What's left

Sadly, I didn't get the bike running in time for the ride. I did manage to get myself out of bed and off to a good lunch spot for some libations and a bite and a good vantage point from which to applaud the riders as they past.

Actually, the 'get out of bed' joke wasn't really that far off. I was a little bit pissed off at not making it. Really wanted to. It's been sort of a deadline in my mind and also, truth be told, a little bit of a mental healing thing or a 'feel good about myself' thing, so I was a little unhappy about not making it. Not sure if ultimately I just underestimated the amount or the potential problems or what. Probably likely a combination of many things. Still, what's done is done.

(except in this case, it still isn't done....)

We do have liftoff on somethings. The headlight (and brights) are functioning, as are the tach and speedo gauges. Well, sort of. I'm still sorting and figuring that mess, since the new gauge has 6 wires and the old one has 9.

I'm no match wizard, but one of these things is not like the other.

So that's become a little bit like fishing in a large lake with the sole strategy of 'asking the fish nicely to get in the boat'. Always nice to know what you're doing when you try and do things. In this case, I am most definitely making it up as I go, touching wires while closing my eyes from sparks or the annoying looks this bike gives me now, whenever I try to do something in a decidedly non-mechanical fashion.

Translation; always.

At this point, there's really two ways to go. Press on as I am, trying this or that until something comes on or turns over or otherwise doesn't seem like it's gonna spark the garage into a large pile of 2x4's and motorcycle parts. Or, stop completely until I can finance that mystical M-Unit I would really prefer to have, and do all this correctly, and long-term-illy. Thing is, that second one, while far mo better and far mo easier, it's also far mo money.

So who knows. The pressure is off somewhat considering the ride is over. Now, it's just back to the other pressure of wanting to ride the thing. Plus, it's not a billion degrees in AZ right now, so riding season is truly here.

So maybe there is a light at the end of a tunnel.

Or could still be that oncoming train.

Not much left

Quality time. Can mean many things depending on the day of the week or situations or whatever. This one, it means you've got one day left before the ride. One.

Make it count.

Went to lunch during the work day today in order to try and save (or shave) some of those precious moments of which are dwindling down. Got a bag full of electrical goodies; connectors, longer battery cables, couplers, tape. Would have bought a rabbits foot, too if they had one.

The theory is now, of course, that I should have the tools needed to complete. To start it up. To run it. We'll see about that. My ignorance has a way of blocking such ambitions, or certainly has up until now. Still, I'm giving it the 'ol college try before I give it the 'ol heave-ho.

Just kidding. Mostly.

Speaking of college, while I'm typing this my son who's a senior at Arizona State is texting me Parent's Weekend tailgate info for tomorrow. I hadn't planned on going to anything since I assumed he was working... but if he's asking me to go, I'm going. So, perhaps it's a good thing I utilized my lunch time today.

Errand time today. Aaron time tomorrow.

Clock is ticking, people. Send your prayers my way - it's go time.

Pretty much the best possible problem I could have right now, is to have to go quickly shop for some tweed sport coat or vest and a bow tie and suspenders...

Lord knows, I'm fresh out of tweed right now.

Still - best possible problem to have.

Here's looking for trouble.

Looks right to me

Well, last night was a short night, given some work stuff that's occupying my brain as well as my after-hour hours. Still, some progress made I suppose. Difficult to tell at the end of it all if it will make a difference, but I did feel better, or more knowledgeable. Perhaps.

Studied up quite a bit yesterday on the whys of the wiring. Or maybe better said, how and what this part is and that part is. It's a little bit funny that I'm building a motorcycle and have to google 'starter solenoid. Since I know this bike has one and I hear of it referenced in various sites and manuals, but didn't really know where it was or what it looked like.

Not really that funny... but I try to laugh at many things in life, and I'm perhaps unusually talented at laughing at myself most times.

So now that I know what this part is and that part is (or sometimes was) I can at least better understand the workings. A little bit. I still sort of end up, at least for now, with this 'still don't know why it's not working since everything is where I think it should be' part. Such is the life of a pseudo mechanic.

Last night was a little bit more of putting things where they will eventually need to be, routing these mysterious collections of wires and connectors to their final resting places, and leaving the actual performing part for later. It's a step that would have to happen irregardless of if I got the bike to start or not anyway, since I cant very likely ride down the street with a wiring harness strewn over the side. Not far, anyway.

