Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Damned slacker...
Clearly I've fallen asleep on the job here! Updates to come. I'm gonna try and space them a bit.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Gaskets Ho!
My gasket set was ordered mid-week last week with an expected 2 to 3 weeks from Canada. Just tracked as being in Knoxville on the truck for delivery. WOOT! A running bike is closer then originally expected. Expect a real update soon!
Friday, July 22, 2011
Engine out...its party time.
And the night begins...
Just as a side note (only picture I currently have of it so here it goes), the greyish white substance on the otherwise shiny aluminum case...that can be removed with paint stripper. Apparently a number of the metric bikes have this and its a film the manufacturer puts on the engine to "protect the finish" of the aluminum. Turns out 24 years later it looks like this. Any way, helpful tip deployed...move on.
Motor came out, and valve cover came off without a hitch...then we found the chain. Keeping in mind that my Haynes Manual was here in the office (not at home where I was), this through me a short loop. There is a tensioner on the front that needs to be loosened AFTER you loosen a top end bracket that holds the little plastic guides in. I'll take better pictures to explain this if anyone needs it but its in the manuals. Figured this out and it was mostly down hill from here.
I was a bit surprised by the top of the pistons. In every picture I've seen they look flat...standard compression engine. After I got the head off I discovered the they are shaped to match the bowl in the head exactly...which means its a high compression engine. That's nice...that's quite nice. A little bit of clean up and some polishing here will have these things singing. That's a bit down the road (least a couple of days) so in the mean time I covered the cylindar wall with bearing grease (to prevent flash rust since the pistons are actually sitting in a steel sleeve). Just a note, I'm tearing into this not only because its 24 years old, but because the previous owner stated there was an oil leak. Seeing now that its a high comp engine...I'm not surprised. This thing will no doubt be needed a head gasket and a few other...improvements...
Just a peak at the head. The bowls will be polished to a mirror, the valves relapped and possibly some minor clean up around some corners. I'm not interested in porting this head...its good where it is and I've heard the power gains on this engine are minimal from such a job...so just going to be cleaning up some rough spots, rounding some edges and maybe tapering the exhaust ports a bit so they match the pipes better. I ended the night by standing the head on its side and filling the exhaust ports with parts cleaner and leaving them to soak. All and all, I'm pleased with the amount I accomplished yesterday and hopefully can accomplish as much or more over the coming weekend.
Just as a side note (only picture I currently have of it so here it goes), the greyish white substance on the otherwise shiny aluminum case...that can be removed with paint stripper. Apparently a number of the metric bikes have this and its a film the manufacturer puts on the engine to "protect the finish" of the aluminum. Turns out 24 years later it looks like this. Any way, helpful tip deployed...move on.
Motor came out, and valve cover came off without a hitch...then we found the chain. Keeping in mind that my Haynes Manual was here in the office (not at home where I was), this through me a short loop. There is a tensioner on the front that needs to be loosened AFTER you loosen a top end bracket that holds the little plastic guides in. I'll take better pictures to explain this if anyone needs it but its in the manuals. Figured this out and it was mostly down hill from here.
I was a bit surprised by the top of the pistons. In every picture I've seen they look flat...standard compression engine. After I got the head off I discovered the they are shaped to match the bowl in the head exactly...which means its a high compression engine. That's nice...that's quite nice. A little bit of clean up and some polishing here will have these things singing. That's a bit down the road (least a couple of days) so in the mean time I covered the cylindar wall with bearing grease (to prevent flash rust since the pistons are actually sitting in a steel sleeve). Just a note, I'm tearing into this not only because its 24 years old, but because the previous owner stated there was an oil leak. Seeing now that its a high comp engine...I'm not surprised. This thing will no doubt be needed a head gasket and a few other...improvements...
Just a peak at the head. The bowls will be polished to a mirror, the valves relapped and possibly some minor clean up around some corners. I'm not interested in porting this head...its good where it is and I've heard the power gains on this engine are minimal from such a job...so just going to be cleaning up some rough spots, rounding some edges and maybe tapering the exhaust ports a bit so they match the pipes better. I ended the night by standing the head on its side and filling the exhaust ports with parts cleaner and leaving them to soak. All and all, I'm pleased with the amount I accomplished yesterday and hopefully can accomplish as much or more over the coming weekend.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Paint and disassembly...
As promised...
