Author Topic: 77 Lemans - Extensive Fettle (Read 15995 times)

Dave Swanson · « **on:** June 23, 2020, 06:23:39 PM »

I purchased a nice Lemans last fall. It is a good solid unit. It had some cosmetic issues. The primary issue was damage to the fairing and instruments from having another bike knocked over into it. The bike has a fairly interesting history that I will get into as the thread progresses.

The bike had been gone through by Joe Eish a number of years ago and ridden very little afterwards. In fact the owner never transferred the Lemans into his name. When I bought the bike it still had the prior owner's Arizona license plate with a 2004 sticker. The prior (prior) owner from Arizona was Alan Trachtman.

Without any documents from the Eish regarding the work performed I guessed that the bike had a pretty thorough going over.

The engine cases had been cleaned up.

And a Dyna III ignition had been installed.

I had the fairing repaired and repainted.

Before

After

And had Palo Alto Speedometer Service restore the clocks.

Before

After

I also had flaws in the paint fixed. This was not controversial because it had been resprayed at one time and it wasn't a top notch job. If it had retained it's original paint I would have left it alone.

Dave Swanson · « **Reply #1 on:** June 23, 2020, 06:36:30 PM »

I was actually trying to convince myself that I would not tear this bike completely apart. The straw that broke that camel's back was finding transmission oil drips from the bell housing area. I could tell it was transmission oil because, I am assuming, Joe Eish used a red gear lube. The drips on the floor are definitely red.

Of course this means that I will be taking the engine and transmission out and as long as it is out of the frame to a right proper job of looking over everything!

Last night I removed the rear wheel and found the rear drive spline and mating wheel spline were worn beyond what I am comfortable putting back together.

With the engine and transmission out there is no good reason not to perform a complete inspection. It is a Lemans I after all.

Earlier I had no intention of creating a build thread for this because I thought it wouldn't be that extensive. That has all changed.

Here we go!

jas67 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 24, 2020, 05:17:06 AM »

blu guzz · « **Reply #3 on:** June 24, 2020, 05:43:42 AM »

Keep the old Goose flying. Thanks for doing it the right way.

Wildguzzi.com · « **Reply #3 on:** June 24, 2020, 05:43:42 AM »

Motorad64 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 24, 2020, 12:54:34 PM »

Love it

blackcat · « **Reply #5 on:** June 26, 2020, 09:41:10 AM »

"Earlier I had no intention of creating a build thread for this because I thought it wouldn't be that extensive."

Well, best to do it now than wait. Does the engine have the original iron bores? And what did Palo Alto Speedometer charge you for doing the clocks? I need to have the bezel changed in one of mine but it would be better if I had both of them changed and checked.

Dave Swanson · « **Reply #6 on:** June 26, 2020, 10:22:47 AM »

Quote from: blackcat on June 26, 2020, 09:41:10 AM

Does the engine have the original iron bores? And what did Palo Alto Speedometer charge you for doing the clocks? I need to have the bezel changed in one of mine but it would be better if I had both of them changed and checked.

Tom, yes, original iron bores. I wasn't planning on tearing the engine down since it had all the earmarks of being thoroughly gone over, and assuming it was done by Joe Eish I am sure whatever was done to the engine was done competently. Without receipts for the work it is still a mystery what work was performed, so in I go. The bores still have cross hatch visible with absolutely no scoring. The pistons appear to be new and I assume the rings are also. I might as well keep going just to make sure there isn't any surprises. The only surprise so far was a stray extra valve cover bolt in the cavity for the top head bolt.

Both instruments were thoroughly gone over. The price was $700. When you look at the invoice for work performed it makes sense. Since there aren't any NOS instruments available, it is worth it, at least to me. Hartmut's (PAO's proprietor) craftsmanship is top notch. Your bill should be much less for just clean/lube and bezel change.

blackcat · « **Reply #7 on:** June 26, 2020, 12:03:32 PM »

Given all the money I've just spent on mine, I'm not in the mood to spend another $700 bucks but it looks like they did a great job. I will give them a call and see what they want to just replace one bezel and clean up both of them as they don't need to be recalibrated.

Do you think it has the stock cam?

Dave Swanson · « **Reply #8 on:** June 27, 2020, 08:41:07 AM »

The brake rotors are off to TrueDisk today.

Dave Swanson · « **Reply #9 on:** June 27, 2020, 08:41:53 AM »

Quote from: blackcat on June 26, 2020, 12:03:32 PM

Do you think it has the stock cam?

Yes, I am all but 100% certain it has the stock cam.

Dave Swanson · « **Reply #10 on:** June 28, 2020, 07:46:10 PM »

The major disassembly is over. Now to organize. Rusty hardware will be cadmium plated. Just too much rust on the hardware for me to put it back together that way.

The forks were in great shape. And the fork lowers are in great condition.

LesP · « **Reply #11 on:** June 28, 2020, 08:41:29 PM »

Wow

I would take a week + to make the wooden stand.

It will be back on the road in no time and pristine.