This step, of course, is something more of a 'this will go there later ' so I will need _____ to move it there, and make a list of certain things to get these items UHaul'd to their new locations. Mostly longer wires and some additional couplings and connectors. Very romantic shopping, there.

Next, after work tonight it's find an auto parts store or electronics store or maybe a bar, collect my goods and carry on. Maybe with getting things where they belong, this world will become a little bit clearer.

Maybe.

I'd settle for starting at this point.

I'm not one of them

I've put out the call, or the waving my arms frantically in all directions, looking for some wiring help. I've been loaded down with 17 pages of wiring diagrams, so after last night's well-deserved break from it all and a great Def Leppard show and memory lane time, tonight should be back at it in earnest.

There's a chance- well, there's always been a chance- that I can or will stumble upon a solution. I likely won't even know what it is that I did that made it work or the whys... not that at this point I care much about that. Just wanting it to go. The importance of making this weekend's charity ride has waffled from 'would be cool' to 'wanna gotta'. Mostly because positive thinking and energies aside, I really didn't think it would be possible. Not from the build standpoint but from the financial one. And there's still things to be bought, no doubts there, but once I decided I wanted to really give it a good and try my best to make it happen, I borrowed a few coins to get the needed battery and put my head down.

Here's how my brain works. Or how I solve things. Or work on things. And I'm never saying this is the best way or the right way. Practically never. But still, it's the way my brain waves. Instead of installing all the stuff; lights, gauges, signals, all at once... and then doing the wiring. I, instead, want to get the wiring good and solid with the old stuff. And then change this cluster or that light, make sure it's working, move on to next, etc. It's less about the overall and more about the small steps. Plus it's also a smaller chunk of change; the whole thing works, so let's change this one part which looks better and cooler and right(er), turn it back on and see that the whole thing still works. Only now with the new piece. It's easier to track problems this way, too, since I'm only changing one thing at a time, if something is amiss, it's gotta be that thing.

So it may take longer to do it this way, but it's my thing. I like to see change. I'm a visual guy. Plus, that's the fun stuff anyway. No one (read: me) likes to spend time working up the internals of something that, although improved upon, will ultimately not look any different. Well, except maybe engineers, or doctors, nurses, teachers, counselors... but nevermind them.

I'm definitely not one of them.

Take a deep one

Breath. I have to remind myself to breathe. Take some good ones. Because the last couple nights have not been pretty in the breathing department.

It's turned more into a yelling one.

It's a bit frustrating when, all I really should be doing is just re-connecting all the stuff that was disconnected in my 'what could go wrong with this decision' disassembly phase. You remember, the crazy one. Definitely clouded by the red mist and went a little bat poo.

Anyway, the same is the same. And although I don't have installed many of the things I had previously, the concept in my young and unencumbered by electronic-knowledge brain is that, I'll just not connect this one since I don't need it, and move on to the next one, and so on.

Until you learn things like side stand switches that prevent running in gear with the side stand down, or clutch switches or neutral switches, all that have an effect on the actual starting and or running process.

Pish posh, I say.

[Did I just say pish posh?]

Regardless, things are all working properly except for the fact that it's still not making any rumbling sounds. And while it's not running, I am.

Out of ideas.

4 days left...

Some of the best flying I've seen yet...

Arrived back in town from a trip, er, out of town, and felt exhausted and exhilarated all at the same time. I managed to beg, borrow and temporarily steal some dough and the new battery and charger arrived - thank you very much. So after some lunch and a horrific Manchester United match to catch up on, I headed to the garage, new stuff in hand...

Looks so simple. What could possibly go wrong...

In a certain sense it was actually pretty much plug A back into A, B into B and so on. Some things need to get extended since the harness isn't going to be buried inside the engine bay now as much as before (probably all under the tank), but overall it seemed pretty straightforward.

And was really cool to see the lights come on, the turn signals, the neutral light... all up until that moment. That key step. I was staring her down, watching it. That starter button. And she was staring me down, too. A staring contest. Yep. And she won.

