Winter is coming. Hold the garage door.

[Minia]

So it's been a while since I got my hands dirty. I've mostly been enjoying my Benelli ever since I got it back a couple months ago after I kinda got in an accident with it... but I'm forgetting that so don't remind me of it.

Anyway, my DT is now SORNed and has been in the garage for months now and since the cold has now settled in I don't see myself riding it any time soon and I don't plan on selling it. So I've decided to take it apart and give it a good clean, get rid of some rust and worn out screws and bolts. I still need to buy some basic tools I'm missing before going any further but for now I've undressed her and already discovered something I really do not like.

I found this, something I really don't appreciate. Screw that holds the faring has been replaced and whoever worked on it has put a screw that is way too long and then was stupid enough not to notice it punctured the fuel tank. This wasn't there last time I worked on the bike and considering I put it in a garage for carb cleaning, a brake service and an MOT about a year ago I can only assume a mechanic working there has fooked it up. I believe the tank is made from aluminium? But if someone knows better please tell me as I'll either be welding it or getting one of those plastic patch thingies or something.

That's what she looks like at the moment, as I said I still need a couple more tools before I want to go any further which I will get my hands on eventually. It's obvious in some areas the rust has settled in, especially on the rear. Plenty of bolts back there need replacing. As for rust patches I'll just sand them down and just spray over with primer and black paint, nothing major and most of it is hidden away so I am not bothered. Just happy I'm getting my hands dirty for once. One thing is for sure though, I need a heater in there!

[NINJA]

@Minia Every man cave needs five essential bit's of kit;

1. Beer fridge
2. Comfy chair
3. Heater
4. Entertainment
5. MMMAAAHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE padlock to keep the misses out!!!

Get those right then your golden!!! :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes: :smiling_face_with_open_mouth_closed_eyes: :smiling_face_with_open_mouth_cold_sweat: :face_with_tears_of_joy: :face_with_stuck-out_tongue_winking_eye: :face_with_stuck-out_tongue_closed_eyes: :face_with_stuck-out_tongue: :smiling_face_with_heart-eyes: :smiling_face_with_sunglasses: :smiling_face_with_sunglasses: :smiling_face_with_sunglasses:

[Calum]

Tanks are steel as far as I know. The RE was at least.

[declan]

@Calum got to be since they rust,,,,,and yeah I feel your pain a little my 250 has the same problem only it’s a plastic tank as a temp fix I put an o ring on the bolt which sorted it obviously that wouldn’t work for you but I’d advise some metal epoxy layered over it that will sort it it’s just a shame garages don’t care my girlfriend had her car in and to get the wheel off they were using a hammer on the bare aluminium and gave it the worst gutterash you have ever seen

[Minia]

@declan I don't know what garage you went to. The one I went to was recommended by my riding and driving schools so I thought go with it. I don't know whether they had an apprentice or knew guy but whatever it is, it isn't human. They're using fucking monkeys is all I can say. So much for a "professional industry". A fucking mechanic did that to my tank man!

[declan]

@Minia it’s apprentices for sure some of them don’t have the passion how can you do a job with care if you don’t have a passion for what your doing

[oldman]

If you do it yourself there's only one person to blame, deeply distrustful of anyone touching my bikes other than me. Always come away thinking did they do all they said and do it properly? Get stuck in! Early tanks all steel as well

[Minia]

@oldman Aye, I'm certainly done trusting other people to work on my bikes. And good to know, I'll probably weld the tank then. Cheers.

[declan]

@Minia be extra careful suprisingly easy to blow your tank up even without fuel and after being washed out

[Minia]

Continued with removing bits and bobs this afternoon, drained the coolant out so I could remove the expansion bottle and get the airbox out of the way and make it easier to get through to the carb. I'll give everything a good clean once it's all out, a few more rough areas revealing themselves, no surprises though.

Bought a shelf and kept it in two to use as a bench as I'm slowly running out of room.

A few questions to throw out though.

Am I wrong to assume there is supposed to be a screw on this side of the carb? Left is inlet, right outlet.

What is the black box attached to the engine inlet? It's not connected with anything else, just the inlet. Had a quick look in Haynes and didn't find anything.

Cheers folk

[Calum]

YEIS?

A resonance system to store air for certain RPM ranges.

[Minia]

@Calum So yes I'm missing some sort of screw aye?

[Minia]

Back to working on the bike, pulled the carburettor out the other day and thought I had an oil leak causing the oil to piss out all over the engine, then I saw my hand covered in blood and realised I'd cut myself. Not exactly pleasant but I'll survive. Carb is pretty dirty, not even yellow but green stains and buildup so I'll probably take it apart and throw it in an acid bath.

Also bought myself a battery charger/maintainer as they were on sale on amazon and it certainly doesn't hurt to have one, so that is happily charging the battery on the benelli

The more I remove bits off the bike the more I think about a complete rebuild, but I'll leave that decision making for later.

[Minia]

Garage is a bit warmer and I was in the mood so I got a bit more done.

Wheel, Shock and Swingarm are out. I'll get the triple link out as well later on. Became apparent bolts, spindle, sleeves and rollers haven't been greased in quite a while. Took a bit more effort to get the bottom of the shock out, the bolt was seized although not too badly but I did struggle for 15 minutes or so. I'll keep going at it at a slow pace until the bike is as disassembled as it needs be then it will be time to get the white vinegar out and clean everything until the towels keep their original colour!

Will probably have to use very rough sandpaper for this bit or even a grinder, guess I'll be doing some painting at some point.

Bottom of the shock, evident with rust.

Now a question. I've drained the coolant out the bike and I noticed when I moved it a clear/yellowish liquid seemed to have started pissing out of the engine cover, right-side underneath the pump. Doesn't look to me like it is the pump, seemed to be pissing out the engine cover itself. Anybody have any ideas what I should be doing with that information? I'd assume my seal is gone meaning I'll probably have to replace it later on once I get there?

[NINJA]

@Minia said in Winter is coming. Hold the garage door.:

then it will be time to get the white vinegar out and clean everything until the towels keep their original colour!

How does that work???

[Minia]

@NINJA White vinegar and salt removes rust. Just need to be careful of the concentration or it'll remove protective layers on some metals like aluminium. Most of my bolts are rusty, so I'm going to soak them up then brush the rust off.

[NINJA]

@Minia Which is the best concentration mix you use/recommend please???

[Minia]

@NINJA Never tried it before I've got a 5 litre bucket, I'll just dump the bolts and screws in there and throw in maybe 2-3 spoons of salt. See how it goes.

[NINJA]

@Minia LOL OK let us know how you get on???

[Minia]

@NINJA Sure Worth a go mate. Maybe I'll only do a couple first, see how it goes.