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.