'71 400 Cross resto

sweet job, a fine job in fact

I got my fork tubes back from the hard chromers and they have done a really nice job on them, they had a slight bend in both of them which needed to be straightenend and were rusty enough to need redoing, they're as good as new now.
I've put them together but i'm _still_ waiting for my silver parts to come back.............

ready for decals and clear coat!

Woho! That tank looks sharp!

cheers mark, i've got a mate who volunteered to do the paint work on it after i got him a bit pissed.lol. he's refused to do the boring stuff but he's doing a fantastic job on the tank for sure.

I must say that i'm very nervous about my engine, still not apart and after watching your thread i'm not sure what i'll find in mine.....
my starting point was better preserved than yours though, yours has been a challenge i'm betting, but that just makes the final result all the more satisfying!

well my engine has finally succumbed to my abuse and tantrums! it's apart, after soaking it and trying everything in vain my engine shop agreed to bore out the cylinder studs. He lopped them off at the barrel, centre punched them and machined them down, the barrel lifted straight off and what was left of the studs was badly corroded and there was crusty growth around them. Once out the threads are intact, the cases are fine but the bearings are stuffed. The barrel is std bore and just needs a light hone so it's staying standard size.
Now to find the engine bits i need and strip and paint the cases etc. i'll post up pics tomorrow. woohoo!!

Good news!

Today i split the cases, pressed the crank apart and disassembled the gearbox and cases. After getting yelled at for heating up my cases in the kitchen oven my bearings came free no worries. From there i used paint stripper to clean back the case covers, inlet manifold and case halves, i'm pleased to report there is not one helicoil in it and everything looks to be fine, a new rod kit, piston/ring set and bearing set will be ordered as well as some cylinder studs and while i wait for those i'll paint my cases and covers satin black.
Here's the pics of my days efforts, the gears, shafts and shift mech is soaking in diesel awaiting a good scrub but to be fair the inside was fairly clean for a 44 year old bike still on the std bore and it looks from the screws etc that the cases have never been split before.
I really wish the previous owner wasn't so keen with aerosols, it could have been a genuine survivor but for the dodgy seat........

Handy tool the oven!

How are your crank webs down inside? Have the magnesium mites eaten them bad?

It was aluminium back then. Magnesium was first used in the Mag 250 (1974) and was used on all others in 75 and up.

yep, aluminium cases on the 71, mine are pretty good, there is a little corrosion which is to be expected i guess, but overall they have cleaned up really well.

now to paint them while i wait for my rebuild parts, hopefully i can get it back together soon.....

he he, lucky she wasn't around when i washed my degreased cases in the dishwasher!

Sheet! I just learned something....

Don't know much about them ol girls but now I know. Still like to have one someday.

Guilty here too!

my mom busted me when I was a wee lad with an RM cylinder in the sink after a bore and hone job. she absolutely LOST her mind. and wouldnt let me finish washing it out. if she had a knife she would have gutted me on the spot.

Perhaps in hindsight the laundry tub may have been a better choice?

I was young and dumb and didn't know she was coming home early. I ALMOST got away with it. HA!

no way...the smell (unless she smoked) will give you away every time. the last place I lived at had the garage attached to the house and every time I painted, degreased, washed airfilters whatever...her indoors would sqwaaaak "whats that smell! what are you doing!"

the prevailing wind would funnel that smell straight down the hall and fill the kitchen.

I have just built a detached shed TC!

Can anyone confirm how the seat cover is attached to the pan for me please? mine was pop riveted on and i've seen others crudely screwed on with self tappers, i've heard they're glued ? mine has holes from the rivets, if they're originally glued i'll weld up the holes before i paint it, if they're riveted on i'll reuse the existing holes.
Thanks.
Paul