S4 mods have begun

[littlejimmy12]

Bike is now on blocks and the fun has begun. Only cosmetic stuff at the mo, major cleaning and some powder coating. Here are the initial pics and some exhaust polishing results, before and after.

I've asked before but can someone tell me how to get my pics so they appear in the thread and not as file extensions.

LJ

[steeevvvooo]

I love a good project thread!

As for pics, upload to photo bucket, then paste the link the the pic as below...

LINK

[littlejimmy12]

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd509/littlejimmy12/IMG_0333.jpg

[littlejimmy12]

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd509/littlejimmy12/IMG_0744.jpg

[littlejimmy12]

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd509/littlejimmy12/IMG_0747.jpg

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd509/littlejimmy12/IMG_0748.jpg

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd509/littlejimmy12/IMG_0749.jpg

[littlejimmy12]

Wheels are off to powder coated black, going for a more matt finish than gloss. Would like to get the swing arm off but to be honest.....to much work!

[rac3r]

Noo keep the red wheels! I think you should get some rear sets too to tidy it up nicely.

Aren't you supposed to take it apart during the winter! :chuckle:

[littlejimmy12]

Noo keep the red wheels! I think you should get some rear sets too to tidy it up nicely.

Aren't you supposed to take it apart during the winter! :chuckle:

I've got some gorgeous rearsets but it means no pillion and the girlfriend likes to go on the back - seriously annoys me as there a sick pair of Ducati rearsets as well:dunce:

[littlejimmy12]

this is how the day started, was going to be a quick clean and maybe sort out some flaky paint

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd509/littlejimmy12/IMG_0764.jpg

and then this happened

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd509/littlejimmy12/IMG_0771.jpg

and this

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd509/littlejimmy12/IMG_0770.jpg

and unfortuantely this - thank you simons

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd509/littlejimmy12/IMG_0769.jpg

[littlejimmy12]

Oil Cooler on

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd509/littlejimmy12/IMG_0778.jpg

and off

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd509/littlejimmy12/IMG_0783.jpg

one dirtly old rad

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd509/littlejimmy12/IMG_0784.jpg

[littlejimmy12]

All the stripping has now been done, there's more off the bike than is on. Wheels and various bits are at the powder coaters. Hopefully will get all the bits stripped re-painted, cleaned, greased and re-attached before the wheels come back.

The next pics should be more gratifying as they will be the rebuild.

This is not what we started out to do, it was literally a service and wheels painted and then curiosity and a 'well we might as well' attitude took over.

But very enjoyable and also learnt a great deal. My fear of stripping this far has gone, it is actually not that hard....................so far!!!!!!

looking forward to the outcome, which I think will be spectacular.

[Panther]

Looks like your making good progress on the 'Pucati'

Are you sticking with the grey tank and frame.

Now you have the suspension off, it should not be to difficult to remove the swingarm.

see!

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd509/littlejimmy12/IMG_0771.jpg

[littlejimmy12]

Not going to remove the swing, I'm sticking with the double, I just don't have the time and funds for a conversion. It's come out pretty good after some cleaning. Keeping the grey tank and frame.

it's not a total rebuild, if it was winter then maybe but I want this back on the road in 4 weeks.

Got to say this is a very rewarding experience, I want to take time off work so I can spend more hours in the shed!

[Panther]

sourcing all the bits for a single SS is the main problem. I was only thinking about removing the swingarm so you could powder coat it, if thats what you wanted.

Are you a big fan of black wheels or just not a fan of cleaning wheels :biggrin:

The only problem with starting your mini rebuild weekend is the weathers been to good.

[rac3r]

Looking good! I was actually thinking the other day that if I bought a Senna I'd keep the wheels red and have the tank and seat cowl done black

Looking forward to see the finished project :thumbsup:

[littlejimmy12]

sourcing all the bits for a single SS is the main problem. I was only thinking about removing the swingarm so you could powder coat it, if thats what you wanted.

Are you a big fan of black wheels or just not a fan of cleaning wheels :biggrin:

The only problem with starting your mini rebuild weekend is the weathers been to good.

Shot blasing the swing could easily be done but after giving it a good clean it's come up really well. I may regret not taking this oppotunity to do it.

I think I just like taking the stock bike and making it different.

By the way whats the 'pucati' ??

[utopia]

Look for the reflection of the flourescent strip light in your tank....it had me guessing for a while too.

[littlejimmy12]

Look for the reflection of the flourescent strip light in your tank....it had me guessing for a while too.

well spotted - good one

[littlejimmy12]

shock, prep's and painted. Spring is at the powder coaters to be turned a funky colout

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd509/littlejimmy12/IMG_0791.jpg

[rac3r]

Which funky colour? :D

[littlejimmy12]

Which funky colour? :D

something called cobolt blue or sumfin, basically dark blue. Just hope the powder coater will stop prominsing and actually deliver!!!!!!

[littlejimmy12]

Powder coating has come back, great job apart from the masking could have been better. Check out the spring :mand::mand: ain't that pretty.

Stripping and rubbing down the engine prior to degreasing and painting took 5 days!! :cry: will never never do that again. had a little bit of a bad reaction when laquered the paint, little bit of bubbling that we will try to remove with wet and dry over the week. Fingers crossed she will be finished sometime next week

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/15/picture008ma.th.jpg (http://img269.imageshack.us/i/picture008ma.jpg/)
http://img863.imageshack.us/img863/150/picture007vv.th.jpg (http://img863.imageshack.us/i/picture007vv.jpg/)
http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/7740/picture009pe.th.jpg (http://img220.imageshack.us/i/picture009pe.jpg/)
http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/9190/picture010gx.th.jpg (http://img577.imageshack.us/i/picture010gx.jpg/)
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/9851/picture011gi.th.jpg (http://img163.imageshack.us/i/picture011gi.jpg/)

[rac3r]

Looking good. You painting the engine again! Could have gone for black maybe

[littlejimmy12]

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd509/littlejimmy12/S4Dark.jpg

[mrbryanmarshall]

how do you polish the exhausts? I'm to give it a try on mine as they are looking very tatty...

[littlejimmy12]

how do you polish the exhausts? I'm to give it a try on mine as they are looking very tatty...

autoglym metal polish, a lot of hard work and patience!! on the welds I used a demmel type tool with a metal brush. This was done very carefully and only on the welds as it will scratch.

In all I sepnt prob 3-4 hours of hard polishing