Advice sought.......

F

Flatout

Guest
Hi all,
We have recently inherited a Comet through my wife's family. It is in a terrible state and although I'm a Biker I have very little knowledge of Vincent Motorcycles.
It will be a fairly major restoration which will take time but could anyone recommend a contact for rebuilding my engine. It is currently stripped down.

I am really needing contacts for the 'cosmetic side' as this will be the area that I'll be undertaking myself.

Where is the best place to have my tank repainted?
Who would you recommend to provide / restore spare parts for the electrical system?
Where would you guys get wheel rebuilt?
Stainless steel fastners - looking for a good supplier?

Obviously I've seen suppliers listed on the forum but there must be others that are able to help.

Any help greatly appreciated................

Regards,Dave
 

petermb998

Well Known and Active Forum User
Non-VOC Member
Dave
The 1st thing to do is if you are not a member of the VOC join it then get the address of the local section In York and you will get all the help that you require.
It may cost a few pints but you will meet a good crowd who will have a lot of info to help you.
Do the bike up and join the meetings.
that will be another Vincent on the road.
Good luck with the rebuild but not to put you off but you will have a lot of fun and frustrations with it.
Regards Peter
 

nkt267

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
The last posting said it all..Join your local section.Nearly all the vins on the road have been restored at some time..I got given my Comet in 69 and we used it for spares:eek:.(we had 3 Comets between us.Brother,mate and me).I took stock of what was left about 6 years ago and spent 3 years doing it up.
I have no problem building bikes,but the experience that Vincent owners can pass on to you is invaluable and will make things easier.John
 

BlackLightning998

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
Cycle Parts finishers and others....

Hi,

I've just sent my headlamp shell off to Lewis Templeton to have done in two pack - I saw their work at the Stafford Classic Bike Show and was very impressed - will let you know how they do if you fancy? They are based in Coventry area.

Parts - if cost is your no.1 driver then produce a list of everything you need and then let the various suppliers give you a price.

However, I would recommend (from the last years personal experience) that for the newer member looking for advice to shop with Russ at VinParts, key benefits over other suppliers that I have found:
1 - Available by e-mail, that's the way I like to do business.
2 - Fast response to e-mail - usually within an hour if I send it at night!!
3 - He uses his bike and will give you advice on what does and does not work.
4 - The parts I have had from him have all been very good quality.
5 - You can send unused stuff back if you've ordered the wrong thing.
6 - He gives me advice on what to do in problem situations.
7 - He's made me up special parts to fit, and at short notice too.

Other people will favour the Spares Company, but it is down to individual preference, so you've heard mine. I'd suggest you listen to a few folks and do what suits you best.

VOC - an absolute must - don't think of going too much further before doing it - invaluable source of help and advice.

Local Section - go, they are a friendly and helpful bunch.

Forum - use this Forum - I've been posting basic questions for a year now and no-one has yet had a public laugh at me!!! (still to come)

Forum - pictures - loads of nice pictures of a variety of bikes that will give you a clue of what one can look like.

Books - there are three or four that will really help you out in your restoration, Know Thy Beast and Richardson, Riders Handbook and Forty Years On and Another Ten Years are the basics I would recommend - if you can get hold of a copy of "Original Vincent Motorcyle" and you are trying to restore to original then it will be very helpful, but it may cost you a bit.

Events - find some local events and go to them with a camera - some useful pictures to use as reference and you'll also meet some friendly helpful people to chat about your project to.

Advice - ask 10 people and get 15 opinions - then think them all through and make your own decision on what to do. Alternatively find one person who you think is the right one to trust as the decising opinion and discuss stuff with them.

Cheers

Stuart
 
F

Flatout

Guest
Very good information.

Stuart,
Very impressed with this forum. I've had 11 messages from people on here and quickly realising that there are many people specialising in certain parts for these bikes.

Please let me know in future how you get on with Lewis Templeton?
As I ride a 'Blade' the only company I've seen and heard good reviews about is 'Dream Machine' paints. They seem to specialise in early Jap / Modern bikes.

