Topic: Back in the Project Business Maybe

[BenelliSEI]

Nice progress. Looks good.

[britman]

Everybody that has torn up a frozen tappet cover during removal please raise your hands!!!!!  Parts bill just went up another 7 bucks.......

[britman]

Well, during the past two days, timing chain adjusted, valve lash set, points gapped, static timed, trimmed back the old plug wires for good contact, new Denso plugs, and carbs rebuilt and bench synched.  Ran a temporary gas line, set the choke and Wala,  fired right away, seems to be charging, and oil pressure light went out immediately.  Motor sounds tight and strong with no smoke whatsoever, so now time to start making it pretty, or at least presentable.  In good conscience guys, I really don't think I bring myself to put it back up with all of that extra baggage hanging on it.  I am going to do some searching for some used foot pegs, brake and shift levers, so forth.  I believe the bike deserves it..... 

[BenelliSEI]

Nothing better than hearing it come back to life! Well done!

[britman]

I shot a video of the start up with my phone but it is too large to load on the forum format.  I did sent it to the former owner, the young man I purchased the bike from who inherited it from his deceased Grandfather. The kid called me tonight and was most appreciative I had gotten the bike up and running. It was a very touching exchange, even for a gristly 'Old Fart" like me....

[Stev-o]

In good conscience guys, I really don't think I bring myself to put it back up with all of that extra baggage hanging on it.  I am going to do some searching for some used foot pegs, brake and shift levers, so forth.  I believe the bike deserves it..... 

Agree with not putting on the bags.  I may have some footpegs I would be willing to donate to the cause...

[britman]

In good conscience guys, I really don't think I bring myself to put it back up with all of that extra baggage hanging on it.  I am going to do some searching for some used foot pegs, brake and shift levers, so forth.  I believe the bike deserves it..... 

Agree with not putting on the bags.  I may have some footpegs I would be willing to donate to the cause...

Thank you Stev-o but a bit too late.  Ordered from my Ebay used MC parts supplier last evening.  Pegs, brake pedal, and shift lever all off of a K5.  I even found a reasonably priced centerstand on Facebook Marketplace and it is on the way.

[BenelliSEI]

Moving fast! Nice.

[britman]

Ordered K70's front and back this morning, Dennis Kirk had an excellent price if anyone is looking...

[britman]

I wish I could shed weight like K5 has over the past couple of days.  I had been squirreling extra parts in the Wife's storage shed for the past month or so and got caught this morning so I had to do some rearranging to get everything into my mower shed.  Yes my Wife has her own "She Shed" where she supposedly goes to do her Christmas wreath making and other assorted crafts.  I believe the last wreath was made prior to Ebenezer Scrooge being visited by the three ghosts.  I did find a decent set of turn outs exhausts I am going to clean up and install.  The prior owner really beat the crap out of set I removed and cut the ends of the header pipes reducing the diameter to make them fit.  I think the only thing I will be keeping to go with the sale of the bike is the rack and removal sissy bar.  It is a Fulton brand and the chrome is excellent. The Shoei bags, floor boards, and crash bar have gone to the mower shed.  I really am considering finding a swap meet somewhere close now that this damn virus is finally calming down to get rid of a lot of extra project parts I will never use. I end up keeping them all, just in case.  99% of the time "just in case" never comes up, but we all know how that goes. I finally got all of the wiring sorted and everything working, so what's next on the list, I have multiple choices.....

[BenelliSEI]

Ordered K70's front and back this morning, Dennis Kirk had an excellent price if anyone is looking...

Good choice and they look “right” too.

[britman]

I still enjoy bringing something that looks like crap back to the world of presentable.  Some Scotch Pads, metal polish, and fine steel wool, plus enough elbow grease to bring on the Tylenol extra strength this afternoon and I am satisfied.  My inexpensive side covers have cost me a lot of effort.  Turns out there were at least five layers paint and after a tad too much stripper I got into the gel coat slightly.  Some glazing and filler primer may save the day.   

[britman]

No matter how many motors you detail, it never rises on the fun factor scale.  Still need to work the aluminum bits some more, but it does look better......

 

[Stev-o]

Looks good!

[BenelliSEI]

Looks good. What did you do to the Cam cover?

[britman]

Looks good. What did you do to the Cam cover?

All of the aluminum the same way.  Light sanding with 300 or 400 grit wet/dry emery for the real heavy oxidation areas only.  Then a a 220 Scotch pad with with liquid aluminum polish, next work with fine steel wool and Mothers and final buffering with more Mothers and micro fiber towels. I still need to work the final buffering but needed to give the pinched nerve in my upper neck/shoulder area a rest, that type of work rings the bell for that old age gift.  I had a recent injection, but I believe the Doc must have been out of cortisone, probably used 80/90W gear oil as a substitute. I do highly recommend the Dupli-Color Ceramic engine primer and paint.  The stuff cures to a durable finish and holds up well.

I did put a rebuild kit in the front master cylinder this afternoon and I believe it took. Taking them baby steps to get through the marathon....

[BenelliSEI]

Yep! One piece at a time.....

[Stev-o]

Looks good.

 I had a recent injection, but I believe the Doc must have been out of cortisone, probably used 80/90W gear oil as a substitute.

Ha!

[Gamma]

Looking good👍

[seanbarney41]

No matter how many motors you detail, it never rises on the fun factor scale.  Still need to work the aluminum bits some more, but it does look better......

 

yeah, engine cosmetic work is super time consuming and requires long attention to detail...not fun.  The fun is the before and after comparison.  Bet you are having some fun now!  Nice job.

[britman]

Finished up the motor detailing today and bolted the coils back in after hitting the upper frame with some paint.  No more intermit starter button, good fire to the plugs, and all lights work to include the turn signals thanks to an rear set I found in my parts cache.  I don't know if the faulty starter problem was a short or was cured by the new solenoid installed.  Regardless I added some extra grounds to the frame/motor from the bucket wires.  I have to admit defeat on my multi paint layer covered side covers, even after numerous attempts to glaze the defects, the final body work looked like Ray Charles worked it with his feet.  I ordered a repro set from a vendor on Ebay for 75 bucks and I must say I am very pleased.  Good quality and some Honda Planet Blue paint is also on order that I hope will match close enough. 

I have a new set of lower priced carb boots that fit but not perfect so I thought I would try the wintergreen oil soak on the old hard as rock OEM ones that were on the bike.  After a week or so soaking in wintergreen oil and rubbing alcohol they did soften up "BUT" they also became swollen in size.  I have had them hanging outside now for a couple of weeks to see if they will reduce enough to seal tight and will post the results when I bolt the carbs back on.

Next I think I will do the front end, fork seals, install the rebuilt master cylinder and brake caliber, new tire and get the birds nest back into the bucket along with cleaning and paint.   The weather is starting to finally turn real warm, so looks like a lot of early morning work sessions....

   

[BenelliSEI]

Nice work! Love the “yard art”.

[Stev-o]

Nice work! Love the “yard art”.

Yeah, but but the birds will be disappointed that the feeders are gone!

And what do you have against Ray Charles?!

Bike is looking good.

[britman]

Planet Blue for me and you.  Should have waited for "Earth Day" to shoot em........

[britman]

Wet sanded and cut and buffed the side covers today.  With my unintentional defects they look pretty close to a factory match considering the tank color has had a few more years to fade.  Polished the forks, touched up the rotor, tomorrow a tire mount.  I have done about five in a row now without a pitching a tube, probably due by now.....