Friday, November 5 2010.
Stage 1
Stripping of the chassis was completed on the last day of October.
All sub-assemblies have been photographed and bagged or tagged as appropriate, and stored in large 50 litre plastic storage containers.
Stage 2
The brake lines and calipers and master cylinders have been removed.
The calipers were all siezed, as expected. We decided to try to disassemble and service one of the calipers as proof of concept that they were indeed still serviceable.
My brother Danny, who has been doing some seal replacements on the engine and gearbox of the Moto Guzzi Le Mans Mk3, managed to get the rusted and siezed pistons out of the caliper by replacing the bleed nipples with the largest grease nipples he could fit, and then pumping the caliper full of grease. The combination of hydraulic pressure, the lubricating effect of the grease, and the low viscosity of the grease caused the pistons to pop out as required.
Had we tried this with brake fluid, which is of high viscosity, it probably would have just leaked past the failed seals. Using grease was a stroke of genius. Nice work, Dan.
Our parts order from Bevel Heaven in California should arrive any day now. We have ordered a new front brake/master cylinder assembly, rear master cylinder with remote reservoir and a Brembo F08 caliper overhaul kit. The overhaul kit includes new pads, new dual bleed nipples and dust cover, and all seals and 2 new pistons. I will then reassemble with the new bits and hook the caliper up to the new front master cylinder and test it. If it all works out I will order 2 more overhaul kits and service the remaining 2 calipers as well.
Stage 3
The Laverda's frame has been delivered to Universal Metal Cleaners at Wingfield.
They did a fine job on the heavily pitted mufflers from the Moto Guzzi 750S, and so the frame, swinging arm and centre stand assemblies have been dropped off for sandblasting and then a shot coat of grey primer.
We decided to leave the bearings in their races whilst the sandblasting is being done - in a nuts and bolts restoration like this, the bearings are replaced whether they need it or not, so the headstem and swinging arm bearing will be knocked out once we get the frame back.
Here is the gallery for the 750S, including a shot of the sandblasted and repainted mufflers.
It should be ready on Monday. Once it is done I will organise for Danny to knock the bearings out and then I will drop the frame off to a powder coating company to have the frame done in gloss black.
Here is the Jota gallery.
