It all started with finally having the time, money, and availability to buy a bike after 13 years of being without. I was looking for a bike under $1000.00 that I would feel bad about taring apart when I found my 650. When this endeavour started, I was looking to build a chopper (old school - late '60's, early '70's, not one of those new hand jobs rolling on a 360 rear wheel). Well, the look of the bike is so clean that I feel bad about butchering her, so I may end up leaving her as stock as possible with the addition of drag bars and forward controls. Also planning on a 4 into 1 exhaust system.
However, despite her appearances, time affects everything. 30 years old and only 13,000 miles on her, she hasn't even really stretched her legs yet.
Check it out.
First off, look at that air filter. Factory original from 30 years ago. The photo doesn't do justice to how clogged and choked it was when I tore it out. Obviously that was replaced with a K&N filter. Eventually I want to get rid of the stock air box and put in four individual air filters attached right to the carbs.
A by-product of poor air flow is all the carbon fouling on the spark plugs. They needed a good cleaning despite being only a year old (accourding to the previous own). Also, one of the plugs wasn't firing. Easily fixed by cutting back the spark plug wire where it connects to the resistor cap.
After pulling the carbs out you can see the butterflies are sitting at an odd angle, and they didn't really move too much from this position. They were gummed up a little and needed a good cleaning out.
After being cleaned out you can see the butterflies are sitting in position they're supposed to and they have their full range of travel back. Also looks a little better.
Of course, when we drained the fuel out of the carbs (and tank) we found the gas was this lovely shade of brown.
And why is it brown, you ask?
TA-DA!!!
Big ass chunks of rust floating around in the tank. Gotta call Elizabeth Radiator today and see if they can re-seal it for me. If not, time to get a new tank.
