Blog on the move

If anyone other than me looks at this stuff let me tell you that I'm on the move. New project, new beginnings. For a while now managing this blog has been a bit of a chore. Thing is, I've got a Google account and this blog was set up on a sky one. This means to post anything means logging out of one and into another, then reversing the process once I've finished.

So with the arrival of Zed, I've decided to start a new blog linked to my googlemail account. If you're interested the new blog is titled "The life and times of Zed". I've exported a few posts from here which tell the story from 'Phase 1', the shed re-build for continuity.

Hopefully see you there.

Bye.

A gripping bed time read

Postman delivered my Haynes manual for Zed today and I'm chuffed to beans. These books are welded into my youth as a symbol of weekends and evenings spent trying to get the junk we rode around on working properly. Truth is, we probably caused more harm than good and always seemed to have bits left over!

Went to the DVLA office in Cardiff to find out about getting Zed registered. If I get a certificate from the VJMC proving age, an MOT certificate, insurance certificate, VAT form 414 (to do with importing from Italy) and fill in a V55/5 I should be ok. Doesn't matter what I do to the tin-ware just so long as I don't weld onto the frame.

The last bit is a problem... I'll want to weld a loop to the end of the seat rails and add mounting lugs. Nothing structural, but [apparently] they still count as "mods". Thing is the DVLA don't inspect the bike when I apply as it's over 10 years old. They rely on the MOT station to note any modifications from standard. There is a risk of getting tripped up, but it's low. If I keep things low key and tidy I reckon the MOT guy won't care, and probably wouldn't know if its original or not. I'm going to press on as planned once my dating certificate comes back from the VJMC. Fingers crossed for a kind MOT'er.

Hmmm!

Firstly, let me say I'm still chuffed to beans with Zed, however.... I've had a bit of time to poke about and see what we've got, and there are quite a few issues which will need a bit of time and resource.

1 - Engine seems seized, or at least you can't get it to turn by ripping out the plugs, sticking it in gear and turning the rear wheel.
2 - Talking of 'putting her in gear' there seems to be only the one of those too.
3 - No movement at the throttle at all, which could be (and probably is) a jammed/broken cable.
4 - No front stopper either. looks dry of fluid, which always begs the question, where did it go??
5 - Clutch and front brake levers don't match, which seems odd and I've no idea which is the right one if either.
6 - Seat lock is broken, though the helmet lock works.
7 - Rear light /cowl looks out of line with the frame.
8 - Headlight lens cracked in two. The surround bezel also shows signs of a slide down the tarmac too.
9 - Few dents / rust spots on the tank.

All that said, the overall shape and appearance is exactly what I'm looking for for this build. The problem is to register the bike (a job best done before you begin modifying) I need an MOT certificate, which means sorting that lot out! Not too keen on that idea to be honest. I know all the above need to be done, it's just I don't want to do them twice. Once for registration and once as part of the build. Some of the tasks won't be included on the finished bike (seat, rear light, headlight etc).

Time for a think... Might be that as long as I get a manufacture date confirmed from the VJMC I might be able to complete registration once the project id finished. After all, I'm not modding the engine, suspension, brakes, wheels and [most of] the frame.

Research time!

Let me introduce Zed.

Ladies and Gentlemen, please put your hands together for.... (drum roll)...


Zed!

She is a Kawasaki Z400 circa 1979 (ish) though that will have to be verified by the VJMC as she's arrived with no paperwork or registration number whatsoever. Lots very good about her and also lots not so good about her. Tin ware is sound and chrome is good. Few little dents and scrapes, but nothing frightening. Not delving too deeply at this point because she's got to be completely stripped and re-built no matter what, but couldn't get her to go up the gears. That said, the lever fouls the engine casings so may not be the correct one or it's been poorly fitted/bent. No obvious oil leaks and the frame looks straight so that's all gravy too.

This is what I've been building up to with all the work I've done in the shed. I plan to build a street scrambler/bobber out of her that is light and clean with nothing there that isn't essential to make her work or stay legal.

