Competition Fabricating No1-Part1

 Aye up! Albert here. Yep, I'm still surviving the complications of a modern world. Deadly Covid19 plagues now heading in from India (now on Super Delta variant and counting) and comical political garbage fisty cuffs from both sides of the channel continuing to knock the will to live out of those few that take note.. and those who unfortunately catch a stray megabyte whilst logging into this blog. Luckily the anti-bullsh#t force field around 'The Old Sidevalve Bar' repels 99% of anything that's not got common sense spelt through it. It's business as usual you will be glad to know. Filing, grinding, welding, electo derusting and plating, wheel building, spray painting, engine tuning....hang on, hang on....enough!

Bad news...looking like the opportunity to ride the deep mud of Flanders on the 'Blauwe Muis' is continuing to ebb further and further into the future. Why you may ask.... Here's the latest (and it won't be the last reason) because a Sausage War is being played out on both sides of 'The Channel'... EU borders shut to Blighty Bangers.

Ursula - "Ich mag das englische Schweinefleisch nicht"

Albert -"Then you've never been to 'PorkShire' my luv. There's enough chairs and chipolatas for everyone. Listen....Wi don't need to argue over sausage...wi can still be chums... don't be morngy.

As Tommy Atkins and family are forced to holiday in UK and the crowds start to invade the 'Dales of the Shire' ya Uncle Albert stays home and leaves the cheap package brigade to float on rubber dinghies in the River Wharfe, block the roads with bad parking and driving with all the care and attention to take out a cyclist or two Phuffff.....Open up Costa del drinky I can'na takes na more!!!!! Well I can really, I've been making a special competition part for the Blauwe Muis..

A bash plate. Having heard that some of Flanders Fields isn't flat but liable to contain a few rocks and maybe a small hillock I thought sump protection maybe a good idea. My stock of metal is varied to say the least and not intensive. Do happen to have a rather large slap of 3mm stainless plate. Bonus, it looks like it's the right size near as damn it. Not only would this stand the seismic shock of being rammed at speed into a hidden boulder but cor blimey  it would be very blingy.... The Old Sidevalve Bar does not have the tooling to bend such a mighty thickness so sly creasing grooves inserted with a cutting disc on the back to ease the process were required. I'll weld the folds once bent. Don't at this stage have a plan...just thinking it's gonna work.

Aye, if that don't deserve an ale or 2 then we aint talking the same lingo.

Stay safe till next time...

The T.E.T. - Just got 'even more' challenging.(who mentioned fries?)

 Greetings. Albert here. Bringing jottings to those that are 'Super Wokies'. Yes, awake beyond woke and fully functioning with enough grey matter to pause facebook even for a couple of minutes and look beyond. Aye, beyond 'likes' and 'tags' and back into the mists of time. Back when news was in newspapers and men took a flask and jam sandwiches to work for lunch.....Cut thick and if lucky ya got tha' crust. I'm shaking of head and tut tuttin' to those morning snowflakies that call at McDonalds for a flat Mcwhite on the way to work....F.F.S. 'Ain't ya got a kettle, cup and a splash of milk in ya house?

Anyway....Whats happening in The 'Shire' you may well ask. Aye, life as we know it Jim is on daily repeat. Covid19 variants are on the rise. Huh, how come Jim? 'Well 'cos we're an island we keep our borders open......Come on in!!! Come on in!!!!..No checks...we love Covid19.....no discrimination on variants....all welcome.......

One day though it will all be over and ya Uncle Albert will set off on his quest to ride part of the T.E.T.. Maybe sooner possibly later but as I write these words my preperation hasn't slackened. Gotta be ready for the getgo. (and hopefully the mud and rocks)

So, I've been cleaning and greasing another small part of  'The Blauwe Muis. Not a part that makes young wenches go weak at the knees when they see it but an important part of any motorcyclists journey. Underated till ya without such a thing then ya proper would wish ya had one. No, not a gallon of petrol but equally important. A centre stand !!!! Where would thee be without a motorcycle centre stand. Well, ya'd be looking for a friendly tree or ya'd have to hold on ta ya machine whilst ya mate goes int'a chip shop ta get yurs. Wot will it be? Once wi scraps and a squirt o' finest malt vinegar please missus 'n' I'll 'ave um ta eat now. 

(A gallon?  = Old Blighty Imperial measurement = 4.5ltrs)

The Blauwe Muis centre stand had been neglected, time for a thorough fettle. 

