Author Topic: 1974 Rickman Honda (Read 35368 times)

MauiK3 · « **Reply #250 on:** November 19, 2020, 07:58:03 AM »

In some neighborhoods (many) there is always a person that everyone thinks of when they have a problem. They stop what they are doing and go down and ask for help. Of course, the person who is asked for help is usually deep into a project of some sort but it seems those of us that usually do the helping stop what we are doing and lend a hand. I know many that are on this forum are those folks that help others. I don't mind doing it (usually) but some times it gets out of had and some folks don't know when enough is enough. That's when I start leaving my garage doors closed.
Just a short rant, sorry.
Can we get some photos of more work on the Rickman?
Everyone have happy and safe holidays!!

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #251 on:** November 19, 2020, 08:06:30 AM »

Maui..... I hear you! The farmers around me often leave a piece of equipment outside my shop, with a ribbon tied to the broken bracket or part! I’m pretty good with a grinder and my old stick welder.....

Good news around here is we live in farm country. I rarely pay for eggs, honey, chicken, apple cider, red wine and even some nice cuts of beef! Stay well, best wishes for the season!

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #252 on:** November 22, 2020, 10:07:32 AM »

Started pulling it down. Plan is to leave only the engine, carbs and airbox in place. I need to fabricate the tabs for mounting the air box to the frame, bolt them in and tack them in place. Final welding will include reinstalling brackets for key switch, horn, rear turn signals, chain guard, batt. box, tool box, and other stuff I’ve forgotten...... then the frame needs to be bright nickel plated!

smcgill · « **Reply #253 on:** November 22, 2020, 06:50:27 PM »

One year in, my ' bright ' nickel plating is looking more like nickel.

smcgill · « **Reply #254 on:** November 22, 2020, 06:54:11 PM »

Front mount & frame

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #255 on:** November 23, 2020, 08:32:47 AM »

Scott..... I recently saw a frame that was lightly powder coated with a finish that looks like very BRIGHT nickel. Really nice coating, but for the sake of originality, can’t seem to consider it!
Your thoughts?

smcgill · « **Reply #256 on:** November 23, 2020, 08:07:26 PM »

John, I've always loved the the plated Rickman frames. Mine was replated, during that process, the detail of brazing [stack of dimes look] was polished down, so to an experienced eye it's not original looking.[ & no center stand]. I had hoped to preserve the shine with Sharkhide, with mixed results. So, even plated,it will never look perfectly original anyway.
I've powdercoated parts in nearchrome [ ?] it looked much like nickel. I would not want my frame blasted with coarse sand as powdercoaters like to do though.Powdercoaters are 10 to 1 to platers around here, and the turn around time is a week as opposed to 3 months.
If I did it again, I would still plate. If the frame had not already had the welds polished down, I would find a plater that could avoid the temptation to do so.I would even consider chrome . I'm not worried about embrittlement issues. I want the bike to have the same impact as it did when I admired them back in the day. If I was using it as a racing tool, I'd do neither, so I could watch it closely.
My 2 cents, Scott M.

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #257 on:** November 24, 2020, 06:56:55 AM »

Scott..... really appreciate your thoughts. I think I’ll get the frame finished to my satisfaction (mine is also missing the centre stand brackets and I have the bits) and then will put it in my truck and startvisiting platers...... cheers!

grcamna2 · « **Reply #258 on:** November 24, 2020, 10:11:20 PM »

I had parts PC'd with 'Near Chrome' and found I should have listened to the shop when they told me how much it would fade in the sun without having the parts PC'd with clear on top of the Near Chrome.
Those parts turned an ugly grey over a few years(I had to park the bike outside,I'm an apartment dweller)so,lesson learned.

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #259 on:** November 25, 2020, 06:35:29 AM »

GRC..... interesting! The powder shop I spoke to said the same and insisted on clear coating too.

scottly · « **Reply #260 on:** November 25, 2020, 09:43:56 PM »

Quote from: smcgill on November 23, 2020, 08:07:26 PM

Mine was replated, during that process, the detail of brazing [stack of dimes look] was polished down, so to an experienced eye it's not original looking.[ & no center stand].
I would even consider chrome .

Chrome is usually done over nickle, and the polishing is the same. When the nickle plating on my Seeley frame gets too far gone, I'll paint it, without subjecting it to sandblasting or high heat.

