Still waiting for the fork stanchions to come back from the suspension guys where they are getting trued up and hard chromed.  Things have gone kinda quiet as a result.  Since I had the BB Code loaded to submit a pic on another forum I attend, I thought I'd put it up here too.

Other forum where the complete roller coaster of emotions can be viewed if you missed it.

The Trials Of The Vintage Motorcycle Restorer. | AirGunForum

Forgive the pic quality, it was taken through none too clean glass.

A new seat cover is on its way.  Not happy with the lumpy mess that currently adorns it.

Looks great, can't wait till my DT175 and DT400 are both that far along! 

One step forward and another setback.  Fuel tank is leaking again.  It was sealed by the previous owner and leaked.  I attempted to seal it again and it has failed.
I have found another tank in Germany that is rust free internally.  Expensive though, then with decals and paint it is going to cost a fortune.  I will have to get it done by the pros because I just don't have anywhere to spray it to an acceptable standard at home.

My suspension gurus did a great job of the chrome.

 

I found a new old stock headlamp shield.  These were an optional extra in the UK, but all the dealers seemed to fit them from new.

 

New Tyres arrived.  I am replacing the cheap, road orientated tyres with ones of the correct pattern.

 

Front end coming along as the fuel tank is being drained down. 

 



 

Your bike is looking beautiful, kudos for the excellent job! 

New tank arrived from Germany and looks to be in reasonable condition underneath.  Tried it on the bike before committing to paint.
Having the front fender repainted as the paint is coming off near the fork and also having the sidepanels painted too.  May as well, since I have the sidepanel decals as well as the tank decals in my graphics kit.
They will get a shot of clearcoat over them this time, something the previous owner neglected to do.

Really gonna have to have a tidy up in there, looks like a bomb has gone off in the conservatory.

What a shame that old tank leaks.  The previous owner has paid for the replacement tank and paint as he said he had sealed it successfully in his advert.

  


Front end now back together.  You can see the paint peeling off the fender by the front fork and where the fuel leak has stripped the paint from the generator cover.  The house still stinks of petrol, but thankfully it is no longer eye watering.  Was quite a shock getting up one morning to a strong smell of petrol (gas) in the house and finding the tank had dumped five litres on the conservatory floor.

Looking good!  I sealed my tank as it was quite rusty inside and had some pin holes.  After it had cured for a couple of weeks I had my bike far enough to attempt a start.  When I put fuel in the tank is still had a leak near the seam on bottom, so I put some JB weld on it, which is holding for now but will start my search for a replacement tank.  I did get it started but it will only run for a few second then it's hard to start again.  Need to figure that out...  Keep up the good work and keep posting updates, gives me motivation to press on...

Tinkicker, where did you get your forks re-chromed?

I had a '78 DT175MX in 1986, it was my first bike and I loved bombing around the farm on it.
It had the white tank with large black and red decals, I paid £50 for it.
 

Pete RT1

Got my forks rechromed here:

Motorcycle Suspension Service by the Specialists (brooksuspension.co.uk)

Finished early for Xmas so I could take my tank and panels to the painters this morning.

Phoned up to make sure he is open before taking it all on a fifty mile trek.

Not taking any more work on till February.  Absolutely stacked out.

Job stopped.  

Reproduction tax disc arrived and duly fitted.  Original design, colour, expiry date,  licence fee paid and original issuing office as when first registered by the dealer.  I like it, i think it makes the bike look more complete and interesting.  For those who are not in the UK, we no longer have to display these discs, Tax, MOT (vehicle inspection) and insurance is checked automatically through number plate recognition systems.

Previously, no MOT and Insurance = no tax disc issued and an inquisitive police officer wanting to know why you don't have one on display.