Figured I'd do a quick update since I went back to Phoenix, brought some parts for the 350F and picked some stuff up to bring back for the 550F here in CDMX...
I found 350F front and rear turn signals -- had them in box here in CDMX, and they were clean. One had a clipped wire, so I had to switch out the internals for another, then go to town with a brush and some polish. They came out great. Fitted them to the 350F when I got to Phoenix, and brought back to CDMX the stock 350F1 stalks -- the chrome is bad, and I am going to rechrome a few pieces here so I figured I'd do those. I also fitted the original tank -- in faded Glory Blue Black Metallic, to match the side covers. And I had removed the rear foot pegs when I took off the corroded original exhaust, so I put those back on. Zipped around Phoenix and Tempe, took it on the freeway a few times, cruising pretty easy at 65, but damn -- that Kerker is loud. Took a photo of the other side cover -- hence the name "Spotted Dick":
Was going to take a photo of the whole bike on Sunday, my last day but... the bike left me stranded by the side of the road (for a little while, at least). I was on the freeway and heading to Tempe from Phoenix when the engine started to slow down. I pulled off (and luckily it was about a mile from where I was staying) and coasted it around the corner to a side street. I let it cool off for a little while, had a look at the plugs -- they were all fine. Then I pulled off the points cover and the 1-4 points were dirty and oily. There isn't oil coming out from that seal, but there was a little drip on that side and the points cover seal is broken in a few places and doesn't really seal -- so I figure a drip must've gotten on the points. I cleaned them up and the bike fired back up and got me back to my friends' house, but wasn't running well. I'll probably get a spare set of points but try to clean these up first and get a proper seal for the cover (and clean up those drips).
But the whole charade made me late for what I had to do (lunch then skating a pool) so I didn't take any more photos. I also considered another name for the bike -- lipsticked pig -- because I'm putting on these nice and shiny bits like the signals but the tank and sidecovers have... patina? As does the engine. One thing I did was buy a cheap tail light mount on Ebay to bring back and thrown in with the stuff getting rechromed, so one more shiny piece. I'll clean up the engine at some point better than I did. When I got it from Sean, the whole front was covered in oil but it wound up being from loose tappet covers and much of that oil I just washed off with engine cleaner, but it could use a little more. I think the drip is coming from the valve cover, but with limited time every time I go to Phx dunno when I will get to that.
