- Joined
- Mar 8, 2010
- Messages
- 75
It is strange the way things happen isnt it? I have often hankered about finding an old bike and spending far too much time and money on restoring it back to what it once was.
The thing was I never fancied just purchasing one ( off ebay for example) as I just had a feeling that one day something would turn up.
I live in the beautiful Wye Valley that separates Wales from England, but work abroad in West Africa about 4 weeks every 2 months.On a working visit to Lagos, Nigeria I was called to a meeting by the Airport in Spring 2009 and found this:
The Bike was covered in dust, and what wasnt covered in dust was covered in rust. But it is complete and there seems to be potential to have a great machine which I would have worked on to enjoy. It is not a money making project so it will cost what it costs( though is not an unlimited budget). I am adamant for instance that I am not going to pay a penny to get it all back to the UK. So that is my first challenge!!
I sought advice and thought about purchasing it long and hard, and to be honest even though it is possibly the worst Norton I could find, I decided that it would make a marvellous long term project. I figure it would help relieve the boredom after work in Nigeria and at the same time I would be doing something that would produce an amazing piece of engineering as the end result, and I would learn a lot from.
Later last year I decided the Norton was for me and my enquiries to the owner were met with incredulity that anyone would want to purchase this wreck and so at a cost of 50000 Naira ( about 200 Pounds/ 350 USD) the bike was all mine.
The deal was done and as the bike has not been used for at least 15 years it had to be re-registered in Nigeria before I could move it from the location to a Work colleagues house. So the best part of it at the moment are the shiny new number plates!!
I also have minimal mechanical knowledge so will be starting from scratch. So I will probably learn a lot in the process- most off here I hope, so I apologise here and now for any silly sounding questions I make in the future. I currently own a (very temperamental) Zane Laverda 650 that is 16 years old and a BMW 1200GS that is 6 months old. So for reliability clearly the BMW wins over the Laverda and probably the Norton any day, but for character? Well there would be no contest.
Life here in Nigeria is normally boring after work with little to do, and security issues reduce movement considerably.
As a result I am spending many a happy hour patiently disassembling and cataloguing the bike and trying to find out what would have been original and what has been bodged together over the years.
The bike parts are slowly being flown back to the UK in my suitcase for complete restoration and riding at home. I have already flown back the tank, side panels and various small items, and this trip I intend to bring back with me the clutch assembly, side engine casing foot pegs and mudguards.
So I estimate it will take me about 8 trips ( using my 25kg allowance to fly the entire bike home, though I am not sure how I am going to get the frame past UK Customs just yet...
I have had invaluable help on this forum advising on various issues that I have discovered, and warn you all that this is going to be a long term voyage of discovery for me... The idea is to spent my downtime in Nigeria dis assembling, and quality time with my son in the UK ( who is 11) restoring to A1 standard. When he is18 I intend to give it to him as his Birthday present.
About the Bike:
I am told it is an 850Mk2 ( Plastic Air Box) It has certainly had a hard history here in Nigeria. Wiring loom is a mess, and handlebars are bent on the same side as a scrape in the engine casing suggesting it has been on its side at least once.
It is an Interstate, 850cc with pea shooter exhausts and no balance pipe on the downpipes. Most chrome parts are heavily corroded and brake pads on the front non existent. One spark plug is missing, suggesting a rebore/ new liners is necessary and there are no indicators.
My plans:
As there is no real engineering Industry most parts cannot be restored locally, and will have to be done in UK.
I have found a local Company in Lagos that can strip the Chrome and polish all components. To be honest the cost being charged (About 50USD) helped me no end in my decision. I will fly all components back to the UK for rechroming at home. Nickel Chroming is not possible here which is a shame, as labour prices here are so cheap.
I will paint the tank and side panels last in the UK, but will start work in UK on the project once I have the frame totally stripped and flown back ( anyone know the weight of a frame BTW).
My thoughts are the frame should be stripped and painted to keep original.Is there any particular advantage of stove enamelling? Thoughts here gratefully received.
Once the frame is restored, then I will start on the engine, then suspension and electrics last. That is the general plan, but hey things will probably change, as the restoration will be determined a lot by available finances.
I will be leaving a substantial part of the bike by weight ( such as seat forks, battery, tyres ,spokes and wheel rims here to be disposed of). Only restorable items will be taken back home.
Stripping the Bike.
I have on several occasions sprayed every nut and bolt with WD40. This has really paid dividends and I have not had any difficulties taking off the most rusted of nuts.
All rubbers are rotted due to the heat and so these have been removed, photographed and disposed of.
Today I intend to take off the Oil tank and clean it internally to take back to UK. This will probably take the rest of the day, particularly as it has started raining, and the bike is under a sheet outside. Am just looking outside now, and you know when it rains here it really pours, just like someone pouring buckets of warm water out of the clouds.
