Bargain!

[Berlin]

The plan for the day was to try and sort out the pieces of gearbox of my Bimota that are liberally sprinkled on every surface of the garage.
So this morning my father dropped in and asked if I wanted to go to an Autojumble for the morning as we needed some theadlock and it was a good excuse to rummage in some boxes that shouldn't be passed up.

We got to the Autojumble about 9am and it was heaving with people. After a quick cuppa we headed off to peruse the piles and piles of junk that everyone was trying to sell as "useful"

It was amazing to watch all these classic bike fans eyes light up as they stumbled on the 3 4/7 bsi threaded bolt they'd been searching for for 20 years. Or the fork springs to fit a 1903 Henkel Wachimacallit.

Then it was my turn. Out of the coner of my eye I spotted an engine in a big pile (literally) of other engines. It just turned out to be the exact same type of engine that the Bimota uses and not only that it was made within a year of the Bimota's engine.

"keep calm" t thought to myself as I casually sidled over to it and gave it a casual kick.

"how much" I said, trying to look as disinterested as possible.
"85 quid"

Well, I'm looking at a parts bill of at least £450 for the Bimota so I almost squeeked with glee.

Looking as calm as I could muster I asked if he had a plug spanner to see if it would turn over. He mumbled and tried to find one before saying, out of the blue:

"I'll tell you what, do you want it for £30 as parts"?

I nearly fell over!

"Done"! I said.

So I've now got it stripped and lying next to the other one and every part I needed is there... and then some. I've now got a spare everything!

Clutch basket, gearbox, output shaft as well as everything else.

I have to rate as the best bloomin' bargain I've ever bought.

I've been smiling all day. It was a great big splodge of serenditity.

:)

Carl

[madness]

Nice one, Glad someone has more luck than me at autojumbles

[Tomis]

I just love those days too !

[MrMessy]

Mate at work sold a Kawasasaki classic cheap because it would not run properly, carbs goosed. Guy who bought it went to Rufforth and found a set, seller did not know what they where off so let him have them cheap. Bolted them on and bike runs great.

[Davido]

A guy at work had a similar thing happen to him. He'd been looking for an old (and I mean old) lambretta carb for years (cheapest he had previously found was £400 as there are less than ten in the country according to him) went to an autojumble and picked one up for £15.

Some sellers just don't know what they have.

[Lozzo]

I'm sure I've told the story of the horribly knocking 18 month old GPZ1100 B2 I bought for 500 quid. It turned out to be sheared starter clutch bolts that cost a tenner to replace, and not in need of a new crankshaft or engine after all.

I kept it for another 18 months, didn't spend another penny on repairs apart from basic servicing and sold it for 1800 quid.

You got a good result on the spare engine there, well done.

[Tim in Belgium]

Did you get a rear shock too ;) ?

[Berlin]

I think Richard from Maxton is going to wave his magic feather over it.