Dunno why then and still don't know yet why the starter isn't, well, starting. The relay clicks when I move the "run" button back and forth, so that part's as it should be. (I'm assuming) I had the tank off the bike but that should have any bearing on the electrical connections. I knew it wouldn't run without gas, but should at least make noise like it wants to run. I've been making noises about wanting to run for a long time now.

So, if there's one thing I've gotten in a habit of doing with this build, it's this; stop. Stop trying to figure something out and take a break. Step back. Go get a beer for cryin' out loud. So, after returning a few minutes later with said beer in had, grab a stool and just look at it. Trace the wires. use your head. And since I don't have years of mechanical engineering and/or electrical experience to draw upon the 'whys' and 'hows' things are the way they are, I try and use the common sense approach. Namely, if there is an unused bolt or screw sitting on the ground, something is going to eventually fall off.

[ Odd that I can't put that same common sense approach to other things in my life. But that's another blog for that stuff. I promised to keep it clean here. ]

It was at this point that I thought it would be helpful to plug the original instrument cluster in quickly just to check connections and confirm things. The next step will be to replicate those connections and wires with the new speedo and tachometer and lights, etc. So I have that part of this wiring scheme I can do, since I can't imagine these connections are wrong; they are working. And if I've learned anything about electricity on a bike, it's either working or not. It doesn't sorta work.

It's also sort of funny that, so far today anyway, the best advice I've received for correcting this starter issue (assuming it's all connected as it should be) is this- hit it with a hammer. That sometimes the solenoid will stick when it's been sitting for a while unused.

And that's a repair trick I can get behind.

So, get the starter starting, fill up the tank with some fresh gas and get to idle. That part is obviously the big part. Wiring up the headlight, signals, brake lights, instrument lights- all those will be fun and productive and exciting. Finally. Will feel like getting a new shirt or something. Something fresh and new. And working.

Working. That part is really key now.

And I've got 6 days left to solve it...

How fast? Do the math.

Another care package arrived from China yesterday. Who knew I had so many friends in China??

My new trick speedo and tachometer arrived. And if you caught it- the intentionally kilometers per hour version, as a nod to my cafe racer origins and brethren in the UK and others. I know it's a small silly detail, but I figured it would be a fun detail, and honestly I'm gonna have more than a few legalities stretched for the good ol DMV as it is, so why not add one or two why I'm at it.

Yeah, that's the way my mind works. Scary, I understand.

Which reminds me I'll need to remember to get some insurance coverage happening on this thing soon, if it's really gonna happen that it's gonna run soon. Oh, and let the DMV know it's not in storage anymore, too. Don't want to break any laws here. Geessh.

Funny thing is, there have been plenty of times when I thought to myself while sitting at a left turn light on a back road somewhere late at night, when no one within a hundred miles of me, and I'm sitting at this light that won't change because it can't register the weight of a motorcycle on the sensors or whatever... So I think to myself I'm a grown man and a responsible one (mostly) and can safely turn and it'll all be OK.

And have done this many times. Or variations on that theme. And only caught once, and pulled over for the effort. He looked at me like what are you doing? And I explained the above theory, and it's reasons and how I was careful and used good judgement and well, he let me off with a stern 'don't do that anymore and don't tell anyone I let you off for doing it' look and off I went.

Don't want to push my luck with such things too far, however.

Anyway, back to speedo. I had to of course walk over to the garage and hand tighten them in place and step back. Dig it. And it feels and looks like a motorcycle coming together.

Even if it's all disconnected underneath.

Sometimes I feel like I am a little bit, too. So she and I are maybe more a like all the time.

Single Digits

We're almost there, people. Almost. 10 days to go. Almost entering that dreaded phase of getting the bike ready for the Distinguished Gentleman's Charity Ride;

the single number of days remaining.

I've got my upcoming trip to see my new grandson and also my sister, which is long overdue. So I've been a little bit distracted by both the trip, and the juggling of financials and days to see if it can be done.

So, can it be done?

Well, perhaps an honest assessment of what's left to do is a good thing to do. So, lets...

Actually, perhaps a better way is this- what must be done to do it? What can wait shall not be included in this list. So, things that are not necessary for the mechanical ability of a motorcycle to stop and go and turn. That's pretty much it. Oh, and not kill me. That part is a requirement, too.

