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Tom
Rolland: trolland@webtv.net
05/22/00
I
will give a running blabberfest on the progress of the restoration
process. Take a look at the photos to see my piece of junk new
beauty.
10/06/00
A
new GT restoration is in progress: Eds750GT
|
Side
view of the bike, note no chain or mufflers, front bevel tower
is clean because it has an electric Tach unit, stainless steel
fenders, and
polished Boranni rims (well OK they will be polished). |
|
Crapped
out taillight, seat held in place with Duck tape, pan rusted
out beyond use, tossed. Electric Tach also held in place with
Duck tape:) Header pipes rusted out beyond use, no crossover
pipe. The beauty (the '74 750GT) is in the background.....the
beast is the "new" one:) |
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Huge
K&N air filter visible on the right side, 3 light dash needs
replacing. Non stock tillers from a Notron or something, hard
to believe that something even bigger and uglier than the original
tillers could be found! Lots more pictures to follow of the disassembly
process. |
06/10/00
I
got down to the garage last night and wrote up a parts list for
the GT, it actually isn't all that bad. Of course I haven't sent
it to Phil yet to find out how bad it actually is:) I also spent
about 3 hours hand sanding the frame. Alot of it is down to bare
metal and I should be able to finish sanding it, prime it and
paint it today as well. The paint didn't actually look to bad
in most places but it sure does come off pretty easy, 28 year
old paint. I got some primer that is black so chips won't show.
I never could understand why you'd want to use a grey primer
on a black frame. I also took the front forks off the front wheel
2 days ago as well, the leading axle polished front forks are
going to look so cool when I get them all polished up. I really
am excited to get this baby up and running. I keep thinking that
the hardest part about the whole deal is going to be fixing the
front brake and master cylinder (both are Scarrab) I am really
thinking seriously about putting on Brembo calipers and discs
and a Brembo master cylinder, and Yep, I'd do it as a dual front
disc setup to get more breaking power as well. I am sure that
will be the biggest cost right there. I can just see the vultures
circling for the Scarrabs.......but I'd keep them I think. I
am going to try and fix the Scarrabs, so we will see what happens
with them, I will probably try and use them being the cheap guy
I am:)
06/17/00
Well
I had a fairly productive day working on the "new"
GT today. I sanded the frame again and got 3 cans of gloss black
and 1 can of clear on it. It's just about done and looks great.
Once it's done it will have plenty of time to cure before reassembly.
I sanded the side covers again and put another coat of grey primer
on them, another sanding and priming and a final prep sanding
and they will be ready to paint. The biggie of the day was the
work on the tank. I used paint remover on it a couple of times
and then washed it down and started wet sanding it. The whole
tank is down to bare metal and cleaned with carb cleaner. Tomorrow
I will get alot more hand sanding done on it until it is really
cleaned up, I don't think I'll go beyond 220 grit on the bare
metal. There are a few dings which will require spot putty but
should be no big deal. I should have the tank primed with a coat
or two by tomorrow evening.
I
took the gas cap off and sanded it with 400 and steel wool and
polished it. It looks pretty good. It had alot of rust on it
after sitting out side for 15 years. I may see if it can be rechromed,
if not it will be OK as it is.
I
picked up another set of pics of the progress today but they
had forgot to make a disc of them....dang, so I had to let them
keep them to get a disc made to send to Ed. Sorry about that,
it will be a couple of more weeks until there will be more pics.
06/27/00 - Disassembly
in Progress
07/03/00
I
got the frame finished painted on the '73 GT today and I took
off the right front side case and sanded, steel wooled and polished
it and put it back on. Spent about 8 hours fiddling with it.
Now when I get the heads back from Jim Koenig I'll set the dots
and get ready to put the engine back in the frame. I also have
to get the wheels done, respoked and polished and new wheel bearings.
Heck I guess it's all down hill from here, it's just a matter
of putting it back together now. That is said very tounge in
cheek, it is going to be a long down hill trip....but I might
still have it up and going in August. Yeah I know everyone will
be soooo happy when they don't have to hear about the new GT
anymore. But of course then everyone will have to hear about
how nice it is to ride :)
07/13/00 - Disassembly
Still in Progress
07/16/00
Well
I had a pretty good weekend working on the new GT. The shocks
are on, rear axle holders, center stand, foot pegs, and the triple
tree is all polished installed. I also got the fork legs sanded,
steel wooled and polished, ooooh are they pretty. I put them
in the triple trees loosely as I have to take them back off to
put on the new slider boots that Phil is sending me. I also drained
one fork leg, funky stuff there too but not very much fluid,
certainly not any 280 ml. It's actually starting to look like
a bike. Hopefully I'll be getting the heads from Jim and the
boots and cush drive rubber from Phil too. Next is the matter
of putting in the new wheel bearings, and relacing and polishing
the rims and hubs. The first part of August should see it with
the wheels back on and the engine in the frame. I shot a whole
nother roll of film too. I also brought the bits that need chroming
home to take in as well. Good productive weekend. And next weekend
will be spent riding the '74 GT up in Colorado. I am going to
come up with another Top Ten Reasons list......this one will
be the Top Ten Reasons to Own Two 750GT's. I already have some
in mind.
