Honda CD175 + Aprilia RS125 - Yes I know they're not an air cooled Yamaha

[Astute Greaser]

Anyone recommend some good drill bits for drilling the heads on the the Allen screws to tap in the extractor ? The screws are quite hard material even though the Allen heads have chewed up

If you can clamp the wheel down so it does not wander. Use an end mill in your bench drill. That will drill through your bolts like butter. Probably remove your broken extractors  Do not use in hand drill, as end mills are not self centering.
-Mike

[Fredswat]

Another good suggestion Mike. I haven't actually broken any extractors off yet but It might happen.  I am still soaking the screws with penetrating oil .  Been doing it for four days now

[kawazonkey]

If all else fails can you get someone to weld on some nuts to the bolts? Probably come out then with a breaker bar.

[Fredswat]

If all else fails can you get someone to weld on some nuts to the bolts? Probably come out then with a breaker bar.

Yes I tried welding a nut onto one of them but the heads are quite small . My welding skills aren't there yet either.  I think you need to hold the nut in place somehow around the outside of it and weld the inside to the top of the screw. 

[Astute Greaser]

Make up a tool to hold the nut in place made out of old copper pipe. The weld and splatter will not stick to this.
Tip - When Mig welding up holes in mudguards, a sheet of copper behind, makes this job a lot easier.
-Mike

[Fredswat]

Make up a tool to hold the nut in place made out of old copper pipe. The weld and splatter will not stick to this.
Tip - When Mig welding up holes in mudguards, a sheet of copper behind, makes this job a lot easier.
-Mike

Good Suggestion again Mike . However I have been persevering with the Penetrating oils and the extractor bits this morning and finally I have got the bolts out  . Not without 80% casualties though. Four out of the five bolts/screws heads sheared off.  Looks like someone had used red loctite on them.  Managed to drill out the remaining bits of screw on all of them by running progressively larger drills through the holes .  I will re-tap the holes once I have had the wheels powder coated.   Question is what colour? Anybody had any wheels done lately? What does it cost? Quite fancy Gold

[kawazonkey]

Gold would be my choice too! My local place charges £35 a wheel including shot blasting beforehand.

[Fredswat]

Gold would be my choice too! My local place charges £35 a wheel including shot blasting beforehand.

Whereabouts in the world are they that sounds a great price ?

[Fredswat]

Took the wheels to my local powder coating place today. £60 a wheel to finish blast them, powder coat and Lacquer.  Having them done in gold.  Lets wait and see how they look when they are ready . Should be in about a week.   

[kawazonkey]

My place is in Chertsey, Middx. A few miles from you! But glad you're getting them done. The Italian 125's look right with gold wheels.

[Fredswat]

I have been doing little bits on the Aprilia until I can get back onto the CD175.  I decided to open one of the boxes of stored RS125 parts and tidy them up ready for refitting whenever.  Spent ages masking and re-Painting the centre of the front disc after I blasted all the dirt off.  Quite pleased with the result. Should get the wheels back from powder coating on Tuesday.  I dismantled and blasted lots of footrest hanger parts.  I discovered that the LH footrest hanger/Gear lever mounting bracket is broken.  Anyone got any tips on aluminium welding ? I have an argon gas cylinder and aluminium wire for my mig welder but never tried it before.

[kawazonkey]

A tip on painting the centre part of the disc. Those big round rivets are the exact same size as a rattle can nozzle. I save old ones for just such a moment!

[Fredswat]

A tip on painting the centre part of the disc. Those big round rivets are the exact same size as a rattle can nozzle. I save old ones for just such a moment!

Cheers never thought of that .
Been painting some brackets.  I am trying to keep the costs down so I decided not to powder coat these bits. At the place I normally go to for Powder coating they charge relatively more for small batches so I will take a chance on the durability of "Hycote gloss black".  I was a big fan of PJ1 at one time but Hycote seems tougher 
 

[kawazonkey]

Hycote is the only paint I use. Tough stuff. Love your 'spray booth' 

[Fredswat]

Got the wheels back today for the Aprilia.  New bearings arrived as well so will be busy tomorrow sorting out bearings, cush drive, sprockets and discs. Also re tapping holes from stripped threads for rear disc