First of all, I've never really been a "chopper guy". But when an opportunity to buy a classic Britbike cheap presents itself, I dive right in.
For the most part, I then return the chopper into what it once was, as nearly as possible (depending on the irreversible damage done).
ONCE IN A WHILE, depending heavily on other people, I'll keep the chopper a chopper. Here are the few times that has happened:
1965 Triumph T120R Bonneville hardtail
I found a "twofer" deal in a small town about 30 miles south, heard about it from my machinist who had a bike re-wired by the guy that had them (the other was a '69). When I arrived with my trailer and my younger son along as a helper (he had just turned 18), we found the bikes "out back" in buffalo grass about 24" deep. There were rusty parts, nut & bolts all over the ground, covered in mud (it was drizzling). There were also a few parts in an old shed with a leaky roof and no door, so they were just as bad off. Of course, every part was set down at the best possible angle to put screws, nuts and bolts in them; so, they were also in the absolute worst position as far as promoting rust and dirt accumulation.
One bike was totally apart (the purple one), and the other (orange) one had the lower lump still in it, but if you looked down the throat, you could see the dirt through a fist-sized hole! The guy explained he had overhauled it for a customer who IMMEDIATELY took it out for a "fast break-in, fast bike" ride, and came back pushing it, 3 hours later. I DO NOT believe in that method of break-in, needless to say.
Anyway, we made the deal and loaded them up. Just as we're driving off, my son says "I have dibs on the orange one" (although he didn't lay out one dollar).
I told him the only way I'd agree to that is if he built it himself, to which he half-heartedly agreed. So, we got them home and unloaded them, then he suprised me by pulling over a toolbox and a big empty tub, and started pulling parts off the bike. I did the same with "mine", and we kept at it till late in the evening; Sally even brought us sandwiches and iced tea, and left us alone. ("Bonding time", I guess)
We got the bare frames stripped, then sorted everything for powdercoating. He decided he wanted the frame silver, and lots of stuff chromed & polished. My goal was a total restoration, so I took all the best parts and listed them for black powdercoat. I let him keep the peanut tank from the purple bike with the "Union Jack" (Brirish flag) paint job.
After composing a couple of build spreadsheets, and ticking off what was already present, I sent out the frames to powdercoat, and a huge pile of parts to chrome, then searched my shelves and bins for all the useable parts that I already had (which was quite a lot). Then, I made up the parts order list and got that done.
Next came the slow, tedious process of puling apart what will still together on both engines, washing each and every part, and determining what would ultimately be usable and what was trash. I let Kevin do the washing (and re-washing), I did the drying and sorting. We took an entire day just for that step!
By the time the bearings, seals & gaskets arrived, the machinist was done with the cylinders & heads (cranks, cams & other stuff was okay). I forget right now where we got the replacement cases from, probably the BMOA swap meet in Houston, or the New Ulm swap meet... So, the time came to start the engine builds, side-by-side. I had two shop manuals, and two sets of tools, and laid out two of everything. Kevin kept right up with me every step of the way (took a good few weeks just to build the lower ends).
About that time, Kevin dropped a cluster bomb on me:
- "I'm dropping out of college" (with a full scholarship at A&M)
- "I'm quitting my job" (excellent logistics job with his favorite uncle)
- "I'm moving to Austin" (with no job lined up, and no money to get a place of his own)
Kevin kept coming working on the bike; we got the chrome and powdercoated stuff back and got the frame rolling, then stuck the finished lower end in it (all of my stuff got put on a shelf to continue with client work).
About a month later came another cluster bomb:
- "I'm getting married" (not to the girl he was dating recently)
- "I'm joining the Army" (that one wasn't hard for me to take, but it was for my wyfe)
The about a month after the wedding "We're pregnant" (so was my wyfe, coincidentally)
So, guess who didn't finish his chopper build?
I went ahead and loosely fitted the top end to the engine, and installed all the stuff that we had bought specifically for Kevin's bike, and sold it along. I'm not a "chopper guy".
I though it looked pretty cool, but knew I'd never ride it (much). I also needed the money to finish my restoration.
10 years down the road, Kevin did 2 tours to Iraq - 12 & 15 months, then got into a program called "Green to Gold" where he transferred to the Army reserves, went back to A&M and got his degree, then re-entered the regular Army as a 2nd Lieutenant with all of his enlisted time counted to his officer pay level. They had 2 kids by the time he got his commission. Now, he's about to complete Blackhawk school (he's already VFR, just needs IFR), and he'll be a MedEvac pilot. They also have another boy.
