There remains just three tasks for me to do to complete the Shadowfax restoration. Two of them are relatively easy, the other a little harder. In the process of the rebuild it was always intended that the original Lockhart oil cooler be reinstated, but, somehow this has always slipped through the sieve. That will be done soon. The front brakes are now fitted, but not bled so they don’t work. I strongly suspect that the original master cylinder won’t be up to the task but I’m reluctant to replace it since it is original. Since the bike isn’t going to be ridden, I may just let this one pass.
The tricky one is the exhaust system. Presently the bike has a Kerker system on it which, while “period” isn’t original. Conversations with Kent have revealed that the whole exhaust system was hand-made by Grahame Houghston so duplicating it exactly would be difficult. The headers belong to me, but the tailpipe is Dave Quinn’s and needs to be returned to its usual duties aboard the Black Pearl as soon as possible. This will give me the opportunity of fitting a tailpipe that is closer in appearance to the original one. (shown below)
This is the Kerker as it is now.
The good news is that I went down to my local muffler shop and showed him the photographs of the original pipe and he’s confident he can make me something that looks as near as dammit to it for a very reasonable price. Score!
Looking after Mr 5 today and, as I was bringing him home from school down the back road he looked up at the escarpment west of our place and said, “I’d like to live right up on the top of that mountain, then I’d be able to see everything.” He paused and then added, “That’s where the Pie Shop is.” Training him young!!