V8 trike build.

[Morris]

Another vote for the Screwfix degreaser. I use it in my heated ultrasonic bath, works great.

 

[Cato]

Another vote for the Screwfix degreaser. I use it in my heated ultrasonic bath, works great.

That's what I use it in, along with the steam cleaner and neat as a brush on before a rinse.

 

[Morrisman]

The screwfix 'no nonsense' degreaser does work well and you can dilute it a fair bit without it having any noticeable effect on its cleaning capabilities. Worth noting that it works even faster if the liquid is heated, and don't leave any aluminium/alloy in it overnight as it tarnishes.

I might put the stainless bowl on the cooker tomorrow, if it's not shifted the grease and goop as much as hoped.

 

[Cato]

I might put the stainless bowl on the cooker tomorrow, if it's not shifted the grease and goop as much as hoped.

It doesn't need to be hot, I find as long as it's ten degrees or thereabouts above room temp it makes a noticeable difference in the time it takes.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

There's a hole in my bucket... .....

Sorry, I'm not helping....

 

[Morrisman]

It doesn't need to be hot, I find as long as it's ten degrees or thereabouts above room temp it makes a noticeable difference in the time it takes.

Just been out for a look, after 3 hours soaking, gunge has literally dropped off in many places and the plated parts are looking pretty clean and tidy now. Looks very promising.

I wonder if it can be filtered and put back in the container for future use?

 

[Morrisman]

Sorry, I'm not helping....

Cheap 1 quid buckets from Been and Queued, they're not the best quality.

 

[Morrisman]

Degreasing went very well, callipers are now apart, pistons have been pumped out with my trike brake system, and the halves are now getting a de rust in citric acid solution.

Next step is to source pistons, seals etc.

I just saw that Ward engineering sell rebuilt replated callipers for just £79 each.

 

[jsf55]

That doesn't include the brake mechanism it's separate for them

 

[Morrisman]

That doesn't include the brake mechanism it's separate for them

Yes, they're £47 each, but mine seem in perfect condition. It's tempting to get the reman calipers but I've put a days graft into these so far and they seem in perfect condition once the grease and surface rust are gone. They'll need painting though.

 

[redlig]

I thought i'd have a go at cleaning up the old Jag brake calipers I achieved last year. They're caked with grime, so I drug out a bottle of super duper Halfrauds degreaser and started spraying and brushing with my toothbrush.....then I left it all overnight with a good spray of the stuff

Result: Worthless! It hasn't touched any of the grease, not even softened it up. Water would work just as good.

I found of gallon of diesel in the shed and put it in a bucket, to soak my caliper parts.
Then I noticed the bench was wet, well, soaked, with diesel, and the floor... There's a hole in my bucket... ..... so I rushed into the kitchen and found two stainless cake mixing bowls.
Excellent.

Once cleaned I'll pop the pistons out and check the bores, see about a rebuild set. Or ,
maybe see how much reconditioned ones are.

Eta: I was just about to go buy another gallon of diesel, to soak them in, but saw Screwfix degreaser recommended on another thread, so I've order a gallon of that, to collect today, £11. Hardly much more than diesel would be.....

View attachment 396405

Ref The holed bucket. The guy to help you has just died but you could always try "Liza"
Sorry just noticed F.B.S. 's input.

 

[Morrisman]

Caliper paint? Is there anything decent that's available easily without going to a specialist paint shop and asking for 2 pack 2k epoxy blah blah?

 

[jsf55]

I was recommended this from somewhere ? other colours are available and even after 2 coats on the front jag caliper,s i had enough 3/4 of a tin left !

Pardon our interruption...

 

[Morrisman]

I was recommended this from somewhere ? other colours are available and even after 2 coats on the front jag caliper,s i had enough 3/4 of a tin left !

Pardon our interruption...

I was too impatient to order online so I hit up Halfords yesterday.

...they only had red or blue, so red it is. The finished colour for the trike will probably be red anyway.

I don't know what type of paint it is, but thinners and white spirit wouldn't wash it off the brush, or my fingers, so hopefully it'll be fairly tough.

Two coats on, I'll give them another once their built up and bolted together.

 

[Morrisman]

My VIN arrived this morning, exactly a month after I emailed DVSA. It says it needs to be stamped on the offside of the frame, and also 'on a plate attached to the vehicle'.

Can I simply stamp a piece of steel and weld it onto the chassis? Got to be easier than trying to stamp numbers into a piece of tube.

 

[Morris]

I electro etched mine and welded it on. It must be fully welded.

 

[Morrisman]

I've just done a trial run, stamping my VIN on a piece of 2mm steel plate, with a length of square bar tacked on to align the stamps.... except the stamps are cheapo and the letters aren't very well aligned to the shank, so it looks like I just did it freehand.....

Is there any place that can engrave neatly into steel, proper stamp-look deep engraving?

 

[jsf55]

I made a nice oblong holder to do mine and it came out like yours loads of place will engrave for you mate depends on the plate material and size
Edit ...link http://www.vintagsuk.com/

 

[Morrisman]

I had this one made for a hot rod, but it was more for dashboard bling than a legal requirement.

None of the engraving companies seem to do them in steel.

 

[Morrisman]

I've finally bit the bullet and started pulling everything apart for final welding. The frame will probably get a coat of Hammerite so any extra welding on bits that's need adding on won't show up too badly when patched in. After MSVA it may get stripped and properly painted, though I doubt it.....

The frame was lifted up with the engine hoist, and the engine rolled away on a dolly, it only just squeezes past the cylinder heads, so I may make a spreader bar so paint isn't ruined on final assembly.

Surprisingly, I can hold the front of the frame up with one hand, it's pretty light. (Not in this pic, that's the hoist on the end of a lifting strap)

A little more real estate in my shed would make all this a lot easier.





The Jag rear end and wheels were sat on 3 wheel dollies and simply pushed out the back, once the bolts and all were removed. That answers my worries about how to reassemble all that hefty hardware once it's all painted up, with ruining paint, threads etc.