Bringing the NC back from the dead

[Billing]

For the last 5 months the NC30 has been sat outside getting rained on, snowed on, leafed up, dirty and rusty, today the sun was shining so I decided to drag it from it's resting place and start getting it stripped down ready to be rebuilt.

I haven't had the drive to get started with it, quite frankly I was gutted when I saw it after the smash, and for the last 6 weeks or so it's been very hit and miss as to whether I rebuilt it or split it for spares. The amount of people asking me for parts off it (namely the Ti exhaust) made it very tempting, trust me (£500 for the exhaust alone!)

From here I'll be posting up about the rebuild, what parts are being repaired or replaced etc. I have a bunch of photos to upload, I'm finishing off a couple of jobs atm but will get it done ASAP!
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'84 TS50X, '91 TZR125, '89 CBR400RR, '91 VFR400R NC30, '98 R1
"Hey copernicus! Why don't you navigate yourself to the back of the line with your feet and stand there with your shit."
BCF Eastern members map here ---> g.co/maps/2tm8b PM me to be added to it!

[Tim..]

I shall be the first to say woohoo . Good to have you back mate


Watching
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Project builds: My VFR400 nc30 build thread + Honda Britain Rep VFR + What? Another VFR +Project 'cos I want one' + V8 coffee table
www.marshallracing.co.uk
OCD - Helping to bring the standard of my bikes up and make me slowly go mad since 1999

[Billing]

Right, picture time!

Started by getting the main impact area stripped down, as you can see the wheel has totally had it, I cut the tyre off so I wouldn't be tempted to use it again, even as an emergency one.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb73/sam_billing_91/VFR400R%20NC30/Rebuilding%20the%20NC30/DSCF0691.jpg

Most of the back end is off, it would appear the swingarm is actually ok, I couldn't see or feel any creases or buckles in it, and the hub is still smooth. The rear brake is currently off so I can give it a scrub, it's pretty damn manky
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb73/sam_billing_91/VFR400R%20NC30/Rebuilding%20the%20NC30/DSCF0692.jpg
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb73/sam_billing_91/VFR400R%20NC30/Rebuilding%20the%20NC30/DSCF0693.jpg
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb73/sam_billing_91/VFR400R%20NC30/Rebuilding%20the%20NC30/DSCF0694.jpg

Got it back to a state of being a roller, this is the original wheel from when I first bought it 18 months ago, it's just REALLY scabby because I started to strip the pain before I got hold of a white wheel.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb73/sam_billing_91/VFR400R%20NC30/Rebuilding%20the%20NC30/DSCF0695.jpg
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb73/sam_billing_91/VFR400R%20NC30/Rebuilding%20the%20NC30/DSCF0696.jpg


I reckon to get it as far as it is now took me 2 hours with plenty of breaks, cutting the old tyre off and taking it easy

I also got the carbs off, I'd not drained them after the crash nearly 6 months ago, so was worried they'd be gummed up, but are spotless inside, I did give them a quick blast to get rid of 20 years of accumulated grime and crap, not perfect, but without stripping them right down, it's a decent enough job, everything works smoothly
https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb73/sam_billing_91/VFR400R%20NC30/Rebuilding%20the%20NC30/DSCF0697.jpg
I've gotten the radiators off, tomorrow will likely consist of me very carefully turning the engine over by hand after lightly oiling the bores, just to make sure nothing has seized up.
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'84 TS50X, '91 TZR125, '89 CBR400RR, '91 VFR400R NC30, '98 R1
"Hey copernicus! Why don't you navigate yourself to the back of the line with your feet and stand there with your shit."
BCF Eastern members map here ---> g.co/maps/2tm8b PM me to be added to it!

[Billing]

Today consisted mostly of cleaning the frame, rear caliper, swingarm and trying to sort out the leak on the front cylinder rocker cover, turns out the (frankly bloody stupid) rocker cover gasket had slipped a tiny bit when I put it on last, and wasn't sealing properly.


