Could anyone point me in the right direction please , I'm looking for a silencer for my Flea , stripped the paint off and found it has quite a few small holes and old repairs . Also what paint would you recommend to use and is best for the exhaust system .

Thanks

Dave

email (option): davemb42@yahoo.com

Dave Hitchcock's and Armour's have them......Check who's cheapest! Originally the exhaust would probably have been dull plated. But I have found that 'HYCOTE VHT ALUMINIUM' is very serviceable. I couldn't get the exhaust on my recent acquisition Model G plated because my plate shop won't touch used systems, so I sprayed it with Hycote and it's still looks like new on the front pipe after over 800 miles. no sign of discolour on the hot bend at all. Might not work as well on a SV? But for the amount of miles I expect you will do on a Flea.....It will be fine.

I did have a hickup with my silencer though. It's an unobtainable original with a very nice note and I tried to improve it's appearance with 2 pack high build primer before the HYCOTE. After some fairly long fast rides in France over 8 days it was looking like it had some horrible pox disease. So I've stripped it and resprayed it again without the primer. I'll be considering whether I can get it metal sprayed or something at a later date. Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Hi Dave, all hardware including exhaust, levers, nuts, bolts and washers were all cadmium plated on the Flea.

Found a NOS one years ago at Netley, for a tenner, must have been a very lucky find, as I have never seen one since.

The Hitchcocks silencers are chrome, but fit OK as I seem to remember.

The stuff Ron uses as coating looked very good colourwise.

Cheers,

Lex

email (option): welbike@welbiXX.net (think about this!)

Thanks Ron and Lex for the info . I might try do something with the original but I would imagine it being a bit on the thin side due to the "rust worm" setting in . Probably end up chasing holes with the mig .

I've just messaged Armour to see if they can supply either a cadmium plated silencer or an un chromed one .

Dave

email (option): davemb42@yahoo.com

They won't do Cad plate, but they usually have bare metal. Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Armour contacted me and exactly what you said Ron.........

Quote :

Hello Sir

My plater does not have a cadmium licence – you could have the silencer unplated and get it plated yourself

Regards
Armour Motor Products Ltd

email (option): davemb42@yahoo.com

One of the nicest (and durable) finishes has to be chrome-plating which is then lightly-blasted to dull-down. Uncle Ron (Pier) very kindly sorted my W/NG exhaust out this way and superb it looks............thanks again mate

My Flea however had a NOS but rusty exhaust system.........I had it blast-cleaned, then took it to a plater in Aldershot for dull-zinc plating...........the entire system, gear rod, handlebar levers and various other small parts cost £25......

Plater did mention that the finish would not be very durable but in the use this Flea will get it will last and will also look authentic too..........I don't think the original cadmium was that durable either............

Nice dull silver finish here.........

Hi Lex

A few parts that you might expect to be plated on the Flea were not.............

This includes the engine bolts and nuts (to secure in the frame) - these were possibly black-finished looking at images and my originals............

Also, the rear brake rod was painted, as was the gear-change lever and gate.....

The entire carbuetter assembly including air cleaner was also painted.........

Yes Steve, I know, have to make a little list one of these days!

On my factory pic's the engine bolts are black or painted, the nuts however are cad plated, cylinder head nuts were black.
Centre stand shaft was also black, nuts cad plated, chain adjusters black or painted (but have NOS ones in cadmium!) Wire clips painted, saddle spring studs painted, nuts cad plated.

Fork spindles black, nuts cad plated, points cover painted, clip for that black with cad plated hex and washer.

Petrol tap nickel plated, line bare copper?

Dished washers on kickstarer cad plated.

Petrol cap painted.

Front and rear axle cad or nickel plated.

There's more, but with your and mine list together we're not far off!

Cheers,

Lex

email (option): welbike@welbiXX.net (think about this!)