Next (personal) project - Moto Morini 3 1/2 Strada

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Just finished this 3 1/2 engine, unfortunately it's not mine, but for the second Sport belonging to my customer Mark. Mine shouldn't be far behind though, cylinders are honed, just waiting for the heads to return from the machine shop.

[radguzzi]

Beautiful Charlie.  Was this a full rebuild as well...? 

Nice details with the decals a few posts back too.

Rob

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Beautiful Charlie.  Was this a full rebuild as well...? 

Nice details with the decals a few posts back too.

Rob

Yes, almost complete rebuild - didn't need valve guides, so valves were refaced and seats touched up. I'll eventually be assembling the rest of the bike, the same as I did Mark's first 3 1/2 Sport.

Hoping to finish my engine sometime this week, now that the cylinders and heads have returned from the machine shop. Cylinders were cleaned and honed, heads had the guides replaced, seats recut and valves refaced. Frame and other chassis bits should be finished at the powdercoater late this week as well.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Picked up all of the chassis bits from the powdercoater on Tuesday. Need to make room somewhere to begin assembly, the frame is still in my Eurovan.

[Canuck750]

Keep it coming! It gets real interesting now

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Back to work...

Finally made a space in the shop for the frame.



Starting to assemble the heads.


One done.


Both.


Comparison of early (left) and later valve guides.


The cylinders are up next.


Odd looking little pistons.


Ready to install.

[Groover]

This is the clean part. I can now read this thread with my clean clothes on 


Are the wrinkle parts also powder coat, or paint?

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

This is the clean part. I can now read this thread with my clean clothes on 


Are the wrinkle parts also powder coat, or paint?

The wrinkle black is powder coat - it's much more uniform than I was ever able to achieve when using wrinkle paint.

[Canuck750]

I have been meaning to ask if you had to have the crank ground and/or fit new shells to the rods?

My next project is to strip down my 3 -1/2 motor, previous owner told me a petcock was left on and flooded a cylinder, starved the mains of oil, no idea yet if I will need to get oversize shell bearings and don't see them available on line at Made In Italy.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I have been meaning to ask if you had to have the crank ground and/or fit new shells to the rods?

My next project is to strip down my 3 -1/2 motor, previous owner told me a petcock was left on and flooded a cylinder, starved the mains of oil, no idea yet if I will need to get oversize shell bearings and don't see them available on line at Made In Italy.

I was going to have the Strada's crank ground undersized until I found a good, used, standard-sized crank. Mdina Italia have 1st under shells available: https://www.mdinaitalia.co.uk/M250308.html

[Motorad64]

Wow...never seen a piston with a cut in the skirt like that.   What's the thinking? 

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Wow...never seen a piston with a cut in the skirt like that.   What's the thinking?

I'm not sure what the engineering is behind it - allowing for expansion? better oiling? My old '64 Gravely tractor has the same.

[Don G]

Hepolite pistons pioneered that, they called it thermal slot.  DonG

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Hepolite pistons pioneered that, they called it thermal slot.  DonG

Gravely was doing it in '36, when did Hepolite "pioneer" it?

[Canuck750]

I was going to have the Strada's crank ground undersized until I found a good, used, standard-sized crank. Mdina Italia have 1st under shells available: https://www.mdinaitalia.co.uk/M250308.html

Thanks Charlie, I had missed that.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Thanks Charlie, I had missed that.

There's been some chatter on the MRC about the (aftermarket) oversized shells not being the same thickness as the (o.e.) factory originals. So, the shells need to be installed in the rods, the i.d. measured and the crank ground to fit.

[Canuck750]

There's been some chatter on the MRC about the (aftermarket) oversized shells not being the same thickness as the (o.e.) factory originals. So, the shells need to be installed in the rods, the i.d. measured and the crank ground to fit.

Thanks for the heads up

I will take the crank and rods to the machinist I use for him to do his  magic.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

After playing with the Sears/Puch way too much, I'm finally back to working on the Morini. Top-end reassembled today. Double checked the valve timing and found it spot-on. 

[Dave Swanson]

The engine is looking good!  That's a compact valve train!

[Canuck750]

Looks great Charlie! and I have to say that is a very clever use of slotted angle for the engine stand and it looks very sturdy too.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Looks great Charlie! and I have to say that is a very clever use of slotted angle for the engine stand and it looks very sturdy too.

It's what I had on hand at the time, so I used it. Did need to elongate some of the holes so the bolts would go through.

[Groover]

Looks really good, I'm also a fan of your vintage fan in your shop 

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Looks really good, I'm also a fan of your vintage fan in your shop 

The fan is actually quite modern - about 10 years old. I bought it because it looked vintage and instead of plastic, it's all stainless steel. I have the one my father built back in the '50s also - the base is the center of a truck wheel, motor is 3/4 hp, blade and guard both from an older fan that was scrapped. Sounds like an airplane coming in for a landing. 

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

A little more progress. Disassembled, cleaned and reassembled the intake manifolds with new gaskets and o-rings, after first flattening the gasket surfaces. Temporarily installed them on the engine along with the the rocker covers. The position of the manifolds will need to be determined once the engine and airbox are back in the frame and carbs installed. The rocker covers need to come off for them to be removed, plus the rocker covers need to be polished.







Installed the shift arm. It has to go on before the engine goes back into the frame.




I'll install the alternator stator and ignition pickup later. It's ready for the frame - I just need to get the frame ready for it. 

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

More done yesterday evening. Set the engine down off the table and put the frame up on it. Chased threads, removed powder from places it shouldn't have been, cleaned off the ground spots, etc.




Installed two new centerstand bumpers. These are originally riveted into place, I used M4 button-heads, washers and nuts with a dab of thread locker.




Then, it was frame off the table, engine back on, laid on the left side and blocked up level. The frame was then lowered down over it and the rear engine bolts slipped into place. One front engine mounting plate was loosely installed as well.




Frame with engine turned upright for more assembly. Somebody forgot to order the extra thick washers and nylock nuts, so it's all on there loose until those arrive.






Trying to remember how the bellcrank for the shift linkage goes, without looking back at my photos. US bikes used this setup to move shift from right to left.




Installed the swingarm pivot "thrust plates" on the frame. Slipped the swingarm spindle in to help locate them correctly.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Installed the centerstand and swingarm.








Test fitting the footpegs and brake pedal.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Got the frame with engine down off the table today.




More chasing threads and removing powder from places it's not supposed to be. Ready to go on.

[Dave Swanson]

Always a big event getting the engine/trans back in the frame!  Looks great!

[Canuck750]

Looking great 

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Instead of going riding on this beautiful day, I decided to get a bit more done on the Morini. Installed the steering lock and steering head bearing cups.



Greased it up and installed new balls.


Ditto with the "cones"


Holding my breath, put it all together.


Horn and steering damper brackets installed.


Cleaned the toolbox, still looked rough. Sprayed the inside with bedliner and will do the outside with Krylon Fusion satin black.


Working on the gauges next. Cleaned and installed the reproduction gauge rubbers. Eventually, I plan to have both the tach and original speedometer rebuilt. This NOS "no name" Veglia speedometer will do for now.


I'll need to "clearance" the rubber for the studs and reset cable (neither there on the original).


Cleaned up the warning lights.


Threaded on the tubes temporarily - still need to clean them.