More steps

I got a few things done today, though not as much as I had hoped. After a while my back started playing up and I had to call it a day, early when the pain became too much.

What I did manage though was to drill the holes in the rear mudguard for the light, so now that's ready to prep for painting. I also re-fitted the stock guard and will re-connect the wiring next time I'm out. The bracket for the seat is, like I had thought, going to take ages to drill four holes in. Progress is extremely slow but I should get there eventually. I fitted the front bracket and it all seems to line up just as I had hoped.

The front mudguard had been given a couple of final top-coats and was ready for the lacquer coat, when I decided to move it to take a photo. That's when disaster struck! My grip slipped and I took hold of the painted side leaving a thumb-print in the dry but not hard paint. Oh well next week I'll need to go over it with some emery cloth and do the final coats again. Wont do it any harm having extra coats of paint. I can make a start on the tank's top coat too as well as priming the rear guard.

Before then I am going to drill the holes to mount the indicator brackets onto the rear light housing. As I've got to drill into the blind side of the plate I'll need to spend some time working out where the holes need to go as they will have to be precise. At least I can do that in the house and don't need to wait for a bright day. I'll probably route the indicator wires up one side of the guard and the brake/tail light cable up the other. that can all be done before I fit the guard and then just plugged in once it's all been fitted.

That's still a few weeks away though but the end does feel in reach!

seat's sorted!

I was looking at my seat as I fitted the painted front bracket. The fact that the distance between the mounting holes on the underside of the seat and the ones on the frame bracket didn't match up was giving me headaches.

My answer was to fabricate a bar which would bolt on the the two posts on the frame bracket and then have two holes in that which the springs would screw into. My dilemma was that the top of the posts are angled to take the springs which come off the seat at an angle. I couldn't see any easy way to do this as the bolts would need to go through the bar at an angle too, or else the tension, when I torqued up the spring bolts would be trying to twist the bar. I just couldn't be sure that the whole thing would be strong enough to take the stresses and for a seat I'd hate to have the worry that it could come apart at any time.

The answer was staring me in the face and only became apparent when I was playing with the front bracket and screwed that on to one of the rear mounting posts.

All I need is a bar which I will screw on the the base of the seat. This will have holes in it to line up with the top end of the springs and I'll use a lock nut to attach the springs to the bar.

I've ordered a stainless bar as I don't really think an alloy one will be strong enough, especially as I don't want it too bulky.

Sometimes the right answer just takes a bit of waiting for.

Now I don't need to use the chrome springs I can go back to the coiled, black ones. Although, I have got my eye on a pair of 2" black scissor ones which are left and right sided and should look even better.

dry build

I got a fair bit of the primer done this afternoon. The bracket is ready for the top coat and the front mudguard is covered. I'm going to sand it down and do a couple more coats of primer on that tomorrow. That way I can see how the gloss paint goes on to the bracket before I try it on the showy bits.

I also fitted the rear mudguard and lined up the tail light and sat the seat on it. Looks as though I may be able to use the rack I had fitted to the old fender. I was thinking I may need to get it cut down but if I fit it the reverse of way it was on before it may just fit.

One thing though, the black coiled springs I bought wont fit as the mounting holes don't match up exactly. I'll need to use the scissor type springs that came with the kit. I don't really want to use them as they're chrome so I'll see if I can get a set of black powder-coated ones on e-bay.

I'm beginning to believe I just may get it all to come together. Some time!

sorted

..... well in my head at least!

I made a decision about how I want things to be, bought a sparto tail light and am waiting for the side-mount number-plate bracket to arrive. The sparto has a small plate attached to it for a number-plate but I will use that to attach the rear indicators. I've found a pair of brackets which are designed for the Kellermann indicators. They're fairly expensive but that will be offset by not having to fork out for the stop/tail/turn signals. They should also look good and as if they're meant to be as opposed to something which just fits!

I'll be able to paint and put together the rear mudguard then have it ready to fit after I get the bike MOT'd. That way I can take my time and make sure it's exactly the way I want it.

So, this weekend I'm going to paint the front mudguard, have a go at wiring in the stock VSS and fit the seat brackets. While I'm at that I will dry fit the rear guard to get everything aligned correctly before I start drilling holes.

Fingers crossed it's dry (or at least, bright)

bracket

I spent a  couple of hours cutting and filing and eventually ended up with a new bracket for the seat. One which fits the front mount.

All I need to do is prime and paint it.

fitted to the mount

the bare bracket

it even swivels up

ready for the bike

fitted to the seat