Tumeke

If the above photo's are showing, it's due to Iforce.co.nz being down. I am now trying another site.

Whero

Less sharn, more blog this time fellas - pretty busy at work.

Oxidization, or rust in this case, had really taken it's toll on the machine. Many cockle gathering journeys and puha finding expeditions were all part of the job for the CT, however in 1971 one of the biggest journeys was undertaken to help man kind:

There are few places this CT hasn't been (including Al's Mum etc)

Commander David Scott and Lunar Module Pilot James Irwin spent three days on the Moon, including 181⁄2 hours outside the spacecraft on lunar extra-vehicular activity (EVA). They collected 77 kilograms (170 lb) of lunar surface material. At the same time, Command Module Pilot Alfred Worden pulled some pretty impressive skids on the surface of the Moon, saying it was indeed a Scientific study of the lunar surface and environment. 

The mission successfully accomplished its objectives, but was marred by negative publicity that accompanied disclosure of the crew carrying a secondary EV known as the CTEVDASC (Cook's Transport Extra-Vehicular Do A Skid Cunt) which they had planned to sell for huge profit due to it's profile after their return. Ironically, this mission was a failure due to the re-entry journey rusting out many parts of the bike and it was left where it landed, close to the New Plymouth Power Station.

Today, the rust is truly apparent. A strip down was needed. The large parts of to be sand-blasted and the smaller alloy items of for a clean at @Mr Vapour's emporium. At this point i decided that chrome was just not going to be a thing, and would instead be later substituted for a matte black.

Bits ready for a blasting. Also note CT-90 cutting fluid.

Some of the other crap that was vapour blasted.

Post blasting with some bloke that broke into my shed.

With the frame back, it was cleaned, welded where needed and primed to stop any nasty rust getting at it's bare skin.

While this was happening, I also sent a container of nuts/bolts etc off to Terei Bros. and things came back much nicer than when they left.

Before vs After 

So, now, with a pile of stuff all shiny, it was time to start thinking about paint.

Front wheel after some Black Satin

New bearings front and rear.

A bit of re-assembly and some new rubber.

That's all the time I have for writing right now. Join us next time to see frame painting, wiring and more history of this amazing machine. Peace y'all.

A sympathetic restoration was obviously the key to this piece of history, with advice from not only experts, but from both history books and scholars.

Due to so many adventures, the machine today is in quite a state, and is unfortunately very tired on both body and motor department.  The tires were both flat, and the rims very rusty. This may be attributed to the following quote from senior history researcher for Oxford University - our very own @Leyland P.I..

"Before the treaty was signed there was much conflict between the colonials and the local Maori at Waitangi.  Chief Hone Heke took a personal vendetta towards the British and sabotaged the CT tyres with an axe before going bush on his mighty Mudbug Waka TF125."

First thing to be done was a tear-down to see what we had to deal with.

Splitting the well perished tyres from the rims provided an insight into just how far the back rim was gone. The once shiny chrome was now but blisters, and the inner wheel was rust flake and holes. The rear wheel was in need of some good cleaning, spoke replacing and a little welding.

Wheels before a good wire brush.

Pressing out the bearings.

The bearings too, were well past their best. Square balls are a condition not liked by most. The dust/mud seals were also very perished so will need to be replaced.

The motor was the original, and had done 75 million miles (mostly open road, lady owner, never thrashed) and was in need of a refresh.  History suggests the last rebuild was done early June 1964 in preparation for the Beatles visiting New Zealand. Unfortunately, non genuine parts were used and the machine was late for the parade .

Always late on Cook's Transport m8.

Given the state of the engine, it was decided a new mode of propulsion was needed, and Darren at Shore50 came up with a suitable replacement.

A Lifan 125cc with 4 speeds, 12 angry pixie-volts and a pile of stuff to make it go. A very good deal was done and it arrived on my doorstep the following day.

The lifan too, is steeped in history. Again @Leyland P.I.: 

It is simply not true that Maori traded land for muskets and blankets. They also received Lifan 125 engines, and  1mm oversized piston and ring kits for their TF125s. However this was a clever ploy by the colonialist devils as the Maori had no way of machining their barrels to match the oversized kits. As such, this detail is glossed over by most historical accounts.

They also received two stroke oil or Wai-Peru. Unfortunately they necked it like nectar, believing that the fluid would give them the speed and power of the TF125. Many died.

A Maori man and a Naval Officer trading, c. 1769.Believed to be the first ever Lifan swap.

The Lifan motor is a straight 'bolt in' replacement for the 90. Providing you have a welder, a metal bender, a grinder, a drill, some tube, a bit of mild steel and a few hours.

1. Remove motor.

2. Drill out the top mount of the new motor to use the original through-bolt.

3. Drilled.

4. Test Fit front mount

5. Make or acquire rear mounts. 

6. Notch Frame

7. Hang, bend, fettle, re-hang, adjust mounts.

8. Take blury photo.

That's all the time I have for writing right now. Join us next time to see sand-blasting, nikel plating, and more history of this amazing machine. Peace y'all.