Topic: Early Sandcast Found......

[BenelliSEI]

Tons of snow here, but the shop is warm(ish). Got the rear wheel built this afternoon, and tire mounted. Once again, the heavy spot on the rim assembly was not exactly at the valve hole (band and tube in place).  About 7-8 spokes away. Mounted the tire with the “yellow dot” opposite that location. It will be interesting to see how much weight will be required. The front took so little I didn’t use one. Note the early “two hole hub”. Really just heavier than later hubs!

[PeWe]

Look good!
Interesting to see the result when balancing it.
Maybe no weight(s) needed

[BenelliSEI]

Look good!
Interesting to see the result when balancing it.
Maybe no weight(s) needed

Per..... this one will be interesting. Once I install the cush rubbers and sprocket side, it will be interesting to see if moving it around makes any changes. Probably a complete waste of time, but worth a try?


Wasted an hour moving the drive hub and sprocket around to different “slots”. No joy. Th tire itself was out enough to require a couple of weights on two adjacent spokes!

[BenelliSEI]

Clean and ready for light coat of paint. Early “Tokico 1”. For really good degreasing, I sneak bits like this into the top rack of the dishwasher.

[BenelliSEI]

Cleaned up original rear shoes (they looked like new) and built up rear brake hub. Just about ready to install the rear wheel. Painted the brake caliper, so lots of stuff to put back on. Taking my wife out for dinner tonight, first time in years! Will be interesting to sit in a crowded pub.....

[Don R]

 I must have the rear brake lever on my K1 Hot Rod wrong, it takes a ton of pedal travel. I really didn't think the shoes were that worn, it needs to be right because the front brake is piped direct, M/C to caliper. 

[BenelliSEI]

I must have the rear brake lever on my K1 Hot Rod wrong, it takes a ton of pedal travel. I really didn't think the shoes were that worn, it needs to be right because the front brake is piped direct, M/C to caliper.

Don..... there should be a tiny pin mark on both the operating lever and the thru’ shaft that cranks the shoes. They should be aligned. When in the correct orientation, the splined shaft has a small section with no splines. That area should face up. When installed correctly, the lever should be pointing to 7.00 o’clock. The pull arm should be adjusted so the pedal lever end is just ahead of the swing arm (not touching it). These adjustments give you max leverage.... Make sense?

[PeWe]

Very easy to mount the arm on brake cover in wrong angle and get bad brake. Like pointing down.
For me needed to point more backwards.

[BenelliSEI]

Very easy to mount the arm on brake cover in wrong angle and get bad brake. Like pointing down.
For me needed to point more backwards.

Interesting. I’ll take some pictures of the one I did yesterday. From the factory the brake shoe operating cam has a green paint mark to indicate “this way is up” (it can be installed rotated 180* facing down). Assuming that is correct, and the two tiny pin points in the splined shaft and arm are aligned, it’s pretty straight forward.

The real issue is if shoes are worn. If you are pulling the arm forward, past the “6:00 O’clock” position on application, the input force is reduced dramatically. It pays to ensure the operating arm doesn’t swing past facing straight down.....

[BenelliSEI]

Rear wheel went in today. Starting to look like a Motorcycle!

[Don R]

 Progress!  You'll be taking us for a ride before you know it!

[BenelliSEI]

Progress!  You'll be taking us for a ride before you know it!

Don….. Might be longer. As soon as riding weather arrives, I’m out of the shop and back motor racing. Also determined not to rush this one and enjoy the process! More pics tomorrow.

P.S. snowed again today.

[BenelliSEI]

Excellent shop day! Finished the front brake, including new line and hoses. Same at the back, steady brace and brake rod installed. A few parts arrived today, so master cylinder rebuild/ refinish and foot pegs are next.

My buddy Gary finished cleaning the exterior of the engine today, so top end removal is coming up. Looked around for the chain guard today (bike had one when it arrived!) and couldn’t find it.

[BenelliSEI]

Foot pegs got a new set of rubbers, shiny new springs, and a nicely polished set of pins. They look great. Sorted out the brake rod and pedal. Looking good. The master cylinder came apart and threw it in the tank for a soak..... our Vintage Bike Club (CVMG, Ganaraska Section) is having our first monthly meeting, in ages, tonight. Looking forward to seeing old friends! 

[MauiK3]

Great project, lots of fun.

[BenelliSEI]

Great project, lots of fun.

Thanks! Today I spent a lot of time on a master cylinder that was seized solid. The first wire clip only fought me for a while, but the next one down was really stuck. Patiently scraped, soaked and cleaned until I got it spinning in it’s seat. Had to drive the piston assembly down with a big hammer and punch, after some propane powered  heat. Finally got it out cleanly. Piston had to be driven out from the back, but the bore looks OK. It’s in the ultra sonic for a good “fizz”. It’s the original, so determined to save it!

[BenelliSEI]

“Before and After” shots...... new spokes, brake pipe and hoses. All the rest refurbished and rebuilt.

[BenelliSEI]

A couple more......

[BenelliSEI]

Finished up the back end today...... cleaning a cruddy (but undamaged) chain guard next.

[PeWe]

Your bike look really fine!
Not only a very special early model.
It look like new, taking us back to 1969!

I was a kid back then. I found my CB750 a little less than 10 years later.

[MauiK3]

I guess the motor goes in right side up instead of laying on its side.
Beautiful bike.

[BenelliSEI]

I guess the motor goes in right side up instead of laying on its side.
Beautiful bike.

It will.... I’ve never been organized enough to have the engine ready ahead of this point. I’m working on it next. I did make a cross bar that bolts to the three hole mount for the cam chain tension adjuster. It’s long enough that two guys can get the engine in carefully, with reasonable control.

[JamesH]

Great progress John - can wait to see the finished result..

[BenelliSEI]

Great progress John - can wait to see the finished result..

Thanks.... it’s taking time because i’m trying to refurbish every single original component. Slow, but rewarding.

[BenelliSEI]

Painted the rebuilt Master Cylinder yesterday. Cleaned it (varsol tank), honed. Ultrasonic, then hot water and soap. Two visible spots covered in”fish eyes”. Sanding and sealer primer next…..WHAT THE HECK CAUSES THAT?