basketcase

Hi, it`s me.....again!! I was about to reassemble the yokes on my project and decided to look at the assembly instructions from the custGP site. Hmmmm...the parts

Many thanks woody, a bit more complicated than the usual forks that I`ve dealt with!! Although the ones on my Matchless were a pain to sort out. It was the drain plug that I have found to be tight. I daren`t use too much force i.e. an impact driver as I`m afraid for the alloy fork bottom. I can probably pinch the screw in the vice and loosen it that way, there`s enough showing then clean it up with a fine file or emery cloth . The allen bolt came undone quite easily, too easily really and there was oil all around it. I can`t say if it was leaking past the washer or what had leaked down the leg from the shot fork seals but there wasn`t much oil left in the leg!! Is there a fibre or copper washer between the bolt and bottom of the leg? I found 2 washers on the bolt and can`t tell. There is an alloy spacer at the top of the spring. Also there`s a screw in the bottom of the top cap, what`s it for? Can the forks be adapted for pre-load? The top cap seems to have a mark as if it could be drilled through.

Hi, just stripped the first fork leg ready for new seals.....the `oil` that came out was disgusting, thin, watery and smelly!! Is the screw always a pig to remove? (still haven`t got it out yet but haven`t tried with a vengance) The spring measures 17", is this the correct length? And how much new oil goes in, what grade? Sorry but the bike is a Mk2, 1974ish. Cheers, basketcase.

Hi, I managed to get the engine out in one, but I`m not looking forward to getting it back in now that my frame is freshly powdercoated!! I`ve covered the down tubes and top tube in pipe lagging and hoping that that is enough to stop the scratches! I don`t fancy taking the top end off as the engine ran lovely before I took the bike apart, just giving it all a coat of paint to freshen it up. Cheers, basketcase.

Changing the subject, not the bike, what`s the extra bracket for under the seat and the circular bit on the rear silencer?

Yes, fair point. I`ll order the 10mm ones and go from there. Earlier in the thread it was mentioned that I`d need three bearings for the rear wheel, 4 if a flat sprocket were fitted. Why are they sold in pairs? Suppose that I could keep one for a spare!!

Hi b40rt, I asked which fork seals I needed for my Mk2 Ossa mar. Thought that a straight forward reply would return. Looks like I should have removed the old ones, intact, measured them and then ordered them. Not asked for advice from a specialised dealer. I never had any problems with other bike specialists when ordering parts. This is why I`ve asked on this forum which wheel and head bearings I need, makes things simpler. Should have asked on here about the fork seals. Hi Ed, Barfast is about half a mile from where I grew up, used them for all my other bikes, even old Brit bikes using whitworth. This time I used a place in Taunton. A full set in stainless for my Ossa cost me £15, bargain!!

I`ve had a reply from Inmotion. I asked which fork seals I need, the reply said " they could be 7mm or 10mm" really helpful!! I`ll strip them down and measure, make sure that I get the right ones. My bike has white plastic mudguards not the alloy. I quite like the look of them so might keep them for now, matches the tank and side panels.

Yes, I was thinking of a cable tie and a piece of rubber between the tank and frame. I won`t be using my bike as much as most, just the odd wobble around a local field or quarry. Are the handlebar bolts (handlebar to mounts) M7`s? Couldn`t match them at the suppliers. Might get them chromed Still trying to work out how to upload pictures. Modern technology isn`t my strongpoint.....I`m not sure what is my strongpoint!!

Hi Woody, it`s just the small things, the plastic washers on the side panels, the tank mount kit, cable guide on the front forks and their gear lever is a good price ($24.95 + p+p). I e-mailed them to check on the price for shipping to the UK, still no reply. My tank was held on with a jubilee clip at the rear which was a pain to undo, and it has worn the paint off the frame. I can`t work out how the rear fixes and Ossa world shows a piece of rubber, still can`t work it out!! I watched a front headlamp on fleabay just before Christmas, I gave up when the price kept going up! I`m sending some bits off to be rechromed in the next few days. I had loads done for my Matchless and Honda with Bob in Stafford, cheaper than anyone else and a better job too. Hope that the front pipe comes up ok. Going to pick up the stainless bits now.....can`t wait!!! I`m like a kid at Christmas when it comes to this!! Cheers, Nigel.

