Lario rehab project begins. What we've learned..

[wrbix]

we had a great time following it! Many thanks.
Congratulations, looks great!

(Scavenged runway directional markers?)

[Unkept]

It lives!  ;-T

The red fork gaiters ad 5 hp!

Great work, let us know how it rides.

[John Ulrich]

Looks great!    ;-T

What's that green stuff in the background?  Up here grass is.....white!

[Chuck in Indiana]

we had a great time following it! Many thanks.
Congratulations, looks great!

(Scavenged runway directional markers?)

Yeah, that runway marker was one of my better projects. I saw several different ones, apparently from an airport that got new signage at the fly mart at Oshkosh before it opened, spied the 18-36, and thought, "perfect. If it isn't outrageously expensive, I'm going to get it." Got in line early, went directly to this one, and it was marked $40.  :o Had Dorcia stand there and guard it while I went and paid. It had a huge transformer in it that was tits up, and two 50 watt halogen bulbs. Ran to Lowe's and bought a timer and 2 bulbs for like $29, made some bulb holders, cleaned it up and painted it and Viola!  ;D Makes a killer night light.. if you're an airplane guy.

[Chuck in Indiana]

It lives!  ;-T

The red fork gaiters ad 5 hp!

Great work, let us know how it rides.

And.. gives me an opportunity to yank Phil's chain.  ;D ~;
Just got back from the first ride. It's like having a new motorcycle.  ;) Started bedding in the brakes, and they get better with each application. The electrical system is now working correctly. It feels tight, and is fun to ride.  What's not to like? Ran it up to 80 a couple of times, took the rpm to 6K 3 or 4 times, did a fair amount of probably 3/4 throttle acceleration and closed throttle deceleration to help with break in. Brought it back and put it in the Guzzi Garage (tm) to look it over. I think I heard Rosie grumbling under her breath.. at any rate, it looks good. No weeps, etc.  ;-T Smells like a new one, too. About broke my arm patting myself on the back. ;D :BEER:

[wrbix]

Yeah, that runway marker was one of my better projects. I saw several different ones, apparently from an airport that got new signage at the fly mart at Oshkosh before it opened, spied the 18-36, and thought, "perfect. If it isn't outrageously expensive, I'm going to get it." Got in line early, went directly to this one, and it was marked $40.  :o Had Dorcia stand there and guard it while I went and paid. It had a huge transformer in it that was tits up, and two 50 watt halogen bulbs. Ran to Lowe's and bought a timer and 2 bulbs for like $29, made some bulb holders, cleaned it up and painted it and Viola!  ;D Makes a killer night light.. if you're an airplane guy.

Great idea - will keep my eye out - KCDK about to get a major upgrade which will likely include new signage.

[wrbix]

About broke my arm patting myself on the back. ;D :BEER:

And well you should. Congratulations on a job well done!

[balvenie]

 Hooray ;D This has been fascinating :bow

[Stormtruck2]

Next???  We're waiting ! 8)

[canuck750]

GREAT looking bike, your rebuild is an inspiration! :+1

Looking forward to your next build ;-T

Jim

[Chuck in Indiana]

GREAT looking bike, your rebuild is an inspiration! :+1

Looking forward to your next build ;-T

Jim

High praise indeed. Your RESTORATION is to die for.. this is not in your league.. just a repair and renovate. Cheap.  ;D

[canuck750]

Your far too humble Chuck! You tackle every job out there, I m hunting down Delrin right now based upon your experience. ;-T
Its easy to replace with new, salvaging old parts and bringing them back to a new life is a real skill. I hope others will follow your example and delve into their own machines and savour the satisfaction of being able to repair and maintain their own bikes.

Jim

[Chuck in Indiana]

Looking forward to your next build

My next, and probably last  :( project will be this '30 Monocoupe that I picked up from a museum in Maine a few years ago. Cheap. (Guzzi content)  ;D It's been an ongoing project since the 50's by several different guys. I'll pull the fabric off and start from much farther back than it is. No telling what is underneath it, and I want to *know* if I (and Brad and Nora, the eventual caretakers) are going to fly it.

Here's the engine, a '30 Lambert 90 hp 5 cylinder radial with greased rockers, etc. This airplane held the transcontinental speed record for a while. 110 mph.  ;D Charlie Lindbergh had one just like it.

Airplanes take freakin forever (comparatively) to restore..I can see hundreds of hours making louver dies and forming sheet metal, etc. , but are rewarding, too, in their own way.  ;D

[Stormtruck2]

Out of curiousity, what all ratings and certs do you hold Chuck? SEL,MEL,Commerical, ATP, Inst,CFII, Rotary, AP?

[Chuck in Indiana]

Out of curiousity, what all ratings and certs do you hold Chuck? SEL,MEL,Commerical, ATP, Inst,CFII, Rotary, AP?

Just a simple PASEL and an A&P. I only "play" with airplanes. All that other stuff would be "work". Not interested.  ;D It surprised me when I was out riding the Mighty Scura in California with JDG, that posts on this list occasionally. We were eating lunch, started talking airplanes,etc. and he's flown em all. Fixed wing, rotary wing, instrument instructor, jets, you name it.  :bow I had no idea.. just another Guzzi Guy.  ;-T You meet the most interesting Characters on a Guzzi... 

[Stormtruck2]

I'm type rated for a flivver.  ;) :D 

[Cal3Me]

Chuck ,,,,,how about a sound bite to a link for the finishing touch ?? ;-T :BEER: :BEER:

Nice job !


