Project SMX [Pic Heavy]

[NINJA]

@Calum AAAHHH Gotcha - cheap arse manufacturers skimping to cut down cost's no doubt? Powder coated cases do look nice, but it was cheaper to buy a few tins of VHT paint and do it myself. :winking_face: :winking_face:

[Calum]

@NINJA Well I'd rather it when manufactures spend their money elsewhere. And you get that with Aprilia. They don't scrimp on performance, handling and braking.

[declan]

Love the shape of those engines

[NINJA]

@Calum Agreed. :thumbs_up_light_skin_tone:

[NINJA]

A small update; I spent the day cleaning up some parts and a bunch of bolts too, all ready for the big re-installation. I was gonna buy a new set of fork guards, but at £64 a pair it was a purchase I just couldn't justify. So instead I decided to see how well my current set would clean up and I have to say that I'm pretty impressed with the finished result. Their not perfect mind, but I have a rather sexy set of decals I plan on, which will cover most of the plastic up anyways, so I really just wanted a nice smooth base for the decals to stick too.

Before;

After;

[NINJA]

Update; More parts cleaned up all ready for refitting. The Oil tank was filthy and covered in grime, so it needed a damn good clean.

I decided to spray it, as it still looked tacky and horrible really. Also a few new parts arrived, new throttle and cable, new lock set and I cleaned up the power valve assembly and fitted a new cable, as the old one was frayed.

I cleaned these up too;

And finally this arrived today, yet another ebay special all the way from Germany, new control switches as the original set are badly scratched;

[Louis-DT-WR]

@NINJA I'm seeing a pattern here... Maybe all members are OCD haha... Good work

[NINJA]

@Louis-James LOLLLZZZZZZZZZZ Thank you. And DAMN I forgot to take some photo's of all the bolt's I spent 3 hours cleaning up!!! :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes: :smiling_face_with_open_mouth_closed_eyes: :smiling_face_with_open_mouth_cold_sweat: :face_with_tears_of_joy:

[Calum]

@NINJA That's commitment, three hours cleaning bolts.

[NINJA]

@Calum Yep tedious as hell, but I guess it will be worth it in the long run. I plan to swap a lot of em with SS one's I have bought, but the larger one's and some specific bolts are not easily replaceable so it had to be done. Plus if I can't fit the replacement SS bolts, I will have a back-up plan - anyways thank god that job is finished. :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes: :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes: :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

[NINJA]

Well y'all asked for it;

[Calum]

@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.

[NINJA]

@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:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Silverline-PB02-Rotary-Wire-Brush-100-mm/172416736050?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

[Calum]

@NINJA Yeah similar technique then.

[NINJA]

@Calum Indeed, just make sure that you wear some safety glasses, as the wire do spit out with time.

[Calum]

@NINJA Worst is I find the wires in my clothing. Fly off into garments and then scratch against the skin. Very annoying.

[NINJA]

@Calum LOL I hear ya - I looked like a hedgehog after that cleaning session!!!

[declan]

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

[NINJA]

@declan Wear some gloves and eye protection dude, those little wires fly everywhere!!! :pouting_face:

[declan]

@NINJA will do bud