Topic: Trad's Rust and Bones 550 Brat Build: Input on plug readings needed, last page.

[bwaller]

#$%* Jared, WTH? It's not for my old ass but that was cool to watch! You would do well in trials, plus there's an engine! It is fun for sure. I always said riding trials was good balance training for street riders. That said, my last trials bike had a seat.   

[Trad]

Thanks man, bringing the bmx videos into the thread. You know, I got some moves on the 550, probably shouldn't have any but I do. haha.  Never even seen one of those trails bikes before. That looks so fun!!! They're expensive though. Have you ever ridden one of those?

Me? Oh, hell no!!  I know that with your coordination, balance and control developed in doing BMX tricks, you could develop fast as a trials rider, since that style of riding requires many of the same skills. 

The bike only weighs 160-165 lbs. (72.5-75 kg)

That looks so fun. I've only ever seen them without engines. Is this becoming a big thing in cali or where did you ever find out about it? If there is money in this maybe I should switch my career. haha

[Trad]

#$%* Jared, WTH? It's not for my old ass but that was cool to watch! You would do well in trials, plus there's an engine! It is fun for sure. I always said riding trials was good balance training for street riders. That said, my last trials bike had a seat.   

Haha, thanks Brent! That's what I don't get, no seat. But I'm with you, with the engine those look like a good time. I'd hate the lay it down on a rock or something though, especially at 8 grand US.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Jared,

Not many people in California have ever heard of trials riding (as opposed to trail riding).  I believe that the competitive sport is biggest in Europe.

FYI - Congratulations.  Mick aka Retro Rocket seconded the nomination, and since you already accepted, you are in for next Month's BOTM!

Well done!
Don

[callmejarob]

Bike looks and sounds great!!  Awesome video too!

[hellraiserDLX]

I grew up in Southern California and before I could ride my YZ 125 my dad put me on an old 70 years 80 CC trials bike. He had a couple eighties Honda 350 CC trials bikes I believe and we would go out and he would make me ride over logs and #$%* until I could prove I was worthy to ride my motocross bike haha

nice work on the build man.one of my favorite builds that I have followed on here so far. I like seeing something different then your typical cafe build or fullout restoration

[Trad]

Jared,

Not many people in California have ever heard of trials riding (as opposed to trail riding).  I believe that the competitive sport is biggest in Europe.

FYI - Congratulations.  Mick aka Retro Rocket seconded the nomination, and since you already accepted, you are in for next Month's BOTM!

Well done!
Don

Haha, sweet. Buying a trails bike and moving to Europe to train.  Seriously though, psyched on the second nomination as well!

Bike looks and sounds great!!  Awesome video too!

Thanks a lot Jarob, just a few minor tuning tweaks and to find a front fender and it's done for now. I think I might try on the Moto GP pipe I have for the 74 build and see how the sound compares between the Carpy and Moto GP pipes. Maybe make a comparison video.

I grew up in Southern California and before I could ride my YZ 125 my dad put me on an old 70 years 80 CC trials bike. He had a couple eighties Honda 350 CC trials bikes I believe and we would go out and he would make me ride over logs and #$%* until I could prove I was worthy to ride my motocross bike haha

nice work on the build man.one of my favorite builds that I have followed on here so far. I like seeing something different then your typical cafe build or fallout restoration

Haha, your dad and my dad are similar in that way. My father started me on a old 50cc Honda trike, then a #$%*ty old suzuki 80 2 stroke dirt bike, and he would take me out into the bush and make me ride through all kinds of stuff I never felt comfortable with. A few weeks of that and he finally let me ride by myself. It's like a rights of passage thing.

I remember one time we were out in the bush, I was probably 11. I was in the lead and my dad must have stopped and I kept going. It was probably 5-10 minutes of full on riding before I realized he was gone. I panicked, got of my bike and started running back. haha. These were sand doones so you could see the foot prints. After I finally found my dad and he gave me a lift back to my bike he asked why the hell I abandoned my bike and and started running. To this day he still brings up this story and says the distance between my footprints were massive. haha. Still don't know why I started running though.

Glad you're into this bike man. It is a little bit different. I like really like the posture of the Rethals,  it's aking me second guess the clipons I have on my 74.

