Ventura Posted December 7, 2011 Author Posted December 7, 2011 Vapour blasting man did a great job on the casings.............. All the bearings and seals are in hand so I guess I'll be busy tomorrow (Im going to have to time the use of the oven for when she's out at work!! Crank is already hidden in the freezer!! ) Wish me luck!! V.
Ventura Posted March 16, 2012 Author Posted March 16, 2012 Well now! Its been a while since the DT got any attention, but we're on the last leg in earnest now! Since December I just haven't had the time or opertunity to get the engine rebuilt. But now, its well on the way! All new bearings, seals, clutch plates and a new gear change shaft (knackered splines) fitted. Looks like an engine again!!..................... Not a great deal of issues in the rebuild, and no little bits left over! Im glad I had the load of photos I took, three months ago when I stripped it down, to refer to as they proved very handy in reminding where everything went. So once the cylinder and head have their final coat of paint they'll be on and we're almost there. Getting excited now!! V.
Ventura Posted March 27, 2012 Author Posted March 27, 2012 We're getting there, slowly!....... After a day of baking yesterday......... Of which the end results were spot on, I've now got the DT engine rebuilt and ready to go back in the bike. Seems that I have no bits left over either! But one thing I've "lost" on the way is the crankcase breather connection and pipe. Haven't a clue where thats gone, but I've ordered another from Yambits. Just need to refit the rubbers between the head fins once they're cleaned up. It turns over fine, seems to go thro the gears OK and kickstart mech does the business as it should. All good so far! So, next job to slot it all back into the bike. Not far to go now! EDIT: Just looked back thro the original photos of the bike before I started this project, and it never had a breather connection or pipe fitted to it!! And I wasted an hour and a half searching for the bl@@dy thing!! V.
Ventura Posted April 3, 2012 Author Posted April 3, 2012 Engine is back in place now....... Lookin' more like a bike again! Almost there! V.
Noise Posted April 3, 2012 Posted April 3, 2012 Wow thats awesome mate!!! wish the missus let me use the oven for my paint lol What paint did you use?
Ventura Posted April 3, 2012 Author Posted April 3, 2012 Wow thats awesome mate!!! wish the missus let me use the oven for my paint lol What paint did you use? Cheers Noise! Wasn't so much of the missus letting me use the oven. Was more towards using it while she was out, and hoping she wouldnt smell hot paint when she got home!! Here's the paint. Tried, trusted and recommended by those who've been there before. Worked great, really easy to apply and excellent result straight out the oven!! ......... V.
Moderator Airhead Posted April 3, 2012 Moderator Posted April 3, 2012 Aye tis good stuff for the money, get it from wilkinsons stores
Ventura Posted July 15, 2012 Author Posted July 15, 2012 Well now!! After so much time, my very much stop-start project is now about done!! The final work has been completed, fluids duly poured into the various orifices, and the battery charged up once again. Fired up third kick and oohhhhh does she sound and smell like a gud 'un!! Here's some pics of how she looks today. Tomorrow its out on the road to start the running in process............ Cant wait to get her out on the road!! Not today tho, after already having one too many celebratory cans of the cold stuff!! And yes..... its all been very much worth it. Now what next I wonder!!! V.
Moderator Airhead Posted July 15, 2012 Moderator Posted July 15, 2012 What an absolutely stunning bike you have resurrected there, I know it was in pretty good shape to start with but hey...now it's like new. :eusa_clap: Well done Ventura. Are you keeping her then?
Ventura Posted July 16, 2012 Author Posted July 16, 2012 Many thanks for the positive comments! Ive had to postpone the road test for now as it pee'ing down as usual! And there's absolutely no way this little beauty is going out in the rain!! For now anyway!! Ive set up the 2-stroke pump today and run it thro the gears a few times in the shed All OK so far. All the lights work OK, indicators and horn fine, and even the oil tank level light does as it should. Ive really enjoyed resurrecting the DT to its past glory, and am pretty proud of making sure it'll hopefully be good for at least another 33 years!! I'll certainly be treating it with a lot more respect than the one I bought in 1979. There's no way this one is going anywhere near the sand-dunes which wrecked the first one!! Im undecided at the moment what I'll do with her in the long term. There's a couple of local shows coming up in the near future so will certainly enter into those. Then who knows!!?? In 1976 I bought a nice blue RD250. Now there's a thought!!! V.
Ventura Posted July 17, 2012 Author Posted July 17, 2012 Well, the rain has stopped long enough for me to take the bike out on its inaugural run!! 25 miles on the local tarmac back roads. Fantastic!!!! Big grin all the way, and it certainly takes me back to when I had my first DT all those years ago! Altho restricted to 4000 - 5000 revs while its running in, it feels smooth and full of life. Up and down thro the gears no problems at all. Brakes seem surprisingly effective and she handles a dream. All great so far! Cant wait to get her buzzing!! Here's a couple of photo's for good measure........... V.
Sacha Posted July 17, 2012 Posted July 17, 2012 Looks beautiful! And I'm sure it's even better that she runs as well as she looks! nice work.
Noise Posted August 6, 2012 Posted August 6, 2012 A belated congrats to you man! she is a cracker! :eusa_clap:
Ventura Posted August 6, 2012 Author Posted August 6, 2012 Cheers guys!! The running-in is going well, but Ive a feeling it wont last as long as the book says!! Got it MOT'd and taxed last week, only to find the tax disc has flown away while out riding, the day after I paid for it!! Thats another 7 quid then! Squires is on my list, but I do have (another) speed awareness course to attend on the Friday! Mark me down as a maybe! Here's some further gratuitous photos taken while out and about...... V.
blackhat250 Posted August 6, 2012 Posted August 6, 2012 Crackimg job ventra" & you musta been under 42mph in a 30 . to get the awareness coarse, I got the 3 points and £60
Ventura Posted August 6, 2012 Author Posted August 6, 2012 have we been a naughty boy then 'fraid so!! The product of an otherwise enjoyable Sunday ride to North Wales a few weeks ago! Crackimg job ventra" & you musta been under 42mph in a 30 . to get the awareness coarse, I got the 3 points and £60 Cheers Blackhat. This time it was unfortunately 51mph in a 40. On an open NSL country A-road which went down to a 40 for about 300 yards!! And guess where the unmarked van was!! No excuses tho. I'll take my just deserts......... V.
mcferreira100 Posted June 28, 2013 Posted June 28, 2013 Love the bike in the living room. Fantastic job..good to see. What I would like to know is what was total spend for a project like this?
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