Many thanks....again! I definately have a Mk2, alloy tank (not as heavy as I first thought), 2 retaining bolts on the front forks, no split in the cylinder head, swing arm as shown in your photo. There is a company on fleabay selling tank and side panel decals, £25 a set. Did all Mk2`s come with the Mick Andrew side panel stickers? I`m putting in an order with Inmotion for the usual stuff, fork seals, chain tension pad, brake shoes, cables etc. The bearings I`m getting from a local suppliers, they`re cheaper! Have you bought anything fron Ossa World in America? I can`t get them to answer any e-mails. I need a few things that Inmotion don`t stock. When I work out how to upload pictures I`ll show you work in progress, powder coated frame etc. A company up in Staffordshire did the powdercoating, less than half the price that I was quoted down here in Somerset, and they did a lot more things like both parts of the exhaust in satin black, wheel spacer frame brackets. I`m picking up all the replacement nuts, bolts, washers etc tomorrow....all in stainless. Cheers,again, basketcase.

Wow!!!! Thanks woody, you`re a mine of information! Looks like I have a Mk2. I`ve not seen any rear brake cables listed on Inmotions website but they do list the new dished sprocket, £55. I`m sure that my tank is steel not alloy, feels too heavy. I`ve also noticed that the footrests fitted on the Mk2 in the picture have springs fitted to them....mine don`t! Are they supposed to have them? Saying that the ones on my bike are on a different mounting. The paintwork on mine has the hockey stripe and not the straight, diagonal wide stripe, is this right? Sorry for all the questions but I like to get the bike right...my last bike won awards. (it did take me almost 5 years to finish though ) Cheers, basketcase.

Many thanks amo and woody, sorry but I`ll be asking quite a few more questions in the near future. I was told by the previous owner that it was a 1972/3 bike but not registered until 1976. The engine and frame numbers match,231673 and it still has the dished rear sprocket. I guess that the bike hasn`t been messed with very much apart from the frame being painted black, it`s now powdercoated silver again. The only thing that I`m having problems with is getting an original rear brake cable, I suppose that I can send my old one off to Venhill to get one made up, but no one stocks them. I thought that getting spares for my 1965 Matchless was hard but nowhere near as hard as for this!! Cheers, basketcase.

Hi all, just stripping down a 1972/3 MAR and was wondering if anyone could tell me the serial number for the bearings. I`ve found the number for the steering head bearings (30204) but can`t seem to find any for the wheels. Also are the hubs supposed to be black?The bike is 99% original and the spokes don`t appear to have any overspray. All the bikes I`ve seen have alloy/silver hubs but mine are black! Cheers in advance, basketcase.

Hi all, I`m new to this site but not new to twinshocks as I used to have a `79 TY250. I`ve recently bought a 1972/3 but registered in `76 Ossa MAR 250 which hasn`t been touched. A bit abused but all original, needing a bit of tlc. I`ve stripped it down to the basics ready to have the frame powder coated and put new bearings in the wheels, headstock etc. There are a few things that I need to get straight before I start. 1) Where is the best place for spare parts, new and used. (I`ve seen Inmotion) 2) What colour is the frame supposed to be. All the ones that I`ve seen on the net have silver frames but mine is black. 3) How do I get the races out of the headstock. 4) Are the hubs supposed to be black or silver (polished?) 5) Is there a colour code for the white on the tank and side panels. 6) Are the speedometers still available as I intend to put it on the road. I think that is all for now!! Many thanks in advance. basketcase (Nigel)