Author Topic: Back at it again  (Read 4917 times)

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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: Back at it again
« Reply #25 on: June 10, 2015, 12:30:40 PM »
Yes, many of us know all too well.  It doesn't look so freakin' heavy until you take a hold and say oh crap.  It's not very balanced either (top heavy) making it more of a pain to carry.
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline abliden71

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Re: Back at it again
« Reply #26 on: June 10, 2015, 12:38:20 PM »
I guess I haven't posted much about the direction I want to take this bike so while I am sitting back staring at her I guess I will indulge in some fantasy. I want to make her into a brat style bike. I like the mean fat tires and the tight package look. I'd love to end up with a clean triangle but that's not as important as just a clean package. I'll post up some pictures of bikes I've seen and liked.



The above is probably my favorite so far



This guy is cool because that's my original paintings color



Mean and tight. Just what I'm looking for.



Now for the big one. When the heck is the oil tank. I do not want to go grinding off tabs if I am going to have to reinvent the wheel. My thoughts on this are simple. If I am going to potentially damage my engine for looks then I will give up the clean triangle.  But if there is a safe way to hide that much oil I am all ears

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Offline abliden71

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Re: Back at it again
« Reply #27 on: June 10, 2015, 12:39:54 PM »
Yes, many of us know all too well.  It doesn't look so freakin' heavy until you take a hold and say oh crap.  It's not very balanced either (top heavy) making it more of a pain to carry.
I must have been stronger the last time I picked her up. I feel like it was cake. Lol I'm glad I did it again so next time someone says they wanna dump the engine out of a roller I can offer to watch.

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Offline madmtnmotors

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Re: Back at it again
« Reply #28 on: June 10, 2015, 01:57:40 PM »
believe me that engine didn't levitate onto the shelf on its own.


LOL! My aging back and knees prompted me to seek alternative means of "levitation". Below is an excerpt from my build thread:


We have liftoff!




Careful.... careful....






Damn! That's tight!






Almost there...




Voila'!




Whole process, start to finish, took all of about ten minutes. That includes takin pitchurs! Good thing too, since I was runnin out of daylight. All that's left to do is roll'em back into the garage.
TAMTF...


Wilbur



Projects:
"Evolution": http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=100352.0
"P.O. Debacle": http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,126692.msg1441661.html#msg1441661
F2/F3 O-rings: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=113672.msg1300721#msg1300721
Cam Tower Studs: https://www.mcmaster.com/#93210a017/=t19sgp
Clean up that nasty harness: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=137351.msg1549191#msg1549191
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,148188.msg1688494.html#msg1688494
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,139544.msg1579364.html#msg1579364
                                          
Charging system diagnosis: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=1012.msg8345#msg8345
Get the manuals: http://manuals.sohc4.net/cb750k/
The Dragon: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=45183.msg1571675#msg1571675
Headlight Switch: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=113986.msg1283236#msg1283236
Branden's leak free top end thread: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=107040.0
Engine Lifting Made Easy: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,58210.msg1684742.html#msg1684742
                                      http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,100352.msg1675840.html#msg1675840
Static and Dynamic Timing: http://www.hondachopper.com/garage/carb_info/timing/timing1.html
Airbox Gasket Replacement: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,114485.msg1290000.html#msg1290000
"Café" : http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,84697.msg953814.html#msg953814
PD Carb Choke Linkage: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,100352.msg1669248.html#msg1669248
                                    http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,110931.msg1248354.html#msg1248354
                                    http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,48858.msg515204.html#msg515204
Follow up on your damn posts: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,144305.msg1791605.html#msg1791605
Taiwanese Cam Chain Tensioners:  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,155043.msg1774841.html#msg1774841
Gumtwo Seat Cover: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,164440.msg1897366.html#msg1897366
Primary Drive: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,166063.msg1919278.html#msg1919278
Tank Latch: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,165975.msg1919495.html#msg1919495
Shorten your forks: http://vintage-and-classic-honda-s.456789.n3.nabble.com/How-to-shorten-forks-td4042465.html DO NOT CUT THE SPRINGS!
Clutch How To: http://vintage-and-classic-honda-s.456789.n3.nabble.com/How-to-change-and-adjust-a-clutch-SOHC-td4040391.html
Late model K7/K8/F2/F3 front sprocket cover removal: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,178428.msg2072279.html#msg2072279
630 to 530 conversion: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180710.msg2094423.html#msg2094423

Sent from my Tandy TRS-80!

