Topic: What did you do to your bike today ?

[Terry in Australia]

I washed the Triumph Rocket III after this weeks 400 miler, then a guy came around to take a look at my Laverda, he loved it of course and offered to swap me his mint Mk3 Norton Commando 850, so I said, "yeah, why not". Hopefully I'll pick it up this weekend. Cheers, Terry.

[bucky katt]

why are you getting rid of the Laverda already Terry?

[rhos1355]

have been cleaning and brushing all the engine mounts & bolts to paint them so when I heft the engine onto the frame they'll look the biz. My mate with the sand blaster has gone AWOL otherwise I'd just use that. Just wondered if there's an easier way to get all the rust and shyte off them or is it just elbow grease and a wire brush?
Made a list of the 6mm screws I will try to find at the Kempton Park Bike Jumble to-morrow.

[MCRider]

have been cleaning and brushing all the engine mounts & bolts to paint them so when I heft the engine onto the frame they'll look the biz. My mate with the sand blaster has gone AWOL otherwise I'd just use that. Just wondered if there's an easier way to get all the rust and shyte off them or is it just elbow grease and a wire brush?
Made a list of the 6mm screws I will try to find at the Kempton Park Bike Jumble to-morrow.

I use a wire brush in a drill, clamp the bolt in a vice. Really cleans them good and quick. Nuts and washers too. Don't know if it takes some plating off. But if you're painting anyway...

[Terry in Australia]

why are you getting rid of the Laverda already Terry?

G'Day Fuzzy, well the Laverda is beautiful, but I'm doing the "red paperclip" thing to see how far my initial investment can be stretched. The Norton is worth about three times what I paid for the Laverda, I've always wanted one but couldn't afford a good one, but who knows? If I decide that Nortons aren't as nice as I'd hoped, I might see if I can trade it up again, maybe for a Harley Fatboy? I've always wanted one of them.................. Ha ha, Cheers, Terry.  

[clarkjh]

Terry
I have a friend with a Norton, I would love to have one in the stable as well.
James

[Staggerlee]

Picked up the frame from the powder coaters:



And started the re-assembly:

[famoussas1]

I replaced my front fork seals, cleaned everything well & put a nice coat of black primer on my lower forks. gotta put em back together tomorrow.

[Terry in Australia]

Terry
I have a friend with a Norton, I would love to have one in the stable as well.
James

Thanks James, it does look pretty, doesn't it? I'll give Steve a call later and arrange the trade. Cheers, Terry.

[MickeyX]

Rewired my ignition switch and came to the conclusion that I really just need to go get a new solder gun. This one is crap. I can't believe it, it only lasted me 15 years. WTF?

Also got my steering damper set in the mail. Nice, all parts there, just needed a bit of a clean up. It's all sitting in the bathroom sink soaking in simple green. Other parts got spiffed up a bit but nothing major. I'm on vacation afterall. Don't want to push it. 

[bucky katt]

one of the first bikes i ever owned was an 850 commando, brutally fast (to someone who had just gotten rid of a pre unit t100 chopper) i used to love to flog it going across the courtney campbell causeway between tampa and clearwater, i did the ton across the gandy bridge more than once too.

[Terry in Australia]

Sadly the Commando is not to be Fuzzy, seems that Steve has had a change of heart, he's still going to try to win the Ebay auction for my beautiful Laverda, but he's decided to keep the Norton. No biggie, but it would have been nice.

I spent the afternoon in my garage installing the braided brake lines on my BMW K1100LT. It appeared that one or both of the lower lines have collapsed internally and are working like a one way valve, the pressure from the MC and ABS modulator will allow fluid into the caliper, but the much lesser pressure from the caliper piston seals trying to haul the pucks back after I let go the lever aint cutting it, so the brakes stay on until I come to a halt, even with my hand off the bars completely! Scary on a wet road............

I started to play with my new "Mityvac" tool, but got bored, so I'll go back out tomorrow and finish the job, and take it for a test ride, right after I take the K0 for a spin! Cheers, Terry.

[rhos1355]

have been cleaning and brushing all the engine mounts & bolts to paint them so when I heft the engine onto the frame they'll look the biz. My mate with the sand blaster has gone AWOL otherwise I'd just use that. Just wondered if there's an easier way to get all the rust and shyte off them or is it just elbow grease and a wire brush?
Made a list of the 6mm screws I will try to find at the Kempton Park Bike Jumble to-morrow.

I use a wire brush in a drill, clamp the bolt in a vice. Really cleans them good and quick. Nuts and washers too. Don't know if it takes some plating off. But if you're painting anyway...

