I think Dad bought his 380 Griffon in 1988, as I found some pictures of it on a trailer outside our old house. When I was little I remember moving the chassis around during one of his garage 'tidy ups', any feelings of being a grown-up now - based on the fact I could move a full-size bike around on my own - dashed when I noticed that the engine was missing!!
The engine did arrive with the bike, it was complete as bought. Dad talked about having the engine rebuilt a long time ago by Mike Palmer. Well finally I found the bottom-end, indeed looking pristine. I think it was likely done about 30 years ago. The rest of the bike has languished since - one of many projects that, alas, the old man didn't finish.
My focus at the moment is on rebuilding Dad's Bultaco, but as there are limitations on what I can do/go shopping for/people I can pester for help, I'm doing bits on the Griffon too.
So first of all it was to round up the engine parts, including the gearbox (in bits in a cardboard box looking a bit sorry for itself, now wrapped up and in due course will be sent off to Geoff Nunn).
As mentioned the bottom-end is done. But what about the cylinder barrel and head? Well...
I'm sure it looked better when it was put away at the back of a shelf. But then the mice moved in - I expect the twin exhaust ports made for quite a luxury residence. I'm guessing though that the sanitation arrangements weren't ideal because the bore is in a bit of a mess.
I started with scraping out the remains of the nest - not looking much better:
Next I went to work on the rust, using a large piece of alloy bar to gently scrape at the mess.
The next two photos show how it looks close up, and then secondly that it is responding to some careful work with wire wool. But I have some questions...
The wire wool is messy, and I was wondering if - being steel - it can interfere with the liner? Could I use an aluminium or other wire brush on a dremel or flexible drive? Or does anyone have any other suggestions?
I'm guessing it might be a bit far gone to get away with a clean and hone. I did a rough measurement (can't find a bore gauge big enough) and it seems to be +0.040. This would make sense as there's a new +0.040 piston here for it. So presumably the bore was in good enough shape when it went on the shelf. Do 380 barrels go a size higher, or is that as big as you can get away with?
And finally, would it have been matt black originally?
The engine did arrive with the bike, it was complete as bought. Dad talked about having the engine rebuilt a long time ago by Mike Palmer. Well finally I found the bottom-end, indeed looking pristine. I think it was likely done about 30 years ago. The rest of the bike has languished since - one of many projects that, alas, the old man didn't finish.
My focus at the moment is on rebuilding Dad's Bultaco, but as there are limitations on what I can do/go shopping for/people I can pester for help, I'm doing bits on the Griffon too.
So first of all it was to round up the engine parts, including the gearbox (in bits in a cardboard box looking a bit sorry for itself, now wrapped up and in due course will be sent off to Geoff Nunn).
As mentioned the bottom-end is done. But what about the cylinder barrel and head? Well...
I'm sure it looked better when it was put away at the back of a shelf. But then the mice moved in - I expect the twin exhaust ports made for quite a luxury residence. I'm guessing though that the sanitation arrangements weren't ideal because the bore is in a bit of a mess.
I started with scraping out the remains of the nest - not looking much better:
Next I went to work on the rust, using a large piece of alloy bar to gently scrape at the mess.
The next two photos show how it looks close up, and then secondly that it is responding to some careful work with wire wool. But I have some questions...
The wire wool is messy, and I was wondering if - being steel - it can interfere with the liner? Could I use an aluminium or other wire brush on a dremel or flexible drive? Or does anyone have any other suggestions?
I'm guessing it might be a bit far gone to get away with a clean and hone. I did a rough measurement (can't find a bore gauge big enough) and it seems to be +0.040. This would make sense as there's a new +0.040 piston here for it. So presumably the bore was in good enough shape when it went on the shelf. Do 380 barrels go a size higher, or is that as big as you can get away with?
And finally, would it have been matt black originally?
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