Dave Swanson · « **Reply #12 on:** June 29, 2020, 05:30:52 AM »

Quote from: LesP on June 28, 2020, 08:41:29 PM

Wow
I would take a week + to make the wooden stand.

But what a stand it would be! It would probably have a built in espresso maker!

Dave Swanson · « **Reply #13 on:** June 29, 2020, 06:12:37 AM »

The wheels are in great shape. Big relief. New rubber and converted to tubless. The early Lemans all had tubes for some reason.

This was my first experience using RuGlide for a tire lubricant. I can highly recommend it. And it is the perfect time of year to leave the tires in the sun for a few hours to warm them up. The tires went on easier than any other.

Dave Swanson · « **Reply #14 on:** June 29, 2020, 06:40:50 AM »

The rear wheel has a new plate with drive spline. I sprung for new cush rubbers to go with it.

mcdammitt · « **Reply #15 on:** June 29, 2020, 09:39:46 AM »

Lovely bike,thanks

blackcat · « **Reply #16 on:** June 29, 2020, 03:45:03 PM »

RuGlide is the best.

Klinkhammer · « **Reply #17 on:** June 30, 2020, 02:27:56 PM »

Lovely bike! Good catch!

Motorad64 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 01, 2020, 08:45:26 AM »

Dave...how did you go about the tubeless conversion? I'd like to go the same route eventually with '78. I picked up tubeless valves from Harpers. Figured with alloy's it should be fairly easy. Especially with clean, repainted wheels.

Bike looks great...

Dave Swanson · « **Reply #19 on:** July 01, 2020, 09:17:19 AM »

Quote from: Motorad64 on July 01, 2020, 08:45:26 AM

Dave...how did you go about the tubeless conversion? I'd like to go the same route eventually with '78. I picked up tubeless valves from Harpers. Figured with alloy's it should be fairly easy. Especially with clean, repainted wheels.

Bike looks great...

The conversion is very straight forward. Once the RuGlide fully dried I haven't lost a lb of pressure.

blackcat · « **Reply #20 on:** July 05, 2020, 07:46:21 AM »

I did the conversion to my Lemans and CX with no issues. I did apply some silicone around the stems when installing the valve stems. Not that it matters now that you have purchased the stems but they can be had from your local Napa dealer for a lot less money.

Dave Swanson · « **Reply #21 on:** July 10, 2020, 03:46:54 PM »

I mailed my rotors to TrueDisk on 5/27 via USPS Priority Mail. USPS LOST THEM!. The package hasn't been scanned since 7/1. I stopped at the Post Office and had a trace started but nothing so far. I may have to buy another set of rotors!

SED · « **Reply #22 on:** July 10, 2020, 07:10:35 PM »

I bet they find them. Eveything I thought had been lost by the USPS eventually showed up. Had some Ariel engine bearings go missing and the originals showed up a week after the replacements - pretty sure they were actually stuck in US Customs tho...
Smart to file the paperwork early.
Good Luck

Dave Swanson · « **Reply #23 on:** July 12, 2020, 09:28:36 AM »

11 days later the package is moving again. So much for "Priority" mail.

LesP · « **Reply #24 on:** July 13, 2020, 07:14:28 AM »

Good to see they are safe and moving Dave.
The cost will be interesting, I payed $128 (US$82) (and three months) to have the rotor ground on the Norton.

It seems the way now, I posted a NOS 1978 Ducati 900SS clutch cover to Belgium in late April ($80 for 2 kg (iirc) Express)... The flight was cancelled and it is still in Sydney so coming up 3 months to go 900 kms of 17000.

Dave Swanson · « **Reply #25 on:** July 18, 2020, 08:54:06 AM »

Quote from: LesP on July 13, 2020, 07:14:28 AM

Good to see they are safe and moving Dave.
The cost will be interesting, I payed $128 (US$82) (and three months) to have the rotor ground on the Norton.

$161 US including shipping for all 3 rotors. On their way back UPS this time!

Motorad64 · « **Reply #26 on:** July 18, 2020, 09:19:07 AM »

That's pretty darned reasonable. I may send an old set I have on the shelf for a rainy day.

Canuck750 · « **Reply #27 on:** July 20, 2020, 05:02:15 PM »

I have had great service from TruDisc, return shipping to Canada in about three weeks and I had a couple drilled as well in the same turn around period.

Dave Swanson · « **Reply #28 on:** July 24, 2020, 05:12:01 PM »

The wayward brake discs made it back after a long delay by USPS. So much for Priority!

I am just glad they made it safely back.

Tom at Truedisk did a great job on them. It will almost be a shame to rub them with brake pads.

Very reasonable price, $135 plus shipping.

blackcat · « **Reply #29 on:** July 24, 2020, 06:10:02 PM »

Hmmm....maybe I should do that to mine too. They seem perfectly fine to me but I guess it wouldn't hurt.

Those look very nice.

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Author Topic: 77 Lemans - Extensive Fettle (Read 15995 times)

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