I don't mind that he didn't finish the chopper (much).
For the most part, I then return the chopper into what it once was, as nearly as possible (depending on the irreversible damage done).
ONCE IN A WHILE, depending heavily on other people, I'll keep the chopper a chopper. Here are the few times that has happened:
1965 Triumph T120R Bonneville hardtail
I found a "twofer" deal in a small town about 30 miles south, heard about it from my machinist who had a bike re-wired by the guy that had them (the other was a '69). When I arrived with my trailer and my younger son along as a helper (he had just turned 18), we found the bikes "out back" in buffalo grass about 24" deep. There were rusty parts, nut & bolts all over the ground, covered in mud (it was drizzling). There were also a few parts in an old shed with a leaky roof and no door, so they were just as bad off. Of course, every part was set down at the best possible angle to put screws, nuts and bolts in them; so, they were also in the absolute worst position as far as promoting rust and dirt accumulation.
One bike was totally apart (the purple one), and the other (orange) one had the lower lump still in it, but if you looked down the throat, you could see the dirt through a fist-sized hole! The guy explained he had overhauled it for a customer who IMMEDIATELY took it out for a "fast break-in, fast bike" ride, and came back pushing it, 3 hours later. I DO NOT believe in that method of break-in, needless to say.
Anyway, we made the deal and loaded them up. Just as we're driving off, my son says "I have dibs on the orange one" (although he didn't lay out one dollar).
I told him the only way I'd agree to that is if he built it himself, to which he half-heartedly agreed. So, we got them home and unloaded them, then he suprised me by pulling over a toolbox and a big empty tub, and started pulling parts off the bike. I did the same with "mine", and we kept at it till late in the evening; Sally even brought us sandwiches and iced tea, and left us alone. ("Bonding time", I guess)
We got the bare frames stripped, then sorted everything for powdercoating. He decided he wanted the frame silver, and lots of stuff chromed & polished. My goal was a total restoration, so I took all the best parts and listed them for black powdercoat. I let him keep the peanut tank from the purple bike with the "Union Jack" (Brirish flag) paint job.
After composing a couple of build spreadsheets, and ticking off what was already present, I sent out the frames to powdercoat, and a huge pile of parts to chrome, then searched my shelves and bins for all the useable parts that I already had (which was quite a lot). Then, I made up the parts order list and got that done.
Next came the slow, tedious process of puling apart what will still together on both engines, washing each and every part, and determining what would ultimately be usable and what was trash. I let Kevin do the washing (and re-washing), I did the drying and sorting. We took an entire day just for that step!
By the time the bearings, seals & gaskets arrived, the machinist was done with the cylinders & heads (cranks, cams & other stuff was okay). I forget right now where we got the replacement cases from, probably the BMOA swap meet in Houston, or the New Ulm swap meet... So, the time came to start the engine builds, side-by-side. I had two shop manuals, and two sets of tools, and laid out two of everything. Kevin kept right up with me every step of the way (took a good few weeks just to build the lower ends).
About that time, Kevin dropped a cluster bomb on me:
- "I'm dropping out of college" (with a full scholarship at A&M)
- "I'm quitting my job" (excellent logistics job with his favorite uncle)
- "I'm moving to Austin" (with no job lined up, and no money to get a place of his own)
Kevin kept coming working on the bike; we got the chrome and powdercoated stuff back and got the frame rolling, then stuck the finished lower end in it (all of my stuff got put on a shelf to continue with client work).
About a month later came another cluster bomb:
- "I'm getting married" (not to the girl he was dating recently)
- "I'm joining the Army" (that one wasn't hard for me to take, but it was for my wyfe)
The about a month after the wedding "We're pregnant" (so was my wyfe, coincidentally)
So, guess who didn't finish his chopper build?
I went ahead and loosely fitted the top end to the engine, and installed all the stuff that we had bought specifically for Kevin's bike, and sold it along. I'm not a "chopper guy".
I though it looked pretty cool, but knew I'd never ride it (much). I also needed the money to finish my restoration.
10 years down the road, Kevin did 2 tours to Iraq - 12 & 15 months, then got into a program called "Green to Gold" where he transferred to the Army reserves, went back to A&M and got his degree, then re-entered the regular Army as a 2nd Lieutenant with all of his enlisted time counted to his officer pay level. They had 2 kids by the time he got his commission. Now, he's about to complete Blackhawk school (he's already VFR, just needs IFR), and he'll be a MedEvac pilot. They also have another boy.
I don't mind that he didn't finish the chopper (much).