Offline abliden71

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Re: Back at it again
« Reply #29 on: June 10, 2015, 02:06:36 PM »
I know that I am getting older/smarter when I say to myself "Damn that looks like a good idea " and not "where's the fun in not killing yourself " when I get there i think I can get a hold of a cherry picker. Did you make that Jig though?

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Offline madmtnmotors

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Re: Back at it again
« Reply #30 on: June 10, 2015, 02:26:39 PM »
Did you make that Jig though?

Yep. Probably took less than an hour with scrap tubing I had laying around. I posted a dimensioned drawing (with a pdf attached too) in this thread:

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,58210.msg1684742.html#msg1684742

I even decided to go ahead and add this link to my signature.  ;)
TAMTF...


Wilbur



Projects:
"Evolution": http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=100352.0
"P.O. Debacle": http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,126692.msg1441661.html#msg1441661
F2/F3 O-rings: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=113672.msg1300721#msg1300721
Cam Tower Studs: https://www.mcmaster.com/#93210a017/=t19sgp
Clean up that nasty harness: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=137351.msg1549191#msg1549191
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,148188.msg1688494.html#msg1688494
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,139544.msg1579364.html#msg1579364
                                          
Charging system diagnosis: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=1012.msg8345#msg8345
Get the manuals: http://manuals.sohc4.net/cb750k/
The Dragon: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=45183.msg1571675#msg1571675
Headlight Switch: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=113986.msg1283236#msg1283236
Branden's leak free top end thread: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=107040.0
Engine Lifting Made Easy: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,58210.msg1684742.html#msg1684742
                                      http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,100352.msg1675840.html#msg1675840
Static and Dynamic Timing: http://www.hondachopper.com/garage/carb_info/timing/timing1.html
Airbox Gasket Replacement: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,114485.msg1290000.html#msg1290000
"Café" : http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,84697.msg953814.html#msg953814
PD Carb Choke Linkage: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,100352.msg1669248.html#msg1669248
                                    http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,110931.msg1248354.html#msg1248354
                                    http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,48858.msg515204.html#msg515204
Follow up on your damn posts: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,144305.msg1791605.html#msg1791605
Taiwanese Cam Chain Tensioners:  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,155043.msg1774841.html#msg1774841
Gumtwo Seat Cover: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,164440.msg1897366.html#msg1897366
Primary Drive: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,166063.msg1919278.html#msg1919278
Tank Latch: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,165975.msg1919495.html#msg1919495
Shorten your forks: http://vintage-and-classic-honda-s.456789.n3.nabble.com/How-to-shorten-forks-td4042465.html DO NOT CUT THE SPRINGS!
Clutch How To: http://vintage-and-classic-honda-s.456789.n3.nabble.com/How-to-change-and-adjust-a-clutch-SOHC-td4040391.html
Late model K7/K8/F2/F3 front sprocket cover removal: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,178428.msg2072279.html#msg2072279
630 to 530 conversion: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180710.msg2094423.html#msg2094423

Sent from my Tandy TRS-80!

Offline abliden71

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Re: Back at it again
« Reply #31 on: June 10, 2015, 02:28:49 PM »
Thanks man, I see this really helping out down the road

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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: Back at it again
« Reply #32 on: June 10, 2015, 02:58:54 PM »
I understand that you are interested in a "brat" build with Firestone tires and a small flat seat.  If you haven't experienced riding on Firestones, be advised: they have VERY little grip when cornering and they track pavement grooves causing speed wobbles.  They are just fine for going in straight lines, but not the safest tires otherwise. 

Also beware lowering the rear seat with stiffer or shorty shocks.  They compromise comfort especially with a flat seat with limited padding.  They will give you a hard ride on you butt, not good for any significant distance traveling. 

We all want to ride cool-looking bikes, but take into consideration the consequences of certain style choices on the performance of your bike.  You may want to let style be dictated by performance instead.  Just my $0.02, but it's your bike.  ;)
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline calj737

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Re: Back at it again
« Reply #33 on: June 10, 2015, 03:18:09 PM »
Here's an option for cleaning up your triangle by using a custom oil tank. Revise the seat as you wish, but understand, opening the triangle and having a flat seat causes the loss of critical real estate for important things like electronics.

