Topic: Early Sandcast Found......

[Stev-o]

What a great view! Beautiful rolling hills.

+1....nice piece of property!!

[britman]

 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!
[/quote]

Always best to save your original balls no matter what the circumstances.....

I am really looking forward to seeing the finished product.........Beautiful work........

[MauiK3]

Beautiful area!!

[BenelliSEI]

Beautiful area!!

Thanks All!

Primed and painted all the tree bits.

[BenelliSEI]

No more excuses! Noticed in my notes that I picked up the Carlini Chopper and this one exactly one year ago, today. Parts arrived for the front end. Once the paint dries.....

Shout out to Vintagecb750.com . I ordered this lot yesterday around midday. Arrived 26 hours later!

Last time I ordered fork tubes from Cyclex, the OD was a bit large. All the “slide on” parts were a bit tighter than I would have liked, on my K0. Will be interesting to see if these are any different?

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I've never purchased the Cycle X fork tubes (good price).  In the past, I've always sprung for the pricier Forking by Frank tubes.  I'm not sure if Frank is still around though.  No internet order, only phone orders with a mail in check - but the quality of the hard chrome on Frank's tubes is superb.

[BenelliSEI]

I've never purchased the Cycle X fork tubes (good price).  In the past, I've always sprung for the pricier Forking by Frank tubes.  I'm not sure if Frank is still around though.  No internet order, only phone orders with a mail in check - but the quality of the hard chrome on Frank's tubes is superb.

I did send them a request, but never heard back from them. Next time I will call.
These were $140. Will measure and compare to my originals...... Report will follow.

[Terry in Australia]

I'll be interested to see how you go with the fork tubes John, they look like the ones I bought for my K0 build. From memory I had a problem with the big circlips that held the bottom fork bushes in place when I transferred the hardware across, and had to use some from another set of forks to make them fit? Sorry, that was over a year ago and my memory is only good for one lap of the goldfish bowl......

[BenelliSEI]

Terry..... like you, I had problems when I did the KO. Can’t recall exactly what it was! I’ll measure up these tubes, and report as I get into it.

[BenelliSEI]

I'll be interested to see how you go with the fork tubes John, they look like the ones I bought for my K0 build. From memory I had a problem with the big circlips that held the bottom fork bushes in place when I transferred the hardware across, and had to use some from another set of forks to make them fit? Sorry, that was over a year ago and my memory is only good for one lap of the goldfish bowl......

Terry.... installed the “tree” today. While I was in the shop, I unpackaged one of the new tubes and measured it up against an original. Looks to be spot on to me. Good value for the price! Will know more when I start sliding on the bits.....

[Don R]

 I need to re-build a set for the diecast, somewhere along the way it got later early forks. I'm hoping newer early type parts all swap into them.
  I have a set of nice +6 tubes, my friend with a machine shop said he can shorten them, but he doesn't machine the tops, he cuts them farther down, makes a joint and does a weld. I trust his work 100% but that's not for me.
  The guy built a Mustang looking bike with a B29 generator engine on it and a V twin hemi powered bike made from a cast iron red ram V8 engine. He also has a pair of jugs and heads from a Stearman airplane engine, I can't wait for that one. I'd love to turn him loose on my Keith black hemi block.

[BenelliSEI]

I need to re-build a set for the diecast, somewhere along the way it got later early forks. I'm hoping newer early type parts all swap into them.
 

Don..... they seem to have every year/style of fork tube available, at very reasonable prices. Let me see how all the parts fit together. Diameters measured spot on..... will post results.

[BenelliSEI]

Yesterday, I installed the original ball bearings (37 of them) in clean grease and assembled the triple tree. The bearing cups and caps are perfect and very smooth. When I snug it all up there is some ”notchiness”. Close inspection of the individual balls suggests they have some flat spots. My parts books describes them as #8, 1/4 balls. Qty:37.

Can anyone confirm they are standard 0.250” diameter balls? Ever changed them? I’ll be checking with my local bearing house for availability in the morning. Going to try it.

I do have a set of All Balls tapered roller bearings as back up, but for this project, I am making a real effort to reuse every original component possible. Foolish perhaps, but there you go. Thanks for any info you may have.

[BenelliSEI]

Built up the front tubes today. The relatively inexpensive replacements measured up nicely and everything fit perfectly. Nice!

