Author Topic: Project "Hard Luck - The Red Racer" - updated 07/30/2010 w/new project!!! (Read 111942 times)

KB02 · « **Reply #200 on:** June 20, 2009, 05:38:32 AM »

A nice little package to come home and find waiting for you:

KB02 · « **Reply #201 on:** June 25, 2009, 04:48:53 AM »

It's officially a rolling chassis!!!

Got the wheel mounted and balanced and on the bike. Once again I can wheel it around without the need for the cardboard carpet and use the side stand.

The side stand, however, brings up another issue. The bike is a bit shorter than it used to be. it barely leans over at all. I think this cinches the deal of the clip on being placed below the top clamp. I've got about an inch of fork I can adjust to bring the front end up. When I replace the rear shocks, I just have to get shocks an inch longer as well.

KB02 · « **Reply #202 on:** June 25, 2009, 10:52:16 AM »

I raised the clamps up the forks just after I took these pics. Looks a little better and actually leans on the side stand now. Still going to go with taller shocks on the back, though.

HavocTurbo · « **Reply #203 on:** June 25, 2009, 12:04:05 PM »

Wow that looks nice!!

turninwheels · « **Reply #204 on:** June 25, 2009, 12:55:38 PM »

nice progress, I really appreciate the hard time you put into this...great pics!

KB02 · « **Reply #205 on:** July 07, 2009, 05:47:09 AM »

Well, it's been about two weeks and I haven't done a thing with the bike. Damn... I've got new fork seals to put in, but I'm trying to decide what I want to do with the fork lowers - i.e. do I strip the paint and polish? Paint them to try and match the frame? Paint them black to match the engine?

I just placed an order with APE to get their clutch kit and a set of air filters for the carbs.

Work has et up a little bit so I should have a little bit to get back into the garage, but there are a couple of things still standing in my way. My new puppy looses his testicles tomorrow (poor guy...). AND the lawn mower just blew out it's tranny. I pulled it apart last night and it looks like the tranny had been sitting underwater for a short time. the grease was just about as nasty as I have ever seen grease and the parts of the tranny that slide that allow it to change gears were all rusted up. I might be able to get it going again. I got it for free, so I'm not too worried about it. I found I could just buy a new tranny for $370. Or I could just try and fix this one... Hmmm... which one would you do?

HavocTurbo · « **Reply #206 on:** July 08, 2009, 10:31:27 AM »

Didn't you use a powdercoat on the frame? Why not powdercoat the lowers as well?

Or powder em black.

Peters1983 · « **Reply #207 on:** July 09, 2009, 03:07:14 AM »

love this build. It's awesome to see a bike in the condition it was in become something so much more. It's very inspirational.

I've been waiting for a more modern twist on an older bike, props for thinking outside the box. I will be watching for tips on my build.

KB02 · « **Reply #208 on:** July 10, 2009, 09:17:45 AM »

Well, got the lawn tractor transaxle mostly cleaned up and back together. Just one more reminder that I should always take lots of pics before for reference.

Some water had gotten into the casings and rusted some stuff up. With any luck I should be able to mow my lawn this weekend... we'll see...

As for the forks, I thought about bringing them back to the powder coaters, but I think I'll just strip and polish them instead. Easier and cheaper, you know? Got to get this thing running...

KB02 · « **Reply #209 on:** July 13, 2009, 04:57:16 AM »

Alright, the lawn tractor is back together and the lawn is mowed. One project out of the way. I got the exhaust mounted in place just to see how it is going to look with both sides in place and not held there with a stick but rather a nice stainless bolt. Yesterday was a long and somewhat frustrating day - I had the day off from work and it still seemed to suck a bit, so I had to do something to inspire myself. This bike is going to really be nice... soon... Just waiting now for the parts from APE.

I started cleaning up the battery tray, too. I now realize that I should have brought that with me when I went to the sand blasters. Oh well. A little sand paper and some rustoleom primer should take care of it for a little bit. The I'll get that back in and start running some wires throughout this thing. Then, as soon as I get my clutch kit from APE and the cam dialed in, I'll be all set to get the engine started and heear those pipes fr the first time.

