Bike progress
I haven’t been able to get set up for an ABATE class in indiana, and the illinois ones are anoyingly scheduled. I hope to hell I can get into a class before the end of the season.If not, I suppose it gives me the winter to make the bike pretty before I take it out and scratch the hell out of it.
Meanwhile, I’m remedying as many of the mechanical difficuilties as I can, most involve leaky gaskets and failed O rings. Took out the carbs, dropped the bowls and cleaned the floats, etc. I use a one gallon can of stuff called “carb dip” that cleans carbs like blazes, though it will burn the skin off your fingers in no time. I got the carbs back together, but fell into a case of shipfitters disease (that’s where you start replacing a nail in a bulkhead and end up changing the engine) but i limited it to cleaning up the starter cover, repainting it, cleaning and readjusting the cam chain tensioner, and replacing a frayed starter wire. I also discovered a bad signal generator unit, which at $165, I think I’ll find used. Have to find out what caused it to fry, lest I fry the new one too.
The intake boots had also separated from the plates, but those seem to be cheap, and in the interim, I’m gluing the bastards back together with silicone glue.
Anyway, the jury is out, but it looks like I may end up wintering the project over and starting fresh in the spring. Worse has happened.
Don’t feel bad. I’ve spent the last year-and-change reworking my CB900F. I have to finish rebuilding calipers, the rear tire should be at the dealer’s tomorrow, & it’s finally ALIVE!!
And so you discover the one downfall of Japanese bikes, Og. They run well, and for ages. But the time comes that finding parts for the older ones becomes somewhat of a challenge. Parts for a 25 year old bike will not grow on trees. If you can’t scrounge them, and have to buy new, you will be looking at horrendous deliveries. My advice is don’t wait…get after it now, and get any problem parts on order asap…it may take some time to get them here and you will want to be ready to rip in the spring, not waiting on parts.
I might add a lame pun at this point: being a Neanderthal, you might want to invest in some chrome ape hanger handlebars. Hardy-har-har! Sadly, this is what passes for humour amongst motorcyclists past their prime.
:)