Adjustments not withstanding, of course, here's the go-go list:

Electrical:

I can utilize the previous rat maze of a wiring harness, for now. Connect what I'm using and just tie off what I'm not. I'd love the M-Unit and may go that route eventually since it's the long term solution. But for now, I can make do with the stock harness. And probably not venture too far from home... :)

This scenario means no brake light or turn signals and maybe no headlight either. Turn signals are not a legal requirement, and I can hand signal with the best of them. Brake light isn't ideal at all, so may try and figure that part out.

So, need to buy a $200 battery, a $40 charger and a $5 cord to charge it once mounted in the bike. $245. Big number. Get a plan...

Mechanical:

Adjust the rear brake levers to get the right height. Ensure activation is solid.

Front brakes are functioning but not ideal. Lots of rubbing on the front tire, which I will assume will solve itself out with movement and a little bit of wear. Sometimes things tend to do that- just work themselves into the position they need to be in to work right. Hoping this is the case.

Clutch lever and cable need tightening and adjusting. Not a big deal here.

Adjust the choke cable. Technically the stock one is too long like most of the other ones. Not a huge deal, can likely just route it the long way around and should be fine for now.

Forks are a question mark. Sure, they are OK, but seems pre-load is way off and the rebound isn't great at all. Something's not right, but likely will function with the prerequisite of not killing me.

Fluids:

Everything is replaced. Rear final drive oiled. Oil changed (will be topped off once I get it running). I may look into the fluids in the forks if can be done without disassembly of everything. If not, it can wait.

Fuel needs to be added to the tank. Ready for this part now; tank is solid and good to go. Just no point in not buying the fuel once I'm ready to use it.

$12

So, the list for right now getting her running- about 260 bux give or take. That could get me to the church on time. I think. I've got a helmet, gloves, jacket... though since the riding attire for this charity ride is a lot different, I may have to visit a Goodwill store or two and see if I can locate some tweed and bow ties.

And maybe a fake handlebar mustache, while I'm at it.

One step closer

So, that big day approaches. The countdown continues. Still dunno what's doable and what's possible, but I think I need to take the bull by the horns and grapple him to the ground. Even if I just let him back up to grab some lunch or go find the herd. Getting him down right now is the key thing.

Got some money challenges with this one, per usual. I may have that sorted enough to get me to the ride - in like 12 days or whatever it is now. I'm not counting. I'm not counting.

The new turn signals arrived yesterday. I dig em.

Surprisingly quality, too. Heavy weight and good stuff. They weren't the most expensive but weren't the cheapest, so maybe that's a trend I should abide by on eBay from time to time.

I messed around with mounting them last night, where they should go, etc. At one point a great location was also the location of a bolt already in that place, so it could have been an easy swap. But alas, a half inch off was enough to keep them from that spot and another will have to be assigned, drilled, tapped, and then we're good to go.

The next major hurdle is getting a battery and trying to sort out the wiring harness once again. Or, going the bigger yet longer term route and purchase an M-unit and wire it all up from scratch. Way better in the long run, and can grow and add accessories or things I decide to add as time permits. But, for the here and now, can just wire up the starter relay and the ignition and the battery and go go go.

And the new turn signals, of course.

Tick tock tick tock...

Shoulda Woulda Coulda

Perhaps I should have ended that last post with this sentiment, so I'm gonna add it in here. 'Cause you know, hindsight and that sorta thing.

I'm grateful for what I have and what I've been through. To consider this build as anything but a great distraction and a great expression of my thinkings and feelings and viewings of, well, these things, would be inaccurate.

So sometimes I get a little bit sorry for myself or get caught up in the can-nots instead of the cans, which is easy to do with this current model year I'm in. But- the important thing is- eye on the prize and moving ahead.

Which is ultimately what I want this bike to able to do. I want a motorcycle to ride. To ride. Repeat, to ride. I want it to go and stop and fill it up with gas and pick a destination and go there, and make it back safely, rinse and repeat. And as I've mentioned in a post not that long ago, I miss the idea of a solid motorcycle, once that goes and stop and starts and runs and does all those things a modern and in-good-condition bike will do.

Instead, I have a project. And, since I like riding more than I like working on them, I have a project that from time to time annoys me because it's not solid, starting, stopping, running, etc.