TheHun · « **Reply #210 on:** July 13, 2009, 05:38:14 AM »

nice setup...what frond end is that...how did you get the rear wheels fit so good

DollarBill · « **Reply #211 on:** July 13, 2009, 06:01:40 AM »

It's looking awesome KB! Keep up the good work.

I can't remember if you decided to use the monster seat or not? What are your plans there?

Spikeybike · « **Reply #212 on:** July 13, 2009, 01:17:35 PM »

very very cool my man ... lookin great

KB02 · « **Reply #213 on:** July 13, 2009, 07:02:02 PM »

When last I left my bike, it was sitting in the back of the garage, with the back end raised up on my paddock stand. $1200 exhaust sitting in place.

About an hour ago I walked out into the garage to find the bike lying on it's side.

Looks like i had the stand sitting just a little too far back on the swing arm to the point that it was actually sitting partially on the chain adjusters. They slipped a little bit and bike fell over.

FORTUNATELY, there appears to be no damage to anything other than my nerves. The pipes look okay without any scuffs or bends. The frame appears to be scratchless. The engine is fine. The tank is not dented. After I had finished fixing the lawn tractor, I was going to pick up all of the cardboard on the garage floor. Good thing I didn't huh?

Anyway...

Quote from: TheHun on July 13, 2009, 05:38:14 AM

nice setup...what frond end is that...how did you get the rear wheels fit so good

Front end is off of a Suzuki Katana 600. Search a few pages back (around page 11, I think...) and there is a bit about the front end and what I had to do to make it work. If you're thinking of doing the same thing, I would suggest looking at a Yamaha R1 or R6. The stem is longer.
rear wheel just took some measurements and a couple of spacers. I might need to redo my measurements, though, as it doesn't quite look right. I'll keep this post updated on that, too.

Quote from: DollarBill on July 13, 2009, 06:01:40 AM

It's looking awesome KB! Keep up the good work.

I can't remember if you decided to use the monster seat or not? What are your plans there?

I have decided to build a seat from scratch. The monster seat would have been nice, but it would have taken just as much fabrication to make it fit and then I still would have had to make some kind of cowling to go around the back of it to make it look right.

I've got some good ideas, though, for my seat, so stay tuned... I've already bought my tail light...

KB02 · « **Reply #214 on:** August 01, 2009, 06:27:44 PM »

Cam has now been timed in to the best of my ability.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=55839.0

Tomorrow I plan to do some assembly of the electronics. I have GOT to get my coils mounted. I got some headlight ears from Cycle-X. It's really starting to look like a motorcycle again.

KB02 · « **Reply #215 on:** August 03, 2009, 05:13:53 AM »

Alright, the coils have been mounted... for now. I had a nice plate all made up to hold the optical ignition coil pack and figured I could just get some frame clamps to hold it in place. Well the frame clamps arrived and they were not what I was expecting. Basically, after looking it all over and and thinking of different things I could try, they just wouldn't work. I ended up making a new place that actually bend down over the frame rails and bolts right into the Frame kit. Everything fits and is in place, so it will be good for now. It's kind of ugly, so I'm glad it can't be seen and one of th bolt holes does not line up (opps...). I'll redesign and clean it up a bit after the bike is running, but for now the coils are in place.

The exhaust is my next problem. I got my new sprockets and chain and finally got them installed. The only problem I have is that now the exhaust is not only being touched by the chain, but it's being hit by the swing arm as well on the left side. It's possible that I might have reversed the headers, so I'll have to swap them around next time I get the chance to work on it (hopefully tonight). I will take and post some pictures tonight, too, if I get out there to work on it.

cafeconleche · « **Reply #216 on:** August 03, 2009, 07:13:26 AM »

Quote from: KB02 on July 07, 2009, 05:47:09 AM

Well, it's been about two weeks and I haven't done a thing with the bike. Damn... I've got new fork seals to put in, but I'm trying to decide what I want to do with the fork lowers - i.e. do I strip the paint and polish? Paint them to try and match the frame? Paint them black to match the engine?

I just placed an order with APE to get their clutch kit and a set of air filters for the carbs.

