Forum

[Mark M]

I'm rebuilding the bottom end of the Ebay 350 Bullet. I've split the crank with the help of my friend Chris and his crankshaft jig and press and now have all the new parts I need. Step one is to press out the old steel bigend outer track in the conrod and press in the new one. I'm planning to use the new one to press the old one out, using a spacer in a vice. This is a fairly standard method of replacing bushes like-for-like. Anyone have any tips, as I've not done this before? For instance, heating the rod first? Your thoughts appreciated!
REgards, Mark

[Norm]

Hi Mark, heat the rod, I made up a puller somehow, can't remember exactly because it was a few years ago, I think I started with an old ring but as you pull it through it in turn then locks itself into the rod. I made up a disc that was slightly smaller in diameter than the outer size of the ring and with a hole in the middle put a threaded rod through it and a bigger diameter spacer on the other side and was able to pull it out I then started leaving the ring in and let the machine shop press them out so they could machine the rod to take the RE13 roller. Then I stopped reusing the ally rod and just went for the forged rod and roller. We flog these things too hard out here so it isn't worth doing a short cut.

[Alan R]

Hi guys,BULLET WHISPERER}---------- over to you ???

[Paul]

I suggest heating it up first in a domestic oven to 200 degrees. The alloy has twice the expansion coefficient of steel so it will help.
A lathe is useful to turn up a snug fitting spacer to push it out. It should come out quite easily.

[Mark M]

Thanks Paul, good to know my idea was basically right. Do you think I could press the new one in at the same time as suggested? Thanks and REgards, Mark

[Paul]

I wouldn't use the new one to push the old one out. Ideally you want something just undersize to push the old one out.

Take your time to get the right tooling together and it's a simple task.

Put the new one in the freezer to shrink it...helps to slip it in

cheers

[Mark M]

Thanks Paul, innuendo noted!
REgards, Mark

[Alan R]

----------- and a cold one at that !!!

[Phil Ashbrook]

I dont understand why you dont just buy a new rod with the big end bush and pin ?

[Paul]

Hi Phil,
I'd like to answer that if I may.

For me, restoration of a historic motorcycle is not about chucking serviceable parts away and filling the bike with modern repro items. Just like any old antique, you wouldn't strip and sand, slap on some modern varnish, to an ancient oak table would you?

It's different with the Indian bikes. They are improved by fitting modern parts to what is a modern motorcycle.

Keeping a collectable bike as original as possible, using original parts and keeping the patina of age is what makes old bikes valuable. Personally, I hate seeing over restored, sprayed with two-pack and furnished with Asian thin chrome tin ware on classics. They seem 'restored' to within an inch of their life.

I take it to the extreme. I don't like fitting new fasteners to the cycle. I hunt down parts at jumbles and select good condition fasteners to re use. Nothing looks worse than modern plated bolts on a vintage bike IMHO.

My idea of a successful restoration is a bike that runs as it should when it left the factory, but looks as though it has never been restored or repaired.

Just my view!