It's a project.

On some level, I'd rather have a painting to work on, or a song to write or whatever- something that doesn't make my activities dry up while I'm working on it. I like to hike; do it a lot and it's freeing and mental-helping and all those positives. And it I were designing and building and engineering my own hiking shoes... I'd be starting to get a little bit annoyed that I can't finish them up so I can go hike.

Strange analogy, I know. But it's sort of my wrestling sparing partner lately.

If I had another motorcycle, this wouldn't bother me in the least. So, clearly I need to buy another motorcycle right now.

Clearly.

Thing is, obviously can't do that, and there are many other financial restraints troubling me right now, including a tuition condition that has appeared out of nowhere. And one that could render much of this moot anyway.

Regardless of all this whining... I'm gonna get it done and make it run again. It's what I do and who I am and I will win. Sometimes, I stumble. but I will get there.

Sorting out the bugs and the dollars, that's what next.

All the rest is just waiting to be ridden.

Clearly.

Sing it, Otis

So, here's the deal. The real mo-jo-lishous, factoid, no-hold-barred, tell it like it is reality check.

The bike. This bike. Wow... I dunno where to start. Or maybe the finer point is, I dunno how to finish.

Changing this thing and working on it; having a project to transform and a distraction from some of life's not so finer moments... all that has been a tremendous thing. Now, I think more of my true self is coming through. Some of that is impatience, or maybe it's easily distracted-ness.

Actually, it's probably just frustration. A lot of it. Seems like at each turn there's been two ways to consider the next part of something or the next phase of this build. There's the 'right way to do it' and there's the 'way I must do it'.

Sometimes they are in fact, one and the same. The rearset foot pegs are a prime example of those two being the same. Bolt-on goodness that function, look great, feel great... and to quote Cousin Eddie "they're a quality item".

Not always was I able to approach problem A and B with the same caution to the wind, wild abandon. I guess this was the only time. No wait, I suppose the exhaust pipes would be considered in this category; had to have them and they're great looking, etc. The rear subframe and seat were, too. Big items in the cost department, gifts aside, that were look good, feel good, but transformed much of this build, since I'm not a welder or a machinist currently, not do I bear the machine to be a machinist. Currently.

So here's my point. Well, maybe it's a two-parter. I'm once again at the mercy of an expensive part to move along. Move ahead. Get this thing running again.

There have always been these phases for me and this bike. The buying phase, the teardown phase, the painting phase, the rebuilding phase, the mechanical phase, the electrical phase, etc. And each of them saw huge changes, both internally and externally, as the bike started to change in looks from one thing to another. Not that what it's ended up looking like or being is any sort of masterpiece, but it's my vision or perhaps more pointedly, it's what I ended up with. Compromises are everywhere in life and can be found all over this thing. It's an OK thing for me; just stating it for the record, your honor.

So, there are things needed to finish. Expensive things, considering my current black-to-red levels. And these things needed, they are not of the visual variety. They are necessary items for which a mechanical thing to function, but a shame they are costing what they are. A little like putting a 20K roof on your house. You spent a lot of money, but your house still looks the same.

So here's my two-parter point. One, I need expensive things to finish, and two, my excitement levels are fluctuating somewhat. Perhaps defeated may be the word, though strong one it may be.

The expensive things needed still will not guarantee success. I am somewhat haunted by not running some fuel stabilizer through the system when it was running, so I could maybe avoid what I'm expecting will be an issue. Namely the carbs will have gunked up fuel all over them and the bike still won't run. This perhaps won't be the case, and sometimes I can get a little 'expect the worst' from time to time. But I'm honestly trying to be a realist a bit here and not have the head in the sand too much.

Can only hold your breath for so long.

Then there's the fact that most things on this build are connected or affected or otherwise related to a part next to it. Which makes sense; it's a motorcycle and most of them don't have extraneous stuff bolted on for no reason. So, part A moves part B, and both attach to part C. Since I need to buy a part C, I can't really finish parts A & B until C is purchased. So these visits to the garage sorta get more and more frustrating, like this weekend was, because there's only so much that can be done with the limitations of budget. I go there, I tweak this or that or paint this part or that or otherwise, play some music, drink a beer (or lots of water these days) and spend a couple hours getting greasy and trying to get excited about how it's all going along.