I've been offered a bead blasted rear wheel, so will have that sprayed in the same white as would have been on there originally.
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'84 TS50X, '91 TZR125, '89 CBR400RR, '91 VFR400R NC30, '98 R1
"Hey copernicus! Why don't you navigate yourself to the back of the line with your feet and stand there with your shit."
BCF Eastern members map here ---> g.co/maps/2tm8b PM me to be added to it!

[Frost]

Show your shock some love. They're old and tired on most NC30's and contribute to the ride quality a fair bit!

[Billing]

This one isn't actually that bad, it seems to be fairly stiff still, so for now I will be leaving it in there while getting it into a usable condition (money is at an all time squeeze atm) but will be looking to have it stripped and rebuilt when I have a bit of spare cash (£130 goes a LONG way to getting it back on the road)

I'm now trying to get hold of the spare parts for my TSR rearsets as the lever got bent I should be able to straighten out the actual lever part, but the little foot rest bit is bent, and the main foot rest has been shortened after an accident (before I got them)
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'84 TS50X, '91 TZR125, '89 CBR400RR, '91 VFR400R NC30, '98 R1
"Hey copernicus! Why don't you navigate yourself to the back of the line with your feet and stand there with your shit."
BCF Eastern members map here ---> g.co/maps/2tm8b PM me to be added to it!

[Billing]

£15 delivered for a shot blasted rear wheel? Don't mind if I do

Also should be getting a nice shiny Yamamoto system for it tomorrow or monday, will reinstall my carbon oval can and carbon hanger. The Ti system is NOT going, I just haven't sourced a new sleeve for the left hand can, so am going back to a single exit system for a bit.

https://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb73/sam_billing_91/VFR400R%20NC30/Rebuilding%20the%20NC30/014.jpg

I've bought a big reel of electrical tape, so tomorrow will start rewrapping the loom, keep it looking fresh
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'84 TS50X, '91 TZR125, '89 CBR400RR, '91 VFR400R NC30, '98 R1
"Hey copernicus! Why don't you navigate yourself to the back of the line with your feet and stand there with your shit."
BCF Eastern members map here ---> g.co/maps/2tm8b PM me to be added to it!

[CHR15]

self amalgamating tape will look much nicer than pvc tape for the loom.
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Turbocharged drag thing / project death weapon / GK73A
Ste: I'm not entirely sure how you'd go about verbally abusing someone with a potato but I'm sure it's possible.

[Billing]

Good point, will hold up on it for now until I have some spare cash floating about and go past somewhere that sells it


EDIT: Forgot I had an internet to use, ordered 1 metres of 19mm, should arrive middle of next week
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'84 TS50X, '91 TZR125, '89 CBR400RR, '91 VFR400R NC30, '98 R1
"Hey copernicus! Why don't you navigate yourself to the back of the line with your feet and stand there with your shit."
BCF Eastern members map here ---> g.co/maps/2tm8b PM me to be added to it!

[HD]

Looking good

How's yer back?
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Rusty '02 Vito Camper + CBR600F3

[Billing]

[RePT]

argh. threads like these make me want to drop university and become a motorcycle mechanic!

Ill keep an eye on this thread

[lefty]

[CaNsA]

Chop chop Billing.....

Get a move on.....

Or be bullied forever by the BCF Mafia!

[Billing]

[CaNsA]

Oooooo shiny shiny

front end swap should hopefully be a piece of piss.
Coils, not a prob.
bikes dont have cars, they have carbs
that will be a good few hours work and will keep you of the crack for a while.

Still..... not going fast enough.

[Billing]

I know, gotta watch out for chavs thinking it's for wearing and pinching it!!

The RC30 bits won't take long, might be an hour to get all of the part numbers down and ordered, but nothing major.

Unless someone wants to donate some money to the 'Get it done' fund it's going to be a bit slow I'm afraid, I'm using a budget of sod all to get this rebuilt, and that budget is fast running out, what with needing to insure the R1 at the end of the week
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'84 TS50X, '91 TZR125, '89 CBR400RR, '91 VFR400R NC30, '98 R1
"Hey copernicus! Why don't you navigate yourself to the back of the line with your feet and stand there with your shit."
BCF Eastern members map here ---> g.co/maps/2tm8b PM me to be added to it!

