Project SMX [Pic Heavy]

[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

[NINJA]

Humble beginnings!!! :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes: :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes: :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

[Calum]

Very smart. Let the rebuild commence

[Louis-DT-WR]

Nothing beats freshly painted chassis

[pedrobatista10]

@NINJA love that colour

[NINJA]

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;

[Calum]

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.

[NINJA]

@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:

[Minia]

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

[NINJA]

@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: