Having purchase a Gold Flash outfit, that had stood in a garage for 33 years, The plan was to tidy it up and get it back on the road. After 3 days, a carb clean, filters cleaned, new oil, petrol and the mag points cleaned it started and ran rather sweetly, the previous owner informed me that the gearbox tightened up after it got warm and suspected the final drive bearing,
So out with the gearbox, really pleased with the condition as he had already told me that in 1976 he rebuilt it with loads of new parts,however all the bearing were good except the two bushes in the fourth gear mainshaft did not have a space between them, so I machined a gap between the bushes with the gear on the lathe, should now be sorted.
Then the engine was removed, which did not take long and degreased, I masked the alloy parts up and sandblasted the rusty head and barrels, then after a good blow out with the air line, gave them a good few coats of spray heatproof matt black.
Now as the centre stand and side stand brackets had been ground off, apparently the replacement frame (RR) had been used for racing, why they took them off I don't know, the plan was to make new lugs fix them back to the frame and have it blasted and powder coated, a bit more than I wanted to do, but thought at least the frame would be good and other things can be done later keeping the bike on the road.
Well all good plans and all that, John Chaterlea25) helped me out with a drawing of the lugs but I could see that without a visual with a good frame this was going to be difficult, so a friend in Wales who has had an A10 in bits for 11 years is lending me his frame and centre stand which will make life easier, then the impossible bit, removing the swinging arm, the shaft is stuck in the S/A blocks, tried the threaded rod bit with spreading the frame a bit to try to release it and a few swipes with mighty thor against the loose nut on the shaft but to no avail. Not wanting to cut it out and have all the work removing the shaft and silent blocks plus the additional cost of parts and then having to refit them, without a press I would have to pay a machine shop, I have decided to blank of any areas I do not want grit getting into, having the frame blasted and then spray it myself with the swinging arm in situ.
Just waiting for the loaned frame to be delivered, (by another friend). Its good to have buddys.
Progress reports to follow