Next month it will be three years since I bought it as a resto project. I have gone through every single washer on that bike. Have it painted. New seals, pistons, rings, valves refaced etc. I even had to endure all the red tape to register it in the spanish DMV.
I even dismantled the clocks to paint the cases and put the odometer at 0. Didn't want to plug the tacho cable until the bike was road-ready, to start counting from it. I took it running to the DMV station and everywhere, and got the plates a couple of weeks ago. Did a couple of outings with it, everything was fine but that annoying front weave.
Today it was a classic bike rally, so I thought it was a good chance to make it first "public appearance". I received a lot of compliments. The rally started, and about 16 miles the bike starts to stutter and stops. "Big deal", said to myself. This annoying carb that refuses to work. I will remove the filter and make it suck. The organization' van offered to load the bike. "No thanks, it will either run or I will call roadside assistance and go back home". Then i notice the choke was on for no apparent reason. Put it off, and it starts right away!!. Time to make for lost time, the guy in the back of the rally was waiting for me, we hurry to meet the rest of the group. Three friends from the Sanglas club had been waiting for me until I told them not to wait, it was pointless that they miss the group.
So we meet the group that was waiting a couple miles away. We are ready to start again and suddenly my bike does something like "THUMP" and dies. I new this time it was something more serious. The kickstart was frozen, and the starter motor didn't even spin. The guys in the van, with a grin, tell me to swallow my pride and load the bike. I knew the rally was done for me, but even worst, the bike had something serious. I thanked the guys in the van but told them I would call roadside assistance, this time it couldn't be fixed at the roadside.
Removed a plug and it had compression, as now the kickstarter worked. But there was no spark. My friend tells me it is an electrical problem. I told him it was not. Just by opening the point's cover I could see the camshaft didn't rotate when I kickstarted it. Prognosis? Broken camchain or loose camchain sprocket. And the clock it still showing 0 km...... How can a bike die even before it is born?
Camchain was new, but aftermarket. I rather have a broken camchain than a loose sprocket. Why? Because I KNEW that it was important that the sprocket bolts be tight, and I thoroughfully cleaned them, used the strongest loctite there was and tightened them. If the bolts came loose after that, I cant' think of another way to tighten them.
In any case, the engine must be removed, and I don't feel like doing it again now. I'm afraid this bike will have to wait at least one year until I finish my other two bikes.
You know the only good thing about it? The guys in the van told me it was a pity: they all had agreed that my bike deserved the "best restoration" trophy. Unfortunately, it went to somebody else, but at least it made my work worthwile....
