shovel build update...

I finished off all the reassembly today, just awaiting the oiltank & sissybar. Photos to follow ASAP.

shovel build - progress again...

It didn't take long for me to decide to start fitting everything back in place. I took some time to check the motor - tranny - rear wheel alignment. All looked really good. I made my mounts from a drawing garnered from the Internet so I was a little surprised when I confirmed to myself everything lined up first time! I know the stock mounting holes are drilled 1/32" oversize for alignment purposes, but you never end up with much free play - unless you use CAD I suppose.. Bingo!

shovel build - progress again...

I had Nikki at Banbury Powder Coatings coat my tail light assembly too.. It looks pretty cool now. I'm going to get some red plastic to fit inside the aperture.

shovel build - progress again...

I collected the frame today from the powder coaters. I've never had a frame coated before so I can only compare it to paint but it's got a stock motorbike kind of look - sort of industrial & pretty cool for this bike. They were certainly fast - getting the job done in 1 day. Thank you Banbury Powder Coating. Tel: 01295 278233. It's great, powder because assembling the bike you don't really have to be too careful as the finish is really difficult to scratch..

shovel build update...

I'm still on target to do the final assembly of the bike at the weekend. It will just about be finished then & awaiting the primary belt drive, clutch and some gearbox parts, plus the ignition. I need a few weeks to get the dough together for those parts but the main thing to me is the fabrication and paint is out of the way. I finished off the final welding jobs today, tomorrow I collect the frame from the powder coaters and finish painting a few small parts black. I sent in the sissybar as well as my oilbag to chrome, those will be ready for the weekend. The last thing to take care of is the tank which I planned to pinstripe, but I might leave that & just polish the lacquer a bit.

shovel project final assembly..

I have decided final assembly of the bike will be next weekend. It's time to get on with a few other things so I want to get it finished.. Monday or tuesday I'm going to take my frame to the powder coaters & the oilbag, with a return installed into the top now, will go to the chrome platers. I have the week then to get my tank striped and cleared over. I have a little welding left too but I need a couple of fresh tungstens. I'm onto the neatest stuff although it all looks pretty good. I always enjoy creating a bike but in the end it's nice to finish too. Sometimes you got to say to yourself "enough.."

Powder coating my frame now...

I decided to call up some buddies & see what powder coaters they'd used.. I got a tip about a firm 1 hour away that does a good job quickly. I called them up - the price was pretty reasonable for a complete service - blasting, zinc plating and powder finish. It gets very tiring sometimes trying to put together a bike for the minimum outlay. I just have to accept there are some processes I can't handle myself and paint is one of them. The mess and disruption (in a domestic environment) sucks, the paint fumes suck and the slow drying time sucks! OK I have made a decent fist of spraying the fender & the tank should be OK when it's done if my luck holds out but it's a bit too touch and go for my liking. At least I feel I understand my strengths and weaknesses after this build. I should've known really 'cuz I've been there before with home painting.. lack of funds meant I tried it again. For the last time tho'. Dues paid.