Shaking it

Keno Came by today to collect a long ago promised cafe helmet. I told Ken when he got his 650 engine rebuilt he could ride over and get it and today was the day. I had just buttoned up the shovel again after messing with the timing so we went for a good haul. I probably don't have to say it, but the XS ran better than the H-D for sure. I popped and farted along and then at the top of the University bridge my clutch started to slip and the bike started moving forward into oncoming traffic. Pulled off and Keno had to run to my shed for some tools cuz I'm too stoopid to have put together a tool wrap yet. anyway. there it is.

It's alive! Unfortunately I had some battery issues, it's only 5 years old & wouldn't take a charge, go figure.

And my ride left town an hour after this was taken so I won't get to test out that new swing arm till next weekend. But it sure sounds nice!

Clutch

While you guys were at Cyclemania I managed to get some more work done on the 650

Clutch is back together, Airboxes back on, maybe next weekend I will actually be able to ride it again!!

Old Balls

Finally got  my clutch bearing. Looks like it will definitely be a better bearing.

Unfortunately my memory is going because when this part finally became availiable again I forgot to order the bendix gear which is the whole reason I took the clutch off.  So much for saving on shipping and so much for getting the clutch back together this weekend.  Maybe next time I get to saskatoon...  balls

A little leverage is all you need

With the engine back in the frame I was able to get the clutch basket off without the special tool.  The impact I have wasn't enough to get the nut off. Gotta love the big snipe!

 What's wrong with this picture?

think I'll get a new one.

The Lump is back in.

 Got  the engine back in just in time for the new year. Getting excited to ride it now.

Painting turds

I've got the top end all together looks fairly decent.

Also started painting some bits today, if you want to spray something stop by. I am all setup for it.

Pop'n Clutches

Popped in to Kenos last night while on a Murder Mule test drive. Held his clutch steady while he did the old manual impact on it. Dude almost had that thing back together and now he's goin in the other side.

Not So Crusty

I got all my prats back from the machine shop the other day.

Resurfaced Cam

 

Didn't need to replace anything in the head just had the valves done.

 New second over pistons

Jugs bored out and honed, all for a decent price. Even managed to get them installed tonight.

Gerotor

I've been making some progress on the bike. I fixed up both engine covers and got to have a look at the oil pump. Which turned out to be in good shape. I had to make a few mods to the tach drive housing because the set screw was compressed against the housing rather than through the housing. A little grinding and drilling and it fit properly again.

I spent quite a bit of time on the covers.

Looks a bit better eh!

I also had a look at the sump filter it has a big tear in it. Turns out to be a pretty common problem. It is the reason I kept finding metal shavings in my oil filter. An upgraded sump filter is available to solve it. So I will be snagging one of them.

Crusty

Gettin Polished up

More than I can chew

So I posted a picture the other day of the engine that the ninja didn't want to see. So I thought I'd fill you all in. I have to many things to work on and only limited time in town. First of course is the 650 which is looking better all the time.


Then there is the boler which was an after thought till my boss saw it and wanted to help me paint it.

It is looking pretty good after paint, but there are still a lot of loose ends to tie up

This brings me to the Engine that Ninjas actually wanted to look at. It was given to me by a really interesting guy who happens to have a Pitts Special parked in his garage beside the vehicle that he took this engine out of.

And that engine is supposed to go into this:

Just trying to get it airborne not going to try and licence it. On top of all of these ridiculous projects I bought this boat which needs some work as well. I'm targeting spring for it cause I will need a boat for next summer.

It is a comet traveller circa 1960'ish. Then of course I need to deal with my MG.

So really I am turning into a junk collector hopefully I don't gain anymore before heading north again!!

Progress

Got the engine out with Ninjas help last time I was in town.

Started cleaning it up now that I am in town agian for a little while, but it is slow going at best

Who needs a reall press?

Used a giant C clamp as a press for my swing arm bushings lastnight. Had to start them with a Hammer. I am pretty sure that I just got really lucky and would probably not try that again cause one got a bit stuck. Worked out in the end. So I am one step closer to getting at that engine now.

Inspired to get off my ass!

So I saw all the fantastic bikes at the show last weekend and it got me all excited. I spent a bit of money I don't have and I've started to make some progress on my 650.

I got the Swing arm off and the new "performance enhancing" brass bushings came in today. Now I know most of you are not too fond of swing arms cause you always seem to cut them off. But I'm putting mine back on! Cheers to ninjas house of chop for hanging on to that straight one so I could replace the bent one.
I know it is a bit of a stretch for me but even though there is only 1 year before the next show I am hoping I can get it all done up and join you guys next year.

Rusty?

This picture doesn't do the rust justice but there is plenty and I have already cleaned the mufflers up as much as possible. Not really sure what my next move is but I thought I'd show something.

Not stuck anymore but.......

I don't think I'm going to be able to restore a nice chrome finish.

Unless one of you mules knows a miracle rust remover, maybe some of that Arrogant bastard?

Not feeling so good.

I came home to the lovely fragrance of gasoline in the garage today.......shit.

Feeling good now!

So this was the cause of the whole gas leaking and stupidness though it was not the only factor that caused me the pain in the ass!
One of the floats didn't float so well and I had a bad idea, thought I would repair this float

This is about hour 2

I thought I had it here at hour 4 and after the 16th hour I finally broke down and bought the $12 part since the more solder I put on the heavier the float got and the more irritated I got when the float would still leak. You may have already seen the amount of cleaning I did on the carbs from my last real post which was a long time ago so I won't get into that. I replaced the float and the float valves, gaskets, choke plungers, and various springs and bits. With both carbs cleaned and put back together I thought foolishly that the choke would now work with out binding and that I could finally install that shiny new choke lever that I bought in 07. This is when I started stealing bits from Jordan it must've been a month ago or more and it seemed that I would get the choke working just about as good as I thought then I couldn't let it go at just about. After changing all the choke plunger collars, plunger lifters swaping them all around I got it to work close to the way it was supposed to. My OCD on this issue has finally paid off because today I found the problem "Can you see the difference"

I have no Idea which one came on the the '77 originally but the one on the right is the bitch that works properly in both the

OFF and

ON positions


After finally getting the stupid choke to work I slapped everything back together and of course my battery was dead so i boosted it just to see if it would run after all my mucking around inside and out of the carbs. It runs and seems to idle real nice!!!! I tested the choke out too and the rpms leveled of around 3000 with it on so yea it's working yee haa. Also I've had the gas turned on since this afternoon and my garage still doesn't reek of gasoline so initial testing is showing promise for a fixed set of carbs:) Now my only question for you is if I hadn't told you all about it previously would you be able to tell which part has had some work done to it recently?

Now I'm going to slap those spare carbs back together with all the bits that I took!