- You
can always take a look at one to figure out how the parts fit
on the
other (Don't take apart the same bits at the same time)
- At
least you might have one ridable at any given time
- Fun
trying to figure out all the little differences between different
year models, and some times,
different weeks batches. (Can make it tough to do the #1. reason)
- You
can own 2 or 3 GT's for the price of a Sport
- You
can own 7 or 8 GT's for the price of a Super Sport
Well
that's a start, any additions are welcome.
07/29/00 - Assembly
Has Started
Well
I just took in a bunch of stuff to be plated today, good place
and he showed me works in progress, 1st class work. I took in
header pipes (2), wire headlight brackets (2), muffler brackets
(2), Conti muffler clamps (3), kickstart lever, points cover,
rear brake stay, cylinder shaft tubes (2), gas cap, shifter lever
(needs to be straightened), and Aprillia headlight ring, also
bent out of round and needs repair. Total cost $350. As I have
said I am positive that every part will come back looking new
or better.
08/27/00 - 11/07/00
- Wheels
Well
I am well into redoing the wheels.......what a pain in the ass.....I
sanded and polished the front rim today, it was alot of work,
and that's an understatement. I started with 220 grit and worked
my way down to 400 with steel wool in between. It wasn't all
by hand, I used a polishing wheel at the end. I also got the
INOX stainless rear fender finished today, I had already sanded
and steel wooled it. It looks wonderful, like a mirror. I went
down to 600 grit on the fender. The rim was really alot of work,
but boy was it worth it :) I have already polished the hub but
there is still alot of work to do there, I have to split it and
put in new bearings, you can't put in the new spokes unless you
take the front hub apart, that is not an easy task, I called
Shawn Rogers about that tonight. We will see if I can get the
hub taken apart, it isn't going to be easy. Putting in new spokes
is not an easy task, I may just end up sending them to Buchann
to do the final work on them. At least I will send them the wheels
ready to just be assembled. At least the front wheel is gettiing
there. The difference between the 2 wheels is amazing, the polished
front one looks like new, the rear one looks like crap compared
to it.
11/24/00
Well
bevel heads I how have the heads to my '73 750GT!!!! The valves
were done along time ago.....but the froze in header pipes were
a bit more problematic. I got them back and took them into a
good race machine shop yesterday. Well they made a holder and
used a big breaker bar and got them loose. It cost me $108, but
who cares, I'll be able to put the heads on this weekend, line
up timing dots and maybe even get the engine into the frame,
actually pretty easy to do when no wheels are on the frame. The
threads are OK, not great but I still have to clean up alot of
corrosion out of all the threads so I think I am in good shape.
Yesterday I UPS'd my Borrani rims and hubs to Buchanan's for
stainless steel spoking. I may just have the bike back up to
a rolling frame here before mid-December!!!! Finally some real
progress here. I now have something to do besides Christmas buckles
and watch football here over
Thanksgiving....whoopie.
11/24/00
Well
I think that I have finally got the heads to my GT finished.
The valves were done ages ago but Jim couldn't get the froze
headers out, that was understandable, I had taken a pipe wrench
with a huge breaker bar and wasn't able to get it......Anyway
I took it into a specialist machine shop here and they made a
fixture to hold the heads. By golly they got them to break free.
He said that he was ready to give up on the one when it let go.
I just got done spending the last two days cleaning up the threads
with a scribe.......I really can't adequately describe how much
deposits were in the threads...it was like limestone.....threads
weren't even visible to start with.... It took time and real
patience, chip out some and run in the flange, repeat again...and
again. Danged if in the end I got the collet/flange to run in
to where it should be. This was not an easy process but I got
it done.....I am so tickled....I love rescuing GT's. Now to just
get back the wheels from Buchanan and I may have a rolling frame
here before the
new year. I am a happy camper.
