1961 CB72 ProjectUsually I can hold off any effects of the transatlantic trip for a few days but I have been rather 'under par' for the last few days.
As therapy I have been sorting through my parts boxes fro parts to work on when I am back 'up to speed'. First up was a choice of three headlamps. The original one had a great big aperture for an ammeter drilled in it and I may still restore that one as a bit of history. Someone though it necessary to put an ammeter in there so they were obviously having some sort of charge issue. The best part - the red one - had a couple of small dents but really nice paint. Almost too good to strip, so the other two were treated to a coat or two of 'industrilal strength' paint stripper. The interesting thing about these early headlights is that the speedometer is held in with a long spring that attaches to a little hook at the bottom of the shell. There are no screwholes in the top of the headlamp shell (like later models) or in the alloy mounting hoop like the 1962 bikes. With the hedlamps pickling away, I turned my attention to the other electrical parts. I found the two original 'green' coils but managed to break off a LT terminal. Happily I hfound a 'few' more and was able to remove all of the crumbling terminal boots and fasteners. Out of the grubby tangle of coils and plug wires came these two genuine Hm marked plug caps. I think they will clean up nicely. They have an ingenious way of attaching the plug lead which means unscrewing the plug terminal from inside. More investigation and careful application of the 'right-size' screwdriver necessary. G '60 C77 '60 C72 '62 C72 Dream '63 CL72
'61 CB72 '64 CB77 '65 CB160 '66 Matchless 350 '67 CL77 '67 S90 '77 CB400F While I was tidying up my workshop to get started on the wheels for this project, I got sidetracked by several kickstart covers that needed attention. The first didn't need much as it had been bushed but there was no groove for the greaser so I set that up and put a groove in.
The other two - one was NOS with no bush at all - and the other was nice but had a ratty fiber bush. I pushed out the fiber bush as I wanted both covers to have a sturdy bronze bush. With that done I grabbed a nice piece of bronze big enough for a pair of bushes. I made the outside diameter a gentle slide fit in the casing so that it could be bonded in with Loctite instead of an intereference fit, figuring that the loctite would hold it without stressing the cover. The inside diameter was made a nice close fit on the kickstart gear to reduce any mis-alignment. Each bush had the groove turned in to distribute grease evenly. I left the grease hole until later when teh loctite had gone off. It was nice to get my workshop mojo back and get these done prettu quickly. I need to concentrate now and get some wheels built. G '60 C77 '60 C72 '62 C72 Dream '63 CL72
'61 CB72 '64 CB77 '65 CB160 '66 Matchless 350 '67 CL77 '67 S90 '77 CB400F
Gordon
One day we will meet up. I'm looking forward to that. G
'60 C77 '60 C72 '62 C72 Dream '63 CL72
'61 CB72 '64 CB77 '65 CB160 '66 Matchless 350 '67 CL77 '67 S90 '77 CB400F I needed to pick out a couple of tidy coils to spruce up and I wanted to kepp that dark green color that the early coils wete finished with.
The best two came out of the box, got a quick clean with soapy water and then went into the bead blast cabiniet to renove the rust and old paint. The local motor shop didn't have any suitable paint so I decided to mix up some for myself out of a tin of black and some old BSA green I had. Once the two coils were clean they were given a wash in solvent and the 'business end was masked off. It took quite a while to get the paint color how I wanted it but it seemeed to come out OK. It was interesting to see the markings on the coil. I looked at a few and they were all different so I couldn't work out any pattern. All in all I think the colour is about right. the finish is perhaps too shiny so I might have a go at flatting the paint with fine wet-or-dry. G '60 C77 '60 C72 '62 C72 Dream '63 CL72
'61 CB72 '64 CB77 '65 CB160 '66 Matchless 350 '67 CL77 '67 S90 '77 CB400F
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