The day was going great! Paddy looked the business and all electrical, including the pesky right rear turn signal, was working.
He was starting a new life at this mileage:
I figured I'd run him over to my dad's house and then to the various folks who had helped me. I had to pull over in the parking lot of the Honda dealership at mile 2.5 when I noticed what I figured was a terrible head gasket leak:
So, I beat feet home, hopped off the bike, cussed a bit, then started taking a closer look at this:
But guess what?! There wasn't a drop of oil leaking anywhere!
Did I use the wrong paint? Nope, it's engine paint meant to withstand temperature. Really? Even though the paint is bubbling? With no oil leaks present, why would it bubble? Maybe I exceeded the paint's heat threshold? Nah, what would cause that? Hmm . . . no . . . what your mind is saying can't be happening.
Do you have ANY oil to the top end? I pulled a valve cover plug on #1 exhaust - BONE DRY! Same on #4, BONE DRY!
So, I just cooked my motor after a six-month rebuild. Nice. Have you ever been so pissed yet so disappointed that you merely exist in a sort of shoulder-slumped complacency? That's where I'm at right now. Unbelievable.
I guess this now starts Paddy's Rebuild 3.