12/23/00
Some
times it's good to be second!!! Today I brought home my newly
respoked wheels from Buchanan and the wheels from Ed Hotchkiss's
750GT so I could steal...well actually "borrow" his
brake disc, until I get my new one from Phil. They were all down
at my Mom's place... Anyway I take off the 4 bolts to the carrier
and disc to get Ed's disc......well I'll be damned but the bearing
carriers just sort of fall out when I tap out the bolts to get
the disc off....I used a punch (and big hammer..of course!!)
to try and free mine with no luck. That was the main reason I
sent my wheels out to Buchanan, my front hub was pretty much
froze in place after 20 years or so outside. There should have
been a video camera running when Ed's
front wheel just pretty much came apart by it's self....I had
a pretty dumbfounded look on my face (yeah even more than usual:)
) So Ed's GT ends up with good bearings, mine were shot, and
now I'll have to respoke and true them as well. That just made
his $500 more purchase price vs. mine go away.......sheesh.....some
guys have all the luck!!! But then again of course mine has the
stainless steel fenders, shock covers, and elcectronic tacho
so the the front cylinder is clean....so I am still up on the
game:):) Eat your heart out there Ed......mine's still going
to be nicer in the end......and of course why wouldn't it be??????
I am doing the restos, I'll be damned if Ed's is going to be
nicer than mine (very evil grin here folks, and Ed know's all
about this anyways..he's cc'd on this message and I already called
him and cursed him on his luck on his wheels!) Some guys have
all the luck.....but then again I have the '73 750 GT...... Well
time to put another coat of silver paint (spray can...of course)
on my front disc....Oh yeah......my '73 will have dual front
disc's.......Ed's......one:):) At least for the time being, I
have a suspicion he's going to want 2 as well......you reading
that there Phil??? Cheers and laters all, I hope everyone is
having a Great Christmas...
Well
I just got done taking a tooth bush and liguid cleaner to both
Ed's and my GT's sprocket carriers........I cleaned both of them
up really well, I had already done mine.....damned if Ed's still
isn't
better looking than mine!! Does this mean that I am going to
switch carriers? No......but is his going to look better than
mine? Hell No!.....I'll take some no heat oven cleaner to it......it
that doesn't work I'll have it bead blasted......if that doesn't
do it.......then I'll "accidently" switch carriers!!!!
I try to be as honest as possible on these deals....but only
within reason....:):) Again you'll notice I have cc'd Ed......I
just like to yank his chain:) Damn I wish I wasn't so honest....
12/26/00
Well
I just got home from dinner at Mom's. I went out to the garage
and did a little wrenching. The nut that holds the front sprocket
in place just came right off with a light tapping with a punch.
I had hammered the heck out of it earlier. Maybe the elfs had
been at work or else the the penetrant finally did it's job....or
else the cold shrunk the parts enough to make a difference. We
had 8 inches of snow here in Albuquerque today.....well OK.....only
6 inches....but you know how us guys exaggerate:) Well I figure
that I should pull the bottom holders for the bevel towers and
polish them up nicely, besides I also figured I should pull the
jugs just to inspect the rings and pistons. Well I said it was
good for Ed to be second on the wheels.......well it's also good
to be 3rd:):) I pulled the front jug and the piston and rings
look like new. So I pull the rear jug, the bore looks fine....then
I look closer at the piston, the bottom oilscraper ring is free.....but
only one end of the middle ring is free and the top is stuck
in place....Damn and double damn. But then I remembered!! Geeee
Ed's top piston and rings are like new!!! And his front piston
is going to have to be oversized so that means I have a "spare"
piston......he heh heh. Glad I just didn't drop the heads back
on before inspecting the pistons. I actually think by soaking
it over night mine will be just fine. Also when I got home tonight
I had my T-shirt from Shawn!!!! which was great......but even
better than that was the rear turn signal holding wire/bracket
that he sent with it!!!!! whoopie, Thanks there Shawn. I had
Richo pick one up in Melborne but the holes for mounting it are
wider than on the US models, we hadn't even thought of that.
So I do have a Euro turn signal mounting wire sitting around
new here at home.....any of the Canadian's on the list need it?
or did you get US spec tail lights up there as well? So later
this week I should have my jugs and heads back on and in place,
all the timing dots lined up, the new front sprocket on. Only
thing I had forgot was a rear sprocket, but I called Cycle Specialities
just before Christmas so I should have it this week. So maybe
I'll get the engine and wheels back on it this week. Life is
good......and here's one to really knock folks
over with a feather...I am actually going on a date at the end
of this week!!!! Yeah that is major deal, I haven't dated in
years and years.......about time I get back into it....so to
speak....that's the dating game, get yer minds out of the gutter:):)
12/27/00
Well
I looked at doing a swap with Ed's top 750GT piston today and
it's a total no go!!! Mine's bigger than his.....the piston that
is. Dang and double dang....but I got the center ring on my piston
freed up and I don't think that the top one will be too bad either.