+2 on no Firestones
'74 550 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=126401.0
'73 500 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132935.0

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline abliden71

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Re: Back at it again
« Reply #34 on: June 10, 2015, 09:19:49 PM »
Wow, thanks guys. I had no idea about the Firestones. I'm glad I got it out there this early in the build. I have had a second thought in my head that I wasn't too keen on. The reason I went brat over café was (and please forgive me) that the cafe look is kinda played out and played out wrong.  Now, hear me out, I am no where close to old enough to have experienced rockers v mods or any of the good old time café racers but my interpretation of the cafe  spirt is not taking an old bike and putting old technology on it. It's taking that bike you got in the garage and finding the best parts that make the bike do what you want to do.  With new knowledge in my hands about the tires and the springs, I have only one way to make a cafe bike, but in my case it will be a brat racer... Lol I think I got this all figured out

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Offline 70CB750

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Re: Back at it again
« Reply #35 on: June 11, 2015, 03:43:14 AM »
Kudos to you  :D

Tires are for some reason very sensitive point for some of the newbies, not everybody accepts the opinion based on experience like you.
Prokop
_______________
Pure Gas - find ethanol free gas station near you

I love it when parts come together.

Dorothy - my CB750
CB750K3F - The Red
Sidecar


CB900C

2006 KLR650

Offline abliden71

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Re: Back at it again
« Reply #36 on: June 11, 2015, 06:27:45 AM »
I've seen what you are talking about on other threads. I know that I like the look of the big snotty tires. But more than that, I like to stay rubber on the road. I am lucky enough to live in the foothills to the Catskills. If your tires can't corner then you can't ride. So I will start looking for a happy medium.

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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: Back at it again
« Reply #37 on: June 11, 2015, 08:10:44 AM »
Wow, thanks guys. I had no idea about the Firestones. I'm glad I got it out there this early in the build. I have had a second thought in my head that I wasn't too keen on. The reason I went brat over café was (and please forgive me) that the cafe look is kinda played out and played out wrong.  Now, hear me out, I am no where close to old enough to have experienced rockers v mods or any of the good old time café racers but my interpretation of the cafe  spirt is not taking an old bike and putting old technology on it. It's taking that bike you got in the garage and finding the best parts that make the bike do what you want to do.  With new knowledge in my hands about the tires and the springs, I have only one way to make a cafe bike, but in my case it will be a brat racer... Lol I think I got this all figured out

Sent from my D6708 using Tapatalk

The incorporation of newer performance enhancing parts into a classic is what we generally refer to as a restomod. There are lots of fans of this style of rebuilding with cars and motorcycles. We are looking forward to your build. 
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline abliden71

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Re: Back at it again
« Reply #38 on: June 11, 2015, 06:34:16 PM »
Thanks racer fan, I had an idea of where I wanted to go and I haven't ruled anything out.

Today was a slow day in the shop, but productive. I rolled the skeleton outside and gave her a bath. I had planned to use my pressure washer but that didn't work. So I tried something a little different. I used (non-) tsp mixed with water and washed her down by hand.






A little bit of playing with electrolysis,  it definitely worked for paint and rust removal. I tried using jasco paint stripper but it failed miserably. I will definitely be using the electrolysis again.





Before





After.

I see no reason why I can't reuse these rims. I will want to respoke them and clean the hubs. I'll either paint or rechrome the rims down the road.





Before





After.
I don't know if I'll be reusing the fender or taillight but figured I'd clean them up.  All the chrome cleaning was done with 0000 steel wool. I have read about using the same techniques on aluminum, but not sure I like the idea of hard steel in my soft aluminum. Anyone have any good techniques for cleaning aluminum? I think I may just hit it with some 300grit to get the brushed aluminum look and top it with clear. Tomorrow I will start ordering parts, like the swing arm bushing, steering neck bearings, wheel bearing and maybe spokes.
It was nice having the last 2 days off to tool around with the bike, but I am done for the day.

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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: Back at it again
« Reply #39 on: June 11, 2015, 07:30:21 PM »
Nice job of de-rusting the shiny chrome fender bits.  As for the wheels, you might find it difficult to find a plater to re-chrome them (increasingly difficult with the EPA cracking down).  You could just blast them and paint or powdercoat them.
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline abliden71

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Re: Back at it again
« Reply #40 on: June 12, 2015, 08:17:17 PM »
Thanks again for your knowledge on the chrome. I spoke to a guy at work who restores old muscle cars and he told me of a place near by the will rechrome both (apparently there are 2 types of chrome) kinds of chrome. But that is nowhere close to where I'm at. I have decided on paint..... Wait for it......
yellow for the main color with turquoise and gold leaf trims. I think it will give it that old retro racer look. Or make babies cry and force mothers to turn their children away. Lol.
So I got started with a trial on the swing arm.

Here she is, all old and nasty.



