Project SMX [Pic Heavy]
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@NINJA What's your method for cleaning?
I usually use a jewlry polisher on a dremel wheel to clean up bits and bobs. Did that for my Aprilia...then ordered all new bits anyhow.
@Calum I basically secured one end of a bolt in a vice and then cleaned it with the rotary wire brush wheel in my drill. Then I would flip it around and do the other end, removing the nut and cleaning the thread before putting the nut back on. I find these rotary wire brush wheels to be the quickest and easiest way to clean up any metal parts really well. They are really good at removing old paint and rust off parts too. Plus it's a lot less hard work as the drill does it all for ya and the added bonus is there as cheap_as_chips too!!! :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes: :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes: :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:
SEDUCED BY THE DARK SIDE!!!
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@Calum I basically secured one end of a bolt in a vice and then cleaned it with the rotary wire brush wheel in my drill. Then I would flip it around and do the other end, removing the nut and cleaning the thread before putting the nut back on. I find these rotary wire brush wheels to be the quickest and easiest way to clean up any metal parts really well. They are really good at removing old paint and rust off parts too. Plus it's a lot less hard work as the drill does it all for ya and the added bonus is there as cheap_as_chips too!!! :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes: :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes: :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:
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@Calum Indeed, just make sure that you wear some safety glasses, as the wire do spit out with time.
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@NINJA Worst is I find the wires in my clothing. Fly off into garments and then scratch against the skin. Very annoying.
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I use a big wire brush in a drill and it hasn’t attacked me yet apart from the time it touched my hand that was pretty savage
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@declan Wear some gloves and eye protection dude, those little wires fly everywhere!!! :pouting_face:
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Nothing beats freshly painted chassis
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@NINJA love that colour
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Update;
I forgot to post these earlier, the oil pump cover was damaged, so I got a cheap replacement off good ole ebay;
I cleaned and resprayed the exhaust mid-pipe as it was in a sorry state.
Before;
After;
And I finally finished off polishing my swing arm, it took many, many hours of sanding and polishing, as I smoothed out all the rough edges, joins and casting flaws, but I am very happy with how it turned out and the endeavour was well worth it for-sure;
And I started fitting a load more parts today, I ended up with a rolling chassis, but it was dark by the time I finished up so I'll take some more pics tomorrow. Here's a sneak peek tho, just to wet your appetite;
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Yes that swingarm looks the business.
There used to be a company in Oxford that would polish parts up for you. Obviously costs money, but would be a well worthwhile investment.
@Calum Thanks man - I did look into getting it done professionally, but as I've already gone wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy over my budget. I have to save some pennies and put those towards other parts I've got my eye on. :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes: :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes: :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:
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Hm, like the shiny swingarm for sure but I'll need to see the finished bike before I can decide whether I like that orange. I'm not a fan of KTM
@Minia Traditionally most MX 125's and indeed Aprilia's in general are black and red, so I wanted to build something a bit different. The original bike is classed as multicoloured, so I wanted to have some main colours and some splashes of other's.
So my bike's colour scheme will be some orange, black, red, graphite grey, lot's of shiny silver and more black. It won't be a KTM clone as some may think, but this is the bike where I got some of my inspiration from;
It will be somewhat similar to that beasty, but with my own spin! Plus it will be minus the black rims, as I loave black rims with black tyres!!! :pouting_face:
:angry_face_with_horns: -
Santa came early this year;
A brand new unit, just with a tatty box. I'd been watching it on ebay for like 2 months and eventually decided to take the plunge. I cashed in my Nectar points so I got a cracking discount and ended up getting it for a decent price. Sadly the clutch arm is too short and I've since discovered that you have to buy a complete slave cylinder, as they do not sell just the arms separately. But hey hoo I can sell this slave cylinder and put those funds towards getting a longer version.
I really liked @Calum DIY hydraulic clutch solution, but as I do not have access to engineering machinery or the skills to make the parts, this was the best way forwards for me. TBC........................................
SEDUCED BY THE DARK SIDE!!!
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Santa came early this year;
A brand new unit, just with a tatty box. I'd been watching it on ebay for like 2 months and eventually decided to take the plunge. I cashed in my Nectar points so I got a cracking discount and ended up getting it for a decent price. Sadly the clutch arm is too short and I've since discovered that you have to buy a complete slave cylinder, as they do not sell just the arms separately. But hey hoo I can sell this slave cylinder and put those funds towards getting a longer version.
I really liked @Calum DIY hydraulic clutch solution, but as I do not have access to engineering machinery or the skills to make the parts, this was the best way forwards for me. TBC........................................