I was wondering if they did different sized pistons and rings
and yep they did. The top of the aluminium jug is stamped B on
mine, I don't have Ed's handy to see what his is stamped. But
on the outside of one of my liners it is marked/stenciled "A"....go
figure that. Anyway I pulled a ring off my piston and the end
gap was just right....one to Ed's had 4 times as much then I
put Ed's piston in my bore and thought...Oh Oh....this sure seems
loose...Yep I could put Ed's piston in from the top of the bore,
my piston wouldn't even come close to going in. They are definetly
different sized pistons. Well it's not going to matter, I just
have to get the top ring freed up on mine, and it shouldn't be
too big of a deal, it's soaking more right now. I just have got
finished doing Stephen Johns Silver buckle...it's the one that
is signed....and he wanted the recessed letters painted in red
instead of black....it looks pretty neat. At least I did get
my new rear turn siganl bracket that I got from Shawn put on
today with the signals, and it really looks great. Talked to
Ed and he was going whaaah about that but then I told him that
I already had another one on the way for his GT for the one I
got from Richo, that is now going to Shawn to go with the whole
unit which is also coming from Richo....sheesh this parts trading
is complicated....but it's a whole lot better than not getting
the
parts one needs:):) Well I want to go see if my top ring will
come free now.... I just came into work to check messages and
yes Richo I have got your messages that you sent here to work....there
is definetely something funny with my webtv, but just for some
folks...go figure that one. Cheers and laters...
12/30/00
Well
I guess I am going to go ahead and do things right, does this
mean the civilization of a bevel barbarian? Nah!! I took the
piston with the froze ring to a machine shop yesterday for them
to take out. And I am having them do a very slight hone on the
cylinders, and today I will order a set of rings to go with it.
To be fair though the guy at the machine shop said that if the
rings aren't wore and the bores are good that there really isn't
any reason to put in new rings. And remember on my '74 750GT
I just left the bores alone and the original rings on it and
it has been just fine, doesn't use oil or anything. I stopped
at a bolt shop to get some longer bolts, 110 mm, to hold the
dual discs on the front wheels. They didn't have any that were
cadium plated, only the black anaodized, so I'll just spray the
head with a little silver paint, that satisifies the barbarian
in me and should sufficiently horrify the purists:) Oh yes, the
new calipers and MC that Darrell Dick are here in town and down
at the UPS place so more bits are coming in. It sure is nice
to have a week off from work here at the University, if this
is what retirement is like I am already ready for it!
01/01/01
OK
I have been getting asked, Monica and I had a nice date, first
one for me in 12 years. We talked, went and had a nice dinner
and talked more, and came back home again and finished watching
the video of my Oz/NZ trip. The apartment is clean and the Darmah
is still in the living room. Nice lady. Anyway on to the really
important stuff! When I pulled the bottom mounts of the bevel
towers I noticed that the one to the top cylinder was really
crap compared to the one to the front cylinder. I had just figured
on polishing them up and putting them back on, being as I had
it so far apart already anyways. Well I figured I had a couple
of choices.....I could have just taken one off of Ed's 750GT....hell,
he'd never know!!!:) But I fugured...nah, that wouldn't be right,
besides I'd rather steal his 750 OHC bearing carriers... Oh damn
that's right I already told him that his are nicer than mine.....Oh
well:) Any way I just took 220 grit sand paper to my crappy casting,
3 strips of it, one of 320, and one of 420, with steel wool inbetween,
and a polishing with my trusty Dremel flex head and it looks
even better than the one to the front cylinder. Damn, now I'll
have to go do up the front one as well, but it will be alot easier
to do, I'll just use 320 and 400 grit on it. Tomorrow is my first
day back at work, but I am actually looking forward to it.....I
know that UPS will be delivering me my Scarrab MC and calipers
that I am getting from Darrell Dick and another package from
Cycle Specialities with a rear sprocket and some other goodies.
I'll also be sending out a check and set of rings to Total Seal
for a new set of rings for the GT as well. OK so I didn't get
the engine back in it and the wheels on it before the New Year...maybe
the end of this month. Good things take time.....and this bike
isn't just going to be good.....she's going to be great. Time
for bed.
01/02/01
Well
the UPS guy showed up at work today with my new Scarrab calipers
and MC that I got from Darrell Dick. Looks pretty nice, little
scrape on the MC cap.....but no problem....I should be getting
mine back from Phil, while the MC was total crap and couldn't
be rebuilt I remember that the cap was perfect:) So things are
looking up. Also today I will be sending a set of my rings into
Total Seal in Phoneix so that they can match and give me just
what I need for a new set of rings.