Work has et up a little bit so I should have a little bit to get back into the garage, but there are a couple of things still standing in my way. My new puppy looses his testicles tomorrow (poor guy...). AND the lawn mower just blew out it's tranny. I pulled it apart last night and it looks like the tranny had been sitting underwater for a short time. the grease was just about as nasty as I have ever seen grease and the parts of the tranny that slide that allow it to change gears were all rusted up. I might be able to get it going again. I got it for free, so I'm not too worried about it. I found I could just buy a new tranny for $370. Or I could just try and fix this one... Hmmm... which one would you do?

Fork seals are such a pain in the ass, so messy. I just did mine and one is still leaking so now I have to redo them.

KB02 · « **Reply #217 on:** August 03, 2009, 07:15:49 PM »

Well, here is the coil pack mounted on the new mounting plate:

And it's amazing how much a headlight can make things look like they're coming together, huh?

Turns out the headers were on the wrong sides. after swapping 3 for 1 and 4 for 2, the pipes fit much better. I am still going to have to kake up a small spacer, though, to push the pipes a bit further from the swing arm. About half an inch should do. And I will have to stay with the 13 inch shocks. The pipes don't look like they'll allow anything longer. That's okay. Low can still be fast.

I am working on getting the bike wired back up, now. I need to place an order with Motion pro for cables, throttles and other various thing.

HavocTurbo · « **Reply #218 on:** August 04, 2009, 08:09:13 AM »

What are you needing from MP.... I might have it lying around.

KB02 · « **Reply #219 on:** August 04, 2009, 05:10:10 PM »

Well, the first thing is customer cables for throttle and clutch. They need to be about 10 inches shorter than stock. Next I need a new choke cable (since I'm ordering cables, might as well get them all together). I'm also going to get one of their throttles (Part #01-0058 - $16.50) along with a new starter button/Engine cut off switch (Part #11-0057 - $35.99), and a new clutch and perch assembly. The way I figure it, should be around $170 or so, unless the custom cables go higher in price than on their website.

KB02 · « **Reply #220 on:** August 09, 2009, 06:03:56 PM »

I'm pretty much down to running the electrics... to which I would rather have a root canal... So I'm not too inspired to work on the bike at the moment...

...SO...

I started on the seat.

With the foam kind of laid out and held together:

After a little bit (okay, a lot...) of shaving:

I like the seat that Benji has with the tail light built in, but I don't like how it sits flat. Mine will sit upright - or so is the plan. I'm trying to match the lines of the tank. Hopefully I can pull it off.

Alan F. · « **Reply #221 on:** August 10, 2009, 04:36:52 PM »

It's looking really good KB, really good. What's the plan for a front fender?

KB02 · « **Reply #222 on:** August 11, 2009, 04:33:09 AM »

I'm going to use the stock Kat fender. I have cut it down so that it actually looks somewhat decent. THAT IS IF I CAN EVER FIND THE BLEEDING BOLTS THAT HOLD IT ON!!!

I swear I had them set right next to the fender when I took it off, but can I find them now?...

KB02 · « **Reply #223 on:** August 11, 2009, 04:00:13 PM »

figured I would add a day picture:

By the way, I did find the bolts for the front fender, but now I can't find the counter sinks that hold them in.

That's okay. I'l stop by the hardware store and gt some stainless steel sets anyway.

KB02 · « **Reply #224 on:** August 17, 2009, 05:08:41 AM »

I popped into the garage yesterday and took a quick peek at my K8 only to find a small puddle of oil under the bike. OH, NO!! I haven't even gotten it running yet and I've got an oil leak?!?!? So I looked everything over and, as it turns out, you have to tighten the oil drain bolt, otherwise, oil will leak out of it.

I poured about the first quart of oil into the head just to make sure the first start will have plenty of lubrication. The rest went into the oil tank. I only bought three gallon of oil from the Honda shop as I expect to do a few oil changes in a relatively short period of time. Once I had the oil in, I gave it a few good kicks to try and help circulate the oil a bit. It takes just about all 200 pounds of myself to kick this thing over. Once I get the wiring done (I know! I know! Get on it!!!) I'll do some compression tests with the electric start to see just how much compression is in these cylinders.

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Author Topic: Project "Hard Luck - The Red Racer" - updated 07/30/2010 w/new project!!! (Read 111942 times)