Bar Ends Tapped And A Hidden Gem.

[ProudViking]

After getting my bar ends and realising the bars needed tapping I was stuck. Didn't want to try it myself and didn't know anyone who could do it (By this I mean friends, family and that chap down the pub, NOT Mr Henty who kindly offered after the following story had taken place! Thanks, Lee). So I hit the web and looked at local engineering businesses and bike associated engineers. To my shock only one place replied. So I went to them and the moment the oil-covered Elvis impersonator saw them he serenaded me with those loving words "Sorry Mate, Ain't got a tool big enough for that!" After a few heart-pounding moments I was relived to realise he did mean the handlebars I was holding!

 

So, It was back to the web, And I looked much further afield. Sent out just a few emails this time, but, I got a reply! This chap down at the east end of the M3 sent me a nice long reply explaining that he could do it. So after several correspondences of emails that were really letters, Seriuosly this chap took the time out to write a proper letter every time. He took the time to research on the web about my bar ends to make sure. I hadn't even said I'd go with him yet.

 

A week or so later I was down that way so decided to drop the bars and bar ends off with him. He said it would be done by the end of the week and he'd post them back. He uses the courier firm next door! Now this chaps set-up is proper old school. It was like the seventies in there. No flashy signs or slogans. No branding or corporate bindings. Just well used tooling machines, Shelves filled with random bits of metal and bikes from all ages and all riders. He said no-one gives a shite about these little jobs now and he should set up a niche business!

 

So, I went to get the bars and barends when I was back down there and Da dah! He's only bloody done it. A perfect job and a brilliant result. He charged me £30 which I'm well chuffed with. So if you are looking for a little job doing and no-one on here can do it may I suggest this little gem...

 

Stewarts Motorcycle Repairs.

Unit 2

25a Hanworth Rd

Sunbury

Middlesex

TW16 5DA

 

 

http://www.stewarts-motorcycles.co.uk/default.html

This post was last modified: 15-02-2016, 04:51 PM by ProudViking.

[ramotdm]

well!!!!

 

 

 

where the pics  :dunno:

 

 

come on man, you know the rules  :ambusy: no excuses  :rotflmmfao:

[ProudViking]

well!!!!

 

 

 

where the pics  :dunno:

 

 

come on man, you know the rules  :ambusy: no excuses  :rotflmmfao:

Ooops!! Yes I should know by now.... orry:

 

Give me a sec.

[TDMick]

The website is worth a read.

Might pop round.

They sound like old school engineers.

 

:rotflmmfao:

[ProudViking]

[attachment=o7459][attachment=o7458]    Can you see anything?! wobbly hand syndrome :rotflmmfao:

 

 

[leehenty]

Looks like a nice sharp thread, a good job.

I might have undercharged AliG, tea n' cake was the bill for his 755 bars. 

Holding  the bar is the biggest problem, as it is easy to squash the alloy tube.

I hold them in a 22mm ER40 collet in a Stevensons collet block in the vice. This way you get all round even clamping. An old top yoke would do the same job.

You need good cutting fluid because the alloy tends to be 'sticky' and galls easily.

 

It's quite an easy job with a set of HSS serial taps. M16 x 1.5 is the thread.

This is the sort of block I mean.

 



 

 

This post was last modified: 15-02-2016, 08:58 PM by leehenty.

[Catteeclan]

Did mine fitted to the bike. Threads weren't as clean as them.

[chrisr]

It's ok Lee, there won't be a mass exodus from The House of Henty, "old school engineers"? We know The Master!

[leehenty]

I made up an alloy guide on the lathe so you can do them on the bike a bit easier, which holds the tap square to the tube for doing them in the 'field' as it were.

Tapping them vertical is better, as the cutting fluid runs in to where you want it.

 

I think £30 is OTT just for tapping two threads, but they have to make a living with business overheads I suppose. £30 would buy the bars in the first place. This will be my next job on my bike, the chrome bars are just too bright.

 

It's AliG's fault, I keep looking at his black 755 bars propped up in my hall and thinking how nice they would look on my bike 

This post was last modified: 16-02-2016, 01:04 PM by leehenty.

[ProudViking]

£30 probably is a bit more than I thought, was anticipating approx £20, But the lack of people doing these kind of jobs is ridiculous. I'm amazed I found someone at all, So paying a bit over the odds, especially such a small amount, I can live with. 

 

Although living so near to Mr Henty, I might invest in some cake and buns!!! 

[dablik]

But you'll need an awful lot of cakes and buns for a bigger job 

[tediumwannabe]

£30 for a quality engineering job is a very fair price............having the skill and tools in the first place, preparation, setting up, time, cleaning, overheads, posting etc etc.

 

He sounds like a good guy and deserves supporting.

[leehenty]

We need to keep these folks in business, as these skills are fast disappearing. They also have a very big lathe which I don't.

Ours is only 200mm centre height and about 450mm centres. I couldn't turn a cast wheel hub for example.

 

I learned because my father is a time served old engineer of 60 odd years so we have the kit to hand and I spent a childhood making bits for him.(and getting whacked for making mistakes  )

 

That said, we aim to try to keep TDM ownership costs down for members of the club which is why we have fettle days.