01/04/01
Well
when I got into work this morining I had another package waiting
for me!!!! My box of goodies from Phil. It had the valves and
guides for Ed's GT, I'll have to get his heads done and bores
honed out, sheesh, at this rate I'll have his engine done way
before I even get a chance to get at his frame. Also the unrebuildable
MC, but no drama, at least the cap to it is fine. Phil do I need
another splitter to handle the dual front brakes? I think I do,
now that I look at it it looks like it will only take one line
for a caliper, the other is for the pressure transducer and the
3rd is for the line from the MC. Of course I could just to a
Y connection out of the Scarrab splitter, I am going to have
to get a set of braided lins made anyways. The rebuilt caliper
looks wonderful, so I now have an extra caliper, but that's not
a problem, lord knows what shape Ed's caliper is in so were covered
there. Also I have the "new" solid front disc...so
I guess I can put Ed's back on his bike. The new disc is really
nice. Well that the parts report for the morning, I should be
getting a package from Cycle Specialities here soon too!
03/31/01
Today
is going to be a big day for work on the '73 750GT. After months
of getting parts organized I am finally ready to get the engine
back together and in the frame and the wheels on it. The pistons
and new rings will go back on, yes the rings are gapped correctly.
Gaskets O-rings, bevel tower tubes and jugs next. Jugs will be
throughly washed with soap and hot water, carb cleaned and oiled
before installation. Engine side covers will be taken off, timing
dots will be aligned and the heads will be installed. Points
will be put in and set. The homemade cardboard degree wheel that
Knut Wille and I made for the '74 GT will again be used on the
right side of the engine instead of on the left side like they
are supposed to be used :) The engine will then be put in the
frame. This should be pretty easy as I will be setting the frame
down over the engine. Next the front wheel will be put on, I
think I have to tip the frame over on it's side to do this, can't
remember for sure, it's been 7 years since I did it to the '74.
Then I'll center stand the bike and put in the rear tire and
put on the fenders. Sounds pretty easy, but I am sure there will
be bits that are a PITA. I'll be taking pics and video of everything
to document things. I hope it all goes smoothly. Wish me luck.
04/01/01
Well
I had a crappy day, walking out this morning to find all the
tires on my car slashed pretty much sucked. Only two little bits
saved it.
1)
I did manage to put the wheels, fenders, pistons, jugs, heads
and all what not into the back of Mom's Suburu when I took the
Suburu back to Mom's so I have everything there to start the
work on my '73 GT.
2)
At home tonight I hot soap and watered the jugs to Ed's 750,
carb cleaned them and oiled the bores. Several times on that
just to make sure. I also checked the end gaps on the rings in
the bores....well OK I only checked a couple of them (I only
say this to make Ed nervous as hell:) ) they are just fine, original
specs. I then oiled up the rings and pistons and put them in
the bores. They are snug as can be. I really liked the idea that
a piston hadn't moved freely through those jugs in over almost
20 years but they do now. I well remember what I had to do to
get that front piston out of the front jug. It was great to be
able to be able to push it back up by hand now. With any luck
in a couple of months these 2 GT's will both be back together
and running. I think I get some of my biggest pleasure from just
the idea of getting unloved and abused GT's back up and running:)
Time for bed.
04/05/01
I
did get down to play with the GT engine last night. I pulled
the top jug and piston. I had managed to put a little ding on
the con rod bushing when I first reinstalled it. A tiny file
on the end and some 400 grit sand paper with oil in the bushing
and wrist pin holes in the piston did the trick. Yes I did WD
40 it a bunch to clean everything out really well before reassembly.
So on Saturday if my tires to my car aren't slashed again I'll
give it another go to see if I can put the heads on and the engine
back in the frame and the wheels on it.
04/07/01
I
did get the front cylinder head on the '73 750GT this weekend,
it was a real pain, the chroming of the bevel drive tubes increased
the diameter enough so that it was a real pain. On Ed's I will
have them turned down and hard chromed back to original specs.
Oh yeah I suppose some sharp eyed person is wondering about the
top head... well that is not a pretty story and I am way beyond
pissed with my self. I had all the timing dots lined up just
right, the half circle at thebase of the tower to connect the
tower shaft points to the back on both cylinders, see the tech
article on the Victoria Australia Club web site.. .anyway the
top head didn't want to drop down, I could have sworn it was
all lined up just right. Well, it wasn't... after about 3 tries
I was getting a little pissed. Block of wood on the head with
a hammer (what else would I use?) still didn't do it. Well, I
put the wood down by the front stud hole and wacked it a couple
of times. Well it slipped and bink the cooling fin in front of
the bevel tower snaped... Ooooooh was I pissed at myself. Worse
yet, a little fiddling with the alignment and the head just dropped
right on. So I will take the head in and have that little piece
of fin welded back on and then next weekend I'll get the engine
back in her. I already called RIcho and told him all about it
and he said he'd tell on me if I didn't fess up. I always share
my mistakes with thebevel list, no matter how stupid they make
me look, hopefully others learn. As Monty Python said in the
"Frog and Peach" skit when the interviewer asked the
innkeeper if he had learned from his mistakes he replied "Yes
I have, I am sure that I could repeat them exactly" I have
told Ed all along that he is lucky that I am doing my '73 before
doing his '74 that I won't repeat screw ups, of course that doesn't
mean that I won't come up with completely new one's for his :)
I just like to keep him nervous.... There I fessed up to the
bevel list....are you happy now Richo?
