Latest surprise set back continum

Getting caught up on useful projects so began to organize factory Trixie Combat
engine parts to assemble. Nice sunny day so opened honed 750 - .040" over barrels to paint it, but saw a bit of green tape on lower front barrel base, hmm, wondered why machinist put that on, began to peel it off to find a piece of thin bore bottom knocked off.
http://inlinethumb32.webshots.com/16863 ... 600Q85.jpg


Now don't know what to do but spend some more time and money. The well known machinist quit the place immediately after the re-hone d/t poor pay and benefits, so basically no recourse - so figure I'm out another barrel and $40 shop fee.

hobot PS...
He did my mower engine valve replacement and renewal prior.
Works a treat and showed me the Singh
grooves in customers pulling mowers and his destruction derby V8.
My old18 hp mower now acts like motorcycle reving 22 hp boxer twin I have to throttle back unless climbing steeps backwards mowing down hip high grass. I almost did a head over heel roll over going down 35% grade under WOT and hydraulic levels full forward. I have to throttle back on just traveling mode as almost as fast a man running but very twitchy handling by dozer like levers and no suspension but squaty balloon tires, whoowhooo. I like to do reversed lever spins in place and get the snot slung out of me but being seated at turning axis over wheels it don't sling me out of saddle, unless letting off one lever to opens up the circle.

If I don't back off WOT throttle the whole exhaust path head to exhaust tip
almost 3 ft away glow bright red like a turbo engine on dyno! Its the kind
mowing power I've always wanted, always more power to spare, just add throttle.
Starts right up no matter how hot and must use choke if cold yet always idles
back fine, so think the carb is right mixture.
Just Singh grooves better combustion??

I did the grooves in 2 stages, 1st time just long center slot on side valve head plate, but couldn't tell much and had to open again d/t shaft seal and bad Alternator coils.
Saw where the carbon was either piling up or being blasted clean in paisley pattern, so did a crow's foot pattern, 2 extra slots on either side of the center slot angled at exhaust side of plug. What a surprise next time out, about as much or more fun than riding my modern corner crippled road appliance SV650 to me.
But no, not as much fun as even a sloppy worn out isolastic Commando on or off grass.

OH yeah, the oil is staying mostly greenish clear-ish newish after weeks of hours
a day or cooler nights knocking down the months of over growth when mower apart.
Too bad hard to do in a hemi head w/o much squish area.
http://www.somender-singh.com/

What'd he say when you asked him about it? :?

Hi Hotbot,

That's disgraceful behavior by the machinist (or so called!!)

For somebody to do work like this, make a mistake, and cover it up or at least not tell the customer what had happened is unforgivable.

From what you say the machinist has left but did he work for a company? Was he an employee? If he was then the company who did the work should bear some of the liability if not all?

If the machinist worked for himself & is now gone there's not a lot you can do!

I know when the previous owner of my bike let the oil run low & holed a piston & damaged a bore, he got the 920 liner kit from RGM which was cheaper than putting it back to standard, might be worth considering.

It's frustrating enough if you do this type of thing yourself but when somebody else does it :evil: :twisted: :evil:

Kevin

hi hobot,that barrel still looks useable,i used one exactly the same with no probs, i dont think it wise to bore a 750 barrel for 920 liners theres not enough meat in there

Ok I don't see any hints of hope of salvaging the barrel - and no hope
of recoup but maybe a free hone job, will just have to bit bullet
again, as so many before and after me will dealing with cycles
and Commandos in particular and get on with the show and one
more set back tale.

Barrel was sitting in tight cardboard box in shop for weeks
before I checked in to find the machinist gone but job to pay for.
Its possible after machinist quit some one miss handled the
box in frustration or by accident. But for the tape holding
the chip, some one knew before me.

I know I risk death each time on 2 wheels, we all do, so maybe
fate is keeping me safe a while longer to enjoy sunshine
and its the best thing that could of happened.

Spare 750 barrel ready to hone .040" over, on to do list again.

hobot

Chris, I'd glazed over your surprising post.
Now I can't tell if a trickster leading me on or serious encouragement?

hobot

steve,im not a trickster and i would,nt dream of leading anyone on,i bought a barrel a few years ago from a well respected norton dealer "ex works rider,developement engineer" when i opened the box it had the same peice missing from the barrel and a peice from the piston,it had obviously happened during postage,i was assured it would,nt be a problem and it was,nt,

Ok Chris, still can't tell if a trickster or not but now see the fracture don't
go down any further than rod cut out, so I assume oil ring won't
snag, so can't see how I'm being mislead so might as well giver a go
like you did, for just a normal traffic use, hardly ever to the ton.

Learned something new I can get away with on Commandos,thanks.

hobot
PS, JBWeld hi temp can replace a finger size cast iron barrel fin,
if painted over and not bumped real hard forgetting its just
cosmetic layer. Blown head gasket jets will remove it I found.

steve,as you pointed out the rings and probably only half the piston comes down this far,i did,nt use mine for normal traffic riding,i was vintage racing in uk at the time,no problems with it

ALRIGHTY Chris, I accept your testimony and take it to heart.
Was feeling a bit depressed as Combats Bombs were just meant
to kick up their heels now and again. Might as well break
off the other to balance the piston harmonics eh.

Next time sun is out before the bugs I'll paint and whistle while
I work Trixie back to life this summer.

hot dog glad I asked hobot.