Topic: What did you do to your non-SOHC4 motorcycle today?

[Kelly E]

Thanks, I got the swingarm and a few small parts painted today. Yesterday we got the lower steering stem bearing off with just a punch and hammer. Usually it involves a cutting wheel.

[Trevor from Warragul]

I bought "stainless steel" mirrors for my Kawasaki H1A. They arrived today. Hmm, a button magnet sticks to the stem and mirror body. Definitely not stainless steel! I have submitted a partial refund request...

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I did some research, and some stainless steels are magnetic. However, these types don't have the same corrosion resistance as non-magnetic austenitic stainless steel...

[MauiK3]

Yes, they will corrode a little, fairly easy to clean up. Better than flaky chrome in that respect.

[grcamna2]

Trevor,those mirrors look like(in the pics)standard aftermarket chrome plated steel mirrors,imo.
Their listing said SS ?

[jgger]

That is just a low grade stainless. You can find the same thing on kitchen appliances and BBQ. The higher dollar stuff will usually pass the magnet test.

[Trevor from Warragul]

That is just a low grade stainless

That's what I reckon. Hopefully any rust spots will buff out. They look nice, and weren't particularly cheap..

[C317414]

Most items made from stainless steel are made from 304 alloy or equivalent.  304 will corrode a bit, but usually the corrosion can be buffed out.  The commonly available stainless steel, that is the most corrosion resistant is 316 alloy.  It is not common to find 316, except for the marine, food processing, etc, industries. 

The magnet test works most of the time, but that is not always the case with 316 that has been cold worked.  Cold working, may make 316 magnetic.

Another source of corrosion in 304 and 316 is dirty tools, tools that have been used on carbon steel or iron, sparks or particles from nearby machining of carbon steel, etc.  Carbon steel or cast iron particles will corrode stainless.  If left too long before cleaning, they will compromise the chromium oxide surface on the stainless and will result in localized corrosion.  Many suppliers do not understand this.  They do not have tooling dedicated to stainless only, or they fabricate parts from other metals in the vicinity of stainless. 

[Kelly E]

Today I'm still blasting and cleaning up the small parts for the 78' KL 250. I have to clean up the wiring harness, connectors and the hand controls. I think I have finished up the repairs but I'm sure I've missed a few things.
As soon as we get some drier weather we can blast the frame and get it painted. It will need plenty of time to dry before assembly. We haven't been able to find a new carb insulator except from CSML for $80 plus shipping from Belgium. We'll keep looking for a bit before we cave in and order it from them.

[Kelly E]

Today we got the 78' KL 250 A frame sandblasted today. It was a beautiful day and I should of been riding but I have to finish up this bike before school gets out. I think I have until June 20 or so. Once I get the frame sanded I will be waiting for a good day to paint it. Then finish cleaning up the wiring harness, reassemble the forks, clean and lube the cables and the hand controls while the paint cures.

[Magpie]

Worked on and the SOHC2, Super Hawk. Replaced the O rings between the carbs, messed about with the old wiring connected to a new after market wiring harness and got it sorted after blowing many 15 amp fuses. However it will start on full choke but won't run if the choke lever is moved a hair off full - like it's starving for fuel. The new O rings should prevent it sucking air between the carbs and head (I'll spray some WD-40 there to see if there's any change), there is good fuel flow, so time to check the primary jets for blockages.
Frustrating but fun to work on it.

[RAFster122s]

Pick up a 15A circuit breaker and wire it to sub in when having electrical issues. It will trip and easily reset and cheaper in the long run over blowing expensive fuses...

[BenelliSEI]

Worked on and the SOHC2, Super Hawk. Replaced the O rings between the carbs, messed about with the old wiring connected to a new after market wiring harness and got it sorted after blowing many 15 amp fuses. However it will start on full choke but won't run if the choke lever is moved a hair off full - like it's starving for fuel. The new O rings should prevent it sucking air between the carbs and head (I'll spray some WD-40 there to see if there's any change), there is good fuel flow, so time to check the primary jets for blockages.
Frustrating but fun to work on it.

That usually suggests the idle (slow running) jets or passages are plugged?

[Magpie]

Yesterday I went through the carbs, soaked and cleaned the jets, set float levels, one was kind of sticking and a small bend fixed that, blew out all the passages, careful reassembly and it starts and runs nicely! Yahoo!

[CycleRanger]

Finally found some local ethanol free gas and spent some time today purging the 550, the CJ360T, and the XL250s. I'll get the XS650 tomorrow. The 750 is already empty with the carbs apart.

[BenelliSEI]

Yesterday I went through the carbs, soaked and cleaned the jets, set float levels, one was kind of sticking and a small bend fixed that, blew out all the passages, careful reassembly and it starts and runs nicely! Yahoo!

Patience get’s rewarded. Nice!

[MauiK3]

Ok, not motorcycles but Honda engines.
I took out my little 2000 and 7500 watt generators and started them, loaded them with a heat gun just to check  them out. They are for any power outages we may have, which is rare. Maui is fortunate, the really bad weather would come from south and east of us and we have the island of Hawaii there to act as a big bumper.
The larger one is dual fuel (I converted it) so I started it on propane. First crank and the Honda engine was running.
The 2000 runs on ethanol free. I put a very small amount in and ran it, easy start. That thing runs a long time on almost no fuel. Great little generator. I can convert it too but I have not bought the kit.

[Alan F.]

I uncovered my Royal Enfield Interceptor for the first time this season. Changed its oil & filter and did a little cleaning. I have much more to do but I still rode a few laps around the driveway before parking it for the night.

[C317414]

I uncovered my Royal Enfield Interceptor for the first time this season. Changed its oil & filter and did a little cleaning. I have much more to do but I still rode a few laps around the driveway before parking it for the night.

I've recommissioned all the bikes, except for my wife's Royal Enfield Interceptor.  I just got a oil filter for it, so that's next.   

[MauiK3]

Great looking bike.

[Alan F.]

Thanks, I think so too. That engine in a chopper frame keeps haunting my thoughts. I bought a 5-pack of Mahl oil filters from Ebay for about $7.80 each, and Catrol 10-50 full synth Moto oil a 6-pack (Edit: from Amazon) for about $8.80:qt, best deals I could find. Lots of little bike shops in India buy parts directly from RE and ship worldwide on ebay, dealer prices here are insane and wait times are long, it's a no brainer when a good ebayer can get parts to you in 3 to 5 days for what feels like 1980's prices.

[Magpie]

Worked on the SOHC2 1965 Benly 150. Laced the new rims with new spokes and worked trueing the front one. Patience grasshopper. 

[RAFster122s]

Looks great Cliff, where a d how much for the rims? I have one I need to do...

[MauiK3]

AHHH rim lacing.
A meditation to calm the nerves and block out the world.

[BallAquatics]

Picked up a set of carbs for the turbo on e-bay. Pretty rough, but they look to be complete. Need to saw the choke rod into pieces as it is so rusted I can't get the carbs apart.....

[grcamna2]

Picked up a set of carbs for the turbo on e-bay. Pretty rough, but they look to be complete. Need to saw the choke rod into pieces as it is so rusted I can't get the carbs apart.....

Which bike did these come from ?