Topic: Did you ever just have one of those days?

[Scott S]

 So I'm down to the last few things on my punch list on the '71 CB500.

 After the initial shake down run I realized the brakes were weak and the tank had a leak at the seam. The gas leak bubbled up my home made paint job, of which I was very proud.
 Pulled the tank, got the bubbles to lay flat and RedKoted the tank. Let it sit for over two weeks. Hmmm, looks good. I think I can save the paint job and most people would never know the difference!

 Tried to reinstall the tank and pulled the fuel line off the barbs at the carbs for the tenth or eleventh time. GRRR!!! Wait two days for the Honda dealer to open. Pay $33 for ten feet of the proper 5.5mm hose when all I need is two. Hafta order it and wait a few MORE days.

 So I try to bleed the front brakes for the sixth or eighth time. Tried every trick in the book. (Yes, before you even suggest anything, I bet I've tried it.) This bike came with a m/c that was junk. Found one on Craigslist.  "Ready to go!" It wouldn't move fluid. Took it apart and cleaned it thoroughly. Pumped fluid but leaked at the plunger. Order rebuild kit and wait. Install rebuild kit. Brakes work but are spongy. Someone suggests that the plunger is too short and to take it all apart and re-install the old one. Crap, crap, crap.

 Well, since I'm at a stand still on the brakes and fuel lines, let's put the petcock back on the tank and put some gas in it. See if I did any good with the RedKote. Install petcock (the same one I was using before with no problems) and fuel starts pouring out of one of the barbs. #$%*! Is petcock "OFF"? Yes, it's off. Gas is pouring all over me, the garage, the towel I had the tank on (to prevent scratches to my pride and joy paint job), etc.
 Lean down and try to direct it into the gas can. This is not a one man job. I'm covered in gas and it's still coming out like the BP oil spill.
 "Hey, let me get some fuel line off the work bench and set up a drain to the gas can", I think. Stand up and "DING!", nick the paint on the tank when I hit it on the front fender of the Yamaha XS650 that I'm also working on. Right on the decal. About a 2-3mm spot. "Mother $%#@*! !!!"
 Scream at the top of my lungs for my girlfriend who is inside. She comes out to help me drain the rest of the gas. The dog is freaking out because she thinks something really bad just happened.

 So, to sum it all up. The fuel lines are still off the barbs, the master cylinder still isn't bled, I have another new flaw in the paint job, I STILL don't know if the seam is sealed or not, the petcock...who knows WTF is up with the ptecock...., I spilled about $2 worth of gas and covered myself with another dollars worth. I smell like #$%* and the bike is absolutely no closer to being finished that when I started.
 

[Pirate Gonzo]

I am having one of those days today... not nearly as bad as yours.

My buddy came over to check out my new barn bike 77' CB750k. I don't have the carbs or rear tire on it right now so I couldn't show him that it started but the one thing I was proud of is the nice sounding directional light buzzer on it. So I turned on the key to let him hear it and the directional lights would come on but won't flash and now the headlight quit working. It all worked fine two days ago and I haven't touched the bike since. Gremlins in the wiring.

[Popwood]

Hey, Gonzo, I'm having the same exact issue with turn signal on a current thread called Whacky Turn Signal, etc. Goes on, doesn't blink, headlight barely on with Hi beam and no light at low beam. but the Signals work perfectly if I pull the clutch lever in.

Yeah, bad day . . . . total stress at work, wife lost job yesterday, today refrigerator went on blink with $350 service call and the damn thing is only 4 years old.

[Pirate Gonzo]

Hmmm... I am going to have to go pull my clutch in tonight when I get home.

[flybox1]

D@@@@@@MN, Brother! 
i need a beer just from reading ....
hope your redkote takes, your PC/fuel lines leak no gas, and your paint (eventually) shines in the sun. 
 

[Scott S]

 Thanks, Flybox. I ordered the rubber petcock bits from David Silver Spares today. Also have a new master cylinder on the way. I touched up the paint with some clear fingernail polish. Keeps the decal from flapping up and looks no worse than a little rock chip or "slipped wrench" mark.
 Once again, I'm playing the waiting game, but will have all the parts to try it again soon.

[bryanj]

Did you put the proper fiber washers on the petcock bolts? if not gas will pour through just like you said

[HawaiiMike]

I had an incident like that with my surfboard yesterday.  It had a small chip in the nose and I covered it with some resin that cures in the sun.  While it was curing, the wind picked up and tossed the board onto the driveway.  Now I have a dent that looks like a 2X4 hit the board because I was trying to seal a little chip.

[s.m.compton]

Amen to that one!  I just had one of those days too. I recently got my bike back form the 'mechanic' after he had stalled out on progress.

I've been through the entire electrical system and got it running only to find out the two right side exhaust pipes were lukewarm... fuel source is common on that side so I pull of the tank and watch it drain out of the petcock. Sure enough the side that feeds 3/4 cylinders is dribbling while the other is pouring out ('74 tank with dual outlets from the petcock). Rust particles in the tank, the in-tank fuel sock is ripped and there's a broken plastic piece in the filter tube that goes into the petcock.

So I proceed to POR-15 the tank, and damn that stripper works good. So good that the small spill on the outside of my tank now mandates I strip the rest of the outside and start over with a good looking paint job rather than the P.O.'s rattle can black with red diagonal racing stripes.

POR-15 turns out great. I then stripped the outside to bare metal plus the bondo spot done by the previous owner. Took me 4 times to re-bondo that section before I finally go the primer on... was being so careful and diligent. Looking great in primer so far, so I decide to get the pieces back together (new sock filter in-tank, new gaskets, new 5.5mm fuel line). I get it all back together, put gas in the tank and watch it to make sure it isn't leaking and coming out equally on both sides... steady flow!

So now with my tank balancing on the porch step in new primer, I step over it to go get my key and boom... damn tank falls off the step onto gravel/concrete, dings up the primer coats real good and spills gas all over the primer... LOVELY!

I told my wife to make sure I never talk about being a body man. Bondo, primer and me just don't mix... one of those days man, one of those days.

Scott
1972 CB500

[Hasenkopf]

every single day is like that....hmmmm.....

[Frankenkit]

Yup. You need to take a little bit to chill out.  Step back, breathe, and for the love of god, don't light a cigarette until you've changed out of those clothes.   

Frustration is just part of the journey, it seems.

[Hush]

There is only one cure for this situation, grab at least 2 cold Bourbon & coke mixers and sit in the spa pool until all the pain is gone.....works for me every time...every night.

[Frankenkit]

wow.  That sounds really, really good right now, Hush.

[Hush]

Sorry can't stop, pool is at 39.5 and the Bourbon is straight from the fridge.....later.