Breathing new life into a Brit

My friend Bob is a multi-faceted and multi-talented fellow. He's a toolmaker, metal worker, machinist, I'd say an engineer as well. He's also an airplane pilot, owning a really cooler Piper Super Cub from the 1940's.

On top of this he has a great love for motorcycles. He has or has had various models of British, Italian, Spanish, American and I am sure more bikes in his life. A wealth of knowledge for certain.

One of Bob's current projects is re-building and restoring a great British bike...a 1968 Matchless G80CS (I think that's the model). It's a scrambler type bike, made for trail riding.

This is a basic of which Bob is the second owner. He bought it from a friend in 1978, after the bike had broken down somewhere in Utah I think and had been basically abandoned.

So Bob rescued it and for the past 30 or so years it has been awaiting it's chance to once again do what it was born to do...roar down road and trail, kick up trauils of dirt and bring a smile to it's owner's face.

The bike is powered by a Matchless 500 cc single and has a Matchless frame. "It's all Matchless", as Bob says. Bob hopes to have the bike done by the end of February, in time for an antique motorcycle meet in nearby Fremont, Nebraska.

I had a chance to take just a few pics of this project. Below are three pics of the bike as it is now and how it will look when it is done. Believe me it will be PERFECT because that's just how Bob does things. Hopefully more pics as it comes to fruition.

Man 'n' trusty shovel vs. snow

We had a fairly significant "snow event" here in Omaha last night. My area got ~6-7" of the white stuff. Thank God (I mean really thanks a lot God) it was fairly light/fluffy stuff.

But 6-7" of snow is still a fair amount when only armed with a plastic shovel. So off I went to clear the drive and sidewalks. About 90 minutes later, job done. Pretty good exercise actually, so it wasn't necessarily time wasted.

click the pics to make 'em BIG!

Guzzi V11 Lemans rear drive removal

This evening I spent a couple hours in the COLD garage working on my V11 Lemans. You can read part 1 of this story HERE.

So anyway with the bike up on the lift I started the dis-assembly process, removing the rear axle, rear brake caliper and then the rear wheel/tire.

With this done the rear drive assembly was fully visible and accessible. To remove the unit required removing some very stubborn bolts. One connected the rear drive assembly to a torque arm, a metal bar which ties back into the frame, reducing the "shaft-jacking" effect which used to be common on shaft-drive bikes. The other two stubborn bolts connect the rear drive assembly to the shaft drive via a u-joint.

With a fair amount of torque and some PB Blaster penetrating spray I was amazingly able to get those bolts out! Generally these things don't go my way but it all really went relatively smoothly. Cursing was minimal :)

So next comes the task of disassembling the guts of the rear drive itself, which requires removal of the crownwheel carrier plate (#23 in diagram below) and then working down to the parts that likely failed, the seal (#10) and the bearing and inner race (#'s 30 and 31).

I am hoping my friend Bob can help me with this, as he has a lot more talent, experience, patience and tools than I have :-)

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Giving the Goose a lift

About 6-7 weeks ago, before the snows arrived, I took the Guzzi V11 Lemans out for a ride. Upon arriving home that day I noticed the rear rim and outside of the rear tire coated with gear oil. It appears a bearing and seal in the rear drive unit went south on me.

So about that time, early December, I ordered a shop stand for the Lemans so I could get the rear wheel off the ground in order to remove it and the rear drive assembly.

I waited and waited and waited for the order to come over from Italy but alas it still has not arrived.

So I called my friend Super Cup Pilot and Guzzi guru Bob. Bob happens to have a V11 Sport, similar to the Lemans. I thought maybe he might have a stand I could borrow. Well he didn't but then all of the sudden he DID!

You see Bob is a toolmaker and metal worker extraordinaire, among his many other talents. He went about measuring, cutting, welding and fabricating a bolt on assembly which mates PERFECTLY to the Guzzi "spine" frame, which our bikes have.

So long story even longer, Bob graciously let me borrow this beautiful shop jack and the Lemans now sits in my garage nicely perched upon it awaiting dis-assembly.

So here are a few pics in what will surely be a series of blog posts related to this activity. THANKS BOB!!!


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A lover, not a fighter

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Signed, sealed, awaiting delivery

I signed my lease yesterday for the house in Deland, FL. The good Lord willing I will be departing Omaha 2/14 and arriving in Florida 2/15. Then a few days off for unpacking and getting settled and back to work, in the Lake Mary office, on 2/22.

Into the Sun

It's where I am headed soon. Back to Florida. I found a nice rental home with enough room for me and my bikes and cars....and a beeline shot 20 miles straight down Hwy 44 to New Smyrna Beach.

I have had a lot of good times catching up with family and friends these last 15 months here and I hope they will come to Florida for a visit. My casa will always be open to you.