,,,,,,Tim

[Chuck in Indiana]

Chuck ,,,,,how about a sound bite to a link for the finishing touch ?? ;-T :BEER: :BEER:

Nice job !


,,,,,,Tim

Thanks, Tim. Just click on the pitcher.  ;) I don't particularly care for the sound of the Emgos. Maybe some Peashooters?

[kevdog3019]

Congrats Chuck on this project and its success.  ;-T  Given us all some knowledge to work from as well as inspiration to dig in ourselves (time permitting someday) on our own gems.  My project is moving slower than yours.... but it's moving!  May have to add the faster red gators for the extra horses necessary to compete with yours.  :P
Keep us posted on more ride reports and changes you make.  You will have a killer time on your outings and forays now that you have a runner.  Best kept secret of the bunch.
Enjoy!
-Kevin

[bad Chad]

Well done, now I can go to bed a happy man. :)

[mwrenn]

Ah man, its good to see another Lario ready to roll!  Nice work!  BTW, if you want to try some peashooters, pm me your address and I will send you a set.  Im not going to be needing them.
Cheers!

[Chuck in Indiana]

Ah man, its good to see another Lario ready to roll!  Nice work!  BTW, if you want to try some peashooters, pm me your address and I will send you a set.  Im not going to be needing them.
Cheers!

Wow! Gotta love this list.. ;-T  I *would* like to try some. PM on it's way..

[kevdog3019]

What are these so called pea-shooters?
-K

[balvenie]

          Brilliant ;D ;-T

[mwrenn]

What are these so called pea-shooters?
-K

Peashooter mufflers from a Norton Commando.  You gotta use the big bore ones, 1 1/2 inch ID.
http://www.commandospecialties.com/Prod_Detail.asp?MSecID=53&ProdID=19

[Doug McLaren]

Fantastic work Chuck, it's been educational and inspirational watching you bring this one back to life.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Just an update. Apparently Photobucket it tits up, so no pictures. It let me upload them, but won't give me a link. <shrug> Some things aren't meant to be understood. If/when they get their act together I'll post em up.
At any rate, after the 5 heat/cool cycles I torqued the heads and adjusted the valves. Checked compression, and the D cylinder was still 76/80.

The repaired cylinder was 78/80. (!) You seldom see one with this little leakage. Apparently Millenium knew what they were talking about when they said to let it idle for 15 minutes for break in.  ;D

 Checked the timing at full advance with my antique  ::) timing light. Looks good.

 Balanced the carbs with my toxic mercury sticks as best I could. Not perfect. One of the things I haven't done is go through the carbs and cables..

At any rate, it looks like we'll be roaring around at Ron's rally this weekend.  ;D

[Chuck in Indiana]

Had a good time at Ron's rally. Did a 250 mile ride with Beardog and his 1200 sport, everything from mild twistys to roaring back for dinner on the interstate. The Beater Lario did very well.  ;-T
I never did particularly like the looks of the LeMans windshield, and if anything I had cleaner air on my faceshield with the original shape.
So.. some striping tape and some Mark one eyeball applied.

When you are band sawing (the best way to cut plastic like this) you want to have at least 3 teeth in the material at all times. This windshield is 1/8" thick, so we need a blade with 24 teeth per inch. In to the saw blade catacombs for some band saw stock that will work..

I have marks all along the front of my workbench for band saw lengths..

Tin snips cuts it to the right length..

Welding a band saw blade is almost a lost art, but my antique DoAll welder (much better than the crap that is passed off as a band saw blade welder any more) made short work of it. Here, it's welded, and I am bringing it up to carrot color and letting it cool slowly. (Annealing)

Grinding both sides flush, and making it flat with a double cut bastard file..

Color drawing it for the final anneal..

And we have a brand new band saw blade. It took considerably longer to tell about it.. yada yada.. ;D
Remove the old 4 tooth per inch blade.. trying to cut the windshield with it wouldn't have turned out well..

Have you ever noticed when you buy (crazy talk) ;D a new band saw blade how they are coiled up neatly? Here's how it is done. Step on the bottom and rotate your hand.

Keep rotating it, and 3 coils magically appear. ;)

Like this..
Now you can put a couple of twisty ties on it and save it for the next time you are cutting 1 1/4" stock.

This is called a pecker.  :o I don't know why, the original meaning must be lost in the annuals of time. <shrug> I made this one years ago for another saw, but it will work in a pinch on this job.

At any rate, here is the pecker in use. No need to worry about trying to keep the windshield flat on the table (can't be done on this one) If thin plastic isn't supported, there is a very good chance of cracking it and ruining your day. ;)
Nothing to it..

Sand the sawed edge. Pretend that sanding is as good as it will get, and try to get all the saw marks out. They are stress risers, and might cause a crack some years down the road.

Remember when we were doing the rotors that I said the tip of the cone is the hottest part of the flame? That still applies.  ;D What you want to do here is to smoothly and steadily pass the new edge of the windshield across the very end of the flame. You will see a purple area on both sides of the cut. Hard to explain. Too slow, and you will cause bubbles. Not good. Too fast and it won't melt the micro scratches together. Maybe practice a bit on the (scrap) cut off part if you havent done it before?  ;D

Viola!
Ready to install.

There is one more trick I want to show you, but it will have to wait until tomorrow. Or later. It's supposed to be great riding weather tomorrow. ;D ;-T

[wrbix]

Man, is there nothing you can't do?
Wanna build me an airplane? ~;

[Chuck in Indiana]

Man, is there nothing you can't do?
Wanna build me an airplane? ~;

There are *lots* of things I can't do.. ;D
BTDT. Got the T shirt. Don't want another.. ~; :BEER: