Hardley a Davidson diesel Project

[pietenpol2002]

I love your ingenuity. It's what make building these projects fun. Can't wait to see it up and running.

[Dougy]

I love your ingenuity. It's what make building these projects fun. Can't wait to see it up and running.

Thanks mate, but I just nicked the Idea from someone else .

I had my seat come back today from the trimmers, he's done a really good job on it and I'm very pleased to recomend him ! Phil from KEW COACH TRIMMERS, SOUTHPORT, 01704 536787, I salute you Sir .
I've also got some test graphics back which I'm also very pleased with, yes Sir another good day

[Dougy]

I've got the forks in the Chromers getting done this week so I thought I'd have a rest....that is untill the boss here wanted it built up !
No rest for the wicked

[Dougy]

I got my forks back from 'Rockrome' in Crossby this week so I finished off the build really, I just need mirrors and a bit of tweaking here and there but for the most part its DONE !
I guess the hard part is to come.....SVA......DVLA..... I'm having nightmares allready.

[Curtis in Texas]

Congratulations Dougy.
I was thinking you were going after that WWII Military look with the OD Green paint. But then you added pink!!!!

Looks good. Not my color, but it looks good.
Any reason why your Gummit Nazis won't pass it for the road?

For us Yanks, what does SVA ad DVLA stand for?

All we got is the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) where I live to mess with.
(But that does not include the California Guys!) (They got their own way of doing things to be a pain in the back pocket!)


Curtis

[rednorfolk]

nice diesel bike ,good one .

[Tamber]

For us Yanks, what does SVA ad DVLA stand for?

SVA: Single Vehicle Approval -- The test a home-built vehicle must go through to be legally allowed on the road. (A lot of it is common sense, like "no sharp edges", etc.; other bits are utterly confusing even with the handbook (Approval of mirrors and things like that, and aiming of headlights, for example.*))

DVLA: Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. Rather self-explanatory, really. Think 'DMV' and you're probably not far wrong.

* But then, maybe I'm just a little bit thick.

[Curtis in Texas]

Got it Tamber. Makes sense now! Thanks!
I've been trying ot get title on some bike I have and have yet to find anyone who knows how to title a bike without a registration. Although I know it can be done because I've done them before in another part of the state.

Oh well! I'll keep trying.

[old clunker]

The bike's looking good - nice detail work and finish. I'm sure that you can't wait to get the bike through the SVA and road legal, and then get to ride it!
Good luck with the testing and paperwork! And thanks for putting up all the details of your build.

[Henk]

Very nice motorbike. i like the colour to.

[gilburton]

It doesn't need an SVA if you have the v5.
Just send off the v5 with the changes i.e. cc and engine number also the fuel change to "heavy oil". You will get back a request to get the changes verified by an independant garage. My local car garage did it for me.
There are no mechanical checks just a visual verification that the changes are as you say. All you need is written confirmation on headed paper.You could get this done before you send off the v5??
See the documentation issues section as myself and others have done it.
You don't even need an M.O.T. to get the v5 changed. Once you get it back you can then mot it in the usual manner but as it is basically a standard bike I can't see any problems.
You would probably need an SVA if the bike was scratch built??
p.s. I just used the clutch lever as a decompressor as I figured in an emergency you would automatically grab it rather than try to find a smaller lever.

[Dougy]

Gilburton I havent got the V5 yet, I have got the Dateing letter though now, when I first presented it to the DVLA for examination when I first got it, it was basically two wheels, a fuel tank and a frame, no engine or anything really. just all rusted up fairly solid, a proper barn find and never registed in this country his advise was to bring it back for inspection when it looks more like a motorcycle
I've just showed Freya all the nice things you guys have said about her bike and she's really pleased . Thank you.

[gilburton]

In that case you're in the hands of the ministry(or is it vosa now??) I can't see any real problems as your build is very good and mostly standard. You might get away with a partial MSVA. I know the inspectors are usually quite fair and it's not as stringent as cars.Fingers crossed

[Dougy]

I've never heard of a partial MSVA before ! That would be fantastic I think I'll be asking for one of them .

[Dan J]

I absolutely love it - what a fantastic build Dougy. I think if it was me I'd be scared to ride it and get it dirty having put that much time and effort in - but then that'd be defeating the object of having it. It's hard to think you'll have any hassle at all with the SVA, especially as the frame is over 10 years old.

