Lucas Rear Motorcycle lamp, Electrolysis rust removal

[bigduke6]

Quite a rare item now and sought after, the one above was from a dealer in France or Germany, he showed a pic of a lot of rusted ones he had on the HMVF , it was a lucky dip regarding what you got, it does look a lot worse than it is, but once a bead blast, and a new lamp holder made should be ok, need to fill the corroded spots on the bracket with braze etc, just a pity the impressed " L-WD MCT1A" can't be read as only slight bit left.....

The last I seen on ebay was around £80 (good but used).

All good fun....... engine is due to be fully stripped this week to see if any spares required (can actually get in the workshop without going blue) new Valve guide and valves for sure and crank case seals etc, fingers crossed piston and rings within tolerance but I doubt it ........ If you do know anyone with Matchless spares I'd like to get in touch with them.

[Brit plumber]

Have you heard of Ron Pier, nice chap, we've had many a good deal in the past. He's just made a Lighweight 350cc Enfield after he found the original trial engine in South Africa. He has contacts all over the world and knows where anything you need....will be.

[bigduke6]

Have you heard of Ron Pier, nice chap, we've had many a good deal in the past. He's just made a Lighweight 350cc Enfield after he found the original trial engine in South Africa. He has contacts all over the world and knows where anything you need....will be.

I know of Ron, only through email and the HMVF, any questions he is normally the first to reply...... Its probably one of your lamps he had a picture of in the box.
Certainly a nice collection of Bikes,

In fact will be contacting him soon regarding the state of my engine..... after stripping the engine, there were a few signs of neglect and some damage not much but ...... the valve springs had no bottom cup, one of the collars was on its last and no spacer was fitted on the exhaust, the cams have suffered corrosion and quite pitted etc although the peaks are ok, same on the tappets but the feet are ok, driving side bearings are good and the timing bush, bottom end is a bit sluggish ( Flywheels just about to be split and inspected) the joys of old British bikes......

It was obvious why it was burning oil, the inlet valve guide was well worn...

[Surpmil]

Vinegar actually does the same thing only better. Boil the piece in caustic first, or put in an ultrasonic cleaner to get the grease and dirt off. Once the vinegar has converted the rust, it just blows off in the ultrasonic leaving even the pits clean to the bottom.

[bigduke6]

Thats what I used on the inside of the petrol tank...... few hours later and a few weeps appeared, certainly cleaned the inside, had to use a tank sealer in the end as every time I brazed up a hole another appeared.

[peregrinvs]

Nice work. I recently used electrolysis on a rusty WWI British MkI Brodie helmet shell I'm gradually restoring. Good fun, although due to a lack of good sacrificial anodes and the kit to secure them in the best places, I eventually returned to my usual rust removing method: dilute citric acid.

I'm now at the repainting stage, although this is a bit slow and laborious as there's lots of fine pitting to fill in. Getting there though.

[browningautorifle]

fine pitting to fill in

I know it's a bit outside, but have you tried Bondo or some such? It would fill, sand and then look perfect after paint. It wouldn't be thick either, just a skim.

[peregrinvs]

I know it's a bit outside, but have you tried Bondo or some such? It would fill, sand and then look perfect after paint. It wouldn't be thick either, just a skim.

I have used car body filler or epoxy on deep pitting in the past, but in this case I've just been painting on and sanding down thick coats of primer undercoat paint. It does the job, but it's a bit laborious.

I've also mixed some homebrew WWI style khaki paint for the exterior, which was fun.

[browningautorifle]

WWI style khaki paint for the exterior,

Although not what we're doing in this thread, maybe a thread with some pics of your restorations for us to examine? Things like that give us food for thought...?

[peregrinvs]

Although not what we're doing in this thread, maybe a thread with some pics of your restorations for us to examine? Things like that give us food for thought...?

I have been documenting the process and would like to do that. Just need a suitable dollop of time to sort it all out.