Woo Hoo! A Big Project!

[Major Softie]

But it appears cured

And that is all that really matters.

[melville]

But it appears cured

And that is all that really matters.

And now some evidence:

https://www.fuelly.com/driver/melville/ ... fu=4184114

A distinct step up, and a lot of that mileage was in third gear in the mountains. I've got a big trip planned for early next week, and it would be nice if I could beat the mileage Mrs. melville gets in her Prius.

[melville]

So you can check the link in the last post for the update. Not quite as good as the Prius, but close. And a hecka buncha more fun! Pix:

Just after dawn, right where Hwy 1 joins the coast:



At my hotel:



At the bike's hotel, where I definitely beat the Prius. Only $10 overnight, where parking a car is $30+:



On the return trip, a fun stop:



My super tool roll. I brought enough tools to check/change timing and valve clearance, and a quart of oil. Didn't need any of it:



And I had some stupid video fun. You've seen Ken Block running this street, but faster, and uphill (click to view):



The camera has such a wide view that I don't remember seeing the 21-window Bus. I would have stopped and checked it out if I had. Passenger in the Prius is also filming as we go down, holding her phone out the window.

And the other candidate for the crookedest street in the West:



This one crawling with touristas!

So the bike ran great, but a new issue was exposed. One I may not be able to duplicate here at home. I was getting a ping when going uphill (I'd say 3% or greater) at freeway speed in 80+ deg F. Once I got back out to the coast on the return trip, no ping whatsoever, as the temperature went down 20 degrees. Locally, where it gets to 80+, the roads are such that I'm not about to put that same load on it. I'll check timing and maybe do a plug chop and see if something presents itself.

[melville]

Oh my, it's been a while! Fixed the ping issue with a Dyna ignition (thanks Blitz!) and a float adjustment and I've done nothing else to the bike all summer but wash it after riding on dirt roads. I did have a wee off last week, though. It is possible to lock a single 38mm ATE IF the road is properly lubricated, as in this pic:



The road was covered in redwood duff, still moist from some rain a couple days before. End result was this:



And this:



And Muriel insisted, and I concurred, that untreated crash damage was not 'patina.' So off to fixing I went!

The timing was right for a valve adjustment, anyway. Intakes were spot on (.004") and the exhausts were at .007" and .009", so good news there. I made a fixture for the valve cover:





And clamped to the table and had at it with this ScotchBrite wheel:



With this result:



And after more cleaning and degreasing, and a coat of paint:



Good to go! On to the clutch lever. After some coarse sanding:



And progressively finer grades of sandpaper:



And a run on the buffer:



All set to be put away until next week's ride:



Well, almost all set. The left peg is bent back the tiniest bit. I'd leave it alone, but the Kinematic shifter feels out of place. Anyone out there ever straightened one of these out on the bike? Maybe a big cheater pipe slipped over the peg?

[Deleted User 287]

A big cheater pipe and 4 guys to hold the bike in place...

The valve cover is great! Of course the paint is sort of cheating, but that clutch lever!!! OMG! It is like it was asking for a tip-over just to get you to fondle it and make it beautiful like nothing ever happened!

[Major Softie]

He fondles with gloves on.

Very very safe sex, that.

[melville]

A big cheater pipe and 4 guys to hold the bike in place...

Yeah, lacked a cheater that would go over the rubber. And Muriel was having none of holding the bike in place.

So I took it off, set up a ghetto press in the vise, and had at it. I think it was successful:

[Garnet]

Nothin like a good vice.

[Toga]

Great thread melville... inspiring me to do just as nice a job, hopefully in a much shorter time span.

[ME 109]

He fondles with gloves on.

Very very safe sex, that.

I thought he sent it to Japan to get repaired.