Surely this is worth getting in touch with Back Street Heroes about to see if they're interested?

[Dougy]

Cheers Dan, you've been a gent since the start of the build and like I've said it really does help spur you on,It leaves a bit to be desired close up to be honest... but.... you set it up mate an by the time they turn up with them models they have...who cares

[altf4]

this is an incredibly inspiring build! njomnjom.

thanx for sharing

g max ~:)

[Sphere]

Ver nice Now she will be asking you when she can ride it every day for the next 5 years?

[Dougy]

Ver nice Now she will be asking you when she can ride it every day for the next 5 years?

Thanks Sphere but its not the end of the story but looks like being the second part in a trilogy that puts Lord of the Rings to shame , the next step is paperwork ! Before I can fill out the DVLA'sV55/5 form to register the bike (£55) an pay the road tax (£?) I've had to wright to HMRC, National unit for personal transport which is in Dover, I've give them all the Info I have on the bike Incuding the dateing letter I got and the original EBAY add, and filled in form C384 which is about the official importer ( whos now emigrated to Thialand ) filled it in as best I could and I hopefully will get it back this week and find out if I have any Duty to pay on it, then I have to insure it on the chassis number an get it MOT'd, Like I said before there just the hoops I know about !

On the MOT I'm more than a bit worried about the exaust noise so I've bought a DB tester to find out how good / bad it really is, I've one half of a W650 exhaust as a plan B but again if thats all right I'm a bit concerned about the engine knock noise, plan C is fake 'E' marked exhaust stickers then I only have a terrible 70's front drum brake to worry about......

[Dougy]

Had a bit of good news today, HMRC's department finally got back to me, they've completed their investigation into the bike and have concluded theres no reason to believe that the VAT and duty on the bike have not been paid and given me the ok to register it with the DVLA , so the next job is MOT I think.....happy days though .

[Dougy]

Had a mixed day today, first thing it was booked in for an mot, I got out the bike which started first thing, so lid on off we go....no movement, I'd put one of the pullys faces on the wrong way when I put the engine in but no problem I can fix this, an hour later an I'd snapped the guard off at the bottom which can be fixed, just pissed me off but at least the pully was fixed an I had forward motion 13 miles later I arrived at the mot station having bedded the front brake in a bit, their still awfull but to my surprise it flew through the mot great, off for a blast an it went great untill the circlip keeping the torque converter sprocket on must have pinged off sending the belt out off alianment an ripping it to shreads an me stranded in darkest Waterloo. I'm going to fix it for good now by getting the end threaded an winding on a 14mm nylock and if theres room a split pin.....three hours later I'm home after squeezing it in our lil Suzuki carry van, why I didnt get the break down for £49 yesterday when I got it insured I dont know ! What I do know is I'm gona go find some beer ! Lets hope registering it Monday at the DVLA goes smoother than today....

[Stuart]

Congratulations on the MoT there Dougy Yes, rob ably best not to stray too far from home whilst giving the bike it's first good run. I had to put the Enfield in the van 6 months back when I realised the spare clutch cable I carried needed modification. Needless to say both spares i have are now modified!

[Dougy]

Off to Preston DVLA this afternoon with all the paperwork I was told to bring, passport, photo driving licence, dating letter, insurance details, HMRC's clearance letter, V55 form, picture evidence of the speedo, engine number an frame number an £90 for the road tax an registration fee's AND...was told it will take a few days as they want to check everything out...DOHH ! Still a waiting game is better than a no I suppose roll on the weekend.....

[henneberg]

Good luck with the registration. Nice time of the year to have the project ready

[Dougy]

YEEEESSSSS ! I had a lovely letter today from the DVLA, It included the new tax disc and the v984 which is the number plate authorisation certificate . The V5 should come through in a week or two, Its been a bit of a slog at times doing this bike for my lil girl Freya but I can promise you its been worth it an theres a another biker on the way there , Its cost a few bob as I'm not a rich man but looking back I dont think I'd change that much, but saying that now the things legal I'll run around on it for a bit ( I have to put it away for her when its run in) as theres bound to be a few (more ) kinks to work out like the stupid circlip on the shaft that recently came of an wrecked the belt, I've included a few pics of how we fixed it so we dont need a circlip there anymore thanks to Phil the engineer for that who's so into the bike he never even charged me and while looking at replacement belts I noticed other covers had a load holes drilled in for cooling so I've splashedout again and bought it a load of holes, anyway I'm gona call this one done an concentrate on getting my boys Ped through the SVA, thanks again for all the positive feedback I've recieved of everyone here, It helped a lot !