First job is to get her registered so I'm off to join the VJMC and part with £50! Heyho. I plan to keep a full and honest diary of the build which will contain my hopes, plans and schemes as well as my goofs, problems and headaches!

Keep watching.

Phase one complete

Went shopping last weekend for the tools I need to complete the workshop and be ready for the next project bike.

Would really like a small metal lathe too, but for now, I'm content.
I've also figured out how I could turn the wood burner into a forge with a little help from the compressor...

Phase two is now under way albeit slowly. Save, save, save for a donor bike. The criteria for the donor bike is;
1 - 4 stroke
2 - Air cooled
3 - Tubular steel frame
4 - Twin shock
5 - Twin (preferred) or single (if BIG!)

Ideally, I'd like a complete bike, something marked 'spares or repairs', but would  consider a part bike for the right price.

Hopefully the next post will have pictures of the project bike... Wish me luck.

Finished off the stove (nearly)

The last job to do on  the wood burner was to fit the flue pipe and get it out the end wall. First, I needed a hole to poke the flue pipe through! Out with the marker pen and drill...

... Next the cold chisel and block hammer...

... Trial fit...

Finally, offer up the main pipe and clamp it down...

And from the outside...

Lastly I cemented everything in and while I was at it, I added an external light so I can sit out and sup a cold one in the darker evenings. I reckon the shed [now officially known as the "Drey"] is looking pretty damn cool.

More work done in the Drey

After completing the building of the shelves comes the stacking of the shelves. This task was taken on in a semi ruthless fashion with everything not obviously important now getting binned. Bit drastic, but I have been guilty of hoarding and 7 year old tins of paint ain't never going to be any use.

Neat ain't it.

Also been busy making a very thin wall cupboard for my sash clamps.

Now all I have to do is make doors for them all! Sadly, cash is running out and I have my Ireland trip to pay for, so for now I'm slowing up and enjoying a bit of summer.

Shelves are up!

Big weekend of work completed which saw the shed back wall gutted and the new shelf unit assembled. First job was clear off the old units.

I painted the back wall after pre-drilling it ready to anchor the shelves directly to the wall at the back. The fronts of the shelves will be supported by 4 vertical rails.

Next job was assemble the base. This sits on 8 stumpy legs and is also bolted to the rear wall.

Then it's just a case of adding shelves. I made a support which took the weight while I located the bolts. The fronts were supported by the two outer rails only which was a little weak, but worked ok.

All in and the other two vertical rails added and there you have it... Wall to wall shelving.

Next to do is add a plinth along the bottom, cornice along the top. All the shelf fronts need an edging strip to protect the edge of the ply tops and [of course] it needs three pairs of doors. Oh, and some quadrant down the two sides just to be neat.

I'm lovin' it!

Construction has begun

Finished cutting out the joints and am now starting to assemble the shelf units. Shed space is very restricted and I can imagine getting in a bit of a mess as the number of finished shelves goes up. Each shelf takes about an hour to build and 'clean up' so a full day on Saturday should see them all finished. It's Fathers Day this Sunday so I doubt I'll get them fitted this weekend, but we are getting nearer.

On another note, my tools wish list is up to £600! I'm hoping for a good bonus from work in July, so I should be OK, but coughing up £600 for anything always smarts a bit!

Let the mayhem begin!

Money saved, sketches drawn, lets start phase one of the plan!
Time to start in earnest with sorting out the shed. At the moment, the place is a total tip with muck and junk everywhere. Here's a few 'before' shots to show what we're starting from

As you can see, a real buggars muddle! First real part of the sort out is the building of a wall-to-wall cupboard along the back wall. Shelves are going to be deep (610mm) and spaced to take plastic stacking crates so everything can have a proper home. Once up, I'll add doors to keep all the shit out.

Here's the timber stack

... and here's the start of some 72 joints needed to fix all that lot together!

