Topic: Early Sandcast Found......

[BenelliSEI]

Looked today, but may have missed them. Definitely “double wrinkle”.....

[BenelliSEI]

Scrubbed the rubber hook tab area. No date codes or stamps......

[atm cycles]

Hard to see from picture but I can make out at least one numeral. 4

[BenelliSEI]

Hard to see from picture but I can make out at least one numeral. 4

Wow.... missed that! Thanks. I was looking between he “flap” and the tank. Will report back.....

[Terry in Australia]

Try putting a piece of paper over the area and "Rubbing" it with a pencil.

[BenelliSEI]

Try putting a piece of paper over the area and "Rubbing" it with a pencil.

Will do. Thanks.

[Alan F.]

Does this look right? I've flipped your previous photo.

[BenelliSEI]

Alan.... looks good. I’ll get the answer tomorrow. Cheers, J.

[Don R]

 I read 1980 is year 55 so 1970 would be year 45 and 1969 is year 44?  I have a 1970 rocker cover with 45 in the ink and a newer one, K1? with 46. I've never had the motor out of my sandcast but the PO's kid chromed the rocker and clutch covers anyway. I've had the others dechromed. The tank on 5511 is wrinkled and dimpled.

[atm cycles]

Right Don. It’s my understanding The parts on the early bikes use different layouts of those dates.
The early tanks I’ve seen would have numbers looking like 4 4 28. It’s my understanding that would read 1969 April 28th. Later the codes changed then disappeared. On the grip end, top of your controls you’ll find numbers that seem to be the year and month. Rear hub and brake plate also.

[BenelliSEI]

Here it is..... What does it mean?

[69cb750]

451 may be May 1, 1969 which is about right for your bike.

[atm cycles]

I agree. I thought your bike would have an April built tank, by past experience, but who really knows how supply chains worked originally

[Prospect]

The 4 refers to 44 which is the anniversary of the swearing on of the Japanese emperor. In  1969 it was the 44th anniversary. The other numbers mean month and day. May 1st.

[BenelliSEI]

The 4 refers to 44 which is the anniversary of the swearing on of the Japanese emperor. In  1969 it was the 44th anniversary. The other numbers mean month and day. May 1st.

Cool! One day after my 16th Birthday….

[Terry in Australia]

Gez John, you're older than dirt, I was only 9! My brother ordered a new Triumph Rocket III in 2007, and wanted it built as close to his 50th birthday, July the 7th. It was built on my wife's birthday, July the 8th. My brother is long gone, but I've still got his bike.

[BenelliSEI]

Gez John, you're older than dirt, I was only 9! My brother ordered a new Triumph Rocket III in 2007, and wanted it built as close to his 50th birthday, July the 7th. It was built on my wife's birthday, July the 8th. My brother is long gone, but I've still got his bike.

Still racing, riding, (skiing today)and generally making an a$$ of myself. Best I can do! J.

[Terry in Australia]

Gez John, you're older than dirt, I was only 9! My brother ordered a new Triumph Rocket III in 2007, and wanted it built as close to his 50th birthday, July the 7th. It was built on my wife's birthday, July the 8th. My brother is long gone, but I've still got his bike.

Still racing, riding, (skiing today)and generally making an a$$ of myself. Best I can do! J.

You're doing well mate, I see so many blokes who give up and hide inside when they get into their 60's, then just die, probably from boredom.

[BenelliSEI]

Gez John, you're older than dirt, I was only 9! My brother ordered a new Triumph Rocket III in 2007, and wanted it built as close to his 50th birthday, July the 7th. It was built on my wife's birthday, July the 8th. My brother is long gone, but I've still got his bike.

Still racing, riding, (skiing today)and generally making an a$$ of myself. Best I can do! J.

Terry….. Seriously; whenever I slow up a bit, I read about “what you did yesterday” and get moving!
             Stay active = stay well.

[BenelliSEI]

Back on this project. Today I dropped off the front fork bottoms and wheel hub for polishing. Started to prep the trees for black paint and ordered new tubes, seals, etc. Next steps are to get a front end on the frame, mount a new tube/tire and get it clamped up on the work table. Vintage Dunlop I think?

If my buddy Gary comes for a shop day this week, the engine needs to “jump” up into the stand. It ran so well in the bike, I’m just planning to freshen the top end and check over the bottom opening and oil pump. No more Z50 distractions for a while! I want to ride this bike in the Spring.

[BenelliSEI]

More snow and plowing today. Sanded the driveway in anticipation of a Fuel Oil Delivery, Friday morning. Experienced driver backs all the way UP to our home....... More snow tonight! If you look closely at the photo, you can see rabbit tracks, right on the veranda. The little bugger comes to the door when my wife hasn’t been to her “compost heap” for a few days! He was rewarded with a handful of carrots from the cold room. Drives my dog nuts, but Max doesn’t chase him off. Probably feels sorry for him.

Started painting the triple tree parts and then spent some cash on the Internet. Fork tubes, seals, bars, grips, and lots of bits from Vintage cb750.com. Also ordered up a set of Dunlop K70 tires, tubes and rim tapes from fortnine.ca. Getting up to speed again.

[BenelliSEI]

Shop is the second (farthest) building, behind the barn. Cleared all the snow around it and got in to flip the frame on the work table. 42*F when I got in there, so wasted some Hydro.

 The headstock bearings were in such nice shape (bike only shows 17,000 miles on a working speedo), that I’m cleaning it all up and putting the original balls back in some fresh grease. As Frank Often said to me about this one; “Leave it alone, keep it original”. I am going to try and use 99% of the original bits!

[Terry in Australia]

Good job John, I bought an “All Balls” taper roller bearing set for my T500, but it looked cheap and nasty, and so I used the original races and balls. I’ll save the tapered suckers for another T500 project that I’m daydreaming about.

I love the rabbit story, when I was a kid I’d shoot anything that wasn’t tied down, now I’d rather admire the little critters.

[Prospect]

What a great view! Beautiful rolling hills. Which ski hill do you go to?

What was wrong with the fork tubes? Pitted? Where did you order them from?

[BenelliSEI]

Good job John, I bought an “All Balls” taper roller bearing set for my T500, but it looked cheap and nasty, and so I used the original races and balls. I’ll save the tapered suckers for another T500 project that I’m daydreaming about.

I love the rabbit story, when I was a kid I’d shoot anything that wasn’t tied down, now I’d rather admire the little critters.

Terry.... I as unimpressed by the last set too. Also used the wrong washer and had to do it twice!