Author Topic: Project: 7-Fizzle - V1.1 - If only spring would get here... (Read 147680 times)

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #875 on:** July 02, 2013, 03:17:51 PM »

Somebody here at the Forum has a CB400F based adventure bike, but the one from the link is very cool too.

iron_worker · « **Reply #876 on:** July 02, 2013, 03:18:32 PM »

I don't have time to read it all right now but I skimmed it. Crazy build and the guy seems to have a good sense of humor.

IW

DustyRags · « **Reply #877 on:** July 02, 2013, 10:04:34 PM »

Yes! Love the Scrapheap XR460/4!

Syscrush · « **Reply #878 on:** July 03, 2013, 08:23:50 PM »

Looking better all the time. I don't understand why you're letting them keep the tank at this point, or why they were paid for any of the work, but I'm glad to see that you're having fun riding instead of sitting at home and stressing.

Did you get the seeping caliper sorted out?

And when are you gonna put some real miles on that sucker? 300 miles? That sounds like a breakfast run, man! Get that sucker broken in!!!

iron_worker · « **Reply #879 on:** July 04, 2013, 12:56:21 PM »

I'm hoping this weekend to get it out for a decent trip to get it up to 500miles and do the last oil change for at least another 500miles.

I haven't paid the painter anything yet thankfully.

IW

bjbuchanan · « **Reply #880 on:** July 05, 2013, 05:47:44 PM »

I would suggest that before you move that main in another direction richen your mid range by one notch. Raise the needle out of the hole (move e-clip down a notch) and richen your mid range. You could be tuning the bike lean. If your mid range isn't right (lean) then you will have a noticeable transition between the two, you could be tricking yourself a little

Remember from 1/4 to like half or a little more it is that needle. I had this terrible blubbering feeling off throttle until I got through half twist that was cured by richening my needles. Because of that I could then set my much over rich idle slightly leaner and now my horrible transition to WOT wasn't as bad either

Don't worry about tuning for WOT yet because you rarely ride in that range anyway. The 1/4 to half is much more realistic and that dialed in will make for one happy bike. I know pulling the carbs sucks balls but I think that raising that needle a clip will really wake the bike up and make it feel like a 750 should, not a 250 ninja

iron_worker · « **Reply #881 on:** July 12, 2013, 09:11:07 PM »

You guys may or may not believe it but I FINALLLLLYYYYY got my tank back. Turns out that yes, indeed, I should have taken my tank somewhere else long ago. But here are the results of being very very very patient:

As I received it. I brought the side covers along lest he somehow painted the wrong red or something. They match at least.

It looks like the front corner is wrinkled but that is actually the reflection of the door and closet. lol

After battling with the emblems and trying to get the gas lid riveted back on ... OMG, that is a nerve wracking thing to do... trying to use hammers and such around your brand new paint job.

This angle does make it look like a very "flat" red when it's actually a deep candy.

So, you would think by the look of the pictures that I'm pretty happy with the result. Well.... the camera really did this paint job a lot of favors. There are a couple of lumps in the paint, they masked around the decal to try and save it and that resulted in some of the lines not being very crisp, they didn't prepare the bottom very well at all so I can see old paint chips underneath the new paint, the decal has a couple small bubbles in it, etc etc.

It's a mediocre job at best.

Yes, I'm being picky but one would think that if they had it that long that the quality would at least be top notch. Far from it.

And they "came down" on the price by about $100 of what they quoted me.

WTF I tried to negotiate it down but the manager of the shop was "conveniently" away when I picked it up (he knew I was coming in) and only the receptionist was there. Pretty hard to be mean to and argue with the receptionist over something she really has no control over. She wouldn't budge. I also wasn't going to leave it there another second.

So basically I calmly expressed by deepest disappointment in their work and that I would NEVER be stepping foot in that business again. I believe I'll also be posting some very negative reviews of their company online. I'm pissed.

