Dear Andrew,
Thank you for your response to my message. I have decided to sell my Empire Star after a lot of consideration an due to a combination of circumstances. We are currently negotiating to buy a new house and we are expecting a baby boy in the new year so a general clear out of projects prior to the move is necessary.
The bike is presently fully stripped and the list below details what has been done so far and broadly what still needs doing.
I have owned the machine for a number of years and have undertaken a lot of work to date but have not even had time to fully unpack the components from our last move three years ago, so I feel that I just do not have time to complete the project in the foreseeable future. This is a shame as the bike is one of my favorites of the period and will make someone a wonderful mount!
Following is a broad list of work done to date and work still required.
Purchased as incomplete project for £1100.00.
Original log book with machine.
Frame.
Professionally stripped primed and painted in two pack black paint by Spraymaster restoration specialists. Very good finish.
Forks
Stripped, bored, re-bushed, new spigots on links, re-painted by spraymaster.
Original centre spring needs restoration, should be chrome I think?
New friction disks and damper knob bolt re-chromed.
Engine
Crankcases professionally stripped, beadblasted, oilways cleaned, small crack repaired. Helicoils where necessary.
Crank inspected and rebuilt by Alpha Bearings.
New 'old-stock' hepolite piston with rings.
Honed barrel, blasted, painted.
Head blasted, painted, new valves, springs, seats, rockers rebuilt with stellite/reprofiled.
Rockerbox beadblasted.
Rockerbox cover re-chromed.
Pushrod tubes re-chromed.
Timing chest cover still to polish.
Oil resevoir cap/dipstick re-chromed.
New main bearings.
Oil pump needs to be checked, spares included.
Oil pressure release valve needs to be checked.
Transmission
New clutch plates centre bearing, sliding oil seal, pushrod. Rechromed actuating lever.
Primary chaincase needs polishing.
New engine sprocket.
Gearbox cases bead blasted,
All new bearings and bushes.
New selector springs.
Re-chromed kickstart and gear lever + rubbers.
I am sure I purchased some new gears but I will need to confirm.
Wheels
Both hubs stripped, skimmed, painted by spraymaster.
New tapered roller bearings,
Rebuilt into British chrome rims with stainless spokes by Central Wheel company.
New old-stock front Avon speedmaster tyre.
Wheel rim centres painted and lined.
Brake plates re-chromed and centres painted.
Brake shoes available need re-lining.
Speedometer gearbox available,
Brake components available.
New welded sprocket to rear hub.
Petrol Tank
Professionally re-chromed and restored by spraymaster. Badges/lining, new rubber kneegrips made. Very high quality cost £350.00.
Instrument panel needs painting,
Ammeter, oil guage, lightswitch need restoring.
Instrument panel insepection lamp included.
Tinware
Replica Lucas 8" headlamp painted black with chrome rim, reflector, glass.
Replica toolboxes manufactured by specialist, need painting and catches, modern versions of catches available but not identical to original.
Pressed number plate, needs painting and bracket fabricating.
Original mudguards, front very good, needs restoring, rear has repair to area around battery, not too bad but needs restoring.
Replica rear mudgaurd, not very good but could be improved.
Chainguards missing but replicas are available.
Battery carrier missing but simple to fabricate.
Magneto shield missing but easy to fabricate.
Electrical
Magneto and dynamo rebuilt and tested by specialist. Third brush not restored as I had intended to use modern concealed regulator.
Others
Correct Smiths speedometer included with year plate 1936, needs restoring.
All components orignally plated have been replated, original brake, clutch and decompresssor levers. Front brake with locking ratchet.
New steering damper knob and friction plates.
No saddle.
Handlebars need re-chroming.
New Armours twin high level exhausts, silencers and tail pipes.
Fully restored Lucas Altette horn.
As you can see, I have already undertaken the vast majority of the resoration work and absorbed much of the total cost, it needs someone with knowledge but more importantly, time to finish. I dare not add up the money spent so far but I need to realise £2250.00 to go a little way towards future events, the machine will be worth nearly twice this figure when finished to a high standard, this months Classic Motorcycle magazine sees £2850.00 for barn stored Empire Star!
If you have any questions regarding the above please email or telephone on 44 1258 861918. I hope this is of some interest to you and look forward to hearing from you.
