Pezz’s Next Scrapper

[Perry GilsenanMember]

I have the swingarm being extended 120mm.

But I will be needing another dr600 swingarm which is a 50mm x 30mm box section.

Anyone know of one laying around?

[glennMember]

Anyone know when and where the next challenge is on

[GregMember]

Boony wrote:

Anyone know when and where the next challenge is on

I believe the location been hasn’t finalised at this stage Boony. There will be a date change as well is all I can say mate

TB

[Perry GilsenanMember]

Oh well, that didn’t turn out quite as I had expected . . . . . .

I think the best way to share my current situation is by being a bit philosophical about it.

When you tell someone under NO circumstances are you to touch or modify the frame, apparently that isn’t clear enough.

I took the RG250 to a fellow who had previously modified the fuel tank on my XR460/4. We sat down and I explained what I was after, he took notes in his big book and said it would take about 4 weeks as he was away racing the next week. A price was agreed, and given that I drove the bike 7 hours each way, thought it was reasonable.

After waiting 4 months, I finally get a time to pick it up with 2 weeks’ notice. However it seems like he is in a panic and rush. I get a few calls 2 days prior to pick up he says ‘gee it’s a tight fit in there, I have just started to grind the frame to make it fit’
You What????? I replied. Please Stop!!! I said I will be there the next morning don’t touch it until I get there. Unfortunately when I got there he had ‘finished’ so to speak???

The result was a long way from my expectation. It wasn’t fitted at all, and to my eye, and my friend with me, it was twisted. The fellow said ‘Just get a G clamp on it and it will bend back . . .’

I think he made a simple mistake. He extended the swing arm first, welded it up in a jig / welding bench, but it needed to be narrowed 20mm to fit in the RG frame at the swing arm pivot. Once he cut and welded the swing arm the second time it wasn’t in a jig and as a result its twisted.

Rather than argue, I sucked it up knowing I had done my cash. As we loaded the bike in the back of the Land Rover he then says I owe him an additional $200 for machining. Unbelievable!!! Given I had 2 swing arms, travelling expenses, the agreed price, the additional $200 it works out to about $1200 to make the steel swing arm unusable. Sad part is I lost 4 months in the process.

It had taken a bit of the wind out of my sails but, I am getting back onto it now.

Such is Life ‘eh!!!

[SteveMember]

That sux Pezz.
To make you feel better,We havnt started yet.Want to convert my old tm250 into a 4 cylinder
600. will no doubt have some issues .
good luck with it.
toes

[Perry GilsenanMember]

toes wrote:

That sux Pezz.
To make you feel better,We havnt started yet.Want to convert my old tm250 into a 4 cylinder
600. will no doubt have some issues .
good luck with it.
toes

Sounds like a great plan!!

Aircooled or water cooled?

The CB500/4 is a light engine and air cooled, the 400/350 four is a great little motor too

[SteveMember]

Kwaka,water cooled.
should be interesting.

[Perry GilsenanMember]

Ok, dust has settled and I am back at it again!!!

Now working on the front end and will get back to the swing arm a little later.

Just pressed the stem out of the DR600 triples and about to start measuring up to make a new stem. I will lower the bottom triple clamp about 20mm to clear the radiator and give more steering lock.

Looking at the DRZ400 front wheel hub and it looks identical to the DR600 so hopefully I will mean just a change of wheel bearings . . . . .

[Perry GilsenanMember]

Just picked up some 4140 – 38.1mm x 400mm ready to start machining the steering stem. Cost $22.60

Here is the stem design i have come up with

[Perry GilsenanMember]

Had a productive afternoon roughing out the new steering stem to within about 1mm of desired diameter.

The old lathe took a bit of fettling to stop the chattering, and I was cutting it a bit slowly to start with.

Now the slow and time consuming part as clearances will need to be spot on.

[Perry GilsenanMember]

Im sorry about the poor phone pics, Canon camera has died

Well I got the forks on and then jacked the bike up and sat the swingarm in for a check and look and see.

Realy quite impressed how it is coming together. The swingarm is too long and I have been given another swing arm by a fellow I recently met, JonW, which looks like it will fit the bill nicely.

I will try to take some decnt pics over the weekend, as I look at ways to get the rear suspension working.

[Alan RootsMember]

Lookin’ good Pezz , mate , you’re an inspiring leader of the scrap reclaimers . .

[Author]

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