Gday Peter,
good timing. Yeah I think it was me that sent you that link a while back about the DIY soda blasting. Just this morning I was reading a funny thread on advrider about a guy trying to rebuild 3 Minsks (dismantled after a SE Asian ride and shipped back to the US).
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthre ... 122&page=6
Soda blasting episode
So, I am thinking I might try to set up a 'booth' of some sort in my friends garage instead of mine
not much real news from me.
The elbow grease method of cleaning up the heads and barrels has improved things, but more is required, and of course getting into the nooks and crannies is very hard. Soda blasting might be the thing to try next.
this side has been done by hand,
this side hasn't
of course the camera phone and flash isn't exactly the most flattering way to show the 'progress' but it is fair to say that the difference is pretty minimal.
On another note, I had to go to an engagement party out in the SE burbs yesterday. As I parked the car, what do I see, but a set of knobby tyres resting against a tree in the 'hard rubbish' style of being thrown out (offered up for junk collectors).
I checked them out, maybe a bit old, but pretty much unused. Correct rim diameter for the G/S- I think. Rear tyre may be a bit wide though.
Anyway, they are IRC TR8's, made in Japan, and they look OK. In the back of the car they went.
http://japan.webike.vn/products/1751117.html
The front looks like it could be a perfect fit, but the rear, the one I need more, looks like it might have some issues. It looks wider than my current tyre. Rubbing on the rear shock I have seems likely.
on that note,
I started a thread on advrider trying to identify my rear shock. Only suggestion so far is that it might be a Koni.
The numbers on it have had the first section ground off in some sort of incident. I want to rebuild the thing if I can.
The numbers left read: 3014-1009SPI KBA 90280
there are no other markings or brandings that I can find.
(second shot you can sort of see how close the shock is to the tyre- virtually touching- a 120/90-18M/C Bridgestone Trailwing)
Tyre fitment- google tells me 120/90 converts to something like 4.50/4.75. But I read somewhere that the 4.00 TR8 actually fits more like a 5.00.
Back to the rear shock:
maybe someone here has a suggestion as to what they might be. I will contact Ikon to see if it is an old Koni, and if so, if they offer support for rebuilding the thing.
Other than that I am looking at big $$$ for an aftermarket one. Pretty much beyond my budget for a while.
This rear shock was too soft and saggy and bounced around at highway speed. I've sinced cranked down the spring preload to where it feels a little better (and at least doesn't sag ridiculously under only the weight of the bike), but haven't taken it for another ride yet. A bit of oil leaking...
Cheers,
p.s. my photobucket account is full. Dammit. Will have to start another one I think.