As for wheelbuilding from the info I've had it seems to be more on price but one member speaks very highly of the 'Devon rim company'. I'm going to follow that up.

Mag / Dynamo - David Lindsay (Not the cheapest but 1st class work and been around for many years, so that was an easy decision!)

Grove Classic's for Miller equipment.

There's many more but I'm going to have to do it in stages due to cost, so wheels, all paintwork , electrical ware are going to be done first.

I'm meeting up with a club member on Saturday night in York so it looks like it's going to be a steep learning curve!

Last of all I'll get signed up to the 'Club'.

Best Regards,
Dave.






Hi,

I've just sent my headlamp shell off to Lewis Templeton to have done in two pack - I saw their work at the Stafford Classic Bike Show and was very impressed - will let you know how they do if you fancy? They are based in Coventry area.

Parts - if cost is your no.1 driver then produce a list of everything you need and then let the various suppliers give you a price.

However, I would recommend (from the last years personal experience) that for the newer member looking for advice to shop with Russ at VinParts, key benefits over other suppliers that I have found:
1 - Available by e-mail, that's the way I like to do business.
2 - Fast response to e-mail - usually within an hour if I send it at night!!
3 - He uses his bike and will give you advice on what does and does not work.
4 - The parts I have had from him have all been very good quality.
5 - You can send unused stuff back if you've ordered the wrong thing.
6 - He gives me advice on what to do in problem situations.
7 - He's made me up special parts to fit, and at short notice too.

Other people will favour the Spares Company, but it is down to individual preference, so you've heard mine. I'd suggest you listen to a few folks and do what suits you best.

VOC - an absolute must - don't think of going too much further before doing it - invaluable source of help and advice.

Local Section - go, they are a friendly and helpful bunch.

Forum - use this Forum - I've been posting basic questions for a year now and no-one has yet had a public laugh at me!!! (still to come)

Forum - pictures - loads of nice pictures of a variety of bikes that will give you a clue of what one can look like.

Books - there are three or four that will really help you out in your restoration, Know Thy Beast and Richardson, Riders Handbook and Forty Years On and Another Ten Years are the basics I would recommend - if you can get hold of a copy of "Original Vincent Motorcyle" and you are trying to restore to original then it will be very helpful, but it may cost you a bit.

Events - find some local events and go to them with a camera - some useful pictures to use as reference and you'll also meet some friendly helpful people to chat about your project to.

Advice - ask 10 people and get 15 opinions - then think them all through and make your own decision on what to do. Alternatively find one person who you think is the right one to trust as the decising opinion and discuss stuff with them.

Cheers

Stuart
 

BlackLightning998

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
No problem Dave

Hi Dave,

Templeton's e-mailed this morning to say it had arrived - so back with me in 2-3 weeks from now. I'll let you know how it looks. Send me a PM if you like with your email details and I will communicate that way rather than through the Forum.

Looks like you are getting up the learning curve quickly, good for you. Have lots of fun and I very much look forward to seeing some pictures on the Forum of your progress.

Remember to take loads of pictures of the rusting hulk now, and then all the way through the restoration so that you have an all time record of the work.

Best of luck.

Stuart
 
F

Flatout

Guest
Rusting hulk!

Stuart,
I took a few pics of the 'Fish boxes' that all the parts are in. I remember seeing the bike in one piece about 6 years ago. All the chromework is shot so I really don't need to say too much more!
I'll keep in touch and let you know how I get on.

Dave.


Hi Dave,

Templeton's e-mailed this morning to say it had arrived - so back with me in 2-3 weeks from now. I'll let you know how it looks. Send me a PM if you like with your email details and I will communicate that way rather than through the Forum.

Looks like you are getting up the learning curve quickly, good for you. Have lots of fun and I very much look forward to seeing some pictures on the Forum of your progress.

Remember to take loads of pictures of the rusting hulk now, and then all the way through the restoration so that you have an all time record of the work.

Best of luck.

Stuart
 

nkt267

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
there's a great chromer in cheshire if you can't find a decent one nearer,not cheap but fabulous quality. I'll dig out his address and let you know.John
 
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