The second part, or maybe I'll say additionally since I think I've lost count at this point of my ramblings this morning... is I feel like there's always something unforeseen or troubling or needed or necessary around the corner; something I won't be able to buy either. Case in point; buying the battery is a big undertaking, then I need a charger or the thing will be dead with these AZ summers in a matter of weeks. Then I need this M-Unit to wire the thing up. So, I can spend (if I had or choose to do it anyway) a little north of $500 for these things that the bike won't run without, and then may discover something else (likely will) that needs attention or money thrown at it. Buying these things still doesn't guarantee the bike will run.

And I don't doubt that the nature of building a custom bike is this very thing; changing it, sculpting it, making it your own, and then conquering the gremlins and problems as they appear. Those parts I get and completely understand. I guess in the end, I'm feeling a little bit like it's been a little inappropriate of me to have bought this bike when I did. Or perhaps better said; maybe I should be just considering this bike a work in progress and just accept that definition and not get discouraged by the lack of funds or lack of riding time.

Years ago we almost bought a boat. Didn't know anything about boats myself, but the idea of docking a boat on Lake Michigan and spending the weekends sitting around on the dock, hanging with neighboring boaters, cruising down the river... all good stuff. Now, if the engine suddenly needed 5K worth of work, or the storage fees are astronomical or had to be towed to Wisconsin each season and we didn't have a tow vehicle... all these things ad up. I could afford to buy the boat. It was the rest that adds up.

Several years later I almost bought a Ferrari. Not a new one, no way. But my dream one, which at this point was always 15 years old and far more responsible amount to purchase. Even insurance was agreeable somewhat. But when the 8K tuneups and oil changes come around, forget about it. I could afford to buy the car. But the rest...

Honestly, I've enjoyed many an evening and weekend working on this bike, for sure. And now that it's getting close to be able to hit the road again, I'm just getting a little bit off my rocker to make it so. Life is busy right now, and so when I do find time to work on her, it would be nice to make some progress. To have that time actually bear fruit. It's just feeling a bit like I've been working on a painting for months and months and now I just want it completed and hanging on the wall. To use what I've been working hard for a long time on.

Otherwise, it's just another day spent in neutral. And shifting out of that gear is getting harder to do.

Dance steps

It's starting to feel like I've been working on this bike for a long time. Well, it's not feeling like it's been such a long time, but I guess it has been a long time. Good moments and good progress and then, there's usually a mis-step or a backwards one, depending on the condition, knowledge, experience, financial or philosophical reason.

Take your pick.

This time, the front caliper is the culprit. Dunno why things aren't working of functioning as they should, but in order to find out vs. just getting annoyed and making ugly faces in a stare down contest of wills against an inanimate object (which I never win), I figured the inevitable needs to happen. It needs to come back off.

 The good thing about this back and forth and do overs I'm frequently engaged in here -  if there is such a thing as a good thing here - is that I do figure out fairly quickly which way is up and which way it came off and sort of try and knowleducate myself into some sort of understanding of the functionalities. Doesn't always work out that way, but I try and learn not just how it was attached prior to being ripped off / out, but the why it was.

Ultimately, it will make me a more comfortable individual with motorcycle maintenance, with is a good thing for sure. I remember working on my perviously owned MV Agusta F4....

Since it was used when I bought it (could never justify the cost of a brand new one vs. how often I was able to ride), it had sat in a private collection for many years and had only 160 miles on the clock when she became my girl. Hence, various engine things and electrical things slowly failed over time because of this. So I learned abut how things connected and interacted. It was nerve-racking the first time I took something off. But the second time (or third or fourth), no brainer.

Anyway, back to the Fury. Christine, I've decided to call her, even though she's not red.

I'm starting to wonder if the master cylinder I bought on eBay may be the culprit, but unsure what to do about it yet. It's one of those rolling of the dice things, buying things there vs. a local shop or a place where I can call and say 'uhhhh, I can't make it go, can you help me?'

Even with these things, brakes, that essentially have three main components, I can somehow not understand this simple organism and that, in turn, makes me feel dumb and annoyed and silly asking someone something. But, I do. No pride. I'm out here doing it, so I have no problem doing it wrong the first time and learning for the next.