Cheers, Mcrider, did just that. Passed a stall at the bike jumble this morning with all these wire brushes for sale and I decided to give one a go. As soon as I got home I locked the drill into the vice then wire brushed all my bits in half an hour flat. Would have taken me a month of Sundays otherwise.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Put little sister ('82 CM250C) to bed for the winter then gave the 550 a good 20 mile thrashing!  I'll ride 'er as long as I can.  One of the few pleasures those of us with non-pristine, non-customized bikes can enjoy!

Fork rebuild planned for the deep winter months.

[elquenada]

Finally finished cleaning up the major gasket mess baked on to my cylinders and head.  Next stop is the parts dept.  I plan on ordering up some rings, seals, a primary chain and few odd doo-dads;  that should keep me busy for a little while.

[Toxic]

Stared at the engine for an hour while I puttered around in the garage trying to decide what the paint colour should be for the engine cases.  Thought about making a rig to suspend the engine from the garage ceiling so I can paint it, cancelled that thought. Wouldn't want to pull down the ceiling.

I think the easiest way is to paint the top and sides and then when that is dry flip the engine and do the bottom.

[vanillagorilla]

I painted my fork lowers, various bits and pieces, and put the first coat on the frame!!! She is looking SWEET!!!! Can't wait to throw it all back together and go riding, but there is a lot of work yet to be done!

[Skonnie Boy]

Rode up from Chicago to Madison on yesterday.  It was close to 50º when I left, but about 42º by the time I rolled into town.  Checking the weather and I'm pleasantly surprised to see there will (supposedly) be a high of 48º on tuesday for my return trip.  Might be the last real ride of the season, barring wednesday garage nights through the winter. 

Why is it that the only part of my body that never gets cold is my unprotected neck?  Weird.

[clarkjh]

I sat on Samson, and looked at Surely and cried.   4" of snow in the driveway and very slick roads.

James

[Narsist]

New spark plugs and some float LVL adjustments "yeah!!! no more back firing". Then took her for a ride in the steamy 40 Deg weather were having. When to Starbucks for some antifreeze Good day.  

[Yoshi823]

have been cleaning and brushing all the engine mounts & bolts to paint them so when I heft the engine onto the frame they'll look the biz. My mate with the sand blaster has gone AWOL otherwise I'd just use that. Just wondered if there's an easier way to get all the rust and shyte off them or is it just elbow grease and a wire brush?
Made a list of the 6mm screws I will try to find at the Kempton Park Bike Jumble to-morrow.

I'd use a green scouring pad with WD40 to get the rust from bolts etc...that would be if I didn't have a wire brush attatchment on the shaft of my bench grinder.
I do have a grit blaster in my workshop,but I use this for cleaning up parts to be sprayed more than for removing rust.

[Yoshi823]

Picked up the frame from the powder coaters:



And started the re-assembly:

Is that a Honda 500 Four frame...?

Looks good with those forks.

[MCRider]

have been cleaning and brushing all the engine mounts & bolts to paint them so when I heft the engine onto the frame they'll look the biz. My mate with the sand blaster has gone AWOL otherwise I'd just use that. Just wondered if there's an easier way to get all the rust and shyte off them or is it just elbow grease and a wire brush?
Made a list of the 6mm screws I will try to find at the Kempton Park Bike Jumble to-morrow.

I use a wire brush in a drill, clamp the bolt in a vice. Really cleans them good and quick. Nuts and washers too. Don't know if it takes some plating off. But if you're painting anyway...

Cheers, Mcrider, did just that. Passed a stall at the bike jumble this morning with all these wire brushes for sale and I decided to give one a go. As soon as I got home I locked the drill into the vice then wire brushed all my bits in half an hour flat. Would have taken me a month of Sundays otherwise.

You're welcome. But I would suggest putting the screw in the vice and holding the drill. You can really go at the screw. Should use "soft jaws" with a "V" cut in them for holding screws with minimal damage. Either way works.

[noexit]

I ordered new flange bolts from the dealer for the engine case. Broke an M6x100, and can't find them anywhere else.

[myhondas]

Put the 750K4 into Winter Storage along with the 65 C100 Cub. Will pull them back out at the end of Jan. for the International Motorcycle Show. Pulling stuff off the 96 Magna for a re-install on the new bike and the re-build of this one. When I'm done, you will never know the bike went down. Will be in as good of shape as new. Might keep it or sell it...haven't made up my mind yet. Originally going to part it out, but found out I can get a new title for it and put it back on the street where it belongs. Next major job will be the teardown of the other 750K4 engine. Winter Project.