WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW it has been SOOOOO long since I posted this topic
sorry about the delay guys! But sometimes, life happens...*cough* marriage *cough*...and you gotta put projects on hold for a little bit. Can I get an amen...
ANYway, here's a QUICK update: I started by tearing the bike absolutely to pieces after riding it home, realized it ran like a complete dog turd, tried doing some basic tuning, and with no luck I gave up completely (read:was really lazy). Every piece now sits individually in my basement either on the floor or in a bag, with the exception of the engine which I promptly put on an engine stand and took of the valve cover, head, and block. Then I tried to start removing gasket off of the block, which is where I became bogged down as you can see from the last posts on this topic, and after I succeeded in getting most/all the gasket off the block, that is where life stepped in and side-lined the entire project...
But I'm BACK baby! And my resolve is stronger than every! I was disheartened with the prospect of removing all the paint off the finned engine pieces, but I obtained a soda blasting gun for Christmas one year, and I finally decided to try it out! and GOOD LORD that thing is awesome! Cleaned up my block SO fast! So now I have a vision forward....involving these current steps:
1. Finish putting the engine back together, and paint it! I've already cleaned up the block with the soda blaster, but I'm gonna put it on the engine, and put tape over the cylinder openings, then use the soda blaster on the entire engine to clean it up before prepping for paint. I'm going to do the head separately just because of all the openings on it. Then I'll put the head on, bolt the head and block down, prep for paint, and then paint!
2. The carbs. Thank goodness for Brian Barnes and his how to for cleaning and rebuilding the PD46A carbs....well, mine are PD46C carbs (printed on side), but I'm hoping it's similar enough that I can kinda follow along and do just as good a job. Carbs will be disassembled, cleaned, and all gaskets will be replaced, plus float bowl screws because...well, last I checked, they're kinda messed up...like, different screws, lengths, not sure what the PO did...plus, I'll be throwing in a larger pilot jet and main because I'll be building the bike with pods and a 4-into-1 exhaust with the baffle removed - MOAR AIR FLOWS! I've literally spent this whole week reading about tuning carbs, my head is gonna explode...
3. The frame! Got lots of tabs I need to cut off that I won't be using. I'm cutting off the rear end of the frame, and putting a frame hoop on. Need to pick up seat pan first, and adjust for length, but once I do that, I'm sending it to a dealership nearby who will do some quick welds, and send the whole thing off to get powder coated.
4. I figure after I get the engine, carbs, and frame ready, it's basically a slow roll. I'll take my time either polishing up or painting suspension and wheel parts. rebuilding things like brake caliper, master cylinder, rear brakes, ect. Slowly putting the bike together. Eventually I'll get to the point where it's time to build the new wiring harness. Fortunately this is where it gets easy for me, since I'm an electrical engineer
So that's basically where I'm at! I do have one question that I've been pondering lately (read: in the last couple hours)....
Does anyone know how the oil pressure switch works electrically? Is it just a normally on switch that the oil pressure triggers to keep off? Then when/if your oil pressure drops to far, the switch triggers back on and turns on your oil warning light? Just curious, not even sure how/if I'll even wire it yet....probably a good idea tho I suppose
Edit: Forgot about the gas tank! I just stripped all the paint and currently it's sitting with Metal Rescue in it to get rust out. Shortly I will be prepping it for paint, then painting it.
