Tumeke

Advice from my one: Change water pump. Do it now. Otherwise, I loved mine.

@RUNAMUCK strip Ronnie and send a part up each week through your work courier company. Be here in no time m8.

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.

This is pretty much how I envisage a cruisey cape ride to be...

Having owned one I suggest: 1. lift the battery out and check that it hasn't rusted through directly above the fuse box. (water/rust/pixies are a bad mix) 2. Don't break the rear window. (Get new struts if they have lost gas) 3. If it has dog leg 1st like mine did, remember this at the lights. 4. Don't lust after a 924. 5. Skids are expensive with the rear trans-axle setup if anything pops. Otherwise have fun. Pretty much a VW van engine so pretty reliable. Early fuel injection isn't worth touching unless you have someone who knows how to work on them. I had the turbo version which was quite happy to swap ends in the rain - notably on the Khyber Pass on-ramp which proved to be quite entertaining.

Was that the one miles off the ground?

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.

@Threeonthetree who doesn't come online anymore has.

I might be in the area, but only because some bloke up the road just had his Porsche repossessed and needs comforting through delivery of a BW35 gearbox. I guess I'll be hungry after doing that.

Weekend rides with @Threeonthetree @GuyWithAviators @Raizer @Shakotom @sentra shit photos - them other fullas have gooder ones.

Road is closed as of yesterday due to no road anymore.

I double dare you m9. YOUCANDOIT

full of 95 m8.

How's that 125 doin? Mounted mine Yesterday. Made loom and now have a list of a few things to acquire. Fizzing at the bung tbh

Self sufficient ride now boys. Weld up those racks.

hearteyes.jpg

You're not gonna like the Spitfire then. Makes an mx-5 seem pretty roomy!

I got lucky and mine came with one. However it doesn't have a soft-top that is functional. Not too fussed about that yet, however it may be something I look into in the future. Also, have you tried fitting into a spitfire @xsspeed? Blardy small place to be.

Have you seen the prices of GT6's though :/ (Yeah I've always pined over a GT6) Sptifire 1/10th - 1/20th cost

Starter-motor now has new guts. Anyone seen my growler?

Bring it out. There are a few of us in ChCh the day before Hanmer. How hard can it be?

Oi What's happening with this ?

Boot lid looked worse underneath. Mess. Mess removed Big Hammer and small hammer. Took out back to real steel. Half of this had been replaced in the past by the looks. Inside then painted in zinc etc. (Yes, I use old Hard Drive magnets for welding - have a pile from when I made a rocker-cover racer) I often forget to take the above progress photo as I just get it done and paint it, however tonight when I took a break from grinding back welds I took one. Top line looks bent - it's not. Just the reflections of grinding. I've since completed and little holes filled. I'll do the other side of the boot tonight if I can be bothered. I'm starting to channel my inner @yoeddynz / @azzurro - It's quite nice to see progress in metal. Further to @tortron's comments I'll be putting drain holes in this ridge to avoid this happening again. Also will check on starter motor status tonight with my brother.