Topic: What did you do to your bike today ?

[djwillard18]

Spent an hour picking at the cracked white paint on the tank emblems.  Any suggestions?

[CycleRanger]

Spent an hour picking at the cracked white paint on the tank emblems.  Any suggestions?

If you want to repaint the letters white thin down some white enamel and use a syringe to fill the letters.

Here's how they look if you go all the way.

[Powderman]

aerosol paint stripper and powder coat them.

[djwillard18]

Thanks guys. Appreciate your ideas. I'll update with the finished product!

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[CycleRanger]

I tried a couple of different attempts to repaint mine but I haven't had a result I was happy with.

The hard part is the black. I've tried to figure out how Honda painted the black and kept the raised edge unpainted.
Based on way the whole badge is anodized gold except the edges of the letters my theory is maybe they painted the whole badge black then the paint and anodizing were removed from the high edge of the letters with a perhaps a fine belt sander then the letters were filed in with white.
When I stripped the original paint the black was very thick compared to the white.

When I get around to it my next attempt might be to try using liquid mask on the high edges of the letters before painting the whole badge black then filing in the letters.  Unless someone has a better idea.

[ekpent]

 After stripping old finish I painted the badge black then with a small brush a couple coats of white in the letters until satisfied. Did not have to be super careful because when everything had dried real well I took a piece of 400 grit sandpaper on a block of wood and lightly sanded the paint off the high spots of the letters. Looks real crisp.

[CycleRanger]

After stripping old finish I painted the badge black then with a small brush a couple coats of white in the letters until satisfied. Did not have to be super careful because when everything had dried real well I took a piece of 400 grit sandpaper on a block of wood and lightly sanded the paint off the high spots of the letters. Looks real crisp.

Yes it is possible that I am over-thinking the whole process. That's why it takes me so damn long to rebuild a bike...

[Terry in Australia]

I just bought new badges.....

[TomsK8resto]

   Picked up a new machine Saturday to add to my "Big Dawg" collection.  Its a 1999 Suzuki Bandit 1200S. Bought it from the older retired original owner with all the paperwork,manuals extra key etc. Had an even 7,000 miles on it when I drove it off. I met him 3 years ago when he was thinking of selling it,had 6800 miles then. This spring he decided it was time to hang it up. Came with some soft bags,and his helmets. His wife looked happy. Has a flat spot around 4.000 rpm right now.Gave it a good shot of Seafoam Sunday and rode it quite awhile and its getting better but it has been sitting. Hopefully fresh fuel and another good dose will keep me out of the carbs but want to check the valves, change oil and other things also so may dive in if needed,possibly jet kit in hand. These are known to be lean. Never been down or tipped over and anxious to wax and detail her out. Now lets see if I can find a good FJ1100/1200 next that still has all its gears in the tranny

Nice find!

[djwillard18]

My first couple coats with Testors model paint went very well. Thinning the paint really made it very smooth. Hopefully I'll have one ready for a picture tomorrow night.

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[CycleRanger]

My first couple coats with Testors model paint went very well. Thinning the paint really made it very smooth. Hopefully I'll have one ready for a picture tomorrow night.

Yeah that was my first attempt....

[evanphi]

Rigged up a charging port for my cellphone/gps while on longer trips. I'm going to be doing some motocamping in a few weeks and I don't want to lose battery!

Also re-tightened my new steering bearings. They had settled in over the first few hundred KMs, so I snugged them back up. Went for a ride. TOO TIGHT. I was fighting the bars through turns. Didn't feel safe! Came home and backed the adjuster nut off a bit (1/4 turn or so), then went for another ride. Smooth as silk! When the front end is raised and everything tightened, I can get the bars to swing about 1-2" before the weight takes over and it swings to the full lock.

For those adjusting this nut after installing the tapered bearings... make sure you make the adjustments with the wheel DOWN. I found adjusting the special nut with the front end raised didn't let me feel when it was "too loose" because the weight of the fork and wheel was pulling down on it.

Set initial tightness, tighten the chrome lock nut, raise the front end, check for tightness, lower back down, tighten pinch bolts last. Repeat as necessary!

[70CB750]

Standard procedure for tappered bearings is to tighten the nut - some manuals prescribe torque in Nm or fp - and back it off 45 - 60 degrees.

[evanphi]

Standard procedure for tappered bearings is to tighten the nut - some manuals prescribe torque in Nm or fp - and back it off 45 - 60 degrees.

I had way overtightened it before, so the 1/4 turn off was just enough to avoid slop in the head tube. Then the big chrome nut also further tightened things.

[PeWe]

Did the final adjustment of the front brakes. Replaced the washers to make right caliper parallel with single spacers for each bolt. 2xM6 + 1xM8.
Edit: Thickness  5.0mm

[flybox1]

  Nice spacers!

[kap384@telus.net]

Mounted the rear wheel, complete with new tire, back on my CT70.  Started going through all the new hardware I'd assembled to bolt it back together last year before I fractured my tibia. Cleaned up bolt holes in the engine case and chased threads.  Reminded myself how the automatic clutch assembly went back together.

[70CB750]

Looks very clean.

I remember using round aluminum ferrules from Home Depot.  They are meant for wire ropes, but the round ones make perfect spacers.

Did the final adjustment of the front brakes. Replaced the washers to make right caliper parallel with single spacers for each bolt. 2xM6 + 1xM8.
Edit: Thickness  5.0mm

[djwillard18]

Started over last night by stripping with Aircraft Stripper. That took 20 minutes with very minimal effort. The naked emblems are more gold toned than yours, but it doesn't matter.  I am going to try to restore the original paint using the thinning method and dropper for white letters.

I also rebuilt the seat plunger with new grommets from http://4into1.com.   Great experience with this company.  They were out of stock, but Marty told me when they'd be available and I ordered then.  Good customer service and product

[Bankerdanny]

Took care of the title and licensing, ordered a Norman Hyde style M-bar to replace the drag bars. Need to order shorter clutch and throttle cables. The PO installed the drag bars to replace the prior kind of tall bars and all the cables plus the master-brake light switch hose are all way too long.

Now I just need to pick it up from the seller and bring it home. Hopefully Sunday. I can't decide if I want to ride or haul. It appears to be in rideable condition, but I am inclined to haul so that I can change the oil and do some basic maintenance and safety checks before I trust it to the roads.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Gotta ride it sometime!

[Bankerdanny]

Gotta ride it sometime!

I know, but I would rather do my initial test rides down at my sister's where my shop is and also my brother-in-law with the trailer to come pick me up.

I'm planning on riding it up to Wisconsin for the 2016 Rockerbox June 11-12, so I want to have a good solid couple weeks and couple hundred miles of riding under my belt to know that there are no major issues that could bite me during a longish trip away from home.

[BomberMann650]

Working on installing these new shocks.

[firebane]

Working on installing these new shocks.

Shocks are upside down... May want to turn them over.

[Terry in Australia]

Gotta ride it sometime!

Speaking of "gotta ride it sometime", have you taken your maiden voyage yet Jerry, or did I miss it? Cheers, Terry.