Topic: K3 Project has now started.

[MauiK3]

Wow, never thought of that, its in the shopping cart.

[budman]

Looking good.

[MauiK3]

Spent a lot of time bent over the buffers this weekend, I kind of wanted to get past the bulk of it. I took both wheels apart, found that at some point in the past someone used silver tape over the spoke heads on the rear! I'm replacing spokes, tires, rims and tubes anyway.
Then I went on to clean up both hubs. Yikes the rear one was a bear! It was in worse shape than I thought and needed a lot of work. I had to dress off some etching on one side, clean up dings (as many as I felt I should) and buff it out. It gets heavy after a bit. Not complaining, it's all for the cause.
Now I can start thinking about clear coating. And other steps.

[MauiK3]

Previous owner bought a new front fender, that is rusting on the underside. I'm trying my electrolysis removal and then I will coat it to stop it.

[MauiK3]

PO had installed a new front fender which had started to rust. Electrolysis removed most of it, now I'll need to coat it to prevent more rust. They don't chrome like they used to!

[Stev-o]

Even back in the day, Honda did not have the best chrome...

[budman]

Try some Metal Rescue.  It shouldn't hurt the chrome.  I've used it before.  Works very well.

[MauiK3]

Started some painting. I'm using POR15 with their "chassis black" aerosol top coat. Two coats of each. I wanted to do some small stuff first in case I didn't like it and had to take it all off. I followed their system with cleaning and prepping using their products. The first coat of POR15 is quite ugly. The second coat looks very different (much better) and the top coat improves it more. It seems to be a very tough coating with the rust resistance.. living here it's important to me to do all I can to slow corrosion down. The cap color of the chassis black is a bit more matte than the finished product. I like it, it's pretty close to what of the factory black is left on the frame. Next I'll get the big pieces media blasted and continue. I'm also going to try their two part urethane clear on tha polished stuff.
I definitely used a good respirator. It's a must.

[MauiK3]

Getting the bright work ready for two part urethane.

[MauiK3]

I had a pretty mixed results work session on the bike this weekend. I did some application of the POR15 clear two part urethane on the polished parts.
The problem is that the urethane kicked off too quickly and the application doesn't look too great on some of the parts, I don't even want to post pictures yet.
There is a discrepancy on the instructions.
The data sheet states to mix the parts at 3 to 1, which I followed.
The can states the mix ratio as 4 to 1, which would have slowed it down.
I chose 3 to 1 fearing that it would not set up and create a big mess.
So now I'll wait until it gets pretty hard and wet sand the imperfections out and apply a top coat, mixed 4 to 1. Maybe our higher humidity here contributed to the problem since humidity contributes to  the hardening.
Live and learn.
If I can't clean up some of the problem areas I'll need to figure out how to remove the coating and start over.
Ugh

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Interesting. I would have thought the humidity would slow things down.

[MauiK3]

The instructions say that the two part urethane product sets up more quickly when exposed to humidity. I'm hoping I can salvage a few pieces without totally stripping them.

[MauiK3]

Got them laced. Now I need to true them.

[Stev-o]

Nice job on the wheels!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Nice wheels!

[MauiK3]

The front wheel came out pretty much on center (tape measure check). The back wheel is a bit off so far, I'll have to rattle it around to get it to center up. I suppose when they are in the truing stand it will all work out.
Nice stainless spokes from Buchannon.
New rims from Yamiya, old stuff was pretty crusty.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Any reason to go with steel versus an aluminum (lighter) rim?

[MauiK3]

Good question, I decided to stick with steel because it looks more original, I know that doesn't make much sense because it has stainless spokes and a few other non original things going on. It will also get two discs which adds some weight. Here on Maui we don't have high speed highways so there won't be much ricky racer driving except perhaps for a trip up Haleakala Highway which is pretty spectacular. I'll mostly be cruising around the island, a "vintage" rider on a vintage bike :-)
By the way, there is a group of riders (mostly kids) that stake out Haleakala Highway and really carve it up much like they do in Southern California. It's pretty scary because if you go off the road, it can be a very long way down to a landing.
None of that for me, bones don't heal as fast as they used to and I'll have way to much time in the bike to mess it up.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

No worries. I was just wondering. I don't do restorations, so I am always thinking about shaving a lb or two. 

The twin rotors will help you stop coming down the Haleakala Highway, or even some of the twisties past Twin Falls on the Hana Highway before it gets really tight and slow.  I suppose you can beat some of the tourists to the punch if you wake up extra early.

Man, I miss grabbing lunch at the Pukalani Superette.

[MauiK3]

Ok, I admitted defeat and I'm stripping all the bright work, that coating did not work. I will try a test piece with what I think is the correct mix ratio. I may even thin it a little (according to the instructions) with Zylene
Got my parts for the wheels (bearings, etc.). Going to put them in and try truing.
I'll post pictures later.

[MauiK3]

I had a heck of a time getting the bearing retainer nut to thread in on the rear. It was hard coming out too. I checked threads, cleared them with a pointy tool, lubed the new nut, still hard. Had to make a crude fixture to hold the spanner into the retainer. The machinist in me says it felt like a 3 fit thread. I think it may have been cut by a dull tool when it was threaded.

[MauiK3]

Ok, on to wheel truing. For this rookie it looks like it will be a long haul. I've got the "gross runout" pretty much fixed, now I think it will be slower as I zero in on the goal.
I like the look of the stainless spokes, especially since I won't have to worry about our marine environment doing them in.

[MauiK3]

Forgot to post this. My front fender, while fine on the outside, was getting pretty corroded underneath.. After a spell in the electrolysis tank, I cleaned it up, treated the rust with Ospho and coated it with this dark silver. I think it won't be too noticeable. I had to do something with it or it would be new fender time. As it is, I need two new calipers.

[MauiK3]

Front wheel went much easier than the back wheel. I guess because the spokes are longer and the rim is a little less stiff. On the rear there is a deformation at the weld point the I don't think can be worked out. The front seems better all around.
Discovered I can't start torquing because my torque kit does not have the 5.6mm crows foot. Ordering one now.
On to carbs while I wait for stuff.

[MauiK3]

Oh, and one more thing.
Just to make myself feel better, I assembled something!