Not at all like good old freezing welsh rain that drizzles for days........ Uh Uh think am getting homesick...
The thing was I never fancied just purchasing one ( off ebay for example) as I just had a feeling that one day something would turn up.
I live in the beautiful Wye Valley that separates Wales from England, but work abroad in West Africa about 4 weeks every 2 months.On a working visit to Lagos, Nigeria I was called to a meeting by the Airport in Spring 2009 and found this:
The Bike was covered in dust, and what wasnt covered in dust was covered in rust. But it is complete and there seems to be potential to have a great machine which I would have worked on to enjoy. It is not a money making project so it will cost what it costs( though is not an unlimited budget). I am adamant for instance that I am not going to pay a penny to get it all back to the UK. So that is my first challenge!!
I sought advice and thought about purchasing it long and hard, and to be honest even though it is possibly the worst Norton I could find, I decided that it would make a marvellous long term project. I figure it would help relieve the boredom after work in Nigeria and at the same time I would be doing something that would produce an amazing piece of engineering as the end result, and I would learn a lot from.
Later last year I decided the Norton was for me and my enquiries to the owner were met with incredulity that anyone would want to purchase this wreck and so at a cost of 50000 Naira ( about 200 Pounds/ 350 USD) the bike was all mine.
The deal was done and as the bike has not been used for at least 15 years it had to be re-registered in Nigeria before I could move it from the location to a Work colleagues house. So the best part of it at the moment are the shiny new number plates!!
I also have minimal mechanical knowledge so will be starting from scratch. So I will probably learn a lot in the process- most off here I hope, so I apologise here and now for any silly sounding questions I make in the future. I currently own a (very temperamental) Zane Laverda 650 that is 16 years old and a BMW 1200GS that is 6 months old. So for reliability clearly the BMW wins over the Laverda and probably the Norton any day, but for character? Well there would be no contest.
Life here in Nigeria is normally boring after work with little to do, and security issues reduce movement considerably.
As a result I am spending many a happy hour patiently disassembling and cataloguing the bike and trying to find out what would have been original and what has been bodged together over the years.
The bike parts are slowly being flown back to the UK in my suitcase for complete restoration and riding at home. I have already flown back the tank, side panels and various small items, and this trip I intend to bring back with me the clutch assembly, side engine casing foot pegs and mudguards.
So I estimate it will take me about 8 trips ( using my 25kg allowance to fly the entire bike home, though I am not sure how I am going to get the frame past UK Customs just yet...
I have had invaluable help on this forum advising on various issues that I have discovered, and warn you all that this is going to be a long term voyage of discovery for me... The idea is to spent my downtime in Nigeria dis assembling, and quality time with my son in the UK ( who is 11) restoring to A1 standard. When he is18 I intend to give it to him as his Birthday present.
About the Bike:
I am told it is an 850Mk2 ( Plastic Air Box) It has certainly had a hard history here in Nigeria. Wiring loom is a mess, and handlebars are bent on the same side as a scrape in the engine casing suggesting it has been on its side at least once.
It is an Interstate, 850cc with pea shooter exhausts and no balance pipe on the downpipes. Most chrome parts are heavily corroded and brake pads on the front non existent. One spark plug is missing, suggesting a rebore/ new liners is necessary and there are no indicators.
My plans:
As there is no real engineering Industry most parts cannot be restored locally, and will have to be done in UK.
I have found a local Company in Lagos that can strip the Chrome and polish all components. To be honest the cost being charged (About 50USD) helped me no end in my decision. I will fly all components back to the UK for rechroming at home. Nickel Chroming is not possible here which is a shame, as labour prices here are so cheap.
I will paint the tank and side panels last in the UK, but will start work in UK on the project once I have the frame totally stripped and flown back ( anyone know the weight of a frame BTW).
My thoughts are the frame should be stripped and painted to keep original.Is there any particular advantage of stove enamelling? Thoughts here gratefully received.
Once the frame is restored, then I will start on the engine, then suspension and electrics last. That is the general plan, but hey things will probably change, as the restoration will be determined a lot by available finances.
I will be leaving a substantial part of the bike by weight ( such as seat forks, battery, tyres ,spokes and wheel rims here to be disposed of). Only restorable items will be taken back home.
Stripping the Bike.
I have on several occasions sprayed every nut and bolt with WD40. This has really paid dividends and I have not had any difficulties taking off the most rusted of nuts.
All rubbers are rotted due to the heat and so these have been removed, photographed and disposed of.
Today I intend to take off the Oil tank and clean it internally to take back to UK. This will probably take the rest of the day, particularly as it has started raining, and the bike is under a sheet outside. Am just looking outside now, and you know when it rains here it really pours, just like someone pouring buckets of warm water out of the clouds.
Not at all like good old freezing welsh rain that drizzles for days........ Uh Uh think am getting homesick...
