5 to 9000.

impressive  indeed  gt
the gti 1600 was also a good motor with lots of potential
gives me something to aim for ....giggles

got my first good look inside things under the bonnet tonight

yep air cleaner hasn't been changed in years, missing bits in a few places ...like the breather for the gearbox is open very mucky  and suspiciously close to where the oil leak is happening at the drive shaft  lhs. a very clean bolt blocks the breather for the rear transfer case ...omg

wrong sized terminals at the battery ...so its been changed for an incorrect type  (those rubber polarity and terminal covers hid it from me before )

his wiring for the amp and sub in the rear... is erm interesting . 4ga for the positive  about 1mm for the negative . now out and saved for another time

but that's enough about this little piece of diversion .
cheers

just an update

the bloody thing has milky water and blowing bubbles ...shoot

oh well nothing to do, but pull the head and do it up

issues ...someone has put it all together with an air gun ...the bolts are so tight  I have broken a couple of ring spanners in the pull down process craked them straight across the ring part ...sheesh !!

 thought to do a little night time work whilst waiting for parts to arrive

cam cover ...of coarse



timing cover


internals before



and just now



whilst in there doing a few mods to the porting - manifolds paths and port matching between the two

head grind about to happen this week hopefully

then back together ...fingers crossed

wish me luck

Charlie you are a man of perpetual motion.

Charlie,

I've got some good quality ring spanners if you would like to borrow them plus some older Snap On sockets that don't mind a bit of abuse. 

Let me know if you would like use them.

Cheers, Dave.

all good dave   replaced the cheap chinese things with cheap chinese things this time ...

the saviour was a almost 25 year old Russian socket set ...they are really tough stuff  ( super cheap back in the early 90s  and "cheap as" then ) and an extension bar on top of the extension bar

just really hard to get them in there and get a lot of movement

thanks for the offer mate

just an update on the suzi

head back from grinders yesterday



port cleanup after valves removed






valves lapped and back in





and back on the bottom end today ....just a bit to go

Fantastic job on the seat mate!! 

OG

When you have finished that one Charlie I have a nice easy job on another one all ready and waiting.

Gidday Oldgoat you haven't been round for a while the K must be good fun.

Chaz is going to have to put up some before/after shots when his is "finished" as the transformation of old Gerdy has just been amazing!

Hey Rick!  Haven't been riding in a good bit, but several of my bike chronnies have been after me so that is going to change this fall...

OG

Oldgoat wrote:
Hey Rick!  Haven't been riding in a good bit, but several of my bike chronnies have been after me so that is going to change this fall...

OG

Good to hear OG, we've missed you.

Paul.

yes very good to see og ...

hope everything in your world is turning up roses

cheers mate !

Hey Paul and thanks guys!  It's been pretty cool to browse around the board and see all the cool new things members both young/old are doing with their bricks now.  Who would have thought...

OG

well disaster has hit again

grumbly gearbox and weird noises from the drive chain ...opps  erm shaft drive

crikey this shouldn't be there



along with some oil .....bloomin needle rollers ...unijoint perhaps

yep got it in one







more investigation required I suspect ...  and lucky I wasn't way out bush where I was planning to head in just a few days ....if it had lasted that long at all

because the old girl is my only transport at the moment , ill have to find a solution pretty quick

fortunately have another shaft here somewheres

with many thanks from me to a fellow member in England ...a few years ago now ...



the journey continues

Hey Charlie, would be worth a chat with Waz about recovering that damaged shaft - remember he replaced the spline and the Uni joint in his sidecar thread. Your spare will probably get you to Smithy's and back.

Cheers

yeah have thought about that gaz ....
have another here with the uni all good ...but the rear splines are toast

might be able to do a rebuild out of the two ? and a little welding required by someone pretty capable

marky boy has offered me some spares
and ill go have a look see

tackler has offered help also

but you guessed it ...nice and sunny just a while ago ...now raining in my luxurious side draft workshop ....blast

this thing hjas to go by Monday ...to get to work ...

there goes another weekend

Charlie, I have a fully working (bar the starter relay) RT up here that you can take whatever parts you need to get you back on the road.

