Bike Update
Permalink | June 24, 2006 by John in Motorcycle News
This week I proved to myself that I should never become a bike mechanic (and in a lot of ways validates my decision to sell the 914s). One of my dreams since the first winter after I got my bike, when I tore it down for paint and other mods, was to go to one of the motorcycle mechanics institutes and possibly pursue a new career. Nuh-uh. No way. I’ve been losing things, breaking things, forgetting to order parts and tools in advance, finding things again, scrambling to have parts over-nighted from friends and acquaintances on the east coast. It’s very nearly been a complete disaster, just because everything has to be ordered from England. As it is I’ve been without my bike for a week of absolutely gorgeous weather, and that makes me grouchy.
Things are getting better, albeit slowly, but I had to abort my valve adjustment for a little while (all but one of my eight valves are on the tight side) because I didn’t have the parts or the specialty tool on hand. I’ve decided to put off my rear tire replacement at least until next week and my front tire replacement for mid-to-late July (there’s just too much tread on it to throw it away when I do the rear).
Last weekend I did the oil and filter change, and installed the new kickstand, horn and sparkplugs. Over the past week I managed to get the carb mods completed. It was a little dicey for a while when I lost some teeny tiny washers and o-rings for the idle mixture screws. Luckily I found all of them.
Today has been productive, however. I got the carbs put back in and installed the new carb brace. I used the K&N brand cleaner on my air filters 4-5 times and they’re still not completely clean. Guess I shouldn’t have waited 3 years between cleanings. I’m waiting for the filters to dry so I can oil and reinstall them. I cleaned up the wiring harness under the tank and replaced a bunch of zip ties. I removed the visors from the headlight and driving lights (just for shits’n'giggles) and rerouted the wiring so it’s cleaner. I also rerouted the throttle cables so that they don’t bind up.
As soon as I go back out there after lunch I’m going to run new fuel line and install my new fuel filter. My bike is crippled because of one of the things I broke. I snapped off a banjo bolt for the tube that feeds oil to my camshaft bearings. I’ve only got one bolt holding it in right now. I can still run it but not very hard. I only plan to fire it up once the air and fuel filters are installed so I can tune the carbs. I’ll have the replacement part I need by Monday so the bike will be 100% again.
Despite the weather I wouldn’t be rushing it but I need to have the bike back on the road for next weekend. I’m helping my mother move next Saturday and we’re towing the bike behind the U-haul so I can ride it home (the rest is an awfully long story). It’s likely next Sunday, after the move is complete (for me anyway, heh) I’ll pull the rear tire so I can get that replaced. I’m not worried as much about the front; I can do that in less than a day as long as Jeff is available to mount and balance the new tire.
Here’s what’s left on my checklist:
- valve adjustment (waiting on parts: the tool and gaskets and such), probably do that the weekend of July 8-9
- new tires (rear July 4-5, front somewhere around July 15-19 depending of if I go to Red Lodge)
- install speedbleeders and bleed brakes (today or tomorrow)
- solder some wires to the replacement toggle switch for my driving lights and install (today or tomorrow)
reinstall clock (today or tomorrow)install handlebar riser spacers (today or tomorrow)
Oh and then there’s fixing the saddlebags…
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They’re Bonkers in Blighty
Permalink | June 22, 2006 by John in In the News
Business of Life: Mad Englishmen: “Police have been instructed to let off with a caution burglars and those who admit responsibility for some 60 other crimes ranging from assault and arson to sex with an underage girl. That is, no jail time, no fine, no community service, no court appearance. It’s cheap, quick, saves time and money, and best of all the offenders won’t tax an already overcrowded jail system.”
YIKES.
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FS: 1973 Porsche 914 2.0, Unfinished Custom, Some Rust
Permalink | June 20, 2006 by John in Auto
I finally did it. Now let’s see if anyone is interested.
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I would love to see these tied to the back of Tom’s racing Scout
Permalink | June 19, 2006 by John in Gadgets
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Illegal Emigrants
Permalink | by John in Uncategorized
Flood of American Liberals into Canada: “Canadian border farmers say it’s not uncommon to see dozens of sociology professors, animal rights activists, and Unitarians crossing their fields at night. ‘I went out to milk the cows the other day, and there was a Hollywood producer huddled in the barn,’ said Manitoba farmer Red Greenfield, whose acreage borders North Dakota.”
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