Full on into repair mode.3 & Ironic moment

 Greetings once again Blauwe muis fans. Preperation for the T.E.T attack continue. Ah, you may ask, when will that take place Albert? Good question !!!! Several major spoilers are being played out, it's a guessing game as to when but hey when the coast is clear I just might be ready.  

No 1 - The virus continues to spread north nearer and nearer to 'The Shire'....bad enough the germs are getting closer but on it's way it has mutated. Down in the Big Metropolis Smoke where all the the Thespians and Investment #anking Costa Quoffers mingle, a new breed of Covid19 is now among them....VUI-202012/01. Thank goodness the 'Old Sidevalve Bar' is locked down with The Blauwe Muis safely inside. Don't want any Vui at my gaffe.

No2. Brexit....5 years of pontificating between Blighty and Euronations has just ended.....The full technical implications as yet unknown. Riding the T.E.T tracks across muddy Flanders fields was becoming a 'not might be possible ever'. The Brexit end movement before check-mate (blaming covid VUI) was Morngy Manu having our sprouts from Brussels locked down in France and sacrificing 1500 polish lorry drivers to spend christmas on the M20. Blimey! christmas ain't christmas without sprouts!!!! Combien de petoncles voulez-vous Monsieur Thibaut?

 Sacré bleu.....Verdammt  !!!! Time I made a quick call to Ursula. 

"Hi Sweetie, I'm sending Pizza over for you and Michel !!. Any chance ya can both work late and see about keep the Belgium Butterwoods tariff free? "

"Wir werden unser Bestes geben, meine Liebe, bis bald" 

 

Hang on !!! Never mind politics and world events....Let have a look at some important stuff. 

Progress on Blauwe Muis continues. You will know from earlier posts I started repairing the rear shocks a while ago. It has taken me some time, but there has been forward advancement. Sourced the seals and bushes from Jawaspares in Czechoslovakia, The rod was made from 10mm stainless barstock and the shock top and spring plate were sourced out of the off-cut bin. 

Here's the pictures of the grand final.

Made a diagram of the valve reeds to help re-assembly. Crude yes, but I understood it and if it should ever fall into enemy hands then world security will not be compromised.

The original owners handbook contained the relevant data for oil replacement. Information on fading paper spanning the decades from simpler times. In fact how ironic that the last time these shock internals saw daylight was in 1973....That wouldn't be the year Blighty joined the EU would it ??? Spooky?

 YOWZA !!!!

Posh.....what have we got stored in the beer cellar......Any specials? Think this occasion deserves cracking open one of my last Westmalles.....Cheers to the Butterwoods....Cheers to Flanders fields......Cheers to Ardennes sausages.... I'm a bit nearer the T.E.T. (even if it's only in my soul)

Full on into repair mode.2

  Greetings Blauwe muis fans.    It's A.C. here.   As I write the new normal is becoming the normal.   Ok for Mr G5chinotrousers but don't worry I'm still old oily-normal. (NoG4jeans) In fact pre Covid19, most peeps would have classed me as not normal.   Blooming heck!  So many normals! Too much choice.. Too many chances to swing to different normals.

Normal  Normal  Normal  Normal. What a silly word!

So, as the local brass band practices 'socially distanced' on the moors nearby I crack on with resto of Blauwe muis.

The rear shock repair/rebuild continues. Using 10mm Stainless bar stock I've made 2 x new piston rods. Whoops...had to make 3. One ended up a scrapper on the final threading operation...Damn. The thread galled as I removed the die. Ah well, who said engineering was easy?

For a week the seat base was zapped in my 70ltr electro rust removing bath. Big brown foamy head and a few leaves floating on the top but deep down in the depths the constant 12 volt had done a great job. 

 

Wire brushed, washed and then a lick of phosporic acid to stop the rust forming instantly as I readied the paint brush.

 

Through the keyhole update - Previously you saw some of the wildlife decor in The Old Sidevalve Bar'  (Ancient spider webs that money can't buy - not even Elon Musk, they belong to me and I ain't sellin'.)  So here's another glimse as to my shed normal.  Always have the radio tuned to Planet Rock or Absolute Rock.  If ya don't like loud rock or Giant House Spiders then stay home!!

Stay safe Vintafaker tip -

 Dine in on Yorkshire Pudding with lashings of gravy!  Cheap too!

