Wrong gas tank! Waterslide Decal tutorial....

 

A word to the wise when buying a used (or new) tank for a BSA B31 rigid;  Make sure you get the measurements under the tank as well as on top.  

I learned the hard way, purchasing a tank advertised as being for a B31, however it turned out to be for a C11.   This is a common mistake apparently, as both are nearly identical from the top and side.  Both tanks feature a speedo mount within with the same badges and knee pads.  Underneath however is a totally different story.  

The tunnel for the the C11 is under 2" (I believe 1 3/4") the B31 should be closer to 3 3/4".  This is to accommodate the taller and larger motor.  

A new tank from India has been ordered, one in bare steel as chrome work from there seems to be a mixed bag.  My intention is to paint anyway and starting with a fresh tank will provide some peace of mind.  With the way the post is moving these days, it will likely arrive by Halloween.  I just hope that the specs on the sheet match what is actually delivered.

I decided to have some fun with the 'wrong' tank by painting it and making my own waterslide decals.  

Inkjet waterslide decal sheets are available on Ebay and other online sources for very little money.  I go online to find images I like and put them in MS paint for editing (This is as sophisticated as it gets for me!).

I usually print off a test sheet in black and white first in order to not waste ink.   The last time I attempted this it was a mess, as I didn't realize I was missing a crucial step.  

These are my sample sheets, along with a clear acrylic sealer.  Without this step, your decals will disintegrate! 

Here are the steps I followed.

1. Select and edit images

2.  Run B&W test sheet on plain paper

3. If satisfied, print sheet in full colour on glossy side of decal paper.

4. Carefully put the sheet aside to dry for 20 minutes- This is crucial as the ink can run and will smear 

if touched.  I always make sure to handle from the corner of the sheet. 

5. Once dry spray a light (or two very light coatings) of sealer.  I used Mod Podge which is widely available from most craft shops.

6. Let  the sheets dry for half an hour.

7. Cut out your decal and soak in water for thirty seconds or so, it will now slide off onto your chosen object.

One thing I will mention, is to bear in mind that these are transparent decals. If you want them to look the same as they do on the sheet, you will need to ensure the paint underneath matches. 

I cut a couple circles out and sprayed them white before sliding the decal on.  

I apologize for the final photo which is lacking in clarity, however it should give you an idea of results.  When the real tank arrives I can do a cleaner job and spend a bit more time and care on paint.  

Until Next time...

Very cool finds....

A while ago, I purchased a vintage manual for the Bridgestone 90 and 175 on Ebay from a chap in Australia.  It's no secret that I love old things.  Sorry, I meant 'vintage' things. This includes bikes (obviously) clothes, books, music, etc.  This is nothing new, I grew up excited to visit thrift stores and garage sales looking for undiscovered treasure.

As it turned out, this was an old Clymer manual from the late 60's in very nice shape.  I didn't pay much, once again shipping being more than the item itself!  I have every conceivable Bridgestone manual produced on PDF, however I need to have something in my hand when I am working.  This is partially due to having a poor short term memory and also hauling a laptop around the garage seems like a recipe for disaster.

As I flipped through, I spied adverts for other manuals and books advertised in the back pages.

$8.95?  Considering that contemporary manuals were around $3.95 or less, this was quite a sum for a book in 1969.  My curiosity got the best of me so I started hunting for any existing copies.  I found a few, mostly for ridiculous sums (in the stratosphere of $60.00 to $100.00!~)  which left me unimpressed.  I looked around a little more and found that Goodwill in the states has an incredible selection of used books online on Ebay.  For a much more reasonable $4.00 (plus $11.00 shipping, naturally) I took the plunge.

Fast forward a week or so and.......

You have to love any book that has a picture of Dean Martin on the back riding a small Honda!

This is actually an excellent read, with thorough articles about how to teach someone how to ride, camping on two wheels and an exciting craze called 'Para-Kiting' . In case you were wondering, this involves riding in the desert while someone wearing a parachute is dragged behind!

Apart from the odd fads, this tome covers racing, scrambling lots and lots of history as well as models of bikes that are scarcely seen today (Parilla Wildcat Scrambler anyone?)  It was evident that Floyd Clymer was deeply passionate about motorcycles, I would guess that this book was purely a labour of love.  At the very least a love letter to motorcycling.

If you can find one, get it....I am saving the remaining chapters for winter reading.

In other news, I am waiting on my NOS Dual Twin cylinder to arrive in the mail.  I hope it gets here soon so I can get this engine back together!

I also managed to find a suitable replacement battery for the Bridgestone(s).  This was at www.batterystuff.com after getting very little help from local retailers.

One bike shop wouldn't even check for me unless I brought the old battery in!  This, despite having the measurements on hand (what would he have said if I didn't still have an original battery?  I should have hung up, called back and found out using a fake accent)   Were his measurements somehow more accurate than mine?  Did he possess some variety of magic tape measure only available to motorcycle shops?


I digress, however Gandalf won't be getting my business again anytime soon.  For a mere $30.00 (plus $20.00 for shipping...less for once!) One can buy a sealed gel battery ready to run.  I am expecting this shortly and will let you know how it works.

Stay Tuned!

Ebay Delights....

Ah Ebay.  Over  the last few years, it has been a mixed bag for me; Great for buying, not so much for selling since the recession started.  Between seller fees, PayPal fees and no one having any money, it is not uncommon  for me to break even or take a small loss on items I have listed there.

 With cramped working space, I look around and realize the need for space takes precedent over the need to hoard.   I keep my impulse buys to small, unusual items that are under $40.00.  Generally that keeps me out of trouble!  This interesting early 60's Lucas Tail light found me for nice price a couple weeks back.  I am not certain what model it came off of or even which make, but it has a neat look which may suit my T140 Tiger project (more on that in future posts).  The package came from San Jose, wrapped in newspaper from the midlands....!

It is very rough, (the seller might have mentioned the small cracks near the mounting points) However a sandblasting session, a small weld and powder coat will make it better than new!  The added bonus for me was the vintage California plate.  For some reason I have always wanted to have one.   I tend  to associate vintage bikes with either Sunny Southern California or damp swinging 60's England.  It's a shame I can't ever actually use it on anything, it would add an excellent period Steve McQueen vibe to any project.  My plan is to straighten it up, clean it and use it just for photo shoots.