This is freshly rattle-canned. I haven't had the opportunity to hit it with the 1500 grit or compound yet so...over all I'm quite pleased with the way this paint turned out. With just the color laid down it really looked like this (Duplicolor Perfect Match black w/metal specks...T90 I think...) was going to dry entirely too charcoal colored for my liking...after the five coats of clear I hit it with however, I think it darkened up nicely. Bondo work was a nightmare...but when isn't it? Over all I think I found 6 dings and dents and completely managed to hide all but one and its mostly gone (really have to be at just the right angle to see the light bend ever so slightly for the space of about a dime). Good enough for me. As hinted at next step is a wet sanding with 1500 (or higher) grit then an all out assault with an arsenal of rubbing compounds. The wet sanding will remove and orange peel effect (slightly bumpy look of the finish product you get from a spray paint can) and the different rubbing compounds will remove the sanding marks and any other blemishes left.
A night or two ago I started the real disassembly process. The back wheel is now off and the motor is all but out. For some reason I had it in my head that I would be able to pull this motor without removing the pegs and their brackets...along with a few other little odds and ends. Then reality hit me. If you are working on pulling one and you "think" you can pull it without removing that certain part..."think" again. And to pull those pegs...you are gonna need a hex key set...which I didn't have...which is why I've stopped where I've stopped. That paired with the fact that the heat index the other night when I was working on it was over 100 degrees. Hopefully I'll have another update after this weekend. Figuring out when my wife has the car and when I have the car based on who works when is getting difficult, so I expect to be hitting this project with more intent then the last few months may have indicated.
This is freshly rattle-canned. I haven't had the opportunity to hit it with the 1500 grit or compound yet so...over all I'm quite pleased with the way this paint turned out. With just the color laid down it really looked like this (Duplicolor Perfect Match black w/metal specks...T90 I think...) was going to dry entirely too charcoal colored for my liking...after the five coats of clear I hit it with however, I think it darkened up nicely. Bondo work was a nightmare...but when isn't it? Over all I think I found 6 dings and dents and completely managed to hide all but one and its mostly gone (really have to be at just the right angle to see the light bend ever so slightly for the space of about a dime). Good enough for me. As hinted at next step is a wet sanding with 1500 (or higher) grit then an all out assault with an arsenal of rubbing compounds. The wet sanding will remove and orange peel effect (slightly bumpy look of the finish product you get from a spray paint can) and the different rubbing compounds will remove the sanding marks and any other blemishes left.
A night or two ago I started the real disassembly process. The back wheel is now off and the motor is all but out. For some reason I had it in my head that I would be able to pull this motor without removing the pegs and their brackets...along with a few other little odds and ends. Then reality hit me. If you are working on pulling one and you "think" you can pull it without removing that certain part..."think" again. And to pull those pegs...you are gonna need a hex key set...which I didn't have...which is why I've stopped where I've stopped. That paired with the fact that the heat index the other night when I was working on it was over 100 degrees. Hopefully I'll have another update after this weekend. Figuring out when my wife has the car and when I have the car based on who works when is getting difficult, so I expect to be hitting this project with more intent then the last few months may have indicated.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Well...one day...
This evening I'm hoping to get a new timing belt on the car (not sure it is the problem but a few things weren't quite right...). If this doesn't fix it, it'll be off to a "dirty *m-word*"... mech... mechan... person that fixes cars and usually charges a ridiculously LARGE amount for simple fixes.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Parden this interuption...
So...our car died. Over the weekend I rebuild the bottom end, put new plugs and wires in, etc. Still nothing. It's strange. It will start on starter fluid...and runs great for about 3 seconds, till the fluid is burned off, then it's dead again. Fuel in the rails and in the lines, starts with starter fluid...I don't get it. I've got a few more things to check up on...but at any rate the bike project is on hold till I can get this freakin' car figured out. Hopefully soon, cause my friends aren't gonna be too friendly about having to drive me everywhere for much longer.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
R&D
That's right research and development.
Last night I spent a great deal of time stripping it down a bit further and cleaning it up a bit. It's somewhat difficult to work on a bike that makes you sneeze every time you move it for the sake of all the dust and dirt flying around. Upon cleaning it up...I was quite pleased to find that the frame is in great shape (a few very small rust spots...nothing cancerous). Pictures to come...left my camera here at work last night...
I'm planning on spending some time tonight trying to pull everything I can away from the motor in preparation for the up coming pull (buddy of mine is off work tomorrow night...keeping my fingers crossed that its coming out then).
Now...on to the R&D. I've spent a few hours searching different products to remove rust from chrome without leaving swirls all over it. While I was pleased to find quite a few things existed that apparently can do the job well...I was displeased to find that ALL of them have to be ordered online as none of them are readily available in stores (damn it). So...
If tomorrow's engine pull is as quick and mostly painless as I expect/really really hope it will be...I hope to begin testing a few hybrids of some ideas I've read about today. Naturally pictures and better details will be had by all...for now lets just say a trip to the grocery store, hardware store, and possibly the laundry mat will be in order.
