The Alpina 500

[Suzukidave]

Either billet , polished or chrome a few correctly placed shiney bits do set off a custom look nicely

[titan performance]

Tim and I have been doing a little here and there, and it's gradually moving forward. I shaped the fibre glass seat unit today, and prepared a base for the seat pad. Tim has fashioned an under seat tray to carry the battery, the regulator and rectifier. Meanwhile, the painter has welded up all of the tiny rust pin holes in my otherwise clean stock T500 tank. Still one or two minor items missing, and a whole bunch of stuff at the zinc platers, but once that comes back, we can get the forks and wheels on, and it will start to look like a bike,............can't wait !

[titan performance]

The above pics are in the opposite order to the intended. How do you work that "place in order" feature?

[Alan H]

You put the last one you want to see first, so it goes to the bottom of the list.
The system was probably designed by a woman...........

[titan performance]

Thanks Alan, I was thinking you could adjust the order once uploaded.

[titan performance]

Well I'm thinking I should have paid more attention when I took these switch blocks apart ! There's a surprising number of pieces in there.....

[titan performance]

Although the chrome plate came back to me nice and quick, unfortunately the zinc plate is taking a bit longer. The large ring nut that holds the steering stem, and the end caps to the swing arm bushes are among the items being zinced...so building the bike up has come to a stand still. In the meantime, we have tidied up the electrics, and mounted the battery and other items on a plate under the seat void. I made a simple hook and catch for the front of the seat unit, and stuck some thick rubber strips into it where it will sit on the frame tubes, and bonded in a hoop at the rear hump, which bolts to the frame.
Now the seat is prepped, it's off to the painter !

[titan performance]

My 500 rebuild is moving on....it needs to if it's going to the TT on May 24th !!
It's now a rolling chassis, despite the fact that I made a school boy error with the top yoke.....bugger ! A correct one has been cut, and is being tapped and counter bored as we speak. The upholsterer has made me a seat cushion, though I'm not totally happy with it, so we'll have to see how it looks with the body work. The painter called me today, to say that Maui blue is no longer available from anyone he knows, although he has found an alternative, so fingers crossed on that one. I spent some time with a soft wire brush in the dremmel, cleaning the carbs, and they look a lot better now. The engine is being soda blasted complete, a week tomorrow, so once that's done we should be able to fire the old thing up.......watch this space !

[dyrberg123]

That is progressing pretty quick, looks great.

[titan performance]

Thanks Dry......as I said, it's going to the Isle of Man on May 24th, so it needs to move on quickly. The engine hasn't been run since the 80s, but it was sound then. I'm hoping it will fire up and be all good......what are my chances?

[Suzukidave]

50/50

[Alan H]

Cross your fingers and the odds may improve - best of luck. I'm working on the same proviso with the 550.

[dyrberg123]

Thanks Dry......as I said, it's going to the Isle of Man on May 24th, so it needs to move on quickly. The engine hasn't been run since the 80s, but it was sound then. I'm hoping it will fire up and be all good......what are my chances?

What about the crank seal, can that survive so many years standing still drying out?

[titan performance]

That's the unknown factor I guess. I have owned this bike since 1977, and I know it's never been apart, if that counts for anything.

[tz375]

That's the unknown factor I guess. I have owned this bike since 1977, and I know it's never been apart, if that counts for anything.

It does but not for much when it comes to crank seals. You still have time to pull the crank and swap out the outer seals and even to get the inner seal(s) swapped if you have a good crank builder that can either slot it in or swap a crank on an exchange basis. It's about a one day job to swap a crank and clean up the cases