Author Topic: Meet Stella aka Project Boat Anchor ;-)  (Read 10634 times)

jfree

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Meet Stella aka Project Boat Anchor ;-)
« on: March 05, 2015, 06:43:09 AM »
72 Eldo rescued from a field near French Lick IN. Looks like it's been sitting since around 1990.  


My eight year old daughter wants it when she's old enough so she's been helping.


The gearbox is packed up to get rebuilt and I should have a donor Convert motor this weekend


« Last Edit: March 07, 2015, 06:57:29 AM by jfree »

Offline Scott DeRoss

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Re: Meet Stella aka Project Eldo-Rat-O
« Reply #1 on: March 05, 2015, 07:05:14 AM »
Good for you in taking on such a project! I wish all the best in bringing her back to former glory. Please keep us posted on the project. ;-T
« Last Edit: March 05, 2015, 07:06:27 AM by Scott DeRoss »
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Offline pressureangle

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Re: Meet Stella aka Project Eldo-Rat-O
« Reply #2 on: March 05, 2015, 09:36:58 AM »
I haz the sickness.

I have a Norton in the wings to restore next, and I'm still excited by an old Eldorado.  :-\

Take lots of pics!
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Offline Kiwi_Roy

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Re: Meet Stella aka Project Eldo-Rat-O
« Reply #3 on: March 05, 2015, 09:42:44 AM »
I'd be surprised if the engine won't turn over, mine was in worse condition and it turned easily.
Unless it was stuck before it went to the field of course
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Re: Meet Stella aka Project Eldo-Rat-O
« Reply #3 on: March 05, 2015, 09:42:44 AM »

oldbike54

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Re: Meet Stella aka Project Eldo-Rat-O
« Reply #4 on: March 05, 2015, 09:43:56 AM »
  You are a brave man J  ;-T "French Lick" , hmm , did Larry ever ride MCs ? :D

  Dusty

Offline Perazzimx14

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Re: Meet Stella aka Project Eldo-Rat-O
« Reply #5 on: March 05, 2015, 10:07:53 AM »
 Hope everybody involved has an up to date Tetanus shot ;D.

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Offline kevdog3019

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Re: Meet Stella aka Project Eldo-Rat-O
« Reply #6 on: March 05, 2015, 12:29:41 PM »
Whew... project being the key word.  I dig it though.  Good for you and the young one.  She will learn a lot which is important here.
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jfree

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Re: Meet Stella aka Project Eldo-Rat-O
« Reply #7 on: March 05, 2015, 02:25:24 PM »
The motor is pretty crispy. Pistons are stuck in the bores. All of the chrome is flaked off.






The donor motor is a 1000cc Convert with 18k miles. I'm picking it up this weekend. Shipped the gearbox to Ace in MO today. Tonight I plan on cleaning the rims up and inspecting the brakes.

Offline cwiseman

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Re: Meet Stella aka Project Eldo-Rat-O
« Reply #8 on: March 05, 2015, 06:16:52 PM »
Hello friend of Jimmy Connors!!!!!!!!!!
I'm located about 40 minutes South West of Terre Haute and would be glad to give ya a helping hand locating a few things you might need! I also have a metal polisher and do pretty fair work Very Cheap to bring a little life back to aluminum for old Guzzi's (basically help me pay for materials used and some beer money)

Good to see that old rail road bike coming back to life!
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jfree

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Re: Meet Stella aka Project Eldo-Rat-O
« Reply #9 on: March 05, 2015, 06:59:03 PM »
Hi Craig, we are gonna meet one of these days. I was at your booth at Kentucky Kickdown but you were busy with a guy. Jimmy C is the best, he's the catalyst for this whole project.

Offline John Ulrich

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Re: Meet Stella aka Project Eldo-Rat-O
« Reply #10 on: March 05, 2015, 07:55:35 PM »
The motor is pretty crispy.