[hellraiserDLX]

Hahahaha thats hilarious! I have a similar one. Probably about the same age too. We were out in the dunes and i remember watching people go up this hill they called "competition hill". Old drag spot up this huge ass dune. He finally convinced me to rip up it so i hit it 3rd gear wide open. I made it to the top but once i got up there to turn around and come back down, everyone and their trucks and buggies looked like ants! So frickin high up. I just heard my pops screaming at me telling me to come down. I said f@ck that! I dropped the bike and walked down the mile long dune lol he was so mad when he had to walk up it and get my bike lol

[callmejarob]

Bike looks and sounds great!!  Awesome video too!

Thanks a lot Jarob, just a few minor tuning tweaks and to find a front fender and it's done for now. I think I might try on the Moto GP pipe I have for the 74 build and see how the sound compares between the Carpy and Moto GP pipes. Maybe make a comparison video.

Yes please make a comparison video!  I have the carpy exhaust right now.

You're looking for a front fender?  I had a custom one made by Aaron at Revive Custom Motorcycles up in RI.  I came across his fenders on eBay and for the price you absolutely can not beat them!  He is such a nice guy and will make basically anything you can want out of aluminum.  I was going to have him make me the headlight bucket but opted to go with your method.  I ordered a 12" alloy fender for my 750, its beautiful! 

Here is his Facebook page and his email:
https://www.facebook.com/VintageEastCycles
aaronrichard75@yahoo.com

[Trad]

Hahahaha thats hilarious! I have a similar one. Probably about the same age too. We were out in the dunes and i remember watching people go up this hill they called "competition hill". Old drag spot up this huge ass dune. He finally convinced me to rip up it so i hit it 3rd gear wide open. I made it to the top but once i got up there to turn around and come back down, everyone and their trucks and buggies looked like ants! So frickin high up. I just heard my pops screaming at me telling me to come down. I said f@ck that! I dropped the bike and walked down the mile long dune lol he was so mad when he had to walk up it and get my bike lol

Hahaha, I actually laughed out loud at that story. You're dad was probably so pissed having to walk up.

Bike looks and sounds great!!  Awesome video too!

Thanks a lot Jarob, just a few minor tuning tweaks and to find a front fender and it's done for now. I think I might try on the Moto GP pipe I have for the 74 build and see how the sound compares between the Carpy and Moto GP pipes. Maybe make a comparison video.

Yes please make a comparison video!  I have the carpy exhaust right now.

You're looking for a front fender?  I had a custom one made by Aaron at Revive Custom Motorcycles up in RI.  I came across his fenders on eBay and for the price you absolutely can not beat them!  He is such a nice guy and will make basically anything you can want out of aluminum.  I was going to have him make me the headlight bucket but opted to go with your method.  I ordered a 12" alloy fender for my 750, its beautiful! 

Here is his Facebook page and his email:
https://www.facebook.com/VintageEastCycles
aaronrichard75@yahoo.com

Thanks for the link Jarob! I will for sure take a look into them. That's a sweet fender, man! Would run that in a heartbeat.

[Trad]

Last night i realized that I never dropped the sump pan on this bike to see what surprises await me in there. I did and nothing out of the ordinary; No metal or sealant globs. I cleaned out the bit of sludge that was at the very bottom and installed a new OEM gasket. I also picked off the small bits of sludge that made there way onto the oil pump pick up screen with my fingers.

 Since I needed to pull the exhaust I also decided to through a new oil filter on. The o-rings with the K&N filter were too big to use so I opened an extra Honda filter I had used the o-rings from there. The exhaust also got new copper crush gaskets.

Oil Pan by tradart101, on Flickr

Anyway, with all else unchanged. No touching electrical, carbs, correct oil with no leaks, no exhaust leaks, THE BIKE IS NOT RUNNING AS SMOOTH AS IT DID THE FIRST DAY OF STARTUP?

It kick starts first try still and holds idle, but the idle is hanging about with choke applied. Once it's warm and the choke is off the slight hang goes away. All 4 pipes are getting equally hot but there is a slight intermittent misfire I can hear at idle and the rev is not a smooth. It wants to get a bit choppy/blubbery mid throttle.

That said I only ran the bike bike for a few minutes after the work I did last night. Maybe I'll go for a longer ride and report back if it smooths out.

