Vapor blasting service

Discussion in 'Mechanics Garage' started by Clifton, Sep 23, 2015.

  1. NobleHops

    NobleHops New Member

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    Here's what's new!

    Two-cycle cylinder heads. This happens more often than you'd think: Guys bead blast their parts and then wish they had not. I can fix this but I sometimes spend a bunch of extra time cleaning because they don't mask and plug the parts as carefully as I do.

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    This was along the lines of a resurrection. I think this motorcycle was parked UNDER the barn:

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    Sure, we speak car!

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    Old trick parts:

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    8 Kawasaki engines? Sure, send 'em!

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    Vintage motocross!

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    "Careful with my just-honed cylinder!" Yes, we are careful :)

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    Brakes!

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    Carbs!

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    A "Triumph-ant" army"

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    Sure, we can fix that. And that, and that, and that.

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    OK, back to work! :)
     
  2. Lint

    Lint Member

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    I've never been happier to be spammed...

    Damn nice work! Keep it up and posting please.
     
  3. Allyance

    Allyance Insider

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    Wish I knew about his service last year before I had my fork sliders powder coated, they got glass beads down inside which got trapped in the oil locks at the bottom.
     
  4. Gator

    Gator Insider

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    Glad I saw these posts after I sold my RD..... lol
    Beautiful work.
     
  5. NobleHops

    NobleHops New Member

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    Thank you guys for the good words, and I truly hope this isn't too spammy. I'm glad you enjoy this stuff as much as I do! :)
     
  6. Allyance

    Allyance Insider

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    Not spam at all, we crave new information and processes. I think everybody just assumes glass bead or sand blasting is the way to go. I had no idea there was an alternative.

    PS: I finally got my BenchBuddy brushes!
     
  7. Jeff_Barrett

    Jeff_Barrett Member

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    I love watching this thread .... when I finally do a full rebuild on the VF1000F .... I'm going to go this route I think and a bit of powder coating as well from a local buddy of mine.
     
  8. NobleHops

    NobleHops New Member

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    Oh cool, on both counts :). You will find a lot of uses for those, wait and see. Glad you got your fork sorted out!
     
  9. NobleHops

    NobleHops New Member

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    Oh man, please give me a crack at that project when the time comes. By the early 80s Honda had REALLY improved the quality of their alloys and casting, and that makes all the difference. That engine will look incredible after vapor blasting.
     
  10. Jeff_Barrett

    Jeff_Barrett Member

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    Sounds good ... right now the primary idea is to get it running (tank liner and touch up some of paint for this summer).

    If all goes well, I'll be doing the tear down this winter.
     
  11. NobleHops

    NobleHops New Member

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    Awesome, would enjoy that.
     
  12. NobleHops

    NobleHops New Member

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    Anybody here a fan of the Honda CBX? I really do love working on CBX engines. They keep us hopping, but the metal is gorgeous and after all, it's a CBX! :)


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  13. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

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    If you keep posting these pics, they're gonna bust you for posting porn! Beautiful bike porn.
     
  14. NobleHops

    NobleHops New Member

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    Update time from RestoCycle! So across the shop from the vapor blasting setup we build and restore vintage motorcycles, which is what led us into the vapor blast racket in the first place.

    We recently finished a nut-and-bolt restoration of a 75 Kawasaki Z1-900 that was a total blast. This bike went down to itty bits, and was completely restored - including new transmission parts, bearings, clutch, honed for the high compression big-bore pistons it wears, and a brand new head with Kibblewhite valves, springs, keepers. Carbs were also rebuilt. The fork has RaceTech internals and new tubes, the rear some nice Ikon shocks and roller swingarm bearings, and everything else in between is new or was totally refurbished to as-new condition. There is fantastic reproduction parts support for these bikes, and that is where the signature 4-into-4 exhaust came from, along with the gorgeous bodywork, faithfully reproduced by craftsmen in Japan.

    It was so fun to build this bike I bought another and it is awaiting its turn :).


    Where we started. It was a lot worse than it looked at this point.
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    Torn down, frame powdercoated, up on its stand and about to get reassembled.
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    Fork apart, waiting for parts from RaceTech, and installation of new springs and gold valves.
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    Wheels about to be relaced, new spokes, strips, and bearings. Hubs freshly vapor blasted.
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    New wiring harness, into replated brackets. All the wiring was carefully renewed, cleaned, retaped, made perfect.
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    Engine torn down to little bits: We found pitting and worn valve guides so the head got totally redone, cylinders honed. Also found bad transmission parts and bearings, all repaired or replaced. Oil pump rebuilt, clutch hub bearing, springs, discs replaced. Many new cam chain tensioner parts. This beast is actually a 1075 and has high-compression pistons to boot. It boogies :).
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    My brother could not resist the urge to port it, "just a little". Ok, ok. :)
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    We replated and reused all the original fasteners.
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    The entire engine was of course vapor blasted and looks new.
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    The build - so many details!
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    And done. Took it out for a maiden cruise a week or so ago, and it is running great, is a total blast to ride. Will deliver this to my friend/customer in Switzerland in the spring, just as their riding season gets started. This bike will be ridden and loved.

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    We have more projects and news to share, coming soon. Thanks for checking in.
     
  15. Gator

    Gator Insider

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    Excuse my French but Totally Fucking Cool! Had one in the early 80's for a short time, had a Kerker header that made music.
    Thanks.
     
  16. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

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    As usual great stuff. Out of curiosity, how much time and money did the restore cost? If you don't mind me asking?
     
  17. Gator

    Gator Insider

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    OOTV you doubled up the photos! lol

    I just looked at your Smug Mug album. WOW!!! 751 photos documenting the job. Excellent work and photography!
     
  18. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

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    I'll edit it down...
     
  19. Gator

    Gator Insider

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    lol, no problem looking at them twice. Did you check out the whole collection? Wow!
     
  20. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

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    Not yet. I figured I'd edit it down for those who browse via mobile. The less rendering, the quicker the page draws.
     
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