 Steel fittings badly rusted and alloy casting covered in a layer of sticky mineral oil. Using a small quantity of my Bio De-rusting mixture to soak the rusty parts in for a few days gave good results. These were then sprayed with several hits of rattle-can clear coat. Yep, not gonna last for ever but hey we ain't creating a trailer queen, this is a T.E.T. attacker, built in the spririt of the late 60's early 70's I.S.D.T.s The casting was washed in solvent then given a good buzzin in the sonic bath. Last job before assembly I fit 2 x grease nipples to help force lubrication onto the pivot shaft after a hard day on the trail. Remember- a greased sidestand is a happy working sidestand, and a working sidestand means no missed friteries whilst on the trail. Win-Win.

Here's a question - How many of you have seen fries stabbed to death in a Friterie? Let me tell you once seen can't be unseen....stuck with the sight for life. My first stabbing experience took place at N18, Steegstraat 107, 2490 Balen. The year 2009.  Blimey, a huge wrapping of fries savagely attacked in front of a shop full of customers. The locals seemed ok with the violence, shock horror for a guy from 'The Shire'.  Steam pouring out of the slashes.. It worked though, not a soggy one amongst 'um when taken back to base.... 

Mayo? 

Note to self - check fries carry capacity of Blauwe Muis.

The T.E.T. - Just got more challenging.

 Greetings. Alb here. Triple locked down but still of sound mind and body. ‘VUI – 202012/01’is now lapping at the door of 'The Old Sidevalve Bar'. I ain't taking no chances so I've stuffed newspaper in all the cracks and keyholes. Glad to report for now that seems to be keeping the mutant at bay. 

If life wasn't tough enough the challenge to ride the T.E.T. has taken on another dimension. What do hungry T.E.T.ers eat whilst riping through the endless miles of Flanders mud?  Having been brought up on Yorkshireshire 'power-foods' I was expecting to take some in my waxed Barbour jacket pockets. (Last thing you need when out in the wilds is a change of diet causing a loose bowel....and furz in den lederhosen)

Pocket snacks-

Guiseley Growlers - Tony Woods Butchers.

Wensleydale Cheese.-If ever a cheese was designed for men on a mans mission this is it! Best balanced on a Jacobs cracker with an accompanying pickled onion or a goodly wedge on rich fruit cake.

But what's this????? Teddies thrown out of the cot!!!!! Dutch and French wearing large Brexit hats!!!!

Confiscating wholesome scran? Eeee cor blooming blimey!!!!We're banned....along wi' us sarnies.

"No..everything is confiscated"....             Phuff.....Even the brot?

Hey guys...I'm getting mi machine ready and I'm coming....No worries. 

Till next time - stay safe and keep the old flag flying and the Homebrew flowing.

Full on into repair mode.4

 It's 2021. A new year...A clean start..?????  Don't want to be Mr Glum but if you guys are expecting the world to suddenly start behaving and all humanity be saved from all the self inflicted wrongs then "Oh dear!!!!! Not gonna happen...!"

But not all is lost, pull ya chair nearer the fire, pour ya'sen a large glass of Barley wine and rejoice that within 'The Old Sidevalve Bar' normality has always been normal. No change and no charge. You still have a free digital link to a small place in The Shire where 'Old Shite' can find a home and old guys talk sense, move around on legs, think with own brain...and try doing the impossible despite the aging process.....Yep, ya Uncle Albert still fights to free peeps from the power of the matrix. Battling against  G5, 'Just Eat' app, meerkat.com., Mc Donalds "click and serve", Costa Coffee delivery by Uber.  Stop!!!! F.F.S.!!! Some of ya are destined to be couch potatoes....    sink deeper into the sofa, forget about Vintafaking.  Chicken nuggets are your destiny. I can't save ya all.......

Ah, good. Ya still here. Interested in the progress of Blauwe Muis? I've finished restoring the saddle. It's had several coats of 'chassis black' I do like this paint.  Available from a local paint manufacturer.  Cost about £8 a ltr and brushes on a treat. I'm not one to make a habit of looking under saddles or even collecting photographs of the same but here's mine. Thick and glossy - 'Shining like sixpence up a sweeps backside'
Good for another 40 years...

Keep the faith - Avoid VUI 202012/01 - Beware of  'The Krankie'

 

 

 

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!!!