No matter how easy and cheap you can get (special) tools these days, sometimes you still have to improvise. We're a bit used to that here, but it's still done 'elsewhere'. That proved the way the Chang Jiang's front wheel was balanced. And that wasn't even easy.
Most of our classics are in excellent order to beautiful these days
They are just as usable as new engines. But with more fun and less electronics. Still: it's outdated to say the least, but working on old motorcycles, which our classics really are, with the options you have is quite a charming pastime.
The extra wheels with my Chang had nicer hubs than the wheels that were under the takeaway Chinese. Only the rims were black instead of moderately chromed. And the hubs were 'empty'. There were no bearings in it. It still needs to be figured out how the Chinese think about fits, but from a donor wheel the one bearing came out very smoothly. The Allen key to loosen the bearing lock nut was also made by myself during the activities. When tapping out the other bearing, it always slipped.
Then you cannot avoid removing the bearing with a bearing puller. That bearing puller wasn't there. But such a tool can be improvised. You need to build up pressure behind the bearing and have room above the bearing for that bearing to come out. All you need for this is a piece of threaded rod and some washers. That all went well with some reservations about the 'top' ring. Before that I had thought an old clutch plate. So that only worked moderately or not because of the gaps in the clutch plate. Under load, the thing took on the shape of the blades of a kitchen fan. Then you can keep muddling on. But because it is not a contracted work, an order link has gone to one of our advertisers. So I'll have a good bearing puller soon. And I will never lend it again.
Prevent damage due to improper use
Such a clutch plate is a very handy thing when you have to disassemble a clutch basket. The basket must then be blocked. You can do this by inserting a thick stick or rod through the rear wheel. Then you put the box and its first gear and you can go. Once the stick or bar has braced itself against the rear fork, you can usually loosen the nut from the clutch basket. Do not use a broomstick or the steel of any garden tool. The chance of it breaking is too great. And then before you know it you'll be busy with bandages instead of your planned work. Blocking the basket with a screwdriver is certainly not a success on motorcycles where the clutch basket is made of light metal. Their lips break rather easily if they are improperly loaded. And then the turnips are done.
But the most important tools for tinkering are a deployable motorcycle and a smartphone. Then you can drive to the local auto parts store or order the right tools online.
Also read:
- Margin Life: A Chang OHV column
- A rare classic. However?
- The birth of a classic
- The Chinese takeaway, part 2 – column
Balancing a wheel of a Chang???? Then you at least think very positively about the possible top speed…
All this very recognizable, only the clogs of Citroen I had never seen it as a special tool….
As a spanner I use an old drill stand. Works perfectly and faster than that cheap crap
cunning!
I've used some regular glue clamps to reset calipers for years. Bought a set of reset tools now because those things are getting cheaper and cheaper.
China has its advantages
Talk about messing around. Replaced the gaskets of the fuel tap of my XJ5J 650 years ago, but I couldn't find the gasket that leaked (between the tap and the connection of the fuel hose) anywhere. After a lot of “tinkering” with a paper gasket and still leaking via-via I got hold of a piece of Viton and cut a suitable gasket from it. Faucet is still leak tight. Now I have problems with leaking gaskets of the carburetor float bowls. New gaskets are hard to come by (not really anymore), but got hold of a bigger piece of Viton via-via. It was an intensive job, but in the end I was able to cut four gaskets. I'll put the carbs on it later and see if I've done the job right, I'm hopeful.
hope gives life
To remove a bearing with a wedge bolt, I have been doing an original bearing puller for years, I think it is expensive for such a simple job.
And a wedge bolt works just as well.
m.vr.gr.
John Gers
Correct. Just did it again. But due to the Chinese fits, a sledgehammer had to be used
how refreshing to read that Dolf admits that sometimes things just go wrong.
The famous 4H-DP clamp.
Wonderful.
It's unbelievable how much is wrong with me! But that's part of it when you 'mess' with old stuff
'Clone or knoin', well…. As long as it goes well, there's nothing wrong with it, I think. And the sum of misses is also called experience.
To mount a clutch (such as BMW and a similarly constructed clutch from a regular car) you really need a centering tool. Or can it be a little different? For example, I always do it with very simple tools that vary from a suitable wooden stick to which I turn a cone, a piece of electricity pipe with a piece of aluminum with a cone inserted through it or whatever. Also just, yes, just center on the naked eye. And I've always been very good at it. As you always say Dolf: “Inventiveness is the result of a long-term massage of intelligence through lack of money”.
For example, I often make my special tools from old pieces of steel, bolts, nuts, threaded rods and the like. With drills, saws and files and a lathe, there is a lot of fun to be had for each other. The gearbox of my 82er BMW has been neatly overhauled with such (by many condemned in advance) tools and it works like a charm again.
My dream: a lathe. And a bigger garage
If my life depended on it, I was sometimes able to change a spark plug myself.
But that tinkering of you Mr. Peeters, well beautiful is different. 'Tis Knooien and unfortunately never learned except that little bit what I learned in 1 year in a car factory.
Nice story mr. Peters. ” Fits ”, ? , ” skid ” ?
Dear Mr Jan, It's just a matter of getting started. And nowadays everything is on Youtube. But it's all free choice. The fit is the way things usually fit together: pressed, pressed, or loosely. To skid is to sit skewed in the bore – the hole. Then the matter gets stuck. Try to tap the case back into the correct position with a steel pin and then continue in a structured way. Or get a bigger hammer.