Belgium Honda Speedo Part 3

 Previously I made the pattern to cast a new rubber 'gasket' for the 'Belgium Honda'. Now what? Believing what I saw on youtube as a workable method I proceeded to make a mould box. Here's what I'm thinking....The height of the box will match the height of the gasket, this will possibly allow me to do a wipe over for sizing when the rubber compound is poured? If I have a fixed inner and I can remove the outer then I should stand a chance of removing the cast rubber when cured.

The mould being made from silicone and cornflour.....recommended youtube recipe....I know, I know, skilled casters may be shaking head in disbelief but this blog is real time...I'm not in control of the outcome and neither do I know it today. I made a corner locator for the outer mould so that it always positions in the correct orientation.

So, the mix of silicone bathroom sealer and cornflour took place.....foookin dooks..what a job!!! cornflour everywhere....silicone super sticky hands......Mrs C complaining constantly about mess......

Anyway perseverance is the key, and that's what happened here. The wipe over to get height wasn't without adding more stick to sticky...a lick of cooking oil helping eased the scrapper and improved surface finish

Hey!!! when dry didn't look to shabby. 

I then coated the remaining base with several layers of yacht varnish to help create a non stick surface.

So far so good, keep checking for more news from 'The Old Sidevalve Bar.' 

Reject AI....You know it makes sense.. 

 

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..

A Virtual Anniversary Celebration.

 Covid19 lockdown easing...but big parties still not allowed unless you were a part of the recent world summit in Cornwall, then hey party party...get down to the beach bar-b-que. Rock'n'Surf with Boris...Anyway it has been noticed that today (which is 27/06/21) is exactly 12 years since The Mighty Picklington Precision conquered Park Rash. The date not only etched forever in a tiny corner of all Oilyracers frontal lobes but should we forget then it's also etched on our 'Oilyracer' tankards. A memory jogger for whence we pass to our final years and memories fade...Now what was I writing? Oh yes I remember..

So, a virtual raising of 'Jugglingtons'  No disclosure from either team player regarding beer choice till 8.00p.m sharp.  

Synchronising watches and clocks......Ready?  Yes my lord the church bells hath rung 8 times....The hours ist on us !

In the blue corner we have Basil K. Splutterpipe. Drinking Hobgoblin Ruby Ale... Big frothy head in a highly polished Pewter tankard

Opposing in the red corner yours truly. Tonight I'm 100% supporting 'The Shire'. Starting with a Black Sheep Amber Ale then quoffing a few of 'The Old Sidevalve Bar's specials. All in a somewhat stained and dented tankard. 

Beers poured? Then it's Jugglingtons skywards and I give you cheers to The Picklington Precision. May one day in the future the vibrating beast will again smell of hot brasso and spit nuggets of red hot carbon and the occasional cobweb through it's rear pointing trumpet. Bap Bap Baaaa!

All the above was virtually performed on trust and time punctuality. No Zoom. Proper Old Skool

The Restoration of The Picklington Precision Part 1 By Basil K. Splutterpipe.

 

As fans of this Oilyracer blog page, you will have read - many moons ago - of yours truly, and the Almost Legendary Albert Crackleport’s trip to Belgium, to take part in a bike building competition.

Back in the dark days of 2009, yes, that long ago, before the words “ pandemic “ and Covid were even thought of, we took a sailing ship across to Belgium, to a place routed in legend and also in Balen (somewhere in the middle of Belgium) Here we were plied with much Belgian ale and in a secret place known as “ the arcade”, we undertook the building of a motorcycle - ok pretty basic - within 3 days.

Albert supplied the forks, wheels, engine and gearbox - our Belgian hosts, the steel tubing and welding equipment, sandwiches and pop.

The result was the famed Picklington Precision and again readers of this blog will - after a triumphant return to U.K. shores - mayhap also remember tales of daring do up the slope of Park Rash, in the Yorkshire Dales, back in 2010 - when Albert allowed myself and a couple of fellow gentleman racers, the privilege of riding said machine up said slope. What a day that was - recorded on film, and I believe still available somewhere on the dark web.

That day took a vicious toll on our beloved machine - oil was lost and the gearbox casing broke under the huge stresses and strains of flat out racing - don’t let the formula 1 guys tell you that they know all about g-forces, PAH !!!, they know nothing - it was uphill after all.

The Picklington was brought back to its home - now in Yorkshire - where it’s damage was assessed and remedies commenced, but unfortunately as with all things like this, time passed, it’s glory day almost forgotten, the Picklington ended up under a floor in a cellar in darkest Pudsey - history and time moved on.

Eleven years later - it may have been home brew or over a slice of pork pie and a dripping sandwich - in any case the Picklington once again came up in discussions and memories harking back to those long forgotten days were stirred. Could she be resurrected.

Now, Albert has many fine machines deserving of his huge skills both in preservation and oily racing, and sadly the old lad can only handle so many, thus a suggestion was made - would you like the Picklington to restore as a task in your retirement - which is how we came to be standing in a freezing garden in darkest Pudsey in April 2021 (masked and socially distanced - of course) to retrieve this historical artefact. Thanks Albert, I am truly humbled by your generosity. Pictures are attached hereabouts, which provide evidence of the great day, when the Picklington was brought back into the light.

 

 Awoken from it's slumbers the Picklington is hauled up the cellar steps.

 

 

 

 

 

Cobwebs - and spiders - removed it's time for a swift cuppa out 'o flask. Cheers!

 

 

and the motorcycle began a short trip back to a new home, a comfortable dry garage, where a strip down, clean, paint and re-assembly will begin.

Over the next few months I hope to be able to provide a bit of a story and pictures to accompany my musings on the restoration of my part of oily racing history.

 

Bye for now Splut !!