This is where the restoration starts... Why?

Well there are several reasons.

So, I've got no clocks - Get some!

First, I tried eBay. Decent clocks sell for a fortune. I thought my luck was in when I managed to win a pair of clocks that were correct for my bike from the states. I was the only bidder so I got them for a knock down price. Then the hit. When they arrived they were not as advertised, from a 1972 K2, but from a later model. These have a different drive and the chrome decorative plate underneath are different. I could have used them but I want the bike to be as original as possible.

I managed to find a battered tacho at an auto-jumble but I was struggling to find a speedo within my finite budget. I eventually found one through Honda sohc.co.uk. Thanks very much to SteveD CB500 who had a badly restored speedo for a very reasonable price.

So I had two clocks in restorable condition but the wrong type and two ragged clocks of the correct type.

Raw Material

Time to make two restored clocks of the correct type.

On taking the clocks apart, I was very surprised at the amazingly good condition of the rubber (neoprene) seals. These were as flexible as the day they were made. Not bad seeing as these things are getting on for nearly forty years old. I had planned on using a urethane seam sealer to replace the rubber parts but, because of the condition of the original parts, this wasn't necessary.

Parts

The quality of the finish of the original clocks was awful. It's no wonder that the cases all suffer from rust. Anyway, the restored clocks will have a traditional paint finish.

The clock covers are secured to the base with a stainless steel crimped ring. From searching various web sites, there are two popular methods of dismantling and reassembling the clocks.

  1. Tease open the lower seam and re-crimp using pliers
  2. Cut the ring and use a sealer to help hold reassembled parts together.

Because I had used the original rubber seals I opted for the first method. It was not as easy as one may think. On close one can tell that the rings had been tampered with. I took a lot of time and care to do the best job that I could. The results are OK but not perfect, certainly not as good as I would have liked.

I have two clocks from a different bike with identical rings so I could opt for a reassembly using method 2 in future. Having said that, you have to get up close and personal and know what you are looking for to notice the imperfections. So, I'll probably leave things as they are.

Result

Well there we have it. Two decent looking restored clocks. with nice new shiny chrome bottom covers to finish the job.

FrontBack

I suppose the Jag will have to go now. I still can't get to the rest of the bike.