GWS SPECIAL RT Build

Been at it for a bit again today. Slow going , the fibro and sciatica are kicking my arse at the moment! I've stripped out the front end and have a bit to do to get them ready to refinish. I have to get new top stanchion guides and I'm replacing the seals and dust covers. I could do with new stanchions but the pitting is not going to affect the stroke as it all seems to be at the top between the clamps. It's almost stripped down to the bare bones now. I used to be able to pull a bike apart in a day, not as quick these days, I'm already into week two but It's coming apart nicely apart from some really seized swing arm pivots. I'm getting some new ones turned up and drilled for pulling when I need to lubricate them. I had to drill the centre of the pivot for a 6 mm bolt, the one Kawasaki put in when they built it was off centre and only a 4 mm thread. The 4 mm bolts were just not up to the job so I did it my way. Which worked first time on both sides.

I've had a manic few days with one thing or another so imagine my frustration at coming across the first seized bits on the strip down. The swing arm pivots were stuck more than a very stuck thing. They are drilled an tapped by the factory but it's done off centre and only for a 4 mm bolt to go in. The idea being that you'd bung a bolt in and pull the bearing out. I've had to drill and tap the centre for a 6 mm bolt and use a drilled steel plate to make a simple puller. A bit of heat and a tap with the hammer before  the application of a bit of brute force with a socket had the bugger out first go. I'll have to get a new set of bearings, the old ones are totally knackered but it's a small thing and on a bike this old I'm surprised I've not had a few more be a problem. You can see the hole that the factory did and see how it being off centre may cause issues when trying to pull the bearing. I drilled it in the middle so that it didn't pull fro

I've managed to secure a Kawasaki VN 750 shaftie at the right price and given that I've not had a ride for six years this year I've decided to put the RT project on hold and do a simple conversion on the VN with a swing arm type rear end. I can't do the RT to the standard I'd be happy with at the moment so will look at that once this is finished. It's not been abandoned, just delayed. I've started to strip the bike down and will be going all the way so to speak. The bike has been laid up for a fair bit and the last time it was started was November 2013. Most of the work will be cosmetic apart from the back end and adaptions. I just think it makes sense to change the wheel bearings, the corroded fixing and it definitely makes sense to clean and paint both the frame and engine. The exhaust is going to be wrapped so won't need too much work apart from being shortened about 4" to allow for the axle centre being in the same place as the bike running