Topic: Early Sandcast Found......

[BenelliSEI]

Did you drain oil and examine it , or remove sump ?
 Looks like there are at least 2 steel tool trays .,

Frank..... good question. I’m soaking the pistons and rings, I’ll pull it off after that.

[754]

If it was indoors , I would be tempted to leave it together,  imagine an original paint, never been apart ?.maybe 69 Honda... how cool is that  ?
 I will look at more tool trays online, compare to one I found, don't know if I have an early on even at all . But a part number ending in 010 like I did see indicates a revision. 

[BenelliSEI]

Frank..... I’m headed in your direction. The wheels will need close inspection, but even the pipes look very usable. I think it really only has 17.000 miles on it. The speedo drive spins the cable and I tested the speedo with a bit wooden match stick in my reversed drill. It works too! Eventually I’ll stick a starter motor in it and see if it makes any weird noises.

[BenelliSEI]

Major progress today. With the assistance of the nice lady at my local Service Ontario location, I have the correct paperwork. I always feel better when the paperwork matches! Yahoo!!!

[Medyo Bastos]

Fabulous, I love it when a plan comes together!


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[BenelliSEI]

Fabulous, I love it when a plan comes together!


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You know it! I’m never comfortable making plans until I have the “slip” in hand.

[BenelliSEI]

Took the front wheel off today (off the table), and swapped in an ancient front wheel assembly from another project (back on the table). Confirmed the speedo gearbox is working and then drove the speedo with a tiny screwdriver (in my reversible drill). Cable and speedo work fine. This machine very likely is a 17,600 mile machine. Next steps are to pull both tires, tubes and rim tapes and see what shape the original rims are like inside. I usually just buy replacement rims and spokes, but these are going to get new chrome. We have one very good shop in Ontario, Cambridge Chrome. They do nothing but show chrome, so can’t wait to hear the estimate!

Wondering why this bike came off the road so many years ago....?

[BPellerine]

maybe carb trouble,since they are missing?

[BenelliSEI]

maybe carb trouble,since they are missing?

Could be. It has a very minor head gasket leak stain, but so far I can’t find/ hear much wrong!

[PeWe]

I could not resist to guess...
Something more happened when the fins on cylinder got a hit?
Owner wounded too?
Maybe the carbs damaged at the same time?

Crash bar a part of restore that never found the road again?
Tank got the dent then or during storage.

[754]

 Nas I think it was just sitting parked and they decided to sell or borrow the carbs.
 Or taken of  to get cleaned and lost in the shuffle..
 It's a Honda 4, it should run.... I would not chrome anything if it did not need it...

[BenelliSEI]

Nas I think it was just sitting parked and they decided to sell or borrow the carbs.
 Or taken of  to get cleaned and lost in the shuffle..
 It's a Honda 4, it should run.... I would not chrome anything if it did not need it...

Frank....I hope you are correct. Examining the rims today. The front looks the same as several others I have. The rear is unique, “rolled rim”. It will need chrome. I hope it’s not rotten inside.....

[Old Scrambler]

Once you start to re-chrome...........better plan on doing all of it

A good chrome shop will listen to customer instructions........I have had 'whitener' added to final chrome dip to reduce the 'show-chrome' mirror finish............looks very original

[754]

There is no shame in having 50 year old looking chrome on a 50 year old bike. .
 Once you start going that way, there us no end, just spending money.
 It's only original  once....

[Don R]

 I chromed the rolled rim on my sandy, it was in great shape except it was moved to the PO's drag bike and was drilled 4 times on each side for rim screws to hold on a slick. I had a pro tig weld it before I metal finished it and returned to the chrome shop.  It doesn't look out of place on the bike but the rest of the chrome was still pretty nice. It's under 10K miles and never lived outdoors.

[BenelliSEI]

So I pulled off the rear rim, sweated off a pig of a hard old tire that was way too big to start with. The tube looked like it would have fit inside a truck tire! Fitted with the correct “Two hole” brake drum/ hub, separated it all from the rim. Fortunately, the inside is pretty clean. The rim will need rechroming, but it will come out nicely.

Had a very close look at the 4-4 exhaust. Definately the original, no numbers pipes, with the early style sausage (lotus root?) baffles. They have some corrosion on the underside, and some flaking here and there, mostly out of sight. Cleaned up a few sections on one of them and came up nicely! With some subtle patching, Autosol and elbow grease, I think I can save all four!

The bike is on the lift, so not pulling the front wheel, but in my rack of used wheels, I have three complete assemblies! They all look exactly the same. I want to keep the bike locked on the table, so may just use one of my other spares.

Front double cut fender looks straight, but will join the two rims (and the totally unique brake pedal) at the chrome shop.

[BenelliSEI]

I chromed the rolled rim on my sandy, it was in great shape except it was moved to the PO's drag bike and was drilled 4 times on each side for rim screws to hold on a slick. I had a pro tig weld it before I metal finished it and returned to the chrome shop.  It doesn't look out of place on the bike but the rest of the chrome was still pretty nice. It's under 10K miles and never lived outdoors.

Don.... another rim question, I’ll send a PM. Thanks for the info. Much appreciated.

[BenelliSEI]

THANK YOU to forum member “BigJimG”! We traded emails last week. He had the set of carbs I needed and I had a set for his project. The swap is done! Really appreciated.

[BenelliSEI]

Engine: pulled plugs today and “oiled” the bores again. Turns over smoothly. Still has oil in the top end. The oil tank is half full. For some reason, the starter motor has been pulled out, but I think it may have been used on the other bike that came with this one (see my 1975 Chopper story”.

I’m going to soak and crank this one for a few more days, but eventually I think I’ll screw in an oil pressure gauge and see what numbers this thing will crank up on the starter.

If that gives good results, carbs are going on. I’ll rig up some temporary wiring and see if I can fire up on the bottle. With only 17,000 miles, I don’t see what not? It does need a few fins straightened and a  head gasket, but it would be nice to know I only need to pull the top end,  BEFORE the motor comes out of the frame!

[Old Scrambler]

The front hub should a few mm's on the narrow side when compared to later units...........and is off-set for brake clearance.

[BenelliSEI]

The front hub should a few mm's on the narrow side when compared to later units...........and is off-set for brake clearance.

Yes, and it is the early hub. Also has a different method for retaining the speedo drive tangs....

[754]

I think starter has a slight difference on the housing, I had one came from #10,*** and could see a difference  on them..

[BenelliSEI]

I think starter has a slight difference on the housing, I had one came from #10,*** and could see a difference  on them..

Hadn’t thought of that. I have two or three starters (probably all the same). Will report back.....

[BenelliSEI]

Got some more done today. Swapped in a different front wheel and then stripped down the front too. Brake pedal will clean up, but front fender and both rims will need to be re chromed. Can’t wait to hear what that will cost!

The rear fender is cracked and crumpled, destroyed by the horrible rear rack installation. I’m going to take a stab at welding it up, grinding shaping and refurbishing it. Cleaned up one of the exhaust pipes, and despite a coating of thick dirt, actually decnt chrome.  Nothing seized, stripped or crossed up. Even the steel brake pipe came loose at both ends (caliper and rubber hose), furl nuts loose on the pipe! Obviously this bike has never been left outside.....

[BenelliSEI]

First quote in. $400 for two rims and $350 for front fender. That’s more. Than $600 in US dollars! What would you guys expect to pay? I may try a place in NY. State. It wouldn’t be much to send them down. Wow!