Topic: What did you do to your bike today ?

[BenelliSEI]

Last week I installed an Atlas throttle lock so I can take a break and rest my wrist on longer trips.

Today I added fuel stabilizer and rode around the neighbourhood to get the stabilized gas into and through the carbs.

Sadly, I think riding season is over here in Ontario.

Went out late yesterday and I think you are right!

[Don R]

 Louisville bike, K2 cb750, I put on a chrome rebuilt swingarm and began to add all of the random chrome stuff that came off of other restored bikes.

[Gurp]

Made my cover plate for the electric box. Template was off a little....
I guess that's what I get for doing it damn you're calling asleep LOL.

It's not perfect but it's not a super visible item and it will serve it purpose well.

Sent from my LE2127 using Tapatalk

[Magpie]

Time to start cleaning! 47 years of chain lube and dirt scrubbed off. Sill need to get in the tight spots and bottom of the engine but a good start. Cliff.

[Don R]

 I stamped a C for the VIN number on the frame neck of the Louisville bike, it has a good title and we knew the PO for decades, but the replacement frame wasn't ever stamped. I missed on the first try and split my thumb open with the hammer.
 I also bought a replacement neck tag from the guy in Switzerland. It is perfect. 

[grcamna2]

I stamped a C for the VIN number on the frame neck of the Louisville bike, it has a good title and we knew the PO for decades, but the replacement frame wasn't ever stamped. I missed on the first try and split my thumb open with the hammer.
 I also bought a replacement neck tag from the guy in Switzerland. It is perfect.

I'd like to know how it turns-out Don.

[newday777]

Well today I prepped the bike for the annual winter's nap..... :'(

I shut the petcock off before getting back to the shop and ran it dry until it sputtered and died, then drained the oil after the last ride while it was still hot(a week ago when we had 78° to ride all day).
So today, I popped open the carb bowls and drained out the remaining fuel in them checking for any crud but they were clean, put them back on, injected Marvel Mystery Oil into the inlet hose to fill the carbs with to keep them wet. I emptied the gas tank of all fuel into a large plastic funel and a gas can to put in the van, then dried out any other gas with a rag on a 2' flex grabber, then poured in 6 oz 2 stroke oil and turned the tank all around to coat the whole inside of the tank to prevent rust from happening. Then put on the new oil filter and 4 qts fresh oil, then cranked the starter with kill off several times to circulate the oil until the light went off and suck in some of the MMO into the idle circuits.
Then I pushed her back into the back corner of the store room to her quite space, cleaned the outside of the tank of and grime and put on a coat of Honda polish so she'd feel fresh as a daisy, then covered the tank with one of my tee-shirts and covered her with a sheet. I put the smart tender on to top off the battery and said sleep tight. I'll be working in the shop and check in on you. And I'll awaken you when the snow is gone and it warms up and the spring rains wash the salt off the roads for a comfy ride in the spring.

[grcamna2]

Those are excellent procedures Stu.

[newday777]

They have worked for years. Honda recommended that back in the 70s.

[BenelliSEI]

Built a wheel with new spokes for the K6.

[BallAquatics]

I gave the 550 an "Italian tune up"...  it was 71F and sunny here in Ohio.     Bike is running like a top!   

[campbmic]

My bike was in a garage fire about 3 years ago. Unfortunately I just havent had the time to work on it until now. I de-grimed and de-carboned everything, polished up the cases as best as I could and put in new top end gaskets. Today I was able to finish up my top end refresh! It took way longer than expected but I'm glad its over and I wont have to do it again for a VERY long time!


Anybody know what this part is? Its pretty small about a dime size, Im guessing its just one of those "extra parts" that happen when you work on your own stuff.








.
Just kidding, when I was about to tighten down the head I saw a wrist pin clip on the ground but I triple checked to make sure it was just an old one and all 8 new ones were in. Happy wrenching and riding!

[Terry in Australia]

I dragged my old Yamaha RT1 360 out from under the temporary carport where it's been rotting for the last few years.

RT1 Sunday 19 November 2023 0 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

I gave it a good wash before I went for my ride, and when I got home I jacked it up and scrubbed all the rust and furry corrosion with a stainless steel scouring pad and a weak phosphoric acid mix that I sprayed on, scrubbed, then washed off. The old rims were horribly rusted, and so I was really surprised how little effort was required to get them looking clean and shiny.

RT1 Sunday 19 November 2023 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

RT1 Sunday 19 November 2023 1 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

Anyhoo, it's coming along nicely. I was happy that the engine wasn't seized, but I quickly remembered why I'd lost interest, this thing has a ton of compression, and even though I'd fixed the over-advanced ignition timing causing it to kick back hard, the arch of my right foot instantly remembered what a MF this thing is to kick over, even with the decompressor. I still remember limping around last time I had it running, and discovered the joy of two stroke twins (and triples, eventually) that are much easier to start, than one big-arsed single.

