Scott's '82 Magna restoration project - start to finish

[grandpaul]

A bit 'o progress today, dropped by the painter's place to take him the key to the gas cap so they could finish prepping for paint-



They're working on all the parts that take a Black patch-









Assembly starts in earnest after the 4th...

[grandpaul]

You've heard the expression "pictures don't do it justice"? Well, that applies here...





This one ALMOST captures the true color; an EXACT match to the original color underneath the decals-

[grandpaul]

The rest of the stuff, just as nice!

[TLRam1]

When did you start this project for Scott?

How many bikes do you have?

Are you retired as in no real paying job? 

[grandpaul]

When did you start this project for Scott?

How many bikes do you have?

Are you retired as in no real paying job? 

Started in the fall last year.

Currently have 36 bikes in the collection (including basket cases / projects)

Retired? Yeah, right; with a 6-year-old and 1-1/2 year-old. I WISH I was retired, we were "that close" about 7 years ago...

[grandpaul]

Prime corner of the shop cleared away and basic components set to begin assembly-



The plan is to start with the swingarm & rear shocks, then the forks, then wheels & handlebars to get to a rolling chassis.

[grandpaul]

Well, no joy on locating a new u-joint bootie...







So, on to drastic measures-



Until today, I had no idea that Rust-O-Leum made a spray-on rubber adhesive.

This part is not under a lot of stress, it's mainly to keep grunt out of the u-joint; so, this ought to do the job. I just wish it was a smoother finish, maybe I can smooth it some after it cures.

Scott will be here Thursday to help get the bike to rolling chassis stage.

[grandpaul]

Preparing for Scott's visit to help me get started on assembly, here's the rear end parts-



Front end parts-



...and more front end parts-

[grandpaul]

Scott rolled up the driveway at mid-morning and we got started on the front end. Immediately encountered a little resistance with the lower yoke bearing, so put that off and got on with the forks. Good thing I scanned and printed a copy of the assembly illustration, it took three attempts and a cut finger to get the anti-dive fork together, the other one was a piece of cake.

We then broke for lunch, and on the way home dropped in at my neighbor's shop and employed his press and a section of tube to slip the bearing in place. Not complete (on the front end), but at least a good start-



Then it was on the the rear end where insertion of the pinion shaft into it's roller bearing took numerous attempts before we hit gold. After that, the locking ring nipped right up and I secured it with a dab of loctite on the retaining clip bolt-



Slipped the pivot lugs in place and that's it for today (it's hot out here)-



Scott is wheeling back up I35, a bit happier than when he arrived.

[roboto65]

That is going to be one SWEET Magna when you are done  Love the pictures also.

[tedkraus]

Love it! Keep us updated. Also mind sharing a list of all the bikes in your collection? Sounds awesome!

[grandpaul]

I may have shared my collection list in my intro thread...

Triumphs are my "long suit", and Bonnevilles are my favorites: 64 Bonneville street tracker rolling project, 65 Bonnie project on the shelf, 66 Bonnie chopper/bobber rolling project, all original 66 and restored 67 Bonnies, 68 Bonnie project on the shelf, 69 scratch-built Bonneville vintage roadracer, 69 mildly modified Bonnie street tracker, 70 Bonnie with TR6 scrambler pipes, my late friend's 70 TR6 vintage roadracer project, '71 Bonnie trike, all original '79 Special, and a rare unmolested '83 "TSS" 8-valve, triple disc, e-start 750. A couple of Trident 750 triples, a 74 & e-start 75. One modern Triumph, a 2000 legend 900 triple.

My latest big project is a '66 "TriTon" which is a Triumph Bonneville engine ("Tri") in a legendary Norton Featherbed frame ("Ton"). There are probably no two TriTons alike, mine has a Suzuki GT550 front end, famous for the 4-leading-shoe front brake; it's also got lots of MAP Cycle go-fast stuff in the engine, including alloy big bore kit & belt drive primary.

I've got a '72 Norton 750 Combat Commando cafe racer with some Dunstall parts, and an all original '75 Interstate 850 e-start. 1967 BSA Spitfire Mark II project on the shelf, and a '67 BSA 441 Victor thumper (the one with the easily recognizable alloy tank with yellow scalloped paint). Lastly, a '72 Rickman / Montesa 250 vintage MX in near original shape (front fender, carb & shocks are replacements). That's pretty much all the BritBike collection.

Other Euro bikes are a '72 BMW R60/5 cafe racer project and a '74 Moto Guzzi 850 Eldorado with a sidecar for the kids & grandkids.

I've had a lot of Hondas over the years, mainly Fours, but now I'm down to a '67 CL77 305 Scrambler (refurbished), my late kid brother's all original '82 CB750F SuperSport, and a lightly modified '83 VF750F Interceptor (there's my kinship to you lot). Turns out AHRMA (vintage racing assn) is introducing a new class in 2013 that will let me get the Interceptor on the track!

I've got a couple of classic Kawasakis - a 1980 KZ1000, stock except for a quarter fairing & headers, and a '71 H1 500 triple, legendary blue-smoker that can easily wheelie on throttle alone. I also have an '03 ZRX 1200R, my newest bike, which I salvage built from an insurance "total" wreck. Actually, it's my third ZRX salvage build.

Yamahas are getting slim in my collection, actually the two 2-strokers I have in my garage have already been given to my older sons. One is a '67 YDS3 250 GP replica bike with a full fairing, clip-ons, rearsets and expansion chambers, the other is a mostly original '76 RD400 with flat slide carbs & expansion chambers.

Rounding out the collection are a pair of very similar bikes that use the same Sachs 125 single engines: a '69 Penton 125 Six-Day Enduro "steel tank", totally original but old & tatty; and a bit nicer '70 DKW desert sled with leading-link style forks.

I believe that about covers it...

[TLRam1]

mine has a Suzuki GT550 front end, famous for the 4-leading-shoe front brake;

You are probably talking the 72 GT750 4-leading shoe front end, I think in 73 the bike had disk. The GT550 has disk brakes and the T500 has shoe brakes but only on one side.

BTW, the 4-leading shoe rim/brake assembly is worth money.

[grandpaul]

Most people that are familiar with the Suzi 4 shoe believe only the 750 had them, however the 550 also had them in 72. The model was called the "Indy".

[TLRam1]

I did not realized it was a 4LS system in the first part of 72.