Belgium Honda Speedo Part 2

 It's Uncle Albert...sending a big hello to readers worldwide...and of course the same warm greeting to any far away aliens who may have just stumbled on this digital jotting before doing a quick U turn and steering clear of Earth.. .Glad you could make it to the 'Oilyracer Blogspot' through all the Google garbage. Years ago in the early days of  'Oilyracer' thoughts and actions evolved only around Welding....Beer....Grinding.....Beer.....Drilling.....Beer....oh and a bit of taking the michael out of this countries leaders... Phufffff, in todays world of  finking before speeeekin' (or writing) hurty words in fear of offending anyone who hasn't worked a day in their lives bloggers have gotta take care.. Easy could fall out of a window or get a poisoned dart in the leg when on a train. Nudge nudge know what I mean old chap? Your Uncle Alb misses the opportunity to take the piss out of our present government for fear of plod coming knocking on The Old Sidevalve Bar Door...... But then again it's not like I need to remind anyone what a shiiite show we're living in and why it's getting worsererer. 

Work continues on 'Project Speedo'. The fix for the broken needle will entail removing the glass. Prying back the bezel without damage needs care and could take some time so I thought I'd move onto replacing the rubber gasket that sits between the speedo and headlight shell.... Shock upon shock! Un-obtainable as a Honda part and no old stock at any vintage Honda part supplier. Deeper research led me to a source of replicas. Taiwan via ebay. Now nothing wrong with Taiwan products, but the cost including carriage put the gasket at at least £60.!!!! 

Anyone seen characters on you-tube making moulds and casting un-obtainable parts for vintage cars and bikes? Yep, you've guessed it...Uncle Alb needs to add to his 'Work to List' and try do the same. Trouble is I don't have a good example to use in the first instance. 

This is what happened when I set too to make good the perished part I had. In fact I have several examples of this motorsickle and they all could benefit from a refresh.

First I applied a liberal coating of superglue to hold the remains of the gasket solid. Careful applications of body filler were added.....sanded....added...sanded....you get the picture. In a few day's I had created what I thought should be the shape of a new gasket. It looked as if it would fit reasonably well on the speedo but it will crack if pulled on so  a 'leap of faith' at this point. Spray painted the pattern to help visual assessment and should also hopefully help release from the mould I'm planning on making.

That's where we are guys....next step mould making. Beers are ready cos I think I deserve them. Keep looking in and checking on how this very small patch of the Shireshire is doing its best to preserve OLD BLIGHTY and all who sail in her. Keep the Vintafake faith the nightmare may be over by Christmas.

Belgium Honda Speedo Part 1

 Phuffff Phuffff...just blowing the cobwebs off mi keyboard...Last logged on in June '21.. Blimey that's nearly 5 years...bet mi' internet connection has perished but I'll see if I can connect.  tap...tap....tap.....Oh it's alive!! Igor...IT'S ALIVE!!!!

Ok..hands up....who remembers your scribe? You do remember? Well good because Uncle Alberts back in town. I used to comment on how shit the government was and how bumbly Boris was and what about Macrons french sausages...and how hot Von der Leyen was...Fookin doookin mention anything about the government now and least ya can expect is a good rear ending by foreign rent boys.....or falling under a bus....or even out of a window.... Scared, well a bit so I'll just ramble about my latest purchase for the Belgium Honda. That can't be racist now can it...?

As a new version of  The Old Sidevalve Bar continues to take shape my thoughts are with what will be allowed in it. Well near the top of the list is the Belguim Honda. Poor thing...in boxes, then it's out, then back into boxes, then out again.  Anyway if it's going to hit Belgium soil in my lifetime then it better be out of it's box and back in view. What can be considered useful on a motorsickle in EU land? Firstly I'd suggest a strong luggage rack to carry the lovely beers...secondly a speedometer that reads the correct lingo would be good too. So, I need to buy a speedo...a kilometre one is extremely rare UK. In fact a good MPH one is getting on £250....ooooch. Broken one to mend? Sounds good but it's a risk. To add to the task of finding one there are 2 x different styles depending on year of motorsickle. Belgium Honda is a 1965 so requires the first version. ('Contra rotating' its called 'cos the needles travel in opposite directions.... needs the appropriate speedo drive but hey ho will cross that bridge later.)The one I finally bought as you can see from the pictures had a missing rev counter needle...maybe, just maybe I could make an replacement? Chrome looked reasonable and there would be some sov's left in the budget to order a replacement dial that was calibrated in kms. Below are the ebay piccies...I paid the asking price, as it looked the best of the bunch offered for sale.

Close inspection followed when the package arrived. Lady Luck was smiling on your Uncle Albert that's for sure 'cos up through one of the bulb holder holes I spied treasure...yes a thing of extreme value...It was the broken part off the rev counter needle...The smallest jiggle and it was out....how could that important part have survived hidden up inside? Looks a bit worse for wear, maybe it had been in there whilst the donor bike was a runner as there's a circular marking on the inside of the glass to suggest it was running out of position for a while before breaking. The seller never mentioned he'd seen or had it...certainly the speedo is more valuable now. All I've got to do is get inside and maybe a dab of glue will be all it needs to be back where it belongs.. Filled with enthusiasm a new kms dial was ordered from USA via ebay... Arrived safely too despite Trump throwing tariff after tariff on exports and imports. All the way from Indiana. WOW! 

Next job..strip and clean......keep looking in 'cos we're open for exciting news once again. Alb over and out..