So I'm sitting on the computer, searching the interwebnet for front wheel bearings, among other things. I did have a fiddle with the bike when I came in from work but didn't do much with it at all. What narked more and more was the front wheel spindle size - how could I not spot that? What was worse was that the correct sized off-side spacer which I believe would have centred the wheel pretty much dead-on, has a 20mm bore so is too slack to leave there. So I still have to turn a lump of steel rod down to suit. Only problem there is that the only piece of steel rod I have available at the moment is 50mm diameter which means I need to turn it down a considerable amount(!), bore it to 17mm then part it off at the 32mm length I need.
Anyway, I knocked the original bearings out of the CBR wheels and measured them up. Turns out in order to maintain the TransAlp spindle and not have to adulterate the fork legs, I need to replace those bearings with items with a smaller inner diameter. So instead of the current 20x42x12 items, I need to get 17x42x12. And guess what? This is a very unusual size not normally associated with wheel bearings. You wouldn't believe how many customisers need this size bearing, for the same reason I do, though!!
Anyway, I ordered a pair online from OORacing ( http://www.ooracing.com/index.htm ) on the basis that they are being sold for wheels, (not gearboxes which would be the cheaper ones I can get elsewhere) and these people know what they are doing. I hope. For reference, the code is 6303x3. Only downside is that they don't have plastic grease seals so I'll need to keep a close eye on them and repack frequently. I'll also need to swap the central spacer but fortunately - one thing that's actually gone my way! - both the TransAlp and the CBR use the same length item as discovered when I drifted the Tranny bearings out.
This week I'd ideally like to collect together all the bits I need to get the bike mobile as the schools are closed for the next fortnight and this will be an ideal opportunity to put it all together!
Until I actually have parts in my hands, though, I have little idea exactly how much work I need to put in to get it all assembled.
Yesterday morning I had to collect a couple of parcels from the local GPO depot as I was out when they called. Sometimes they just leave things on the doorstep all day like a certain package from Lancashire today (no kidding, Christ knows how we've had nothing nicked yet... touch wood!) but if it needs a signature it at least goes back to the depot. Most times, anyway. One package was for my wife, the other was my rear brake caliper and mount. Except it wasn't - the seller had shipped someone else's filler cap to me, which means my brakes are somewhere else in the country. Said individual hasn't responded to two emails since yesterday morning but maybe he's just busy. I'm sure he'll get back to me in due course.
The good news today as I alluded-to in the last paragraph, is that I've just received my front brake calipers from Tony in Leyland, absolutely true to his word. I can't praise him highly enough really - he shipped them before he'd even received my cheque, let alone cashed it, so there's a man who deserves some special good luck to go his way. Thanks again, mate, you're a diamond! So I whipped off the old calipers and compared the mounting lugs on the brackets. Totally different. The master cylinder was much bigger to compensate for the larger pot size on the calipers, so that was quickly and easily fitted. I chucked the mirrors too, to further narrow the front profile of the bike. I couldn't do much else though as I need the new front wheel in and centred, which I can't do as it now has no bearings in it... I'm going to need to get some billet aircraft-grade aluminium to make special mounts, aren't I...
The CBR600RR3 stainless steel under-seat exhaust system should be winging its way from Birchington in Kent within the next couple of days, I hope. I'm quite looking forward to getting it to fit my bike - I've already taken the old system off (and revved it on open headers to annoy the neighbours, as you do!) in anticipation. I can't believe nobody else bid on it, to be honest - I won it for £20 plus another £20 postage. I do feel a bit guilty about it because I know it's worth a hell of a lot more but I guess the seller should have put a reserve on it if they were going to be that bothered.
Whatever, it's going to look sweet and, I reckon, unique! I think this project is also begging a close-mounted rear mudguard in purple to match the bike.... Or should that be red? And a lower windscreen (I have the original smaller one stashed away somewhere). See how this is escalating - it only started out as replacement wheels! Back to Ebay I go... My Marbles card is taking a beating.
Also going to need to get some heatproof cladding to protect the bodywork and stop my ass catching fire!..... I wonder if there's any spare I can nick from under our car?
No, stop!!!! (Walk away, look at it another day!)
Goodnight all!
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