Getting the old T Cat back on the road at last

Evening all, just joined the group but had my Thundercat for about 6 years although its been laid up for the last 3. It's a 1996 on an 'R' in black/silver/orange (the fastest colour). Inevitably the front brakes are siezed and the downpipes have rotted even though its been garaged. Had the callipers off today and cleaned them up, put them back on, will take them off again tommorrow and give them to someone who knows how to clean them properly! Also tried to remove the fairing today but one screw has defeated me (the one nearest the rear wheel) so thats another job half done. Am going to order a set of 'Delkevic' stainless steel downpipes as they seem to have good reviews and are well priced (£159.99) unless anyone has any bad stories about them. Of course, I need to get the F*cking fairing off and take the old pipes off before they can go on (I have a bad feeling about that already). It's a long and knuckle scraping road ahead before the old girl is match fit again but I'll hopefully see some of you on the road before the summer is over (if it ever gets here).
I am not online that regularly so don't be offended if I don't reply to messages straight away, or indeed at all, its probably nothing personal!
Ride safe (not an issue for me yet).

Welcome to the gang
Yep it's a pesky little fecker that bolt! Hope you have plenty if plasters! Hope to see you out and about at some of the hideous - I'm sure you'll get there eventually - I'd all else fails you can always drill it out

Fi

Welcome to the forum

Keep at it. As you know, when the Cat runnin she's a mighty fine ride!

Welcome to the forum!

Hope to see you out and about at some of the hideous - you been on the pop again????


Welcome to the site Haddy and as Fi says (or i think meant to say?) hope to see you on one of the rideouts - bolt permitting!

Suzie

Welcome aboard

Hi & welcome. Good luck getting ya cat sorted out. Paul.

Hi, greetings from the other end of the M23 - welcome to the site.

Hope the stubborn bolts give in soon. Have you been putting WD40 on the exhaust header bolts? Mine turned out to be angle grinder tight

Hi Haddy

You're right about the black silver and orange ones.............give her a good soaking in WD40 (other brands are available) and good luck.

Cheers
Rosco

Welcome and good luck with your knuckles .

Rosco wrote:
You're right about the black silver and orange ones.............give her a good soaking in WD40 (other brands are available) and good luck.

Cheers
Rosco

Does that work on the blue cats as well - or just the black, silver and orange ones.....?

haddy wrote:
I am not online that regularly so don't be offended if I don't reply to messages straight away, or indeed at all, its probably nothing personal!
Ride safe (not an issue for me yet).

Blyme fella I know you said not that regularly , . . . but thats 3 months short of 2 years

You won't believe it but I only ordered the new downpipes last night! I'm shit!!

He lives!

i used some thing called supertrol on there header bolts which is the same as WD40 only i found better
pete

I agree, a good penetrating oil will always work better than WD40. WD40 was designed as a lubricant/water displacement product although because of its thin vescosity works ok as a penetrant. If you buy even a cheap penetrating oil it will way out perform WD40, trust me you wont go back. I speak from decades of restoring classic Minis and never having skin on my knuckles.

What would you guys recommend for lubing the clutch cable. I have purchased one of those cable oiler gizmo's but unsure as to what oil/ grease to use as its got to get all the way down the cable.

Traditionally new engine oil was the norm but I think silicone based spray is specifically for applications like this.

Preparing to get shot down in flames but fairly sure I'm right.

Thanks Ross.

Ending up doing more to the bike than what I intended. All started with the Speedo failing. Lol

Morning

I use silocone spray too. Doesn't attract the muc like oil does.