It's how I do it, yo.

3 quarts > 2 quarts

So, well this happened.

[and yes, it's an old mixing bowl. A 2 quart one, apparently.]

In the end, it was a little bit funny. You know, later. But yes, it typical Mitchell Moto fashion, even an oil change can be entertaining.

It's also a quick way to rid yourself of your entire stash of rages. So looks like another beach towel is gonna meet the great ripper in the sky and begin a new life, full of honor and dignity. And filth. A moment of silence, for the sacrifice shall not be in vain.

So yeah, I'll throw some kitty litter down on that piece of concrete later tonight and get that sorted right up. Moving on, now. Nothing to see here.

Feeling really excited actually. Bike has all new fluids and hope to sort out the front brake tonight perhaps, or this weekend for sure. One way or another. This 'pro' dude I've spoken of is actually scheduled to stop by tonight for some of the parts I have around, so maybe I can get some advice or trade some parts for some services or something like that. There's something fishy going on with how I put the front brakes back together; probably a missing washer or maybe it's 'cause I didn't say a prayer to the gods of sintered brake pads or the holy mother of motor oil. Either way, once the brakes are golden, the bike is in a really great shape to begin... the final countdown.

[Dada da daaaa. Dada da da daaaaaa.]

Get that one??

Wheelhouse

Walking into the garage for a brief moment last night after a pretty full and productive weekend with the girl, I noticed something. Something really cool. For a gear head, anyway. And really cool for this build in particular...

The garage smells different now.

It smells like fluids. It smells like oil. Smells like victory.

Well, I don't wanna get too far ahead of myself with that kind of talk, but still, it felt really good, that smell. I guess mostly, it smelled of progress.

Mostly.

The main objectives for the weekend were to just get the rear sets and the exhaust and the rear brake all sorted. All that right side mumbo-jumbo, another one of those locales where this part interacts with that part, and that part bolts onto this part, etc. So really, it all needed to be dealt with at the same time. Otherwise there will always be this constant incompleteness to it, which is something this build has suffered from a lot. Or I have, I guess, if I must point fingers.

I figured in my mind's eye before tackling this part that a semi-quick hacksaw would be able to add a couple slots to the sub-tubing, so it can be tightened down more efficiently. And it would have taken a few minutes, if I had a bench and a bench vise and a newer hacksaw blade and a bottle of patience. Well, I have none of those things. But I do have a hand grinder with a cutting wheel!

So, instead of taking many minutes and lots of swear words (always best not to do that part) and burning lots of calories (that part is always good to do), the hand grinder approach took around 3 and a half seconds. And I'm not even gonna mentioned the really cool shower of sparks. Done.

And surprisingly, the rest of the process also took far less time than anticipated to complete, too, so was wrapped up fairly quickly. And now, the bling is upon us...

So of course, while reveling in my progress and awesomeness and rolling the bike out into the sun for a couple quick pics, I noticed something...

Weeks ago, I had a discussion with myself ('cause it's the only way I usually win an argument) about whether or not to keep the center stand on the bike. The mechanical ease vs. the visual aspect, etc. And since I didn't have the pegs mounted yet it wasn't really a fair assessment of reality. But now I notice said reality, and something's gonna have to go.

With the bike on the side stand, or up as will be when riding, the center stand leg comes up far enough to really hinder shifting. Really hinder, which translates to 'no way this is gonna work like this'. So, I guess this discovery solves the 'should I stay or should I go now' song the center stand has been singing to it itself.

Not a big deal, but it does again put another dreaded 'three-way curse' hex on another part of the bike now. Since I'm still not sure what's up with the forks and the missing rebound, the side stand is really too long unless the forks are fully extended but won't without a slight tug on the bars. So, can't remove the center stand until I feel comfortable just using the side stand and the bike not falling over, and can't do that until I figure out what's up and correct the issue with the forks.

Such is the way of this build... Still some questions to ask of things that should be answered by now.

But I digress.

I sorted out the tank and the fuel petcocks on either side, adding some flexible gasket to keep the leaks at bay, should any show up. Wasn't leaking before, but since I've taken it all apart to paint, it seemed prudent to add some insurance. There's likely to be a short (hopefully) list of things that will need attention after it gets running, so would like to shorten that list now as best I can.