04/14/01
Well
I got the top head on my engine today. I got the fin I busted
on it fixed this week...that cost me $83...ouch. And I had to
grind the weld seam back down to flush, but it looks good. What
follows is a to and not to do list....DO NOT have your beveldrive
tower tubes chrome plated....it will increase the diameter of
them and you will have a bitch of a time putting the heads back
on. They will go, but it will not be an easy thing, I know! Any
way I got the top head back on. Then I took off the engine case
covers to put the engine back in the frame. DO take off the gaskets
too. DO NOT powder coat the frame (I didn't), if I had I would
have chipped it, a little gloss black model paint will make the
few chips go away:) DO be really sure to keep all the allen head
screws to the engine case covers in their exact order....THIS
is important, they are all different lenghts and shoulders (no
I did not fuck up on this) but they are almost all different,
keep track of them closely....if you don't you will regret it.
I used the setting the frame on the engine method, easiest way
to do it. The upshot of all this is that the engine is back in
the frame!!! I am one happy SOB. It only took me a couple of
hours. Tomorrow I will put the wheels and fenders back on it.
It will then finally look like a bike. Dan....remember that "fat
bottomed girls make the rocking world go round"....Sports
are only tarted up GT's:) They'll be drooling over my GT at Vegas:)
Sports will be a dime a dozen:):):) Can we all say trolling??
04/15/01
I
got the wheels and fenders on the '73 750GT today and the header
pipes and crossover too. It's actually starting to look like
a bike. A fair amount of work was accomplished on it this weekend.
04/21/01
Guido's
Revenge:
Or the continuing saga of the '73 750 GT restoration.
Well,
I went down to put more bits on the GT today. Figured I'd put
the rear turn signals/taillight/bracket on first as that would
be easy....Boy was I wrong. It's just not that simple. Easy to
put on, but then you figure out that you need to have the wire
to the stop light there too....and then you figure out that you
have to have the whole fricking wiring harness in place to do
that....and then you figure out that you have to have the tray
in....well actually you figure out that you have to have the
harness in after you have the tray in place so the tray comes
back out again. Then you figure out how you have to run the wires
and have the grommets in place. Then you wonder why the fuse
box won't go up to where it goes on your '74.....well it's different.
The regulator is behind the fuse box on a 74....it's down on
the left side under the side cover on a '73. So the fuse box
was just sitting in there loose. I will have to splice in 2-4
inch sections of wire from the rear brake lights to get enough
room to put it up where it goes on the '74's....hence Guido's
revenge. Guido worked at the Ducati factory in 1973, he was a
communist, and he knew that 28 years later I would be restoring
his handy work and looking at '74 750 GT's for reference so he
made the '73's different! Don't work from the back forward. Put
the wiring harness in, then the tray, and then feed the wires
to the rear....except for the turn signal wires which have to
be fed from the rear forward....and be sure to have your WD-40
handy to lube everything good so you can feed the wires....the
2 little holes that they go into in the fender are almost too
small to take the wires, and the rubber grommets....well that's
really even more of a pain in the ass! Anyway the rear turn signals
and brake light are in place with the wiring....and I got the
front sprocket tightened up and loctited in place....and with
the thick shoulder to the outside like it's supposed to be. When
I looked at the '74 GT's wiring to the stop light I found one
wire off, so I put that back on and my brake lights work now,
which is good as I am going to take it for a ride tomorrow on
a poker run for
a charity. It will be the first ride since Colorado last September.
04/22/01
Guido's
Revenge Continues:
Never
underestimate Guido....the sob got me again today....too funny.
I did take the '74 750 GT out for the poker run today and she
ran faultlessly, lots of fun and about 80 miles around Albuquerque.
So anyway I get home to Mom's where the bikes are and I figure
I'll put in the new brake pads in the Scarrab's and put them
on the forks. The pads go in easy, no problems. I go to put the
right caliper on, put the screws in first just to make sure they
run in with out any problems....top one goes in fine but for
some reason the bottom one doesn't seem to want to go. Get a
flash light and look and I'll be damned but there are no threads
cut into the bottom hole at all!!! Good one there Guido, got
me again. Remember this bike only came with one caliper and I
am putting dual discs on it. Guido cut the first threads on the
right fork and then said to heck with it and didn't do the second
hole. I went over and looked at the fork legs to Ed's GT and
yep it's got threads cut into both holes on his.....go figure:)
This of course means that I am going to have to take the front
wheel off so that I have room to tap threads into the fork leg....and
I'll probably have to buy a tap as well..... Guido strikes again.