• 2 large free-range eggs
• 100 g plain flour
• 100 ml milk

        225°C/425°F/gas 9

Full on into repair mode.1

 Greetings, Alb here. Did I mention Covid19 and lockdown? Probably....Fully locked down in the Shire of York, (again) what a wonderful thing. A shed full of oily 'Old Skool' goodness and time to play with it... Just like Indiana Jones I passed by the bling goblets and for almost half a century I have been chosing my treasure wisely. (and cheaply)  Collecting the unwanted - the unfit for a skip. I'm richer than a rich man....

 Yes,  'The Holy Grail' - 'The Old Sidevalve Bar' it's the same story line - just a different film. Of course the entrance point is only known to the few that have survived the falling down cider initiation test. Once though the pallet-wood door then it's cobwebs and dead spiders a plenty...many have turned back assuming the sight of Alberts treasure would not be worth the horror of musty webs occasionally falling into hair and down the back of neck.... 

But fear not once in there's lockdown homebrew continually on the bubble so I'm self sufficient in ale. I've access to internetwebbything with a whole world of Ebay to shop for parts on, using my magical paypal account...

Blauwe muis is still getting the main attention. So here's my current status report.

Turned a couple of aluminium spring top locators on the lathe for the shock rebuild/repair project.  Material was of an unknown grade of aluminium but hey it was supplied F.O.C. so why not?

New rear chain and sprockets kit ordered on the ebay rather than direct Czechoslovakia. A UK seller but original source unknown. India? The bearing supplied for the cast hub/sprocket arrangement was the incorrect size. No worries, I shall salvage the original Czech one out of the old hub. Glad I did, a but notchy until a wash and regrease had it spinning like new. Where's that bearing been in the last 40 years? Where will it go in the future. ( Remember -A bearing is for life, respect a good bearing and they will respect you back) 

In went the old bearing.....but whats this? The groove that holds the retaining circlip was 1mm out of tolerance. HEY!! I'm going off road, where few men have been before....last thing I need is a wobbly rear wheel. Just not good enough.

Fixed by ordering a pack of 5x1mm bearing shims. A couple of £s to make it right. Small price. Any of you readers need a 1mm shim to fix your CZ ? I've 4x spares.

 Did give the UK Ebay seller polite feedback on the engineering abnormalities.... Phufff, no response, Sometimes being Mr Nice guy is a waste of time... He's probably bought 200 of them direct from manufacturer at very low rupee and doesn't have answers.

Hey hey it's flagon time. UK seller not my problem!!!

Closer inspection 2 - and repairs start.

 Greetings blog readers.. Albert here, Inspection on-going so here's more close up views of the 'Blauwe muis'. Rear suspension units....Phuuuff! You could call them suspension but that wouldn't be a very accurate description.  'Rusty siezed Rods', that covers it better. I'm not keen on hitting the big Belgium boulders with these fella's as they are so let's start repair work. Wonderful, these units are designed to be stripped and rebuilt with very few tools.

Internet search found a couple of marvellous websites selling spares for Jawa CZs. Over in the 'Blauwe muis' homeland Czechoslovakia. Everything available and reasonably priced too. Placed an order for bushes, seals and new rods....Damn...only one rod available...no news on when more stock would be arriving, but worst of all no others available in the whole world at the other suppliers...I'd bought the last one in captivity. Happy I owned one, but more sad I needed two..

A week later a parcel from the CZ homeland arrived at 'The Old Sidevalve Bar'. Rod, seals and bushes....but what's this? The rod is nothing like mine now I have the unit stripped....Damn..Last one in the world and it's no use to me.,,Cost £4.00. !!!!! Call it an investment, someone somewhere might be willing to pay big money for it....

Looks like I'm going to have to set too and make some. Of course I could buy universal chinese shockers for less than £40 but why? These originals need to go up and down again. To be brought back from the dead. What can possibly go wrong? Measuring the shocker rod with a micrometer has the diameter at 10mm. Yep, plain old 10mm not special manufactured to stop home engineers in their tracks. I can surely make a couple of replacements out of 10mm stainless rod, easily sourced on ebay. Pushed the buy it now on a metre and waited arrival, in the meantime attention turned to the shocker top. Cutting 2 out of steel plate was an option. Keeping all cuts straight and at 90deg to the face would be the challenge.

A grinder in a stand with a slitting disc was the best mechanical device I could lay my hands on. Slowly, slowly, catchy monkey is how to do it in 'The Old Sidevalve Bar' The holes for the shocker bush were pre-drilled as near as my holesaw range allowed. These will need to be re-sized in the lathe later as well as further shaping with my linisher. ( Read 'linisher' as flap discing and hand filing)

So dear reader - Keep looking for more news on the preparation of 'Blauwe muis'. Right now I need to test a new brew that has just finished fermenting. Gonna lift a couple of pints straight out the barrel top....No time for second fermenting in the bottle.....Going straight in!!!!I may be some time!!!!