P.S. Their fork caps are not as nice. Had to knock most of the chrome off the threads with a wire wheel and even then (with lots of anti seize compound) it felt like I was forcing them in the first time. The old, stock Honda part threaded in by hand..... Lesson learned, pay the price.

[seanbarney41]

Yesterday, I installed the original ball bearings (37 of them) in clean grease and assembled the triple tree. The bearing cups and caps are perfect and very smooth. When I snug it all up there is some ”notchiness”. Close inspection of the individual balls suggests they have some flat spots. My parts books describes them as #8, 1/4 balls. Qty:37.

Can anyone confirm they are standard 0.250” diameter balls? Ever changed them? I’ll be checking with my local bearing house for availability in the morning. Going to try it.

I do have a set of All Balls tapered roller bearings as back up, but for this project, I am making a real effort to reuse every original component possible. Foolish perhaps, but there you go. Thanks for any info you may have.

I remember checking a couple years ago.  The balls were still available from Honda...maybe even races.  I would not be surprised if Honda didn't use the same bearings in ALL of their late 60's, 70's and early 80's bikes.

I still don't ever use anything but tapered rollers if anything needs replaced.  But I don't own a sandcast, and I intend to ride my bikes LOTS.  I think original style bearings are the way to go for a sandcast, as an expert can visually see the difference between how much thread is showing on the stem nut when everything is assembled.

[BenelliSEI]

I’ve since learned ball bearings are numbered in 1/32” increments. #8 = 1/4”. I’ll see if I can get some and give it a try.

[BenelliSEI]

Canadian Bearing. $10.67 for package of 100.

[Terry in Australia]

That's a lot of balls for 10 bucks!

[BenelliSEI]

That's a lot of balls for 10 bucks!

Terry..... I just did the math: laid end to end, my balls are 25” long! 

Interested  to see if this works, or the races are “bumpy”. They feel perfect, but we’ll see!

[BenelliSEI]

“Snow Tires” arrived today! FortNine had excellent prices for Dunlop K70’s and arrived in 3-4 days.

[BenelliSEI]

The new balls fixed the triple tree. Installed it for the third and last time(?) today.

[BenelliSEI]

Cleaned all the dirt, grease and grime from the tail of the engine. Set it up to lift into the engine stand. My son and his family are coming to ski this weekend, so I’ll get some help to lift it! When I first got this bike, I built a set of carbs and fired it up. Excellent oil pressure and a silent bottom end. Plan is to tear down the top end, rings and a light hone, clean and lap in the valves, all new gaskets and seals. Paint and polish.....

That’s engine number 582! When I first saw that the motor is about 650 numbers lower than the frame, I was surprised. Even more so when the yellow paint on the main mounting bolts and foot pegs suggested it had never been out of the frame?

“Sandcast Only” forum members explained there are several machines like this. Honda pulled engines from the production line for testing and inspection. They were then immediately reassembled and went straight back to the line, into the next bike! Seems like a good omen to me!

[BenelliSEI]

The front hub is at a local guys place for a light polish (with the fork legs). The rim has been rechromed and I have a set of new spokes with gold nipples. Getting ready to build a “new” front wheel. Started prepping the disc and it cleaned up nicely.

Years ago I welded up a simple stand, from a few scraps of angle iron, that locks in my big vice. Using an old hub and axle shaft I bolt the disc/hub up to the bracket. Hitting it at just the right angle with my angle grinder (using a worn 200-400 grid disc) gets it spinning fast and cleans up in a few seconds. Next time I do this, I’ll take a photo or video. It’s pretty odd, but works.

[BenelliSEI]

Cleaned, lubed and refitted all the swing arm pivot hardware today. Bushings were snug, no play in the arm, felt washers were in perfect condition. All back where it belongs. Photos next time.

“spread” the new front tire, so it will be easier to mount (when the front wheel is built).

[Terry in Australia]

Beautiful work John, and I know all about long balls, I sat on mine yesterday! Those K70 tyres look great, I bought a pair for my Suzuki T500 because the wheels I bought from the US were shod with 40(+) year old K70's and with the limited rides I've done on it, they feel fine. They were more expensive than the Stinko's I usually buy, but worth it for that "Period" look.