Looked like they stored it in salt water!
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Offline Perazzimx14

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Re: Meet Stella aka Project Eldo-Rat-O
« Reply #11 on: March 05, 2015, 08:25:54 PM »
Good for you and the young one.  She will learn a lot which is important here.

She'll probably lean some new words and that $1,000 worth of parts can fit in a small flat rate box ;D

My daughter shows little interest in motorcycles but will hang out in the garage with me from time to time. Those are the best times. Hopefully your helper take a big interest it will make the project that much more special. I say let her pick the color ;-T.
« Last Edit: March 05, 2015, 08:29:19 PM by Perazzimx14 »
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jfree

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Re: Meet Stella aka Project Eldo-Rat-O
« Reply #12 on: March 05, 2015, 09:45:48 PM »
My daughter has been riding with me since she was three. She has the Moto bug. Our deal with Stella is I'll get her on the road and when it's her turn she can make her pretty. Black is the OE color so black is it for now. I plan on keep as much of the hard earned patina as I can stand. I'll be using the rear fender with some mods. I'll need to source a well aged tank and front fender (hint hint). I don't plan on any tool boxes or side covers.



I started cleaning up the back rim tonight.

The shoes have plenty of meat left.


Offline Tobit

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Re: Meet Stella aka Project Eldo-Rat-O
« Reply #13 on: March 06, 2015, 08:14:19 AM »
Love the pic of your daughter on the V7.  Yes, the shoes have plenty of meat left but you're not going to use them, right? 

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jfree

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Re: Meet Stella aka Project Eldo-Rat-O
« Reply #14 on: March 06, 2015, 08:58:16 AM »
Tobit, is there a reason I shouldn't keep the old shoes in service? I plan on replacing the springs and cleaning the cam.

Offline cruzziguzzi

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Re: Meet Stella aka Project Eldo-Rat-O
« Reply #15 on: March 06, 2015, 09:42:15 AM »
Makes me think of that 80's movie where someone dunks a Porsche and the repair guy asks him:

"Who's the U Boat commander?"

I like the dedicated-rigid work platform in the last photo.

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Online Chuck in Indiana

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Re: Meet Stella aka Project Eldo-Rat-O
« Reply #16 on: March 06, 2015, 01:07:49 PM »
 You are a brave man J  ;-T "French Lick" , hmm , did Larry ever ride MCs ? :D

  Dusty

French lick and I69 are both Indiana landmarks.. ;D
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Online Chuck in Indiana

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Re: Meet Stella aka Project Eldo-Rat-O
« Reply #17 on: March 06, 2015, 01:15:08 PM »
I hate to rain on your parade, but seriously.. that would make a fine anchor if you had a boat. I *like* projects, but this is more than that.
This would be like the guy that wants to build an airplane and plants a tree for the spars. :o
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jfree

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Re: Meet Stella aka Project Eldo-Rat-O
« Reply #18 on: March 06, 2015, 01:50:02 PM »
Thanks for the extra motivation Chuck. This bike will be rolling down the road next summer. You can bet your farm on that.

Online Chuck in Indiana

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Re: Meet Stella aka Project Eldo-Rat-O
« Reply #19 on: March 06, 2015, 02:04:23 PM »
Thanks for the extra motivation Chuck. This bike will be rolling down the road next summer. You can bet your farm on that.

 ;D ;D
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Offline mgmark

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Re: Meet Stella aka Project Eldo-Rat-O
« Reply #20 on: March 06, 2015, 02:16:51 PM »
I've had a few project bikes and the problem with the shoes can be that the linings will come off the shoe. Especially if it's been in a damp environment for a long time, corrosion gets under the linings and pops the material off. Bad news while riding.
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jfree

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Re: Meet Stella aka Project Eldo-Rat-O
« Reply #21 on: March 06, 2015, 04:40:14 PM »
Thanks Mark. I know of a place near me that can reline the shoes for me. I replaced the shoes in my T recently, MGCycle actually had some in stock. I'm thinking about using disc brakes in front. I'm fifty/fifty on it.
Todd, that stand came about after I realized I can't keep tearing bikes down on the floor. Free square tube from an exercise machine left in our garage and scaffolding parts from my job.