On the bright side .... I at least have the tank and it's nice enough that I can ride it and most people won't notice the defects (they dont' show up until you're up close and looking). Tomorrow, weather permitting, I will be taking it out for a quick rip to warm it up for an oil change and then I'll be slapping my new tins on. Then it's RIDE BABY RIDE for the rest of the summer!

IW

Tews19 · « **Reply #882 on:** July 12, 2013, 09:15:38 PM »

If you paid with check or CC cancel it

RAFster122s · « **Reply #883 on:** July 12, 2013, 09:26:28 PM »

They would probably drag you into court with mechanics lien on the bike possibly...
would pop in when owner/manager is there and not put the tank on...
#$%*ty work deserves equal price...

David

ivanhoew · « **Reply #884 on:** July 12, 2013, 10:41:13 PM »

lets see it on the bike !!!

Syscrush · « **Reply #885 on:** July 12, 2013, 11:55:41 PM »

Just get on with your life. Enjoy your bike for the summer, hit angieslist to warn others, and forget about it.

It's a crappy shop, it's not surprising that they do crappy work. If they don't respect you as a customer, they sure as he11 won't respect the tins they're shooting for you! Learn the lesson and move on.

Let's see that bike together, and let's hear about the completion of your break-in!!!

A good rule of thumb is the 5, 50, 500 rule... I'm sure you're past 5 and 50 by now, but the basic idea is that you don't ride further than 5 miles until it's gone 5 miles with no problems. Then you don't ride further than 50 miles until it's shown that it will do multiple 50 mile trips with no problems. Next threshold is 500 miles. Once you've had a 500 mile journey with no issues, the bike is trustworthy! But still keep an eye on the oil level, check it every 3-4 fuel stops.

dave500 · « **Reply #886 on:** July 13, 2013, 02:59:21 AM »

good one iron slave,yeah just enjoy the bike now,no good trying to do any more than just tell any and everyone who asks about your bike or paint that they are unreliable untrustworthy peasants,get a feel for it and gain some confidence in its reliability during the shakedown period.

iron_worker · « **Reply #887 on:** July 13, 2013, 09:50:18 AM »

Thanks Dave and Syscrush. That was kind of my angle as well. Get on with my life and enjoy riding for as long as I can this summer. The bike is up to just under 500 miles now and I'm starting to feel pretty confident in it's reliability. It really has been running great since I got the jetting closer. No leaks, no troubles. Even the brake caliper leak seems to have stopped itself. lol

I had planned to throw the tins on this morning but it's raining cats and dogs at the moment. wah

IW

cheftuskey121 · « **Reply #888 on:** July 13, 2013, 10:24:42 AM »

Oh baby this day has finally come. So sorry to hear about the mediocrity of the paint but at least you have it and it appears to match. And it's red

It's raining here too an it's driving me crazy. Just want to ride. When it clears throw those tins on and get some pics.

RAFster122s · « **Reply #889 on:** July 13, 2013, 10:29:29 AM »

With time the rain will pass. Just insure it for its value and be cautious with it. Sooner or later it will get a scratch and the mediocre paint job might not hurt as bad. At least they did a decent job on the side covers.
+1 on the bad rep on Angie's List and word of mouth. It will look good to people who pass you by and to you if you don't fixate on the flaws. Bikes and their restoration are never done, just paused some times so we can enjoy them until the next round of refresh and restore if we live long enough or own them long enough.

Enjoy the bike and concentrate on that enjoyment and just jot down what you want to improve for later when the bike is off the road for the winter.

Until then, road trips and lots of photos with the bike in various trips and events you enjoy.
She looks great with the old tank and she will look even better with the newly painted tank and side covers.

David

edhaeuser · « **Reply #890 on:** July 13, 2013, 01:11:26 PM »

Good to see you have the tins back. I have been debating on the color for mine. Originally, the bike was candy red but I had been leaning towards candy gold. Seeing your color, I am wondering if I should go with the original red instead. Ride the snot out of it!!!!!!

iron_worker · « **Reply #891 on:** July 13, 2013, 04:38:37 PM »

Ed,

I'm a lover of red but really it all comes down to personal preference. Look at some swatches and go with your gut.

