654 replies to this topic

[neil_g]

isnt the maestro column shorter? ive got a complete one in my garage somewhere that im going to use and its a perfect fit

[Alburglar]

That's interesting to know. It may be the same as the allegro column, because it looks like it would be a perfect fit in the normal upper column position, if you use the allegro outer steering coloumn too. However my column is extremely low, mounted on the dash bar. I have more or less sorted it now, I'll post some pics later.

[Alburglar]

This is the mini inner and outer column with the lower section of an allegro coloumn on it.

I have cut the allegro lower section to suit my extra low coloumn position and started to make a sleeve for it so I can weld it back together straight.

Then I cut this much off the mini outer column, in order to use the top section of the allegro inner coloumn as it is shorter than the mini inner column. But this meant cutting off the bit of the outer column that holds the bush. Luckily I had a metro (k series) bottom arm poly bush kit lying around, so I made a polybush fit by grinding away a bit of it's circumference, until it fit snug.

[Alburglar]

I also got the other perspex window made and fitted.

[dean_chad]

How much bigger did you have to make the side windows?

[Alburglar]

How much bigger did you have to make the side windows?

I'll double check but think it was about half inch.

Got my arse in gear and welded and painted the collapsable part og the new column.

[Jammy]

Oooo, thank god we have the police to remind us the clocks go back...

[*Raz*]

...another Monty!!

[Alburglar]

Finally found time to finish the collapsable steering column. It all went together nice and fit perfect, but because the column is now flexible at the UJ's the whole thing wobbled about. So I've used the sliding bracket from another steering coloumn and was gonna make a brace between that and the pedal box frame. However, I managed found a nice galvenised bracket in my scrap metal box which fit perfectly! Isn't nice when you get some good luck every now and again.

[Alburglar]

Typical, one step forward, two steps back.
I thought I'd been clever and solved a big problem today. R1 motorbikes don't have any oil pressure or temperature guages, therefore the engines have no senders either. I thought I could solve this problem easy. I got an oil cooler sandwhich plate and drilled straight through it a couple of times so Oil would always be passing through it.

Then fitted a 1/2 to 3/8 bsp (male/female) and a 1/2 to 1/8 bsp (male/male) adapters to it so I could run a mechanical split oil temp and pressure guage via a length of braided hose for the pressure and the standard sender for the temp.

This was great until I realised that the oil filter has been spaced out so far that it touches the exhaust manifold.


I could just tap and thread a 1/8 bsp into this bolt in the water cooled oil cooler and get my oil pressure but then I can't use my split guage,

so I'm gonna bug some mates with acces to machine shops and make up a new sandwhich plate that only has the 3/8 and 1/8 holes in it so I can make it alot thinner.

Edited by Alburglar, 02 November 2007 - 08:49 PM.

[dean_chad]

I had the same problem. I had to turn the plate down so it didnt fowl on the engine rib and also make it thinner, As i was only using 1/8th fittins the block could be turned down a considerable amount.

p.s its coming together now buddy how many hours do you think the column took to build?

Edited by dean_chad, 03 November 2007 - 07:20 PM.

[supermotolee]

can you not run a remote filter?

[Alburglar]

I had the same problem. I had to turn the plate down so it didnt fowl on the engine rib and also make it thinner, As i was only using 1/8th fittins the block could be turned down a considerable amount.

p.s its coming together now buddy how many hours do you think the column took to build?

Assembling all the bits and bobs took ages, but it didn't take very long to actually put together...
...but I did swear alot when trying to line up the two cut parts of the allegro joint...and then be brave enough to start welding it properly. Lol

[Alburglar]

can you not run a remote filter?

Yeah, but I've already paid out for all my bits now, so wanted to use what I had. Plus, it's one of those jobs that you only ever have to do once, and will look neat.

I did as much as I could with it, but am now farming it out to various friends and relatives. My friend john had the taps at work to thread the 3/8 and 1/8 bsp holes and so that should be done now. Then it's going to my cousin max, as he, hopefully has access to a machine shop to get the recessed bits done.

[Alburglar]

Sandwich plate is done.

Hopefully there will be enoughe clearance now.