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #261 on:** November 26, 2020, 01:05:38 PM »

More progress taking it down today, also built a wheeled cart to roll it around. I have to keep the engine in the frame until I can tack weld the two tabs for the airbox top bracket bolts.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #262 on:** November 26, 2020, 02:02:13 PM »

Quote from: BenelliSEI on November 26, 2020, 01:05:38 PM

More progress taking it down today, also built a wheeled cart to roll it around. I have to keep the engine in the frame until I can tack weld the two tabs for the airbox top bracket bolts.

Benelli,I was looking back here a few pages but couldn't find exactly what material the Rickman frame is made with,is it chrome moly ?

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #263 on:** November 26, 2020, 07:00:42 PM »

Grcamna2.....Correct! Very thin wall. The bare frame weighs almost nothing. The complete bike weighs about 100lbs less than a cb750K.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #264 on:** November 26, 2020, 07:14:39 PM »

Quote from: BenelliSEI on November 26, 2020, 07:00:42 PM

Grcamna2.....Correct! Very thin wall. The bare frame weighs almost nothing. The complete bike weighs about 100lbs less than a cb750K.

Do you braze the tubes when needed rather than tig welding ?

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #265 on:** November 27, 2020, 06:32:08 AM »

Yes. I have a friend who’s Dad worked for British Oxygen for years. He took welding courses from them and became a real expert. The cart is so I can roll it to his shop for the correct repairs!

MauiK3 · « **Reply #266 on:** November 27, 2020, 07:51:42 AM »

Beautiful frame, would be cool to recreate the stock frame that way.

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #267 on:** November 27, 2020, 09:26:32 AM »

Agreed..... fully stripped today, and cut off some of the extra “race brackets” . Ready to load it up and head off to my friend’s shop. Stuff to go back on includes:
-battery box and tool tray tabs.
-horn and key switch brackets.
-rear turn signal brackets.
-air filter box tabs.
-side stand bracket
-centre stand brackets and spring hook
-tab for chain guard mounting
-clean up seat mounts
-headlight mount to front fairing mount
-repair rear master cylinder mount
-and a few more I’ve forgotten
All the extra welding (race parts over the years, like the centrally mounted oil tank brackets) need to be clean and smoothed off. I’ve decided I’m staying with the single seater bodywork so going to leave off the original rear hoops that held the 4-4 Honda pipe mounts and rear foot pegs. I’m using a super light weight stainless 4-1, with a Hindle muffler. Pulled the front forks apart and ordered a pair of seals and new dust boots. Putting aside lots of rebuilding, for when the frame goes out to be plated and polished.

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #268 on:** November 27, 2020, 09:31:37 AM »

Maui..... I addition to looking good, and being super light weight chrome moly, the frame is designed so the top end can be pulled with the engine in place......

grcamna2 · « **Reply #269 on:** November 27, 2020, 10:37:13 AM »

Quote from: BenelliSEI on November 27, 2020, 06:32:08 AM

Yes. I have a friend who’s Dad worked for British Oxygen for years. He took welding courses from them and became a real expert. The cart is so I can roll it to his shop for the correct repairs!

Benelli,
Will your friend tig or braze it ?

Filet braze it ? What type of process will you use to strip the frame before having it finish coated,have you decided on what type of coating(nickel plating as the factory had done)will you use when complete ?

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #270 on:** November 27, 2020, 02:08:11 PM »

Old school, same as the original!

Doug K · « **Reply #271 on:** November 27, 2020, 02:46:00 PM »

Hey Now. Brand new to this group. I have a very original 1973 Rickman with a first year motor. It has a bikini fairing. Can anyone help me source an original style full fairing?

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #272 on:** November 27, 2020, 04:50:49 PM »

Doug..... I have a full set of very professionally made fibreglass molds for all the Rickman Components. At one point I will get someone to pull me a new set (I’m NOT s fibreglass guy). You should check out AirtechStreamling.com and look under their SOHC Honda CB750 CR Section. They make awesome stuff.

scottly · « **Reply #273 on:** November 27, 2020, 09:55:34 PM »

Quote from: BenelliSEI on November 27, 2020, 09:31:37 AM

Maui..... I addition to looking good, and being super light weight chrome moly, the frame is designed so the top end can be pulled with the engine in place......

Rickman (and Seeley) used Reynolds 531 tubing, which has a large amount of manganese and a small about of moly; it is NOT chome-moly, and should always be brazed, never welded.

RAFster122s · « **Reply #274 on:** November 28, 2020, 02:19:13 AM »

Isn't that why some shops who don't know how to handle or were not aware of the frame being brazed reduced a frame to parts when stripping the nickel in a hot tank...the reached the liquid state of the braze. Or, is thst merely urban legend?

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Author Topic: 1974 Rickman Honda (Read 35368 times)