UK Brat Build (Engine first)

Just an hour today. Swapped out the front chain guide bolts and collets. Fitted the oil pipe too.
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Also had a play with the Dremel on the old casing..... not sure, more practice maybe

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Paul, I just happened to notice these oil passageways, they are usually capped off by epoxy. I know the factory smeared some course gritty looking stuff on them. I replaced mine with JB Weld. Do you plan to cap yours?
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Just an hour today. Swapped out the front chain guide bolts and collets. Fitted the oil pipe too. View attachment 182383View attachment 182384 View attachment 182385

Also had a play with the Dremel on the old casing..... not sure, more practice maybe

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motor looks great - don’t take this the wrong way but the engraving looks like garbage haha.

when I used to do vintage scooter restorations engraving was a big thing with the English lambretta owners. Never seen it look even half way decent when done with a dermal or etching tool. Needs to be a pneumatic engraver. - lay out a stencil like a tattoo and trace it for best results unless highly skilled.
 
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motor looks great - don’t take this the wrong way but the engraving looks like garbage haha.

when I used to do vintage scooter restorations engraving was a big thing with the English lambretta owners. Never seen it look even half way decent when done with a dermal or etching tool. Needs to be a pneumatic engraver. - lay out a stencil like a tattoo and trace it for best results unless highly skilled.


You’re absolutely right! I might be a decent engineer, but engraver I’m not. Perhaps with the right equipment. Like you say a pneumatic engraving machine would be perfect but I couldn’t justify the spend.
... maybe stick to polishing
 
Those machines certainly aren’t cheap!!

Maybe look into laser etching - It doesn’t have depth like engraving but it might look cool with a polish of the case and the etched a design. Cost is a lot cheaper than paying someone to engrave it.

I find the hardest part about building things is that if you are very skilled in some areas - say engine building and paint - everything else needs to match that high quality or else it sticks out like a sore thumb. So if there is metal fabrication or fiberglass and you wanna do it yourself you gotta get really good really fast to match your other levels of skill or pay someone with skill to do it.

Rough life haha.
 
DIY engravings
I think it could work ..On another type of build. Not this done here which is very fine
I knew people that had brush painted frames Red and had brush painted Yellow
tanks
There existed home made tanks made of circular pipe and other kinds of Can Do solutions
In that sense I perhaps can see usage for someone going for a low budget rat bike build.
Quick wrenching something together to ride on.
The cover is drilled out and it is not something I would do ..perhaps not even use.
But it has been done by someone and as such interesting-
A build can be done that is interesting and catch attention .. Maybe some think by the wrong reasons
But I can see it happen
If so a maybe not perfect engraving fits the Picture.
To me that is more honest .. real and true than someone trying to fabricate " Street wear "
Putting chemicals on paint trying to getting a worn look.
I don't mind if a 40 year old bike or older has a couple of dings and scratches.
I remember one Harley Builder once said jokingly ..

Kick Stand ??? ... No need for that -- I just let go of the handle.

You get the picture what type builds that is .
Again it is not the type mr Paul is doing here ..but there are different style bikes.
 
Thanks Guys, you’re both right of course. Always worth trying something but as you say, I do have high standards and my “engraving” skills and equipment aren’t up to the task. So, I’ll leave that to someone else. It’ll be worth investigating who can do it here in the UK and a cost.

Or.. I may go back to the original plan of polish and chrome.

I have time to think about the options. Next steps are going to be to start thinking about machining:
Rocker pin covers
Sump bolts
Inlet / carb holders
Neutral indent bolt
Oil cooler, maybe
 
Sounds like you have plenty of work to keep impressing us with. Did you make the valve covers with the viewing windows on the 750? Very nice! As for the engraving, it does show you have skill in the way the curves flow well. I admire your desire to try new techniques.
 
Sounds like you have plenty of work to keep impressing us with. Did you make the valve covers with the viewing windows on the 750? Very nice! As for the engraving, it does show you have skill in the way the curves flow well. I admire your desire to try new techniques.

Hi Paul

Thanks, yes those were fun to make. I’d seen some similar and had a go. I would make them differently if I do them again - mainly around how the plexi seats and seals.
Always good fun to try something else... downside is it normally leads to “needing” new tools
 
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