The tear down is complete!

     So today is a good day, I took the opportunity to steal a few hours this afternoon to complete the removal of the front and rear end of the bike. As with all other parts on the kwaka, it was relatively easy, once a liberal amount of WD40 and elbow grease was applied to the rusting bolts, including the now expected home depot specials.

     

The tools required today were;

          1. Ratchet Wrench

          2. 13mm, 14mm, 17mm, 24mm and 27mm sockets and wrenches

          3. WD 40

          4. Soft Faced mallet

          5. Bike stand - this is an unexpected quality item from Harbor Freight.

     The work began:

As can be seen, the cush dive rubbers are in new condition, ans is the rear sprocket and there was new grease in there, I think a sprocket may have been changed. I think i will just give the wheels a clean and see what state they are in. The quality Chinese tyres will, unfortunately, have to go. The rear caliper will need an overhaul, same as the front got.

     To my delight, the front and rear discs are not only identical, but are like new, hardly worn at all.

     The most problematical part of this phase was the removal of the rear spindle, it was very very secure, and required a little percussion adjustment. Not thinking i applied the required force with a steel faced hammer and no soft plat, thus i did mushroom the spindle end a little, it is not, in any way un-serviceable, but will require a little love.

Not much work required here, as i have said, i will clean the wheels and see what state they are in before deciding whether to gt them powder coated along with the rest of the frame.

I have decided, at the time of typing that my colours will be black and red, with gun-metal accents.

The tank is going to get indents, I am yet to decide upon using body work curved hammer to indent, or cut and weld the tank, I am leaning towards the former.

     After the wheels came out, the suspension proved refreshingly easy, 4 bolts at the front and four at the rear was all that was required and out the twin shocks came, as did the forks.  ]The fork lowers will need painting / coating in black or gun-metal. The rear shocks are destined for teh trash. I have my eye on a Chinese rip-off of some Hagons, so i am going to invest. See what happens. The front forks are in good condition, that said, i am going to refresh the fork oil and put progressive springs in too.

     Now the expense and fun begins. The purchase of parts and the rebuild.