Offline Perazzimx14

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Re: Meet Stella aka Project Eldo-Rat-O
« Reply #22 on: March 06, 2015, 08:42:46 PM »
Thanks Mark. I know of a place near me that can reline the shoes for me. I replaced the shoes in my T recently, MGCycle actually had some in stock. I'm thinking about using disc brakes in front. I'm fifty/fifty on it.
Todd, that stand came about after I realized I can't keep tearing bikes down on the floor. Free square tube from an exercise machine left in our garage and scaffolding parts from my job.





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jfree

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Re: Meet Stella aka Project Boat Anchor ;-)
« Reply #23 on: March 07, 2015, 05:14:36 PM »
Brought the motor home today. Can't thank my big bro Jimmy C enough.
Bores look good. Piston rings are springy. Valve train looks brand new.





And just for fun a Decopod.

Offline Lannis

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Re: Meet Stella aka Project Eldo-Rat-O
« Reply #24 on: March 07, 2015, 07:51:23 PM »
Thanks for the extra motivation Chuck. This bike will be rolling down the road next summer. You can bet your farm on that.

Sock it to 'im jfree!   Chuck needs SOMETHING to get him down off his motorcycle-in-a-Transit-van high he's been on for years now ....   ;)   :D  The man's been insufferable, if you need help with this thing, call ... !

I'm pullin' for ya.   We're all in this together!

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Offline rodekyll

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Re: Meet Stella aka Project Boat Anchor ;-)
« Reply #25 on: March 07, 2015, 07:58:20 PM »
Tell me about the decopod.


A couple of thoughts -- first, have you looked into what might be involved with putting a post-loop engine in a loop frame?  I think I recall something about custom lower brackets being needed.  If you already know, nevermind.

Second, for the same effort you could put a cali 1100 in there and feel some real power.  When I repowered my Convert from the V1000 to the V11 it was truly a new riding experience.

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Re: Meet Stella aka Project Boat Anchor ;-)
« Reply #26 on: March 07, 2015, 08:52:41 PM »
A couple of thoughts -- first, have you looked into what might be involved with putting a post-loop engine in a loop frame?  I think I recall something about custom lower brackets being needed.  If you already know, nevermind.

I was waiting  :pop to see which way he goes to mount the engine. My preference is go "Loop style" and use a Loop timing cover, crank adapter and drill the case on top to accept a generator (or Scrambler Cycle alternator kit) bracket.   
Charlie

Offline Arizona Wayne

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Re: Meet Stella aka Project Boat Anchor ;-)
« Reply #27 on: March 07, 2015, 09:18:13 PM »
As I recall Mark @ Moto Guzzi Classics in Calif. put a 1100 motor in a loop frame Eldo not too many years ago and had to lengthen the motor frame part to make it fit, which led to a clearance issue of the front fender.  :D   Might want to give him a call.
« Last Edit: March 07, 2015, 09:20:48 PM by Arizona Wayne »

Offline Shorty

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Re: Meet Stella aka Project Boat Anchor ;-)
« Reply #28 on: March 07, 2015, 09:30:19 PM »
That'll polish right out..... ;-T
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Offline rodekyll

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Re: Meet Stella aka Project Boat Anchor ;-)
« Reply #29 on: March 07, 2015, 09:33:26 PM »
As I recall Mark @ Moto Guzzi Classics in Calif. put a 1100 motor in a loop frame Eldo not too many years ago and had to lengthen the motor frame part to make it fit, which led to a clearance issue of the front fender.  :D   Might want to give him a call.

The issue would be the same for the V1000 -- they have the same alternator cover.

 

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