Alright.
So went the other day to get the nissin master on there and i ended up going to the little motorcycle shop i was tinkering at looking for a 32" braided brake hose($0). Was a little worried about how to connect it to the caliper itself, but we had the thought to attach it directly with a banjo bolt. the odds of it having threads accepting of a banjo, or a banjo that would fit were slim to none. Hit the lottery($0).
My friend the grump aka master fabricator, had a light he thought would work, and the mount was trash so he sent me off looking for a new one. Found it, the updated version was about an inch smaller length wise, which actually looks better in my opinion. Dual filament,($10) however I've got no tag light. I suppose I can cross that bridge when i reach it.
The nissin had some rash on the end knob, so instead of just pulling the paint off, he cropped it off entirely and polished it out. looks unique and intentional. ($13 shipped.)
Got the light installed and the front brake bled and the carbs re-seated on the boots and took her for a spin. Tires were low, and the steering had a hard pull either direction. He suspected that it was the lack of front fender, but as i rode it for like 2 seasons without it, I wasn't buying it.
Ended up airing up the tires and checking all the bolts in the tree. better but still not right.
He started suspecting the bearings in the stem that we had done, and both of us recalled quite the endeavor to get the bottom race seated all the way. So, in we go. I find myself holding the upper, handlebars, and a fork leg all in a stupid lazy balancing act so we don't have to disconnect the headlight or any cables.
He didn't have the most fun i've ever seen anyone have, and I felt bad. He ended up just cutting the race out and we spent a few minutes trying to find a replacement in the drawer of misfit parts. Found a race and then reinstalled it to find that the lower was just hanging up on the neck. #$%*. So the kit that I bought had a spacer in it, but it did NOT list my bike as a year that required it. That was the exact problem. a 1/4 inch spacer. Neither one of us wanted to press that bearing off and buy another one. So, the next best thing is to grind right? the answer is yes. there will be no disagreement.
So, the end result is a bike that looks pretty freaking badass and turns like butter. i will be putting some of the front fender back on just because I know i'll be in the rain at some point or another and it just feels a little more sturdy. Also, we got the speedo hub snapped into place so the cable works fine.
Cut up an old stock mirror to make this little one he had work. I see him buy stuff to build his, but wonder why he does when he can make so much from scratch.
I'll be synching the carbs next week sometime, and I'm going to try to document that, mainly because I find it interesting.
Also, I'll be rechecking my points and cam chain adjustment.
I ran without a muffler so long that the kerker sounds hilarious.