[Billing]

That's the coils cleaned off, just a bit of WD40 and a rag to get the grot off, then pulled the little metal clips that go over the bolt hole off and cleaned under there to avoid any earthing issues upon the rebuild. The leads are still a tiny bit scruffy, but are at least MOSTLY red now!

While I had it off I though I'd make a start on the rear brake caliper, it was COVERED in shitty horrible gunk from 20 years of chain lube and road crap, add to that the mounting bracket which should slide was pretty seized, so WAY past due for a good scrub.

My next door neighbour works on one of the USAF bases and gets first refusal on things going to the rubbish tip. He brought me back a 5L can of stuff called Arma-Clean, it's used on electrical equipment and I tell you what, it's fantastic, it's brought most of the caliper up perfectly clean in one application.

I've ordered the bolts for the RC30 link arm, I now need to make a rose jointed dogbone link and have some spacers machined up as they're now NLA After that it's just got to be fitted, for which I'll do a full step by step write up here.
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'84 TS50X, '91 TZR125, '89 CBR400RR, '91 VFR400R NC30, '98 R1
"Hey copernicus! Why don't you navigate yourself to the back of the line with your feet and stand there with your shit."
BCF Eastern members map here ---> g.co/maps/2tm8b PM me to be added to it!

[Billing]

I R Fail managed to give myself a massive blister on my finger using wire cutters to cut the mesh for the carb tray I bought

Got the inlet shrouds ordered, so waiting on those and the top half of the carb work will be done I think. Then it's onto the needles (already running the HRC slides) main jets (up from equivalent of 124 keihin to about 150-160 keihin's!) and pilot jets.

After that I'll be on the lookout for the under carb scoop, I'll likely end up with a new fibreglass one (£50) instead of a carbon fibre one (£90) as I don't have much money at all to throw at this right now, and nobody will see it unless they look under the bottom yoke.

Pics of things to come when I get my camera back
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'84 TS50X, '91 TZR125, '89 CBR400RR, '91 VFR400R NC30, '98 R1
"Hey copernicus! Why don't you navigate yourself to the back of the line with your feet and stand there with your shit."
BCF Eastern members map here ---> g.co/maps/2tm8b PM me to be added to it!

[CaNsA]

Until you post pics I will think you are lying.......

[anthony_r6]

I really want an VFR400 as a project bike. I have 16months of restriction left and want it to be ready for when that's up. So I'd have plenty of time to learn along the way.

I love these bikes.
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Ted : "Maybe he's agoraphobic."
Dougal : "Jack scared of fighting? I don't think so, Ted."

[CaNsA]

Nah mate, u want a zxr400
It will leave the vfr for dust if ridden properly

[Billing]

[jemdna]

Hey

Absolutely no use to the rebuild but just want to say glad to see your doing well again mate, give us a shout if you ever need a spare set of hands

[twostroketit]

I know how that feels pal. I have a condition called Schmorl's Nodes. Basically there isn't enough of the cushioning fluid between my vertebrae and each of the vertebrae are rough and knobbly instead of smooth. As you can imagine, this can cause a great deal of discomfort and the grinding you describe is an everyday occurance for me.

I have been this way since I was 14 and I'm now 42. When the specialist shown me the X rays and told me that it will never improve (and probably just worsen over time) and there is nothing they can do, I vowed that it will never win. I still go to work everyday and my workmates say I must be barmy for still getting up for work everyday.

I'm no sponger, and when I had a serious 'stroke-like' illness a couple of years ago, all I wanted to do was get better and back to work.

Don't let it get you down, live life to the full and enjoy your bike rebuild. Looking forward to seeing the end results and you back on the road with her.[/quote]

I have Schmorls Nodes as well. I havn't ever met anybody else with it,yet. I still work full time,but i am quite limited in the amount of lifting and carrying i can do.
Back on topic it's nice to see this being rebuilt. Don't let the Bastard drag you down.
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sup up your beer and collect your fags