Now I have to put a warning in here. I have used a ton of chemicals and solvents. All of them have the same little bit posted "... Something about skin irritation...  Something about gloves.... Something about lungs" yeah that one. Please for the love of God listen to these. If you have ever welded without any arm protection, it feels the same.


But, works like a charm


After I cleaned the Devils stripper off

And on to primer

4ish coats later
Now this next pic may be a bit controversial but I was recommended this paint so I tried it out.

It worked pretty well to paint the swing arm,  and my shop.
Now, what i am unsure of.  While I was painting the Lee seemed to be a fuzz to the paint.. I didn't sand self etching primer off and think that may be the cause. After the 4th or 5th coat of yellow I waited an hour to sand. It was going well until some prices started to flake off. Down to the steel. I have to let it cure a week before recoating so in a week we'll see if some 800 can't clean those up and hit them again. The fuzzies started to go away with 2000 but after a few flakes came off I decided to stop sending.  Also picked up some evaporust,  amazing.!  It cleaned old ugly nuts and bolts to new ugly nuts and bolts.  I forget pictures of that but have lots more to soak so I will try and get some. Anyway, thanks for your support and I am done for the night

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Offline abliden71

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Re: Back at it again
« Reply #41 on: June 24, 2015, 07:28:34 AM »
Hey folks, been a while since the last update and I unfortunately haven't gotten vary far. To pick up where I left off, really all that has happened since then is that the swing arm has been painted, twice.  Oops.
First round looked real nice until it dried for a night and the paint looked like it blistered then cracked.  Wasn't very thrilled with that.

Cracks like that were all over any corners or creases. I tried sanding them out but wasn't happy with the results. So I stripped her down to bare metal and started over. I suspect that it was a case of poor prep work. I also changed from a self etching primer to a normal primer. Also on let the primer dry for 2 days instead of going right to paint. I used the same paint, dupli-color engine enamel. I had a friend over who wants to learn about motorcycles and I asked him if he wanted to paint. He had never painted before and was worried that he'd mess it up, I assured him he couldn't possibly do worse than I could. 

So there's Robby working the spray can. Turned out that he was good at it and enjoyed himself. Poor soul doesn't realize that he now has a frame to paint too.

There were a few runs that yours truly made after Robby left, but they were sanded out a few days later.
Speaking of the frame, I started to strip it down and ran out of the aircraft stripper. I had some of the jasco stripper left over and did a side-by-side test to see if maybe I had jumped to conclusions after using it before.

On the tail section from left to right, it's the jasco up to the cross member and the aircraft aft of that. Huge difference, I hope I find a use for the jasco because that can is still full.
I went to pick up more stripper and advanced auto was out of the spray. I picked up the stuff that is applied with a brush, but... Well it works it is just a pain in the ass to apply and I feel like it doesn't work as well. Maybe because its on a tubular structure and is just harder to apply evenly. To apply and strip I tried a different technique than a paint scraper. That paint scraper did do very much and a scraper brush just got the stuff everywhere. So I applied the stripper let it kick off and then attacked it with the pressure washer.

As far as any flash rust, yeah there is a little bit. I am not worried too much about it because I will have to prep the frame anyway before paint.
I am definitely at a tough spot for where to go next. I have been arguing with myself about cutting the frame... The pursuit in me says " If you cut that frame, you're a jackass" and the rebel says"Do it! This is your bike and the haters can push off!" I think I have to wait for a seat to arrive before I start cutting. In a previous post I had mentioned I wanted to go for a brat look, and still do, but I may be used reconsidering that now. I meet a guy with an old brated out Yami', I think, and man was this bad boy sweet. I got talking to him about the whole ride and he said to me that it is good for a lot of different things, but mostly only being parked outside the bar and at shows. When I asked about the ride quality he said that it's awful for more than a quick ride and handles like a boat. Now, I live in the foothills of the Catskill mountains and ride in the Gunks frequently. So a bike that socks to ride and handles like a boat is absof*ckinglutely worthless to me. I am now thinking about a street tracker vibe, with a very 70's flair. Hence the bright ass yellow with a bit of true blue, and a touch of copperish orange.
Just an update on my suzuki, because everyone cares about the GS,  I got the new coil in and took her for a nice little shake down ride. I think I need a new valve cover gasket Those pants are toast.
Well that's all I got going on.

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Re: Back at it again
« Reply #42 on: June 24, 2015, 09:54:55 AM »
Be happy that the guy with the Yami brat was truthful in telling you about the ride quality of the seat.  Street trackers have become increasingly popular with the resurgence of flat track racing.  The design provides a comfortable riding position open to street and some dirt (track) application depending on your tires. 
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

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1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
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