At least the left caliper when on nicely....but I'll have to
take that off to make things easier when I take the front wheel
off. There are 2 types of Veglia speedo drives. My '74 is straight,
the one I put on the '73 is angled and the one to Ed's bike is
straight, the one's on Darmah's are angled But I am thinking
that I switched the speedo drives between Ed's '74 and my '73
accidently. Anyone have any ideas on this ? I will have to look
at what kind of instruments the 3 GT's have but I don't know
if that makes a difference, I am pretty sure the 2 '74's have
Smiths and the '73 I think has Veglias.
04/28/01
Well
it was a good day for progress on the GT, she's really starting
to look like a bike. First I tapped the threads for the bottom
right caliper mounting bolt that Guido "forgot" to
do when the bike was made. That was easy and I didn't have to
take off the front wheel to do it. Then I put on the RF caliper,
also easy. Next I shortened the chain and put that on. Then mounted
the brake lever and cable, also easy and the rear brake works
great. Then put back on the left header pipe, I had to take it
off to put on the side stand. Then I put on the Dunstal Replica
pipes and passenger foot pegs. Then I put back on the right rear
engine case and shifter peg. Clutch action is good, it shifts
and when in gear turning the rear wheel turns the engine over
nicely. Also put on the breather assembly. Now all I have left
to do is all the electrics, carbs, instruments, headlight, get
the tank and side covers painted and fire it up...that's alot
of work left to do but I am getting excited about it, it really
does look like a bike at this point. No rest for the wicked here,
time to get the backs soldered on some more Ducati belt buckles.
05/19/01- Frame
and Engine
06/08/01
Well
I got a little more done tonight. I was going to get the forks
filled with oil and back in but I forgot the new fork boots at
home so I'll do that tomorrow. I did get the clutch cable perch
polished up and the cable installed. Also polished up the Tomisseli
throttle grip and put the throttle cables in the 32mm DelOrto
carbs. The rear carb doesn't want to go in place. The reason
is that the '73's have a steel plate under the side cover where
the voltage regualtor was installed. This is different from the
'74's, that plate isn't there. Well the '73 came with Amal carbs
and different manifolds. So tomorrow I will have to take the
Dremel down and do some grinding on the bottom of the plate to
give it enough room to fit the DelOrto. It won't take alot but
as it is the manifold won't fit up square. I had know there was
a problem there earlier but thought that if I took the manifold
off and put it on the carb it would then fit. It does go on that
way but it's not square. Oh well no big deal, Ducatis have always
been custom bikes. Still progess is being made. And I am still
debating about Laguna. I think the GT's might win this one.
06/10/01
OK
here is a bonified tech tip. If you are switching your '73 750GT
with Amal carbs over to a set of DelOroto's you are 1. going
to have to get a new set of carbs, that goes with out saying,
but the manifolds are different too. 2. Here's the biggy, once
you have your new manifolds and carbs they will NOT just bolt
right on.......the front one will, but the rear one won't. There
is a difference between the frames of '73 and '74 750GT's. They
mounted the voltage regulator on a peice of steel welded underneath
the left hand frame tube, it's right behind the left hand side
cover. Well the Amals and their manifold fitted there as it was
set up. The DelOroto's don't. So if you are going to ditch your
crap Amals the first thing you want to do is have someone cut
off that stupid peice of 3 by 6 inch peice of metal. Is there
another solution? Yes! Take a file to the bottom of that peice
of metal, you will have to grind out a section about 3 inches
long about a half inch deep starting about an inch from the front.
Then your nice new DelOroto's will fit just fine. Abiet tightly.
And I did check them as compared to my '74. They do look the
same. My point is that DelOroto's will not fit into a '73 750GT
frame with the stupid plate that came standard. And yes it took
a hell of alot of filing to make it work......have someone with
a torch cut it off for you, it will save you alot of grief!!
06/16/01
I
mounted the Tommiseli throttle control. Guido got me again. I
tightened down the screws and it still didn't hold. So I tried
Ed's and it fit just fine, and then tried the new one I got from
Phil and it fitted just fine too. I got mine to work by putting
in the set screw on the back, again go figure that one. So my
carbs and cables are all hooked up, even put on the rubber grip
and the bar end mirror. So now I can twist the throttle and pull
in the clutch lever on mine and pretend that I am actually riding
it. So many little details to attend to. Still it is progress.
