Ani got Mod.5000 called "Daihatsu" in Japan. He bought it at
internet auction, 20,000JPY (Approx.133Euros/210USD).
Unfortunately
condition was not good. It is very common condition in Japan, due to
high humidity, strong UV during summer, and indifference to old stuff.
First problem is lost/broken parts, motorhood, Flywheel cover, and
tailcap of rear carrier. Also cyclepedal is hardly damaged. Of course,
Tyres are completely flatted.
As for frame, It is rusty and painted by hand. Particularly dountube is
eroded by rust, it is forming small dents on surface of frame, it seems
like peel of orange.
Firstly, I disassembled solex, I guess it has disassembled before,
several bolts and nuts were easy to slacken. I remember other 5000s
very bad condition, when I disassembled them, many bolts were broken
due to tighten by years. Most of frame parts is rusted, wheel rim
is rusted also. Motor is OK, I tried to start it before disassembling,
I succeed start. Condition is not bad except top cover of cylindre.
Removing old paint is first step for frame. Perhaps previous owner
tried to repaint easly, Downtube painted with gray
primer-surfacer(underpainting)by spray and yellow lacquere by
handpainting, but without mask.
I used high-power solvent for removing.
It was hard and uncomfortable work
with strong acid. I don't like this step.
But it is very important for
beautiful finish for repaint, I strongly recommend remove old paint if
you consider that
repaint your solex, even old painting keeps good condition.
I put solvent on old painting and put in plastic bag (kind of
"Zip-Lock"), This method is know as tip for removal by solvent, you can
keep solvent effection in bag, otherwise solvent is easy to evaporation.
If you have blasting
machine, you don't need to use acid solvent for this work. This method
is very useful for re-conditioning old motocycle (and car), peoples
believed blasting has anti-rasting effect. I'm not sure, but some of
my friends mentioned they find some blasted small steel parts of old
motocycle didn't got rust even without any treatment and paint.
"Orange skin" area on down tube, it seems treated by rust
stabler-solvent, it change red coloured rust to black one.
To be continued.