Aight so its been AWHILE but the bike is to the point where it can be fired and tuned up, all though I haven't done this yet, but to recap on what I have done.
The Esprit worked wonders on the inside of the tank, to protect the paint on the outside I wrapped it in duct tape---->
This I DO NOT recommend, When I took the tape off the adhesive from the tape bonded to the tank, messing up the paint job. hindsight 20/20 putting boiling water into a metal tank covered in an adhesive, the adhesive will cure to hot metal thing. NOTED no big deal though as I plan to paint it now.
I got the frame, swing arm, rims, hubs, fork lowers, engine mounts, and a few other pieces powder coated in gloss black by JLC Powder Coating in Macon, GA. and they did a fabulous job with an amazing turn around time. They are across the street from a custom bike shop so motorcycle parts are nothing new to them, and the atmosphere is great. I couldn't be more happy with the job they did.
I replaced all the wheel bearings with All Ballz, and the steering head bearing too. Got new fork tubes and seals from Dime City Cycles along with the repo gators and replaced the spokes with Buchanan spokes. I originally ordered some cheapo ones from Thailand off ebay paid WAY to much for shipping waited for ever and when I got them they were the wrong ones. I returned those and went for the tied and true. lacing the wheel was new to me and took forever to do the front one. I took them down to Rat Rodz in Macon, GA (across the street from JLC Powder Coating) and had them balance, true, and spoke up the rear wheel. they also wrapped it in my Bridgestone Battleax's
I LOVE the way they came out!
In the mean time of the wheels and frame getting powdercoated I borrowed my uncle's engine hoist and cleaned, and scrubbed, and cleaned, and scrubbed the hell out of the engine so I could paint it with some confidence that the duplicolor would stick.
The colors are Cast Coat Iron & Aluminum, we were skeptical of the way the two colors would look together, but it turned out good.
I picked up a new wire harness from parts n more for 75 doll hairs to replace the old one the PO had gone through to find his electrical problem. I didnt want to deal with this so i replaced it (I am by NO means a wire chaser and tend to let the magic smoke out to much)
while doing this I cleaned all the rust off of the points and got new screws
I thought that I had a picture of it but I guess I don't. In HondaMan's book he tells you to "trim" one of the engine mount bevel/flange (I forgot the exact word) so that when you go to put in engine in it would be simply turn engine on right side then side frame over. I wrapped the frame to protect it and the engine and being supper carful it took literally 15 min tops. easiest part yet!!!
on to the rear wheel and components- new sprocket, chain, brakes, shocks, spokes, rubber the whole 9 yrds.
The shocks I got from Dave Quinn were Hagon 2810's 12.2" slim bodied, now in conjunction with raising the forks through the trees 1.5" I had a revelation after installing the rear brake linkage about 10 times each time I got it all hooked up the brake would be engaged fully. after some farting around and head scratching it came to me- Shorter shocks, shorter front end, ! BRAKE SPRING NEEDS TO BE SHORTER !!! so a few trial and error lengths were done before ever cutting and I found its happy place, cut and BOOM works great.
Second and still lingering problem, with the center stand up it hits the chain. still kicking around Ideas for that one.
Third with it over on the kickstand it sits almost vert and a strong breeze could topple her over -no bueno-
So after inspecting a few modern cruiser kickstands I found that the kawasaki vulcan (99-07) has the same shape/design I just bought it off ebay with hopes of a little fabrication and a problem solved.
For the front end I got the ss brake lines from slingshot cycles, new throttle and clutch cables, a new BMM with the banjo on the front to accommodate the bend in my bars, new throttle tube, progressive fork springs, super motto bars (inverted= super comfy) and new brakes.
for the seat, I tried fiberglassing my own -epic fail- and decided to pick one up from Carpy. it came in quick and looks Bada$$
(had to try it on with the tank)
I had to do a little mods to the seat b/c I kept the frame stock in case I or someone else wanted to restore it to its original beauty.
on the center stand
on the kickstand (almost no difference)
Some for fun
Now the riding position I find comfy, I can put BOTH feet on the grand firmly and flat (a huge deal for me, im only 5'7")
My dad who is a little shorter found it comfy and stable also
Before I forget, I replaced the pod filters with the air box and a K&N filter. The main jet needles to Keihin #110's. got a new bleeder screw, new plugs DENSO X24ES-U (as prescribed by Honda Man) and new plug caps.
Now to the electrical (THE BAIN OF MY EXISTENCE)
I got a new Acewell tach/speedo combo (model 2853), and new bullet type turn signals. Making the connections for the acewell was no problem, the instructions are easy to follow. The real trouble was with the turn signals, they were made for modern "smart" relays (power+ground, winks by itself) the cb has three (power+ground+winker) All I can say is my brother found this out and explained it to me like that. luckily he found the relays he needed at radio shack for $10 and we are in BITNAS.
For the paint job I am thinking cream with a bold black line down the tank with the writing in crimson, or the line being crimson with the lettering in black.
OPINIONS!!!!?
?
This will be the writing on the tank.
This was my squads nickname in the ghan and we came up with this design. we made a stencil and sharpied it onto all our undershirts. I want this to go on the rear of the seat where the hump to break up all the dead space
A few things still left to do, minor things but things. any questions you have fire away.
Tony.
