Hi folks, my name is Nick (hence Tinbum). Very long term T150 project owner and universal 'fix-it-if-I-can' person. I have a slight poser for you: A pal of mine has just handed me a Speed 4 bottom-yoke to extract three (!) snapped stainless bolts from the leg-clamps. I have done one, it took 3 hours, a new centre-drill and 3 other drills to successfully recover the one thread undamaged. Is it worth carrying on, or is it easier to just buy a new bottom yoke from flea-buy? He said he'd pay me to do the job, but I feel embarrassed to ask for a day's pay! Are the TT600 yokes a straight swap? There is a one on Eebay for £30 ish. Any bright ideas would be appreciated!
Hi darkman, I spoke to the owner, and he has decided to go for the eeeebay option at £56 delivered. Now, I find out that he has sheared one of the front-wheel spindle clamp-bolts. I have been asked to 'see what you can do'. (This is why I never seem to finish any of my own work, too busy doing stuff on other people's bikes. )
Hi Nick, welcome aboard. He needs to be questioning what is going wrong. Correct torque settings and copper grease would be a start. Probably dropped lucky this time finding a "cheapish" yoke but failing that and having no success with drills and stud extractors, for future reference spark erosion is one solution. If you know a local little firm with EDM (electrical discharge machining) make mates with them. Another solution is to accurately set up and clamp the yoke on a milling machine or pillar drill and very carefully re-drill with the correct tapping size drill. I say accurate and careful because if the drill "runs off" the aluminium will cut a lot easier than the steel stud.
Lol, i know that feeling as i gave up work 6 years ago to look after my Dad and still don't have enough time in a day
Hi MickEng, Thanks for your reply. He bought the bike as a doer-upper, and was doing the front-end first. (fork-seals, tyre, etc.) I think the factory bolted the thing together dry, which is bad news when ally gets together with stainless, then sits outside for years uncovered. A spot of coppaslip or alislip might have helped. I would have lent one of my impact drivers, but I can't remember who I lent either of them to. When one bolt shears, why do people go on and shear another three before asking for help? I can drill/mill accurately- I recovered one hole with zero damage to the ally, it just takes ages. I'll have a look for a local spark-man. I never built my own eroder, never got around to it. (Is there a smiley for <sigh> ?
Hi Nick, welcome in. I know just what you mean about doing jobs for others and not getting your own work done. I had 40+ years of that crepe then I retired so I get to do just what Mrs Al tells me to do