RT1 Sunday 19 November 2023 4 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

The gauges are in nice condition, and must be fairly rare, so I'm wondering if they're the originals from this bike? Who knows, but they've weathered well, considering that most dirt bikes here were abused, and gauges got smashed quire regularly. 8000 Km (5000 miles) isn't much either, if that's right, it's probably my lowest mileage bike? Or maybe someone took them off when it was a lot newer.

RT1 Sunday 19 November 2023 01 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

The more I looked at it, the more I wanted to keep it, but hell no, it has to go! I'll get it running this week, find all the extra parts I've bought for it, and we'll load it, and a heap of smaller swap meet crap into Spotty's van, and hopefully come back with an empty van and a full wallet (and not vice-versa...) Time to start thinning the herd. Of course I'm always open to trades.....

RT1 Sunday 19 November 2023 5 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

 
   

[rotortiller]

That's a nice one Terry. What is the difference between yours and the DT360?

[Terry in Australia]

Thanks mate, it’s a tough old thing, and deserves someone restoring it properly (and if I see a hipster with a man bun and skinny jeans who wants to turn it into a “sick cafe racer they can fcuk right off) and it’ll be worth some good money. The RT1 was Yamaha’s first 360, followed by the RT2 and 3, before the DT360 came out in ‘74(?) apart from different styling and an electronic ignition in the DT360, pretty much the same basic bike, I think?

[grcamna2]

Thanks mate, it’s a tough old thing, and deserves someone restoring it properly (and if I see a hipster with a man bun and skinny jeans who wants to turn it into a “sick cafe racer they can fcuk right off) and it’ll be worth some good money. The RT1 was Yamaha’s first 360, followed by the RT2 and 3, before the DT360 came out in ‘74(?) apart from different styling and an electronic ignition in the DT360, pretty much the same basic bike, I think?

Yamaha classic 360 Terry 
I hope that the next person who rides it will adj/pull the handlebars back a little:they look uncomfortable.

[Terry in Australia]

Thanks Bill, they do look a bit odd, I never got around to adjusting them to suit me, I bought the Suzuki T350 from Dion and then the T500, and pretty much forgot about the RT1, as I was much more interested in something I could kick start without needing to wear big heavy boots.

[Don R]

 I moved the evaporust around, I noticed on the red tank that came with a purchase the rust was still above and forward of the gas cap. Apparently the way the cap flange sticks down into the tank allows an air bubble to be trapped.
 I re-filled it with the pre-wash vinegar and put a used cap on it. That was when I realized the cap's pin tabs and holes were painted over, this tank has been painted and never re-assembled.
 I tilted the Rat Race's tank to move the air bubble to the rear. Maybe that will get the job done.
 Since the shop is pretty cool, I put the tank on a piece of steel and left a 60 watt trouble light going under the tunnel, that warms the tank up to about 95*F or so. 

[Terry in Australia]

Sold it. Advertised the RT360 on an FB site for a few bucks more than I paid for it for some "wriggle room" and got several serious bites. Told the first guy that I'd need to get it running after 2 years of hibernation, so went home, popped the carb drain bolt/main jet holder out and ran some of the 2 year old fuel through it. Pulled the spark plug out to check for spark, all good. Plug back in, choke on, 3 kicks, and it fired right up! Woohoo! Added another gallon of fresh fuel, sent him a "walk around" video with it running, agreed on price (he didn't try to haggle, he'd seen all the other sharks circling) he hired a little truck and drove over, told me it was a "Dream come true" to own one, gave me the cash and I helped him load it.

One down, 20 to go.........

[fire113]

...did the gauge thing to make them like new again.

[Terry in Australia]

...did the gauge thing to make them like new again.

Beautiful work Georg, they look great!

[fire113]

...did the gauge thing to make them like new again.

Beautiful work Georg, they look great!

...thank you Terry. Everthing went fine I am happy with the result too

Have a good one...Georg

[BenelliSEI]

...did the gauge thing to make them like new again.

Those are stunning! How do you get such a perfect “crimp”?

[WhyNot2]

...did the gauge thing to make them like new again.

Nice, wish I could do that to mine........darn needle broke off.

[RAFster122s]

Built a wheel with new spokes for the K6.

John, I missed your picking up another bike to build...
Or, that you are rebuilding/refreshing a K6. Nice looking bike!

Who makes your wheel truing stand? Solidly built unit you have.

That K6 should keep you out of trouble for a while.
David