Last night I spent a great deal of time stripping it down a bit further and cleaning it up a bit. It's somewhat difficult to work on a bike that makes you sneeze every time you move it for the sake of all the dust and dirt flying around. Upon cleaning it up...I was quite pleased to find that the frame is in great shape (a few very small rust spots...nothing cancerous). Pictures to come...left my camera here at work last night...
I'm planning on spending some time tonight trying to pull everything I can away from the motor in preparation for the up coming pull (buddy of mine is off work tomorrow night...keeping my fingers crossed that its coming out then).
Now...on to the R&D. I've spent a few hours searching different products to remove rust from chrome without leaving swirls all over it. While I was pleased to find quite a few things existed that apparently can do the job well...I was displeased to find that ALL of them have to be ordered online as none of them are readily available in stores (damn it). So...
If tomorrow's engine pull is as quick and mostly painless as I expect/really really hope it will be...I hope to begin testing a few hybrids of some ideas I've read about today. Naturally pictures and better details will be had by all...for now lets just say a trip to the grocery store, hardware store, and possibly the laundry mat will be in order.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Here she is...
First couple of pictures. This one is completely together (sort of...I got antsy and took the tank, seat, and fairings off before I realized I had no complete before shots...so I just put them back where they belong and balanced them there long enough to snap a couple of shots).
This one is from above...highlights the tank and the seat (and the ever so rough shape they are in).
The tear down begins...
Dirty, dirty bike. Some WD40 and some shop towels should take care of that. I'll see what I can accomplish tonight. The goal is go ahead and get the tank and fairings painted up (as they will take the longest to cure). That way next week after the engine is complete, and I've got her ready for them, I can hit them with the rubbing compound and polish, and get them mounted up. More pictures (hopefully) to follow tomorrow of the paint processes.
This one is from above...highlights the tank and the seat (and the ever so rough shape they are in).
The tear down begins...
Dirty, dirty bike. Some WD40 and some shop towels should take care of that. I'll see what I can accomplish tonight. The goal is go ahead and get the tank and fairings painted up (as they will take the longest to cure). That way next week after the engine is complete, and I've got her ready for them, I can hit them with the rubbing compound and polish, and get them mounted up. More pictures (hopefully) to follow tomorrow of the paint processes.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Home sweet home.
Got the bike home safely yesterday. Pictures and an update to come (hopefully) tomorrow. Dealing with some shit at work so not positive I'll be able to work on it tonight...but its the goal.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Things to come.
So if you've landed here you must be looking for info on this magnificent bike. Stay tuned! I'm picking one up on the other side of the state tomorrow for a rather cheap price and will be using this blog as a way to document the processes of bringing it back to life (been parked for a while and supposedly has an oil leak around the head gasket). She looks rough now, but I'm gonna see what I can do to make her a respectable little bike.
Some back info...I've got a professional electronics background (I'm a computer geek now). I've got about 16 years of shade tree mechanic experience...everything from brake jobs and oil changes to full engine rebuilds and even an auto trans rebuild under my belt. What I DON'T have...is any form of motorcycle experience. This is going to be my first. I figure what better way to gain a full respect for your bike then to be the one that builds it. I do hope my experiences here will inspire someone else to do the same, or possibly help someone along the way with a problem they are having.
You should of course feel free to comment (please do!! I've got a great deal of respect for other peoples opinions...even if they are about 90% dumb unless they agree with me :-D just kidding). Fact of the matter is, I'll be figuring a lot out by reading other peoples experiences and going through my own trial and error.
I'll post before and after pics of pretty much everything (I'm also a photographer so...you aren't gonna be able to escape me having plenty of pictures).
Enjoy the ride...I certainly hope I will.
Some back info...I've got a professional electronics background (I'm a computer geek now). I've got about 16 years of shade tree mechanic experience...everything from brake jobs and oil changes to full engine rebuilds and even an auto trans rebuild under my belt. What I DON'T have...is any form of motorcycle experience. This is going to be my first. I figure what better way to gain a full respect for your bike then to be the one that builds it. I do hope my experiences here will inspire someone else to do the same, or possibly help someone along the way with a problem they are having.
You should of course feel free to comment (please do!! I've got a great deal of respect for other peoples opinions...even if they are about 90% dumb unless they agree with me :-D just kidding). Fact of the matter is, I'll be figuring a lot out by reading other peoples experiences and going through my own trial and error.
I'll post before and after pics of pretty much everything (I'm also a photographer so...you aren't gonna be able to escape me having plenty of pictures).
Enjoy the ride...I certainly hope I will.
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