The rain decided to subside for long enough for me to get the tins on!

If I could make love to one machine... lol

The chrome needs a touch up and then it will really pop.

Roughly my view during my first ride! I got out for a quick 15miles or so. Love it! The paint may not be perfect but I think I'm going to enjoy the hell out of it anyway.

One thing I do need to take care of though is to adjust my clutch one more time. I can't seem to quite get it perfect.

Tomorrow, weather permitting, I will going on a ride out to a town about 50-60 miles away with a co-worker. Should be fun!

At some point I'd also like to get a buddy of mine that is handy with an SLR to take some purdy photos of her. I'll be sure to post em up, of course.

IW

edhaeuser · « **Reply #892 on:** July 13, 2013, 04:50:44 PM »

Effin sweet, man!!!

cheftuskey121 · « **Reply #893 on:** July 13, 2013, 05:47:17 PM »

Wow IW. Just beautiful. You have done an incredible job. An absolute treat. Also you e been nominated and seconded in the BOTM thread

Tews19 · « **Reply #894 on:** July 13, 2013, 06:57:17 PM »

Quote from: cheftuskey121 on July 13, 2013, 05:47:17 PM

Wow IW. Just beautiful. You have done an incredible job. An absolute treat. Also you e been nominated and seconded in the BOTM thread

dang im gone for a few hours and someone beat me!

3rd!

iron_worker · « **Reply #895 on:** July 13, 2013, 07:55:08 PM »

Thanks guys! I really do appreciate it.

IW

ivanhoew · « **Reply #896 on:** July 13, 2013, 10:36:24 PM »

stunner.

Frankensteins Bride · « **Reply #897 on:** July 14, 2013, 06:23:21 AM »

Congrats! She's a beauty! Now get out there and enjoy your ride!

iron_worker · « **Reply #898 on:** July 14, 2013, 05:37:56 PM »

Well I got out for about 140 mile ride today. Bike performed very well. I did notice that I might have sprung a small leak though ...

Either coming from the base gasket or the tensioner gasket. I'm hoping I can just retighten the tensioner but we'll see.

I also changed my oil (@25,720miles - 500miles on rebuild) and adjusted my clutch. The clutch is working much better now.

I polished up my chrome this morning and she was looking reaaaaaalll nice.

I love this pic. Looks very "imposing".

My buddy from work showed up with his blackbird for our ride.

The blackbird, though not as pretty (IMO), is a very cool machine. Huge power and last forever.

This is near the end of our trip. A perfect day for riding. Not too much wind and about 22C so not too hot.

Everything is green and looks very nice this time of year. Won't be long until it starts turning brown again...

So I'm a bit disappointed with the leak. It's not a bad leak but I thought with brand new gaskets everywhere that I could avoid this. I did notice when I was putting it together there was a small nick in the base gasket right around the area where it's leaking now .... I didn't think it would matter but maybe I was wrong. Hopefully it doesn't end up being a big problem.

Overall, the bike is running very well. I passed 500 miles today on the rebuild (ended the trip at 640 miles) so I let the RPMs come up to redline a couple times.

I can definitely feel the CX1 cam now. It used to kind of feel like it was flattening off at 6k to 8k, now it feels like it just keeps pulling straight through.

IW

edhaeuser · « **Reply #899 on:** July 14, 2013, 07:29:35 PM »

I bet you were grinning from ear to ear on that ride. I would be. The bike came out beautiful. I know who will get my vote this month :-) You sure had your ups and downs on this build, but the finished product sure looks like it has been worth it. Kudos, IW.

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Author Topic: Project: 7-Fizzle - V1.1 - If only spring would get here... (Read 147680 times)