76 Convert Restoration

[Dave Swanson]

June of 2007 my daughter accompanied me on a drive to Michigan to pick up this 76 Convert.



 I had no idea that it would sit this long waiting, and waiting, but now the gears are slowly starting to turn. 



I have been picking up parts here and there and have quite a few stashed now.  A NOS u-joint just in case, Gilardoni set just in case, and many other parts.

The restoration took a big step in the right direction when I dropped the tins and saddlebags off for paint.  It will be a slow moving restoration as I have 3 bikes ahead of it, but thought I would start a thread.  They always help me keep track.

[Vecchio Lupo]

How's it going??

[Scout63]

I blame the Harley.

[Dave Swanson]

Good things come to those who wait.  My painter has moved from full time to only part time as a painter. It took almost 6 months to get the parts back but I knew that going into it.  He's the best, and reasonable.  Very worth the wait.

[guido guzzi]

Nice looking paint!
Haven't heard much from you lately, Dave.
Hoping your new year is off to a good start.
John Wendt in Wisconsin

[Scout63]

Paint work looks great Dave.  Now everything is going to have to meet that standard. What is the plan for the drive train?

[2WheelsUp]

Paint work looks great Dave.  Now everything is going to have to meet that standard.

Isn't that the truth, however I suspect no disappointments from Dave, lol. On the basis of just a single restoration, my friends now expect my Norton restoration to be at that level, which is a very high bar. They have no idea of the work involved which makes it amazing just how many quality bikes the serial restorers, on this site and others I follow, produce. I'm inspired to see these beauties appear, provides a standard for what a restoration can/should be.

[Dave Swanson]

Paint work looks great Dave.  Now everything is going to have to meet that standard. What is the plan for the drive train?

It will receive the normal 100%     It's going to take awhile because I really need to finish my 1955 Triumph T110 this year. 

[Dave Swanson]

As soon as the V85TT comes of the lift for it's basic service, the Convert will move in!  It's been a long wait, but the light can be seen at the end of the tunnel. 

[kballowe]

Those tins turned out nice !

 

[Dave Swanson]

Almost 17 years later it finally makes it on the lift!

[inditx]

Good things come to those who wait.  My painter has moved from full time to only part time as a painter. It took almost 6 months to get the parts back but I knew that going into it.  He's the best, and reasonable.  Very worth the wait.

Looks like they pass the pup’s sniff test too!

[Dave Swanson]

It's a filthy beast!

[Dave Swanson]

Wrenches were flying today.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

No huge red puddles on the lift and floor! What's your secret?  I always make a mess when doing anything with the atf system. 

[Dave Swanson]

No huge red puddles on the lift and floor! What's your secret?  I always make a mess when doing anything with the atf system. 

No secret.  Most, but not all of the ATF dribbled overnight into a container.   

[Dave Swanson]

The crust!  My theory is that in this bike's short 11000 mile life it was used as an almost year round commuter in Michigan.

[Dave Swanson]

For those that haven't seen the Sachs TC out, here you go.

[Canuck750]

You are unstoppable!
This will turn out to be one of the best Concerts anywhere, looking forward to watching the progress.

[Dave Swanson]

You are unstoppable!
This will turn out to be one of the best Concerts anywhere, looking forward to watching the progress.

Thanks Jim.  I figured I should finally get to this one while I still have most of my marbles together.   

[Dave Swanson]

This filthy motor was all good news upon teardown.  The main bearings and rod shells all look pristine, as do the camshaft and lifters.  The cylinder bores, pistons and rings look like they have next to zero wear.  The Gilardonis I bought for this project many years ago "just in case" will stay on the shelf.



A number of chrome parts were dropped off at the chrome shop about 60 miles away.  They were too far gone to polish and reuse as is for my taste.  I also left the stainless fenders with him for a good professional polishing job.  I will see these parts again in 8 to 10 weeks, but there is plenty to do in the meantime.

[Dave Swanson]

For those that have never seen the Convert torque converter, clutch and 2 speed transmission laid out.

[Dave Swanson]

All back together with a complete set of new o-rings and seals.  Just need the bits that are going out for zinc plating to completely finish it. 

[kballowe]

Lookin' good !

 

[Dave Swanson]

For those that would like to see the difference between the early lightweight 2 pc flywheel vs the later 1 pc heavy unit, here you go.

[brider]

Did this bike have the heavier flywheel already installed? I had a '76 and it had the earlier sheet-metal flywheel.

Might have missed it: Do you know why it was parked? At 11k, that's kinda early but not out of the realm of a ATF-pump failure, OR a flywheel failure if it was originally a SM flywheel.

And the big question: What is/was the condition of the pump in the front cover? I have a stale multi-page thread about my ATF pump woes and what I'm doing to put it back into service, it would be nice to add your data to the database of Convert pump knowledge.

[Dave Swanson]

Did this bike have the heavier flywheel already installed? I had a '76 and it had the earlier sheet-metal flywheel.

Might have missed it: Do you know why it was parked? At 11k, that's kinda early but not out of the realm of a ATF-pump failure, OR a flywheel failure if it was originally a SM flywheel.

And the big question: What is/was the condition of the pump in the front cover? I have a stale multi-page thread about my ATF pump woes and what I'm doing to put it back into service, it would be nice to add your data to the database of Convert pump knowledge.

Bike had the light flywheel, but it is in perfect shape.  Not long after I bought the bike I picked up the heavy flywheel for the day I would finally get to the restoration.  Little did I know that the heavy flywheel would sit on the shelf 17 years.  With the limited miles this bike will see when I finish it I am sure the light flywheel would out last me, and probably the next owner, but the prudent thing to do is to put the heavy in there. 

The bike was ridden hard and put away salty wet for a few years in Michigan.  It did run when I bought it but I had no intention of riding it until I performed a restoration.

The original drive hex key was slightly worn.  I am replacing it with a 1/4" Allen wrench I ground for a good fit.  Should last a long time. 

[Dave Swanson]

Charlie advised to install new rings, which made too much sense to ignore.  He even found a set of NOS Guzzi rings on eBay for me.  Thanks for the help spending my money Charlie.   

I gave the iron barrels a fresh cross hatch with my ball hone, scrubbed them with the barrel brush over and over.  Gave them a light coat of oil and got this far today.

Next is taking the heads apart for inspection and hopefully just a light lap for the valve seats. 

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Always happy to "assist" others in spending their money.  Looking super!

[Turin]

  I can't wait to see how this turns out.