See? I can learn still. 

Plus I did my clear yellow fuel lines.

Yesterday was a fun day, though. Yesterday was one of those days I've thought of for a while now. And it felt just like I thought it would. 

Fluids. I drained out the rear final drive oil and added fresh. Bought some oil for the motor and the oil filter should be arriving today, so tonight I will change the oil. These are silly things in the grand scheme of it all, but they are things that make a rider feel accomplishment and also a sense of security. Since I know the levels are right because I did it, and I know when the oil and fluids were changed last, because I changed them.

The front brakes, however, didn't go according to plan. And I'm a little unsure why. I have my theories and if time permits I will take them apart once more and check some things out. Or I may see if I should or can take advantage of some professional assistance for this part, not only for the time savings, but also not mess around with the primary method for slowing the bike down.

Regardless of the front brake setback, adding fluids marked a moment and it felt great. Feels like I'm getting close to completion, or at least a running state. 'Completion' may be a stretch, but even that part sounds good, since tweaking something that's solid otherwise is far easier.

I feel like I'm in the home stretch, and that part for me is an awesome feeling. I also recognize this; fluids are in my wheelhouse. I'm not a mechanic and feel great about getting this far. I also don't feel any less by needing some pro assistance. I'm soldiering on with the intent of finishing it on my own. But adding fluids and changing oil and tightening this or that, those things I've always understood and have enjoying doing throughout my life. Getting the hands dirty and feeling that sense of accomplishment.

And everyday this one is getting closer to that, too.

Been a long time since...

OK, so I know I may say this a lot. OK, I do say this a lot. But this time I mean it dammmit. Probably.

Big weekend ahead.

Actually, this part is true. It's a holiday weekend so one extra day. Though that sometimes isn't the problem. It's more likely the problem is me. Not the first - or the last- time that'll ever be said.

Still, I do plan on getting a lot of things done. A lot. In fact, since 75% of what's left to do is actually all related to each other, it will help with success. And again, maybe that's me.

No, it is me. No doubts.

The way my mind works, I can tend to put things in some sort of organized mental catalogue or column or category or whatever. These things makes sense with these things, etc. It's a little like how I took a look at this whole build and put things in their place a bit. All the 'mechanical' things go here, all the 'electrical' things stand over there. Like that.

So this next pile is all mechanical, but it's all touching each other. And I do like touching... So, anyway, here we go...

The front exhaust has to come off so I can adjust the rear pipe. But the rear pipe has to get a slot cut in it so I can clamp it down better and, well, make it stay put. The mount these both bolt to has to come off so I can fashion a bracket for the rear brake light activation. So there's a lot of initial tear down of things (again) before bolting back on. And I know I've mentioned this part before, too, but having taken off and install these things enough times, I am getting very good, and very comfortable with them. So it goes fast.

So, once the brake switch thingie is figured out, which will probably require an assault on the Home Depot hardware aisle, then the rear exhaust gets slotted and then remounted, the pegs mount can go on and the rear pipe secured. Next, the front pipe can go back on, with a likely fresh coat of black paint and the freshly purchased exhaust gaskets I should have bought and installed 3 months ago (hey, they were $6 and I didn't want to waste money unless I really needed them.)

So, with the exhaust pipes back on and painted and all nestled snug in their beds, I can install my cool Italian flavored rear sets for the right side, allowing the rear brake to work.

If all that goes as planned... Yeah. I'll start again. If all that goes to plan... we'll be in great shape.

In fact, bleeding the front brakes I can leave until Monday since I have that day off, too. Then I'll probably mount the rear view mirrors and cut and connect the fuel hoses and vent hoses. The brake light mounting still needs to be done, since to do it right I need to fashion a bracket to mount the light on the rear sub frame vs. the seat itself. There's a shortcut for this should I run out of time, so it's a back pocket option if I need to do it that way in the eleventh hour.

The point is, this weekend will really be the determining factor if I can make this ride or not. So I'm focussed and want to make that happen. If I run into problems I can't remedy because of experience or knowledge or money, well it happens. But ultimately I need to do anything I can do to get her running.

It's been a long time since I rock 'n rolled.