Ran across this bike setting outside. I had seen it for months, and finally developed enough interest to try to see about acquiring it. I called, then a friend of mine called and actually set up the day to go get it.
It was a sad mess. Front tire was rotten and of course flat. The seat was cracked. The engine coated in layers of oil and dirt. The handlebars looked like they had been landed on and bent back out to keep riding.
Here it is in the shop after I had started stripping parts off and trying to get it to fire.
Notice it has a new battery on it. That nearly doubled the value of the bike.
The electrical was pretty grungy. No key, so I drilled out the ignition and shoved a screwdriver in it.
The good thing is, that most of the bike was there. One side cover is missing.
Check out these handlebars..
As you can see in the picture, I have drained the oil and am in the process of checking the valve clearance.
It had more than two gallons of oil in it (oil not water). I was responsible for 2 quarts. Everyone had added a quart to it before trying to start it over the years. In fact, I am not sure that is not the reason for the initial parking of the bike.!
It sounded like it was drowning when I removed the spark plug to check for fire.
Fire was obtained after rigging the push button kill switch.
I removed the carb and did an evaluation. Here it is when I actually kitted it.
BTW, these sonic cleaners are great with a little Dawn dish soap...
Most of the parts fit!
And it started!! I got excited and power washed the nasty little piglet.
Love these glamour shots!
I even removed the rotten front tire... Did you know a flat tire makes it hard to hold still when you are trying to get on and off... Maybe its just me!
I got out my custom tire mounting table and proceeded!
The inside of the rim was pretty rough, I cleaned it up with a wire brush on a bench grinder. Not perfect, but good enough!
The saga continues...
It was a sad mess. Front tire was rotten and of course flat. The seat was cracked. The engine coated in layers of oil and dirt. The handlebars looked like they had been landed on and bent back out to keep riding.
Here it is in the shop after I had started stripping parts off and trying to get it to fire.
Notice it has a new battery on it. That nearly doubled the value of the bike.
The electrical was pretty grungy. No key, so I drilled out the ignition and shoved a screwdriver in it.
The good thing is, that most of the bike was there. One side cover is missing.
Check out these handlebars..
As you can see in the picture, I have drained the oil and am in the process of checking the valve clearance.
It had more than two gallons of oil in it (oil not water). I was responsible for 2 quarts. Everyone had added a quart to it before trying to start it over the years. In fact, I am not sure that is not the reason for the initial parking of the bike.!
It sounded like it was drowning when I removed the spark plug to check for fire.
Fire was obtained after rigging the push button kill switch.
I removed the carb and did an evaluation. Here it is when I actually kitted it.
BTW, these sonic cleaners are great with a little Dawn dish soap...
Most of the parts fit!
And it started!! I got excited and power washed the nasty little piglet.
Love these glamour shots!
I even removed the rotten front tire... Did you know a flat tire makes it hard to hold still when you are trying to get on and off... Maybe its just me!
I got out my custom tire mounting table and proceeded!
The inside of the rim was pretty rough, I cleaned it up with a wire brush on a bench grinder. Not perfect, but good enough!
The saga continues...