NGneers NC30 build thread (8 years + in the making)
Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2017 8:03 pm
Well having finally been reunited with my bikes (see background story here: viewtopic.php?f=10&t=53959) it was time to make the best of the space I had available and start spannering.
There are worse places to start a project than two fairly tidy bikes including one running which has actually just passed the local equivalent of the MOT.
Having got married 4 years ago, during my enforced separation from the bikes, I have subsequently discovered that spending ALL your spare time in the workshop, like I used to, is not conducive to a happy Mrs and homelife. As such I have decided to shelve my planned 3rd bike build. Instead I am going to put the best bits from my Number 1 Rothmans onto my Number two bike (subsequently to be just know as “The Rothmans”). This will give me a very tidy road bike, which could also be used for a track day or two if I get the chance (with non OEM fairings fitted). Having sorted out the “in use” bike I can then go to town on the other bike incorporating all the trick bits I have collected over the past few years.
So although The Rothmans has recently passed the German TÜV (MOT) it still needed some general attention before it was tucked up for the winter. I knew the rear wheel was seized on, but thankfully the tyre was in just good enough condition to pass the TÜV so I could sort it out slow time after the inspection. Having tried all the usual stuff (kicking, swearing, big hammer and wood etc) the rear wheel was not shifting at all. As such the only way to do it that I could think of was to remove the rear brake calliper and the hub nut from the other side, then remove the wheel and spindle as a single item. This was where I discovered how bloody tight the hub nut was. One quick Amazon order and a ¾ drive breaker bar was sourced, cos that will sort the bugger out …..wont it?
48 Hrs later and following the postman delivering my new acquisition, my weapons of choice for this evening were a meaty breaker bar, big sockets, FBH and a coffee.
Having tried to undo the hub nut with the bike in gear – no joy as it just kept turning the engine no matter what gear it was in. Onto plan B, bike in gear, get the Mrs to ‘stand’ on the back brake. Pulling hard enough to compress the rear suspension and start lifting the back of the bike (which the Mrs is still on!) but no joy in shifting the sodding nut.
Eventually I had to the wheel against the swing arm using a block of wood, axel stand and a couple of bricks then still ended up STOOD on the breaker bar before the bloody thing finally gave in and came loose!
Having got the hub nut off, the wheel including spindle came out easily.
I then popped this on the bench on a couple of bricks and pieces of wood (to prevent any damage to the rim) let a load of penetrating oil soak in as best I could before sorting out some bits to use as an appropriate size drift.
A bit of attention with a FBH and hey presto, out came the spindle.
Probably due to the bikes last real usage being in Bavaria and thanks to all the salt on the roads there, the thing was well and truly corroded. Not surprising the wheel wouldn’t come off really.
I have a fully prepped (pristine) swing arm assembly, including spindle, ready to fit to the project bike, so I will see what the spindle is like that is currently fitted to the other bike and refit the best one to the Rothmans bike. Just in case it is this one, I gave it a good clean up so it is a viable option to use.
Finished off this evening by stripping out the rest of the hub assembly ready for a quick clean up, along with the swing arm area on the bike before refitting the various bits.
Hopefully get all this back together tomorrow, transfer the OEM fairings from the other bike so this one is then ready to plug into the Optimate and tuck up for the winter, just needing some fresh fuel come the first opportune day.
Then onto the main project ☺
There are worse places to start a project than two fairly tidy bikes including one running which has actually just passed the local equivalent of the MOT.
Having got married 4 years ago, during my enforced separation from the bikes, I have subsequently discovered that spending ALL your spare time in the workshop, like I used to, is not conducive to a happy Mrs and homelife. As such I have decided to shelve my planned 3rd bike build. Instead I am going to put the best bits from my Number 1 Rothmans onto my Number two bike (subsequently to be just know as “The Rothmans”). This will give me a very tidy road bike, which could also be used for a track day or two if I get the chance (with non OEM fairings fitted). Having sorted out the “in use” bike I can then go to town on the other bike incorporating all the trick bits I have collected over the past few years.
So although The Rothmans has recently passed the German TÜV (MOT) it still needed some general attention before it was tucked up for the winter. I knew the rear wheel was seized on, but thankfully the tyre was in just good enough condition to pass the TÜV so I could sort it out slow time after the inspection. Having tried all the usual stuff (kicking, swearing, big hammer and wood etc) the rear wheel was not shifting at all. As such the only way to do it that I could think of was to remove the rear brake calliper and the hub nut from the other side, then remove the wheel and spindle as a single item. This was where I discovered how bloody tight the hub nut was. One quick Amazon order and a ¾ drive breaker bar was sourced, cos that will sort the bugger out …..wont it?
48 Hrs later and following the postman delivering my new acquisition, my weapons of choice for this evening were a meaty breaker bar, big sockets, FBH and a coffee.
Having tried to undo the hub nut with the bike in gear – no joy as it just kept turning the engine no matter what gear it was in. Onto plan B, bike in gear, get the Mrs to ‘stand’ on the back brake. Pulling hard enough to compress the rear suspension and start lifting the back of the bike (which the Mrs is still on!) but no joy in shifting the sodding nut.
Eventually I had to the wheel against the swing arm using a block of wood, axel stand and a couple of bricks then still ended up STOOD on the breaker bar before the bloody thing finally gave in and came loose!
Having got the hub nut off, the wheel including spindle came out easily.
I then popped this on the bench on a couple of bricks and pieces of wood (to prevent any damage to the rim) let a load of penetrating oil soak in as best I could before sorting out some bits to use as an appropriate size drift.
A bit of attention with a FBH and hey presto, out came the spindle.
Probably due to the bikes last real usage being in Bavaria and thanks to all the salt on the roads there, the thing was well and truly corroded. Not surprising the wheel wouldn’t come off really.
I have a fully prepped (pristine) swing arm assembly, including spindle, ready to fit to the project bike, so I will see what the spindle is like that is currently fitted to the other bike and refit the best one to the Rothmans bike. Just in case it is this one, I gave it a good clean up so it is a viable option to use.
Finished off this evening by stripping out the rest of the hub assembly ready for a quick clean up, along with the swing arm area on the bike before refitting the various bits.
Hopefully get all this back together tomorrow, transfer the OEM fairings from the other bike so this one is then ready to plug into the Optimate and tuck up for the winter, just needing some fresh fuel come the first opportune day.
Then onto the main project ☺