No man can serve two masters; (Aka, Farewell to the Beetle)

Yes I quoted Matthew 6:24.  No, I am not turning religious on you.

The quote is one that did stick with me from my days in the Anglican Church and it seemed the best to summarize the situation I found myself in.

In a previous post I spoke of being struck with an anxious feeling when I went into the garage.  While that feeling passed to a degree, it never completely went away.  I believe that deep down one knows when changes need to be made in one's life.   For me, the weight of my ambitious list of projects had become far too much for me to manage.

Something had to go.


There were several reasons that the forlorn bug became the sacrificial lamb;  It was taking up far too much real estate in the garage, leaving little room to maneuver.  Secondly, not having my friend available anymore to assist took much of the joy from the project.  I also hadn't really worked on it in a couple years.  Lastly, there was a laundry list of items left to be done, including paint and body work.  That is a very large time and money commitment.

The decision was made and the ad went up.


The Beetle sold (rather quickly) to a retired gentleman with a nice, big garage.  He has lots of time and pocket change to finish what I started. 

Regrets?

Not a one.  I am very proud to have rescued it from the crusher and to have had the opportunity to work on an iconic car;  I learned how to weld and met lots of great VW people in the process.

The first thing I did was secure two new workbenches to put along the walls.  I plan to get another one up as well, to eventually have 16 feet of workbench space (4x the current amount!)

Once everything is cleaned, purged, swept and sorted I can once again focus on my first love, English Iron.

Until Next time....

Yuasa for Life.

After 9 years, Katie's original Yuasa battery died.  It struggled valiantly since March after I had to charge it for the first time.

Despite all my other careful maintenance, I was incredibly neglectful with the battery.  A battery that was supposed to last 48 months (according to the manufacturer) gave me 108.   At one point after being hit while parked (!) in 2012, she sat idle at the dealership for nearly 5 months.  Once all the new parts finally arrived, she fired up like a dream.  Always rock solid and reliable.

Last Friday I bought a replacement battery.


Needless to say, It was another Yuasa.

CVMG Paris meet 2018

I should open with a confession;  I arrived at the show on Saturday when the gates opened and was only able to stay until 9:30 due to a prior commitment.   Any comments or critiques are based on what I saw during this time, not the whole day/weekend. 

While there was quite a bit to see, the field seemed sparse compared to years past.  Could this be a sign that there is a downturn in the hobby?  

The dominant presence took form in older Japanese bikes a trend that seems to be carrying forward from past years.  Bikes that were usually front and center in years past were curiously absent;  The Broughs, the early Indian built in Toronto to name a few.  Not a single Matchless in sight either.  

Interestingly, there were at least 4 Triumph TRW army bikes for sale, all complete and running and all under $5,000.   I have always wanted one, but I more than have my hands full!  Here is a great article about them should you be curious;  http://sump-publishing.co.uk/triumph-trw.htm

I have heard stories of crated examples being available through Army Surplus stores into the early 1990's!   

I spent a total of $28.00.  I bought some old handlebars, a brake rod (possibly Norton) and a very interesting battery box which looked Prewar.  

I was told that these were Czech made (Jawa/CZ) and sold through Eaton's department stores.

Until Next time....

The expense of being cheap.....

A wise man once uttered the words 'Do it right, do it once.'   I am unsure if he also said 'Measure twice, cut once' but I would like to think he did.

No words are truer when it comes to motorcycle building and to this specific topic: Paint.

Visit any car or bike forum out there and you will inevitably find many, many pages regarding the painting of bodywork. 

The most popular and recurring theme seems to be 'Cheap paint options'.   In other words, using hardware store aerosol to achieve decent results.   A lot of these threads make for fun and interesting reading with a plethora of 'experts' chiming in. 

There is the famous 'Paint your car with rustoleum and a roller for $50.00', painting rims with appliance epoxy, baking enamel etc. 

I am not ashamed to admit that I wanted to take the cheap road less traveled.  I read, re-read and looked at pictures.  I even bought a cheap toaster oven from a charity shop to bake small items in. 

The results? 

Garbage.  I won't even bother posting the pictures.   I carefully cleaned, primed, did thin coats, etc.

I tried 'professional' enamels, cheap enamels, etc.  There were runs (which I could sand out) and improper curing.  One toolbox cover was perfect, until a light tap of the fingernail scratched the paint.


It was infuriating, a complete waste of time, money and energy. 

Going back to the forums, there is always the one fellow (usually someone who did autobody or automotive painting) pointing out that cheap paint is false economy.  He is the one to listen to!

Not wanting to waste any more of my resources and momentum I visited the local (automotive) paint supply store for help.

For $85.00 (CDN) I purchased proper primer, paint and clear coat.   I have only used the primer thus far and I am incredibly pleased with it.  No runs, quick cure and even spraying. 

My first piece was an old licence plate frame with bad chrome that I sanded down.  The results speak for themselves as I was left with a smooth matte finish.  The black primer shows any flaws in the substrate, which avoids issues at the later stages.  So far I have done the brake plate, rear hub, tank, rear frame. 

I will never bugger about with inferior products again;  It just doesn't pay to be cheap. 

Until next time...

Do I own them, or do they own me?

"Happiness resides not in possessions, and not in gold, happiness dwells in the soul."

- Democritus

I confess to feeling somewhat overwhelmed today, bordering on melancholy.   Generally when I walk into my garage, I smile.  I look around at the (controlled) chaos and feel a perverse sense of achievement; Stacks of parts, shelves lined with tote bins, vehicles in various states of array lining the walls, etc.   Today however was a different tale.  I looked around and felt ashamed that I had all of these projects unfinished and collecting dust. 

