Pathfinder Engine Rebuilds

[Colin Sparrow]

When I visited Dick Dunkley the other day he showed me the Pathfinder Enduro he is in the process of restoring. What he has done so far looks top class (as usual), but he's run into a snag.

His engine which is partly dismantled but all there, needs a proper rebuild and he hasn't been able to find anyone able or willing to do it for him.

Has anyone a lead or a contact who might be able to help please?

[John Wakefield]

Dave Pink had his rebuilt by Tony Malthouse of Malthouse Motor Cycles, 137 High Street Harston, Cambridge, CB22 7QD. 01223 870694

[Colin Sparrow]

Dave Pink had his rebuilt by Tony Malthouse of Malthouse Motor Cycles, 137 High Street Harston, Cambridge, CB22 7QD. 01223 870694

Dick says he's packed up doing them - hence the enquiry...

[John Wakefield]

Pathfinder engine rebuilds

Ah I think I recall Dave saying Tony was packing up. I suppose the other option would be Simon Bateman but again presumably Dick has already pursued that avenue. This thread from Trials Central makes interesting reading http://www.trialscentral.com/forums/...e-info-please/ looks like there may be spares in Austria!
I suppose any competent engineer with sight of a workshop manual would be able to carry out the work, its getting the spares that will be the problem.

[riflegreen]

Spares are no problem , Puch were masters at using same parts in different engines , as they were made in Austria , I would expect spares to be had there & the engine was used a lot in the US in different forms .

The engine is a complicated little bugger , I did the Puch manufactures course on them , haven't looked at one for over forty years , thank God.

The special tool kit , which you struggled without , was around forty five separate items , did have the lot but have now all gone .

Any Puch dealer should be able to do the engine .

Chris

[Colin Sparrow]

Thanks Chris.

Anyone else have any thoughts?

[Rob]

Fit a Villiers!

However, I have found the exhaust drawings for Dick but if he can't get the the engine rebuilt, he won't need them!

Thanks for the warning Chris, I'll stay away from Puch engines!

[greeves246]

pathfinder

I had a puch dalesman in 1991 i rebuilt it six times trying to get selector system right they are for the want of it a swiss watch engine i think steyer damler have most bits in germany steve gollins has most of special tools wich seem to comprise of drifts for bearings and pullers and chrome bore which flaked

reliable starting though always remeber that

[John Wakefield]

Any Puch dealer should be able to do the engine .

Chris

Are there any Puch dealers around these days Chris? Puch went bust in 1987and where bought out by Piaggio. I think the last Puch motorcycle was the Maxi moped.

[Brian Catt]

Seen at Stebbing, maybe OTT, so a little TLR200 engine would be ideal.

[46T Sprocket]

Sorry I can't help with a source but any decent bike minded engineer sort could do the build. I'm not a qualified engineer but I took my one apart several times to replace the gearbox drawbar T bolt. All without any special tools. Case hardened steel meeting case hardened steel pushing through all the tiny cogs to pull them into sync meant it failed regularly.

If only digital cameras had been invented back then. Anyone tackling the job should take plenty of pictures and make careful notes of where all the shims go. It is very doable though.

Certainly a better enduro motor than a trials engine. On full blast on the rough it was a real fun bike - but hard work to be precise on the slow and nadgery stuff.

David.

[greeves246]

pathfinder

Was there any articles on rebuilds in the motorcycle ?

[John Wakefield]

Sorry I can't help with a source but any decent bike minded engineer sort could do the build. I'm not a qualified engineer but I took my one apart several times to replace the gearbox drawbar T bolt. All without any special tools. Case hardened steel meeting case hardened steel pushing through all the tiny cogs to pull them into sync meant it failed regularly.

If only digital cameras had been invented back then. Anyone tackling the job should take plenty of pictures and make careful notes of where all the shims go. It is very doable though.

Certainly a better enduro motor than a trials engine. On full blast on the rough it was a real fun bike - but hard work to be precise on the slow and nadgery stuff.

David.

Good points you have made there David, I think the problem with most engine restorers (proffessional or amature) is not actually doing the work but finding the new parts to do the job. In the case of VS & Nametab they specialise in Villiers so have the spares on the shelf. With the Puch its a matter of sourcing them (from Austria it would appear) & all the hassle & cost of getting them over here, maybe then to find they are the wrong part & wont fit.

[46T Sprocket]

Good points you have made there David, I think the problem with most engine restorers (proffessional or amature) is not actually doing the work but finding the new parts to do the job. In the case of VS & Nametab they specialise in Villiers so have the spares on the shelf. With the Puch its a matter of sourcing them (from Austria it would appear) & all the hassle & cost of getting them over here, maybe then to find they are the wrong part & wont fit.

Very true John!

Back then Greeves where only a phone call away. When i think back to the collection of Greeves stuff I left at my parents house when I got married - never to be seen again.... I still wince at the thought.

It might still be in the loft? I'm sure the current owner won't mind a bit in allowing me access.....

Regards,
David.

[John Wakefield]

If we had realised then that all that old Villiers 'junk' was going to be worth a 'kings ransom' now we would all have horded it away. You could not give it away back then. Certainly worth checking to see if your bits are still in that loft.