re-building ST 955i

[stealthmode666]

Hi all,
As anyone who has read my posts knows i'm slowly rebuilding a Black Triumph Sprint ST 955i 1999 back to showroom condition.
Are there enough posts and pictures through-out of this process with-out me bogging down threads with more pics and workings on what I'm doing bit by bit or will I document it here.
My next re-build part will be the rear swing-arm, linkages and rear wheel bearings.
This will include a complete strip of the swing-arm and powder coated of which i'm going to do something different.
I'm powder-coating the parts in Black Satin instead of the original Triumph Silver it comes in.
I'm also thinking i'll do the wheels in Black gloss instead of Black Satin.
It involves bearing removal/replacement and a host of other little items along the way.

[CharlieS]

SM666,
I look forward to reading what you're going to do.
Personally, I like the silver frame and swingarm (and fork lowers) of the earlier ST's as opposed to the black satin of the later models. But that's just me.
I'm with you on the wheels matching the body. I think that look would rock.

[IRIDEA955]

I have a black frame and I painted my wheels and forks to match I like it

Good luck with it


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[RexxyPup]

I have a caspian blue 04 st with wheels the same colour, but the frame, forks and swingarm are silver. I may be biased, but she looks beautiful!

[KitNYC]

Please do document!

As for powder coating the wheels, a strong argument was made for using paint instead of powder over in the T3 forum not too long ago. Unfortunately, what stuck in my head was to use paint instead of powder if I ever do wheels, not why to do so.

Cheers,
-Kit

[IRIDEA955]

I painted mine but all my buddies are two color powder coat they look awesome IMO

Why paint over powder?


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[stealthmode666]

Thanks all,
I have at my use (favours owed), a large powder-coating company with the most high-tec facility in the business here in London.
To powder-coat an item is easy, it's the prep before hand that signals the end product.
Glass-bead blasting also as oppossed to sand for a more delicate strip of old contaminates.

Powder-coating is way superior to Painting and 100% environmentally friendly.
I will start another thread on the science and arguments for and against this process.
Here is a website to see for yourselves on the procedure and effect of powder-coating.
http://www.armourtexltd.co.uk/

[stealthmode666]

First problem encountered.
I need to replace the bottom linkage unit, complete with new bearings.
I've stripped the lower linkage off my donor bike as I fitted new bearings only months before the accident.
All fine, now sitting waiting to be replaced.

On my new bike I have a serious issue with a siezed bolt.
The 2 bolts that go through the linkage arm are seriously seized into the linkage sleeve. 13 years of salt and weather has taken it's toll.
I have no option left as it has to be replaced as the bearings have collapsed inside.
Meaning there is movement and banging coming from the knackered linkage arm.

I've sprayed it with plus-gas and will do this for a couple of days.
The bolts have to be removed, even if unfortunately I have to drill the dam things out which will really annoy me.

I've hit with appox. 240PSI of pressure but it never moved.
Also sheared an 8mm snap-on hex allen socket on a 1/2" drive.

The actual bearings inside the linkage are £50 the set from Triumph which I thought was okay.

I have a few options open yet to remove the bolts but i'll stick to the second one with plus gas as thumping the bolt from the thread side is not working.
I'm also limited to the amount of force I can hit on the bolt as this is all encased in an alloy housing which is part of the actual bike frame so care has to be taken.

[stealthmode666]

I will also be doing this while the bike remains on the road as it's my only form of transport.
I have my swing-arm from my donor bike which will be getting powder-coated so this will be ready when I do the swap-over.
Only got to sort out the linkages.
I am also hoping the actual swing-arm bolts come out as oppossed to me having to cut the swing-arm off to get to the bolts which way also be siezed into the frame.

A lesson for all, walk away from a bike that sat for 13 years in the open beside the salty ocean air when you go looking to buy a bike.
I knew this when I bought it and hammered the price accordingly. I knew by looking the problems I would have so not to bothered and this is my second major problem to cure on the bike.

[stealthmode666]

This is the linkage arm from my donor bike which I fitted new bearings to recently.
Obviously, if I change to Black from silver then i'll have to replace the bearings again but not a great deal of worry.
Only hoping now i can actually drift out the seized bolt on my new bike as I need this arm on now.