I thought of the time it would take to finish them all and the expense involved.  Then I proceeded to feel a bit worse.  I realized that what was once a dream has become a bit of a nightmare for me. I have acquired some wonderful items and with them a lifetime of dedication that would take me away from other passions and people in my life.  Not to mention being able to actually enjoy the fruits of my labour by driving/riding said completed vehicle. 

Today, for the first time I felt somewhat claustrophobic, longing for space and singular focus.

Perhaps this happens to anyone who has a collection of any kind, where eventually all things become old, even the feeling.

I can't count how many times I have read or heard 'I used to have one of those, best bike/car I ever owned.  I should have never sold it'.

Regret.  Long lasting.  Decisions made during a low point in one's life.

The feeling stayed with me until I came home and found a parcel waiting for me from Walridge Motors.

I knew what was inside, however a small wave of anticipation passed through me.   There is something so exciting about new parts.....

I then picked up some valve covers and began to work out the scratches with the abrasive wheel.

My sense of satisfaction slowly started to return, as did my sense of happiness.  Any lingering questions or doubts completely dissipated.

I realized that it would only ever be action that keeps the bad feeling away, accomplishment.

The question of ownership becomes irrelevant as one accepts the position of caretaker instead.

Once again I looked around at the (controlled) chaos and felt that perverse sense of achievement; Stacks of parts, shelves lined with tote bins, vehicles in various states of array lining the walls, etc.

I thought of my teenage self, pouring through 'The World of Motorcycles'. It was clear that I had attained a wonderful goal, time and money be damned!

 I just needed to put it into perspective.

Until Next time....

Product Review: Eastwood company abrasive buffing wheel

After watching Craig Jones (of On Yer Bike fame) use a giant scotchbrite wheel to clean up fork tubes, I knew it was essential kit for my garage.

I looked high and low and found very few options outside of Britain and those I did find were pricey.

While not the exact same item, Eastwood fortunately offers a tool that does the same job.

Eastwood Abrasive Wheel

At only $19.99 (USD) I took a chance and had it shipped to my US Address.  Initially I was disappointed to find the center hole was too big for my 6" Ryobi bench grinder.  I was also a bit surprised that it didn't come with any mounting hardware.   Not to be defeated, I bought some cut off pipe from a local supplier (Metal Supermarket) and made a sleeve/adapter with the help of some old washers (Never throw them away!).

Some shots of the wheel, with makeshift adapter

The wheel itself is quite wide, probably about 14" across, comprised of four separate pads held together at the center.  The individual pads have waves in them, presumably to keep them working together whilst spinning.  You will notice (as I did) that they act as a propeller to send your grinder into flight!   Bolting your device or at least securing it down is probably a very good idea.

I haven't used this wheel for long or for very much.  However from what I have seen, it is incredibly impressive!

I pulled a crusty old Triumph center pipe from the shelf and had at it.  Within a single stroke, it was better than new.

Some of these shots aren't the best but the results speak for themselves.

Do I recommend this product?  Absolutely.  This will eliminate hours of elbow grease for a very low price.  As a matter of fact, I am excited to use it again to banish the ravages of time!


Until next time...

My YouTube Channels of choice....

I am a huge fan of YouTube.  The idea that anyone, anywhere at anytime can create, edit and produce media for a worldwide audience is fascinating to me.  Growing up in a different era, the very idea of it would have been the stuff of science fiction.

That being said, there is a tremendous amount of dross that one must sift through to find gold.


Here are some of my top choices, which are in no specific order.


On Yer Bike

Presenter Paul Brodie travels to various bike shows around Britain, focusing on the custom scene primarily.  Many of the segments feature builder Craig Jones, a talented blacksmith who does some exceptional work.  The above video details the making of a hand-made licence plate frame for an Enfield.  While chopped bikes are not my favourite thing in the world, the presentation is great as are the production values.  

Britannia Motors 

Micheal Waller is an ex-pat who runs a small restoration business in Upstate NY.   Luckily for us, he has taken the time to document some of his work step by step.  If you are new to restoring British bikes, this is a great place to start.

Ed Willson's 1968 VW restoration

This video is a classic and a must see if you are contemplating the restoration of a Beetle.  With over million and half views, you may have already seen it!  Filmed and edited by son Max, Edd walks us through the process from beginning to end.  The car itself was up for sale (and presumably sold) for an eye-watering $15,500 USD.  The Willson clan have recently 'adopted' a worse for wear Austin Healey Sprite.  These videos in my opinion are the real stars, showcasing Edd's amazing fabrication skills. 

Hackaweek's Honda CB750 Restoration

Host Dean Segovis brings high energy and comprehensive detail to these restoration videos.  A CB360 is currently on the bench taking form as a scrambler which will no doubt prove as entertaining.


Mustie 1 

Apart from the over-use of the term 'Barn Find' (a term that needs to die for a while, much like 'patina') Mustie 1's videos are excellent viewing.   With a tremendous passion for anything mechanical, he will take on any project in an attempt to make it run.  This includes motorcycles, drills, cars and defunct generators most of which are found at yard sales.  Apparently he was offered a reality series, however the terms were less than desirable.  Good on him, as the last thing the world needs is more 'reality' shows.


Shedbuilt Dave

Shedbuilt Dave provides exactly what his name would imply; (To be clear it is unlikely Dave himself was created in a shed, but one never knows!) A man named Dave in his shed, building bikes.  For the home restorer Dave makes for an excellent mentor.  He utilizes rudimentary tools and old fashioned methods to create alchemy.  While I greatly enjoy Dave's work, I hope that one day he will invest in a better camera.


Lunmad

Lunmad is something of a quiet legend in the Triumph motorcycle community.  While his methods occasionally create a stir with the 'purists', the 'impure' have greatly benefited from his efforts.  His  humble and amusing presentation is a breath of fresh air in the sometimes maddening world of restoring old iron.

Until Next time.......