Everyone hand cut as that way I know I'd have put my heart into this shed. Must be said, I'm lovin' playin' with wood again.

Patio done.

Finished the shed patio last weekend. Here's a piccie before the bench went on.

This weekend ( a long public holiday for the Queens jubilee) I will back to working on the house laying a new floor in the hallway. But after that it's solid shed time!

What every shed needs...

... is a patio!

How many times have you been feverishly working away and realised you need to get away from the project for a minute to collect yourself. Can't see the problem for looking is an all to common occurrence for me so I figured what was called for was a calm piece of Eden where I could slow down, relax and contemplate the next stage.

Just outside my shed is a scrap of land not fit for a much and filled with junk plants and mess.

Hour or two with a spade, pick and wrecking bar and you get this.

Next it's Mr Shovel and we're almost ready to lay the concrete base...

... Bit of shuttering to square things up and 10 mixes later...

I've got some leftover paving from the courtyard I built at the back of the house which I'll lay this weekend (if it stays dry!). Add a bench-cum-table and hey presto! My very own 'chill space'.

Cool.

Wood burner is moving on a pace

First job was to smack a bloody great hole in the shed floor. That way I can concrete the stove into place and be sure she won't move.

 Wood burner in place and time to trial the flu pipe. Obviously plug socket (and other electrics!) and chalk board will need to be re-situated, but for now, things are looking good.

Here's a closer look.

Tidy!

"We are not retreating. We are advancing in a different direction!"

I have already eluded to the Plan, well now I shall put a little meat on the bones. The Plan has three phases, each one must be completed fully before the next can be begun. Phase one is a complete re-fit of the shed and is already under way. To complete phase one I need to;

• add heating
• build cupboarded shelving
• move and sort electrics
• replace doors
• fit out with welder & compressor

I've given myself until October to do all this and things are going well so far. Heating is well under way as you can see from the pictures below. A modified gas cylinder will form the fire place and a flu pipe will carry the fumes outside. The pictures are of the preping and painting of the fire place. I'm away this coming weekend, so little will change, but afterwards I expect to fix the cylinder permanently to the floor before adding the flu pipe. Will keep you posted.

Scrapped!!

Well, the deed is done! Abigail has been stripped down ready to sell off all the saleable parts and this is all that's left of her. If you look closely you can see a pound coin resting on the carcass of the once coveted project. This is all she was worth as scrap metal. It probably cost 3 times that to drive to the scrap yard! No matter. The act was more symbolic than financial, it marked the end of one dream and the beginning of another. That pound shall be spent (along with several others) on building the shed and getting ready for the plan.


More to follow. Cheers.

Who's been a lazy boy then!

I confess, I've been a bit lazy as far as my blog is concerned, but that is about to change. There has been a momentous decision taken in the shed and that is to scrap Abigail! "WHAT!" I hear you cry. Yes, the project is going no where and I don't like what I've created. Truth is, she was always destined to end up an imitation of a 60's bike. What I want is a 60's bike. As we speak, she is stripped down and ready for Ebay.

So what now? Well I do have a plan. In fact it is the plan. There are three stages to the plan and a time limit of two and a half years (to coincide with my 50th birthday).

Phase 1 - create the right workshop
Phase 2 - source the right parts
Phase 3 - build the Bike

Phase 1 has begun. Lovely though my shed is, it's too cluttered and disorganised and I need to increase the shelf area and get things behind cupboard doors. General household stuff needs to come out and space has to be created. I shall keep the blog updated as things develop, but for now I'm just laying out the plan. I'll get some 'before' pictures uploaded tomorrow, but today was all about stripping Abigail ready to be sold off.

This is not failure... This is a tactical retreat!

Dragon rally 2012

Just a couple of images from this years Dragon rally. Have to say, although my immediate circle of friends were [as always] the best of company, the overall mood of this rally was disappointing. Seems the Dragon is slowly being taken over by twats who think you must be obnoxious to be into bikes. This could very well be my last Dragon.