I am definetly going to have to blow off Laguna. I know where
I am with these 2 GT's and how much more time and money it is
going to take to get them ready and done for Vegas. I figure
it will take a couple more grand in bits and paint to manage
it. I really do hate to miss Laguna again this year but I feel
that I have my priorities right on this.
06/18/01
I
just recieved the seat that I sent up to Rene to be recovered.
I am just soooo waaaaay more than happy!!!! It is way beyond
beautiful. It is absoutely fantastic. Dang does he do nice work.
The only killer is that now I will have to send the seat that
I got from Dan Kelo up to you as well so that Ed's GT can have
one like mine too. I know he'd never be happy with his once he
sees mine. Oh well:):) Thanks a huge bunch there Rene and Sue.
The little goodie I sent you should be there any day now. I can't
thank you two enough. If you want a GT seat recovered Rene is
the guy to talk to, it may take a little time but it is more
than worth the wait.
06/25/01
I
really didn't get much work done on the GT's this weekend. I
did spend about 5 hours at home on truing the Borranni rims to
Ed's '74 GT today, they are close but I am still not entirely
happy with them. I will play with them some more... I did get
down to Mom's where the bikes are at about 9pm. Really no time
to do any real work on them. I have been a little frustrated
on waitng for parts and what not on the progress of the 2 GT's.
I put on the left front turn signal on my '73 and then I set
the tank on it, put on the side covers and put the badges on
that I got from Phil (hey I had to see that they actually fit...
and they do and look great:) ) I put on the instrument cluster
on my '73 last night and put the Sport headlight shell on just
so I could see how it looks. All the hand controls are back on
to along with the bar end mirrors. I still have so many things
to do to my '73 750GT I don't even like to think about it...but
I was able to sit on it with all the major parts in place so
that it looks like a complete bike tonight. Granted the tank
and side covers are primer PINK but at least I was able to look
at it tonight and really see in my mind what she will end up
looking like. I did take pictures...of course:) Restoring a neglected
'73 and Ed's neglected '74 are not small projects, they are not
for the faint of heart or those with out patientce. Is it worth
it?? Yeah...folks will walk right by 916's at Vegas to look at
our bevels:):) Especially Ed's GT with the sissy bar on it:):)
(This is an inside joke from the bevelheads list) I am going
to deliver Ed's gold and black '74 750 GT after extensive restoration
to him at Vegas complete with a period sissy bar on it:):) Roundcases
are the best......but I am very biased:):) Cheers Tom
07/24/01
I
did get Ed'sfront wheel back today and that is back on his bike.
Great news is that his heads are almost done too. They required
new valve seats and so they were way more involved than originally
thought. I don't care, I'll be really happy to get them back.
I also took off the tank to my '74 and then dropped the front
fork legs and took off the headlight ears so that I can straighten
and repaint them. They are only very slighty bent so that will
not be hard to do. While I am at it I am going to take off the
speedo and get it serviced as well. It has always read about
130 mph once I have it over 60 mph......so I might as well make
it work right. Ed's speedo needs a new bezel glass and I might
as well get them both done at the same time. It's pretty fun
to look at the garage with 3 750 GT's sitting all together in
various states of assembly and disassembly.
I
also have the wheels back for my '74 with the new tires on it,
and new brake pads are on order. I have a long way to go but
it is starting to look doable. I have less than 100 days to go
but I sure hope I can show up to Vegas with 3 GT's... I am not
making any promises. I know my '74 will be fine to go, it's just
that the two other GT's are presenting their own unique challenges.
I really think that I can do it......but then I am a hopeless
optimist. Put me in a room full of horse shit and I'll start
digging like crazy as I am sure that there is a pony in there
for me somewhere:):) I'll just keep chipping away.
Well
I went in to pick up the wheels to my '74 750GT, the Radelli
rims on them. They were done. I asked if they'd had any luck
with Ed's Borrani rimed front wheel. That sucker hasn't wanted
to bead up in one spot on one side for doodly squat. Well we
went in the back and it was beaded up right!! Whoopie. Ed's GT
will have it's wheels on it this evening!! Now if I can just
get his heads back. I'll be able to get his engine back in the
frame!
07/25/01
I
just got back from taking in the 2 speedos and Tach for repair
to Albuquerque Speedometer repair. Nice small shop and he does
nice old style work. I showed him Ed's speedo, he put it on his
machine right in front of me and ran it up to 60 and 90 mph and
said "that works fine, and yes I think I have the trip odometer
lever that it needs" He also has the glass for the tacho
to Ed's bike. He also put mine on and said "Yep that needs
work" Should have them back in a week and at a pretty reasonable
cost. Then we bullshited about bikes and ebay. It's nice to deal
with places like that, pity they are getting to be so few of
them left these days.
09/30/01- Frame
and Engine2
11/10/01 - Assembly
Continues
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