Ive been meaning to give a little bit of insight into a young mans quest!!!!.....
A 1971 T120R Purchased November 2007 Matching Numbers basket case.
Originally purchased as a project to give me some time with my old man with our mutual love for classic bikes. Has Now progressed to give us something to argue and fight over.
I’m still to this day frequently shown (at least weekly) all past photos of his bikes. He still finds tremendous joy in telling me that my mother has been on more triumphs and been to more race meets than me. Those old photos of my dad sporting a porno mustache wearing flares with my mum (pregnant with me) in the pits also still haunt me. Hearing how your dad raced 40 Weekends a year gets to you after a while. I wish I could say he was lying but he still races and regularly kicks my arse. I put it down to having too much to lose.
Back to the topic!!!
First thing was the strip down and noting what things were ok and what things will need replacing of fixing. I was quite good at stripping the bike down without any methodology and mixing up parts i.e. putting gearbox bits in with top end bits, apparently a real no-no for seasoned bike restorers. It took me about a weekend to strip down and maybe 4 weeks to for the old fella to reorganize all the parts into the correct used ice cream containers. This was when i was called alot of names which i wont post.
Frame/Wheels/Body
Frame was de-powdercoated using a chemical bath (preferred un-powder coated for easy touch ups and welds). Hubs were chromed and had to get de-chromed (don’t know why you would chrome them in the first place??) and engine cases were sent to get a blast.
Rusty rims were sold on Ebay and I got some undrilled Akront Morad mud-catcher rims and stainless spokes. I went through a lot of drill bits but finally managed to lace em’ up and true up wheels. All got new bearings etc. Brakes surfaces were ok but slightly worn. I did have to get some thicker brake shoes made up at the brake joint. Trouble was that even with new brake shoes I wasn’t getting much contact. The thicker shoes did the trick and were quite cheap. The hubs and fork legs were then polished. It was a bit of a nightmare polishing the hubs with all the fins etc and nooks in the conical hubs.
Original tank had way to much rust to convert so I found a later OIF tank Ebay and was also kindly donated a breadbox tank by Ozbloke (what a champ!!!!). Sealed both tanks and painted.
Original shocks and seat had to be replaced with new ones as they were too far gone!!!
Some light welding of the seat swivel lugs was carried to make new seat fit.
I had to also get a new wiring harness which I haven’t put on yet (I’m leaving the wiring till last as I reckon its going to be a bit of a pain in the arse). The old man has commented on how good the bike is going to look as a centre piece in my lounge room or as a large paper weight when I can’t get the wiring!
Frame was painted in back yard (all my paint had been done in back yard…insects and all) and swing arm was assembled (new bushes). The wheels went on and I noticed that this was a lot easy to push in and out of the garage for the next 2 years while the project slowly progressed.
That’s all for this episode. Stay tuned for next installment……
Linear Mode
