Re: 34L001324 Restoration has started!

Aussiesven · Post by **Aussiesven** » Sun Oct 30, 2011 5:02 am

Well, bit of a late starter with photos and progress of my restauration... haven't bothered to take "pre-resto" photos, then found this website and now have to play some catch up... but: you haven't missed a hell of a lot yet. My Tenere is a 1984 34L, originally registered in Germany, where I bought it in 1985.
It has been my trusty companion ever since, replacing an XT500. We have travelled over 80,000klms together and she never let me down. But I made the mistake leaving her in the garage during the Brisbane floods... hence she was emerged for a few days in January and I didn't give her any attention for a few weeks as we were occupied with the clean up... that didn't help her health, and she now needs some TLC!

The main problem was to find a replacement tank as the old one was totally rusted inside and over the years had a few major prangs anyway. Found one in Germany, not 100%, but the crack can be welded and the small dents will be fixed and then repainted and decals added from a bloke in Italy... should turn out well. (Sorry, some photos need rotating, but after going back and forth ten times... not sure what I am cocking up. Next time... just turn your head please...!)

Have ordered the first parts from Boats.Net, mainly small fry. My side covers, seat and the like are still in pretty good condition. The engine survived the flood OK, just needs new rings, cylinder honed and some bearings, clean up and painting.

Well, from now on I will take more step by step photos of all the restored and cleaned items as it all comes together. The next stages will be stripping and painting all the smaller items, send the frame, gear rack, handlebars, etc off to the powdercoater and get the headlight mask plastic welded.

Then the tank and mask need doing and the wheels respoked (and maybe new tyres, although I somehow like the 'old' Michelin Desert attire... gives the bike extra height and a more savage look!?

Currently having a few posts out there to gather information on the best swing arm and fork leg restoration. Seems a bit trickier to get the right finish for both. Mine are a bit tatty, but recoverable.

Anyway, so when it is all done, and way too much money spent on it...this is what she will hopefully look like again:

And she will then gain a special place in the house.. maybe the foyer? Always wanted to do that... my wife will love that!

Will keep you posted how we progress. Interesting times ahead...

Sven

Mezo · Post by **Mezo** » Sun Oct 30, 2011 7:38 am

Looking forward to another 34L "Restoration" and the pictures can be rotated in photobucket Sven,
just go to the edit button & turn them the right way up & save original, it should also put them the correct way on the forum? if not just go & edit your post.

Mezo. :tenere:

xtjoe · Post by **xtjoe** » Sun Oct 30, 2011 9:36 am

Looking forward to this

,some detail about the 80 odd kays done together would't hurt, Cheers

Eric66 · Post by **Eric66** » Sun Oct 30, 2011 10:13 am

Looks like you are on the right track so far, good to see another old girl being brought back to life!
Regards Eric

55W1985 · Post by **55W1985** » Sun Oct 30, 2011 2:17 pm

Yes Sven that bike will look fantastic again!Its all there and was a functional bike

Eric is doing a fantastic allmost step by step so its an excellent guide too.
Your swingarm looks very good as your fork legs.clean them as best as posible.You will be ok there.
You own a second tank? I will be buying one for opening it making it biger.Maybe a 40 liters thing.
Karl

CharlieGreger · Post by **CharlieGreger** » Mon Oct 31, 2011 10:44 am

Danjet600 · Post by **Danjet600** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 10:11 pm

Fred333 · Post by **Fred333** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 8:58 am

55W1985 wrote: I will be buying one for opening it making it biger.Maybe a 40 liters thing.
Karl

Karl, you can have one of mine for cheap if you don´t get one in Argentina.
For cutting it and then give it to your genius it will be OK.
Fred

Eric66 · Post by **Eric66** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 8:34 am

How's the resto going?
Regards Eric

Aussiesven · Post by **Aussiesven** » Sun Jan 29, 2012 12:21 am

Geee, I have been slack, I know.... with Christmas and Holidays and a few other things in between the project has not progressed as fast as I would have liked it... but what's the rush.

Everything is pulled apart and ready to be sent to the various workshops, but that is where the first issues have arisen: Haven't had any luck finding a zinc plater in Brisbane. Powdercoating shouldn't be too hard, but am also still trying to find a good painter for the tank, etc... everyone I rang seemed too disinterested and that's never a good sign.

So, if anyone out there could help with contacts for a painter, zinc plater and maybe even a powder coater and machine shop to overhaul the engine head - that would help to move things along a bit.

Nonetheless, the first parts from boats.net arrived before Christmas... all looks good except the horn is a lot bigger than the one I have. So I am now confused whether my horn was maybe non-original and I now have the right one, or vice versa... shouldn't matter too much, just intrigued.

It is always nice to get some new bits...

The other bit I am still stuffing around with and don;t seem to get right is the fork leg polishing/sanding. Started with wet sanding and an angle grinder with the wire brush (which worked well for the lower triple clamp as you can see in the photo), but for the fork legs it doesn't look right yet... so need to rethink my approach - you can see them in the background in the parts photos.... Maybe I still try the anodised finish? But if that doesn't work then I stuffed them up nicely, so i might just persevere a bit more by hand.

Anyway, still going on it... just reading Tommy's XT500 resto has inspired me again. Must get easier after you restored the first one...