I don't want to mess with the carbs because they are tuned so nicely and evidence is in the start up video.

Help me brainstorm what would be causing this? Keeping note that all I worked on yesterday should not have changed the running performance of the bike. Coincidence or not?

Thanks.

[calj737]

Check for a slight exhaust leak-

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Also a cheap but nice upgrade for the next time you change your oil -- magnetic drain plug bolt. Aside from aluminum bits, it will show you what lurks in the oil and keep it from recycling.

[FunJimmy]

Awesome BMX video Jared.

[Trad]

Also a cheap but nice upgrade for the next time you change your oil -- magnetic drain plug bolt. Aside from aluminum bits, it will show you what lurks in the oil and keep it from recycling.

I've used them in the past, such a handy little upgrade.

Awesome BMX video Jared.

Psyched you liked it Jimmy! Lots I blood sweat and years went into that one.

Check for a slight exhaust leak-

After taking Cals advise I found an exhaust leak on the #4 pipe. Fingers crossed this is the cause of the sudden running issue. I mean I didn't touch anything else. This is the first time I've ever changed the exhaust with aftermarket copper gaskets. Coincidence? I think not. Haha.

Going to order new exhaust studs, honda gaskets, and new 6mm flange bolts in the morning. I guess I'll have to wait until these pars arrive before I know for sure this was the issue. What a bummer, can't touch the bike until then.

[calj737]

snug them up and ride it like a rented mule! When the parts come, replace then.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Preferred to riding it pipeless.  That'll wake up all of Alberta.

[FunJimmy]

Psyched you liked it Jimmy! Lots I blood sweat and years went into that one.

And it shows. Amazing bike skills and some fantastic camera work.
A real piece to be proud of and to keep for your kids.

Hope you get the stumble sorted out soon.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Jared,

A VERY VERY respectable podium on BOTM. There's not trophy or prize for BOTM, but being nominated is its own reward in having fellow forum members recognize your bike and efforts. 

The Rust & Bones build is everything you want in a brat daily rider and more.  It is clean and well put together.  I hope it brings a smile to your face this riding season.

I cannot wait to see how your other bike turns out!

Congrats,
Don

[Trad]

Jared,

A VERY VERY respectable podium on BOTM. There's not trophy or prize for BOTM, but being nominated is its own reward in having fellow forum members recognize your bike and efforts. 

The Rust & Bones build is everything you want in a brat daily rider and more.  It is clean and well put together.  I hope it brings a smile to your face this riding season.

I cannot wait to see how your other bike turns out!

Congrats,
Don

Hey Don,

Thanks for the words. I've been daily riding it when at home and it's running great. Been getting a lot of head nods which is always nice. haha.

I can't wait to see how the other one turns out either. I recently moved out of the shop at my pops place and got a 10X10 heated storage unit to work on the bike. I currently setting up into a little work shop. I plan to button up the top end wire the bike in there. No rush now that I have a decent daily rider though. 

[huhb]

So I gave the tank a really nice polish with a medium and fine compound on the orbital then waxed it with Mother's wax. I really cleaned the filler neck compartment and swapped out the keyed latch piece for a better condition one from another F tank I had. Brushed the filler cap and coated it with some Dry-Coat. There are still small chips here and there but damn I'm excited on how the tank and seat compliment each other. I like this better than my 550K build and that stings a bit. haha.

any idea where i could get a replacement filler cap? I have two tanks, none of which came with the filler cap. Doubt it's a good idea to ride around without it.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

You should be able to find a decent used one on eBay. No, it's definitely NOT a good idea to ride without one unless you want gasoline all over you and the bike.

[P.abrera]

Jared, DM in your inbox


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[calj737]

Bet Bill Benton has one. Give him a PM. Rotten luck about the postage

[Trad]

After a carb sync, tuning and tuning I finally settled at 105 mains, 42 slows, needle clip down one notch from stock, fuel screws 1.5 out; 110's were pitch black with soot. There are only 50 miles on these plugs and all four essentially look identical now. I'm not getting any lean symptoms but was hoping they'd show a bit more brown. What do you guys think?



Also went for a little rip for some brews with my pop on Fathers Day. Fun stuff.