Since I've had the W/NG, the 'wing nut' used to adjust the fork dampers has been missing a wing. Unable to find a new one, and not afraid of trying anything new (especially when challenged by other AOMCC members) I decided to repair the old one.
One thing i don't much like about old bike restoration is the notion that you can buy a new part rather than repair the old - replacing bits is not 'restoration' to me. This is the old nut, removed and cleaned up:
I selected a bit of scrap, the flattened end of a stop cock key:
I chopped a useful bit off and filed it up to shape. Near the end of shaping, I heated the new part and flattened it where I was to weld:
Old part and replacement end:
Set up in the vice for welding:
As usual, I used the TIG to weld it up, set to about 45 Amps with the tungsten ground with a shallow angle to give better penetration:
Next, some more filing. Not looking too bad here, but needs more work; the new end looks distinctly heavier than the original:
And back in place, ready to get some patina:
One thing i don't much like about old bike restoration is the notion that you can buy a new part rather than repair the old - replacing bits is not 'restoration' to me. This is the old nut, removed and cleaned up:
I selected a bit of scrap, the flattened end of a stop cock key:
I chopped a useful bit off and filed it up to shape. Near the end of shaping, I heated the new part and flattened it where I was to weld:
Old part and replacement end:
Set up in the vice for welding:
As usual, I used the TIG to weld it up, set to about 45 Amps with the tungsten ground with a shallow angle to give better penetration:
Next, some more filing. Not looking too bad here, but needs more work; the new end looks distinctly heavier than the original:
And back in place, ready to get some patina:
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