Yours for the taking. Free. Help yourself.

The only problem is that I cannot drive/ride for a week (post surgery) so I unfortunately cannot help you get the parts to you.

If you can get to my joint, it's all yours and I have the tools you need to get what you want.

hope your feeling better soon blakey

thanks for the kind offer ol mate ...appreciate it

update with current options

I have an 20 spline shaft near pristine ...slight click in uj  but the bevel box 20 spline shaft is cactus - worn poorly

I also have a pristine 16 spline shaft ...with a new to me 16 spline bevel box (thanks marky ) with good splines and an added advantage rs ratios  31/11

my way of thinking that the 16 spline has a better contact area might sway me to go there before the 20 tooth alternative





big clean up to do ..first ..but im buggered ...started way too early here

cleanup tonight , install tomorrow .

Charlie, your dedication to getting the job done is an inspiration to all of us.

just an update

rear shaft and drive going back together














ill have to prepare for the gearbox change ...for sometime in the future ...far too much to do just now .
but should get me back on the road for the tablelands ride

cheers for all the help with parts and support from the local guys .

eeek  ...lucky I looked



all better now

It looks like your ability to go for a ride just improved dramatically! It's good to have some spares laying about. Goodonya.

and it gets better Dazza

after ALL oils changed and back together

took a test run to the shops

Gerty is gliding down the road again .....

Bliss ................!


...a bit later and a clean up

Good on you for getting that sorted out Charlie!

Too bloody posh looking altogether Charlie! Jeesh, when you think of what you started with!! A credit to you mate. 

I wish life didn't keep happening to get in the way of my efforts here....still, gotta have something to aspire to ! Enjoy the table lands ride....and don't make the same mistake as Ward (wather the hell that was! )

another palindrome ....mileage achievement today  on the work rounds



should have passed this a long time ago ...but I guess the character of the k , split and buggered speedo gears et all

well were getting there

this was up at Woodford ...kinda  local for us lot

charlie99 wrote:and it gets better Dazza

after ALL oils changed and back together

took a test run to the shops

Gerty is gliding down the road again .....

Bliss ................!


...a bit later and a clean up

Given the title of this thread, there seems to be a (rather nice) disconnect here!



Bill

I thought it would have been all 6s Charlie

charlie99 wrote:. . . .

Gerty is gliding down the road again .....

Bliss ................!


...a bit later and a clean up

Wow . . .


Looking Really nice Charlie. Always appreciate seeing your bike. You keep it real nice.

Cheers

Keith

thanks keith

good to hear that others like it

there is some work to be done to keep it looking nice

look forward to doing that over the Christmas period .....  now that some other issues have almost passed ...(blooming car stuff )...its complicated

the Cruze is ready to roll...just installed new (to me ) secondhand strut to the front left ...nice result ....might seek the other side (secondhand off the same car at the wreckers ) far better than what i took out ...next road worthy check then rego ....fingers crossed


 

The Cruze is looking sharp!

Colour coding bike and car...now that is class.

the rotten clear coat is starting to flake off the forks ..from exposure to the sun ....might get a chance to cut it back and refinish with good uv stable stuff soon

 

just an update
whilst doing a few things over the weekend , decided to clean up the crank cover and alternator cover which had been affected by overflow of an high alkaline solution during a radiator clean out some time ago now

still to do the airbox properly again (suffering the same issues )



and a bit of a clean up of the front end .....the rotten clear coat seems to have been able to be removed ,,,,,sort of for now




so good to see it without the dark and blotchy brown appearance that has been visible for too long .

just painting up an old rear wheel 
taken a while to get it looking good

before ...not too bad this one


up to etch primer time




a little undercoat additionally a bit later and overnight with favourable weather was able to lay down a colour coat




hopefully the rear will match the front ....one day ,,,grin !!

You're kidding!

That looks freakin' amazing! Nice job!

How much do you charge? Seriously!