 

The plan - Old Skool is cool.

So, whats the plan Albert? Any idea's on how to make the 'Blauwe muis' more T.E.T ready? 

Indeed dear blog readers, what I was thinking is this - 

Preparations for riding the T.E.T. to be in accordance with I.S.D.T regulations 1973. 

The I.S.D.T. (International Six Day Trial)  was dominated by Czechoslovakia between 1970 & 1974. All riding Jawa CZs of course. Blauwe muis fits nicely into that period. 

Here's a few pictures of early '70s Czech riders & bikes to get the juices flowing.

 

                                              

Below - Of course I.S.D.T.s most famous rider....Cool as fook.... Steve McQueen.  Making famous Barbour Jackets and Bell helmets. (Even more cool if he rode CZ)

So, get the idea. -Let crack on...Let's get cool....Let's pour a beer.

Closer inspection 1

Let's have a closer inspection of  'Blauwe Muis' now the little fellow is back at 'The Old Sidevalve Bar'.     Start getting together a list of Likes and Dislikes, and a list of To Do's and It'll Do's

Cracking engine casing gasket our Grommet.  Somehow thinking that may be the work of a previous owner. Works a treat at holding the oil back in the engine but could be liable to catching sidewinds and blowing me off course. Let's call that a 'To Do' replacement required. Note to self -start now looking for a suitable corn-flakes packet, the best gasket material known to man.

A proper czechoslovakia spark plug. Bet that puts out hell of a spark even in sub-zero winter temperatures. That 'aint no copy NGK from china. I like it.

Painted wheels. Look ok from a distance and on the ebay advert but not good. Rust brewing underneath the paint. A splash of paint stripper proved it wasn't adhered very well. So, off with it. Let's get them wheels showing their age and stop any further deteriation. Going to call that another 'To Do'

Fuel tank re-sprayed, but that's ok. Previous owner having masked around the original tank side decals. I've checked prices of new decals and it 'aint much but glad they weren't replaced.That's a like.

 Will keep you readers posted on further gems of originality or spoilers but now its beer o'clock and I've a waiting flagon full of a frothy stout homebrew needing attention.

 Albert Crackleport here. You may have come across some of my jottings on the interweb before. Look out for vintafaker.blogspot.com and oilyracer.blogspot.com They're full of shed engineering and tales of derring-do. Let's face it, the majority of stuff posted online is proper bollocks so why shouldn't I add to it? Anyway I'm a Vintafaker, onion pickler, brewer of rhubarb falling down juice and sometimes known as a 'complaining old bugger; Don't care! Fettling old mechanical crap back to usefulness is what I do, and spending little coinage doing it is the additional challenge.

This blogspot hopefully will be a diary of progress on 'Blauwe Muis'. A CZ 175cc motorcycle of 1973 vintage that will one day attack the Trans Euro Trail. (transeurotrail.org) A couple of major incidents happening at the moment allow me the luxury of having time to give 'Blauwe Muis' a good looking over and try make sure reliability is as good as it can be... Last road legal in 1978. It's a sleeper that's gonna have hell of a wake up call!!!! First point of attack is on Belgium soil. Mr Koen my good friend from Oilyracer Arcade and fellow riding companion has told me the route through Flanders is tougher than the Paris Dakar.

Major incidents? Pandemic for one. Your scribe is currently 'locked down'. Covid19 is raging, spreading like wild fire among those that treat the virus with contempt. (Students mainly! Their underpants are full of it!!!!) Then there's Brexit!!  That could go so badly wrong that the Trans Euro Trail will be out of bounds for all Blighty passport holders....Particularly the french trails if Blighty keeps all the fish... Phuuufff,  Closer to my gaff  there's T.E.T routes running through Wales but they don't want any Blighty visitors, got enough covid germs of their own, and Scotland may have some rough roads but little Jimmy Krankie Sturgeon has firmly shut her border to the highlands and glens, Ock Aye away wi ya! Ainlie laddies wi' kilts allowed oan mah munroes! so that's out too.  Never mind, continue as planned. 

Anyway more about 'Blauwe Muis'. Bought on ebay. Collected from Sheffield. Plan was to do nothing in the way of restoration, just ride as is. But......Couldn't help myself having started on the thorough mechanical and safety checks to just tickle a few of the previous restoration attempts. NOT BLING! Just more eye pleasing. Will keep you posted on progress, in the meantime here's the 'Blauwe muis' as advertised.