Italian Rare Bit PART THREE
Stage 4. Making parts, painting, cycle parts
As with all rebuilds there is quite a list of things to make. I decide at the outset that I will make parts from stainless steel / alloy where suitable to keep the bike looking good in all weathers and to make it maintenance friendly. I will also keep the box of bits I replaced.
First on my list was the petrol tank cap. The existing one was made from a Bakelite material and very, very brittle – in just trying to undo the cap it collapsed in my hand. Rather unobtainable and probably not ethanol proof… So I decided to make a replica from aluminium alloy, copy the shape and use the top part of the cap with the MI-VAL logo/breather hole and embed it into the design (almost looks like it came from the factory!). In addition, to ensure good sealing I acquired some ethanol-proof 3mm rubber (viton) sheet to make the cap seal. I really don’t trust the unleaded these days not to ruin the paintwork.
I made an alloy petrol cap for a Morini 3½ for one of my friends. The existing lockable cap was made from the dreaded mazak and