[Curtis in Texas]

Outstanding Dougy!

Nice to hear it's done!

Now, go ride it and report how it performs in the real world.....

Inquiring minds want to know......

[Dougy]

Just for you Curtis...
I've had a funny few weeks with the old diesel bike, like you know the first outing bust the original kevlar CVT belt after 28 miles, this could have been for a couple of reasons now I look back with hindsight, the first may be the circlip coming off the small sprocket shaft and sending the shaft out of alignment snapping the belt but I now tend to think the belt snapped first because the shrapnell endend up wrapped all around the driven pulley which must have put considerable force on it....maybee it pinged of then ? The second thing was when I was unwraping about 15 foot of CVT string out, around and generally everywhere around the works, I couldnt help but notice the driven and the driver pullys were really hot, too hot to touch for long, so after looking at the original Comet cvt cover which has a holes drilled all over it for cooling which mine never had, maybe it overheated and that caused the belt failure ?? I orded another belt which is an aftermarket one from a company called 'rotary' from Glenville, USA, part number 12-8487 which they said replaces the comet number 203589, this looked very similar to the original so I drilled a load of holes in the cover to aid cooling and off I went, it had a very differant feel to the first belt and tried to move the bike forward ever so slightly on tickover so I had to hold the front brake on when running, this belt lasted about 5 miles before the ride got lumpy and on inspection about 3 inches of teeth had fell off..... was it still to hot with the cover on ? Faulty belt ? I'm getting a bit miffed at this point as that belt cost me £26.50 from EBAY...but needs must and I bought another belt from EBAY, this time a genuine comet belt, I compared the belts and the comet belt was about 2mm wider with no clutch drag problems ! I've been out on the bike today and done about 5 miles with no problems, I've left the cover off the pullys so its got maximum cooling, and after having a think about it I was wondering if I was going to fast for it ? I previously clocked up speeds of 45 MPH and wonded if I kept the speed no higher than 30 MPH weather the belt would last longer, so I asked a mate to travel behind me and clock my speed as the pushbike speedo I fitted has packed up, I started out by screwing in the throttle stop screw in till the engine wouldnt start off the button then winding it out again till it did, off I went at a steady 40 MPH and no matter what I did I couldnt get the engine to go slower than that at full speed if that makes sense, I did see however that the CVT was'nt fully engaged so.... I've orded another original Comet belt and when it arrives I'll wind out the screw again and see what she'll do top end, the belt for now still looks like new so I dont think I'll put the cover back on anytime soon, I'll continue cautiously with short journeys and report anymore funny buisness....

[gilburton]

How's it going with the cvt problems? Did you get it sorted?? You can get belts in the UK from www.geminikarts.co.uk They are only a few miles from me and are very helpful with comet advice/sales and cvt info in general.

[Dougy]

Cheers mate an thanks for thinking of me , I've already used them, they seem like good people, I've been buying up genuine comet belts (I dont think much of the rotary belts they sell ) I've had good results from the Comet one I've got fitted, so I've bought another three.......thats me sorted for the next 30 miles

[Curtis in Texas]

A lot has hapened since I last posted on this thread Dougy.

I picked up the Diesel KLR that Sparky made a few years back from TX Ranger. (The guy who bought it from Sparky)
And I'm tweaking the whole bike. It too wouldn't run over 40 mph when I got it.
Found several reasons why and when I get time I'm going to post up the remake I"m doing to the bike, but I'd like to talk to Sparky first and get his input on the bike he built and see it it has any short falls I am not aware of.

I think it has a lot of potential, but I think I'm about to enter the Kevlar Twilight Zone you are in here shotly.

I'll be comparing notes about our finding later.

I think the bike has the capabilities to do 60~ 65 mph if all the stars alingn properly. But, I'm an Optomist!

I've got an early outing in the morning I need to do so I'm going to have to head for the bed.
Will post back up more tomorrow night when I've got time and more rest.