Progress at last

I wouldn't pretend that my documentation of this project has been anything but sporadic, but that reflects the progress... perhaps, lack of progress that I'm supposed to be documenting. Just as a quick bite of context, in the past six months I uprooted everything and dragged my fiancée (and Cub) across the country to Sandpoint, ID to follow a job. Mind you, a fantastic job, in a great place. Idaho is really an amazing state if you're into the outdoors, and Sandpoint in particular sits on the shore of a big lake, at the base of a ski resort, surrounded by hiking trails. It's also a bit of a motorcycle paradise in the summer, I'm told. There's a motorcycle shop here in town called Cycle Haus, run by a guy and his son. Picture a big shack in the middle of a parking lot, stuffed full of motorcycles and parts, and wallpapered in pictures of more of the same.

Having thus answered the question of income, parts availability, and supplemental knowledge... and having relocated to a place where drivers could typically pass a basic psychological evaluation, of course... Perhaps more entries are forthcoming.

Last we heard from Cub, she needed attention paid to the electrical system, a new carburetor, new tires, lights, a speedo, various cables, gaskets, and a bit of finishing kit. In other words, my straightforward project bike had turned out to be a bit less straightforward than I'd hoped. I decided to start with the carburetor. I'd acquired one that was slightly too big a while back, and after some research decided to file the mounting holes inward to fit the existing attachment points. My office is really just a mezzanine overlooking a machine shop, so I took the carb to work one day and got the job done quickly and simply. It's mounted right now, and appears to seal reasonably well. I put about half a liter of gas in the tank; we'll see how everything holds up over a day or two.

Today I followed the carburetor up with a trip to Cycle Haus for a spark plug cap and some tires. They're currently on order- should be mid next week that I can mount them up. The spark plug cap fits just fine in the meantime. The old one, as I'd suspected, had simply given up the ghost to corrosion. I installed the new cap and decided to do a quick start/no start test. No start, unfortunately.

At least the list of work left to do has become more clearly defined:

1. Electrical system- this will no doubt be labor intensive and massively frustrating. I'm sure that either the horn, lights, or starter should work if I install the battery properly. None do, and I suspect that I'm going to need to wring out the wiring harness completely to track down the problem. It's also entirely possible that I'll need to replace the harness. We'll see.
2. Gaskets- the right case gasket is blown, and I suspect that the others are not in top shape either. I hear there's a place around Spokane that can cut them on the spot for fairly cheap. Audrey and I are going down there tomorrow for some other errands anyway; we'll do a little exploring. Replacing the gaskets forces me to inspect the inside of the engine, which I've thus far been reluctant to touch. It'll also stop the oil leak.
3. Speedometer and cables- I'll start with the speedo cable, which is shot. I also need a new throttle cable, I believe. It's possible that a new cable isn't the answer to the speedo jumping around erratically as I walk the bike, but the cable is the cheaper starting point, and I need a new one anyway.
4. Lights- When I sort out the electrical system, this should just be a matter of replacing bulbs.
5. Springs, loose screws, etc- the brake springs are old and rusty and the ignition switch isn't bolted on. I'll definitely want brakes to work, and I don't like things being loose on vehicles.
6. Seat- the foam is collapsed and the seat cover is torn. I'll need a new one.
7. Plastics and cosmetics- Whether or not this can be considered necessary work is subjective, but I tend to say yes. The point of a classic project is to wind up with an example of classic design. Having intact plastics, shiny chrome, and some attention to details goes a long way. It may not affect how the bike runs, but it'll definitely affect your effect as you ride. I'll save this for last, I think.

In a nutshell, my goal right now is to cobble enough of a repair together to make the bike ridable. Once I can limp it to work, I can get into more detail. That way I don't run the risk of mixing my parts into airplane parts, and I won't get in anybody's way while I do things. With a bit of luck and some research, I think that it's reasonable to assume that I can have the engine running in a month and looking good in two or three... perhaps just in time for the summer festival.

-The Proprietor