1972 Roadster Rebuild

Re: New Sign On

Might Pay to keep it stockish tune , If your just after a CRUISER .
the STOCK Cam was a ' SS ' Domi cam , so's not slow . And
should pull from Zero Revs . If you have to throttle it off the line
theres a tendancy to throttle it elsewhere .

Usuall Crank Clean Out , Ignition and Carb Overhaul . etc etc .

The 72 is a good buy , most updates are incorporated ,
so you can tune it up to see off Pantahs . :p :x

Id be getting it Roadworthy Mechanically before I thought about paint .
 
Re: New Sign On

SOMETHING TELLS ME THAT BIKE WAS COVERED UP WITH PLASTIC WHICH KEPT THE MOISTURE IN OR IT WAS NEAR THE COAST. SORRY IT WAS ON CAPS LOCK. I HAVE SEEN SWISS CHEESE CARS ON THE ROAD BACK EAST THAT MAKE US CALIFORNIA BOYS LAUGH WITH WONDER AND AMAZEMENT. WE HAVE NO CONCEPT OF RUST LIKE THAT. YOU DID GOOD PRICE WISE ME THINKS. IF SHE IS NOT SEIZED I BELIEVE SHE WILL BE A RUNNER IN NO TIME. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AMAZED AT OLD BRIT IRON AND HOW IT WILL LIGHT OFF WITH JUST A BIT OF COAXING AFTER A LONG REST.
 
Re: New Sign On

What the hell are you guys talking about? Those pipes will polish out!

Seriously, welcome and good luck. My rice rockets thrilled me with speed but my Commando ALWAYS brings a smile to my face, especially since I'm older and have decided I may be mortal. :)
 
Re: New Sign On

Those mufflers are in with my regular trash. I think I'd get laughed at if I put them in the metal recycle bin at the dump. After getting it home, when I took the seat off I happened to stand it on the back end. About a half hour later I noticed there was a puddle of water forming under it. Well...I'm just glad it got rescued when it did.
Bill
 
Re: New Sign On

pantah_good said:
Those mufflers are in with my regular trash. I think I'd get laughed at if I put them in the metal recycle bin at the dump. After getting it home, when I took the seat off I happened to stand it on the back end. About a half hour later I noticed there was a puddle of water forming under it. Well...I'm just glad it got rescued when it did.
Bill
Click to expand...

It was peeing with glee, like a dog when it see's it's new best friend.
 
Re: New Sign On

I've been working on this bike slowly but surely and progressively feeling more and more guilty about not keeping a rebuild thread going. Well I got the head off today, which was a bit of a milestone for me, and decided to finally get this thread up to date. My plan was to redo the forks, front brake, and front wheel over the winter, then tackle everything from the forks back, keeping it a roller for as long as possible. The oil tank has been mailed to CNW for their mods. Got the frame stripped down as far as I could, and am now starting to tear down the engine. This is absolutely the grungiest bike I've ever touched. I'm not really an engine person, so this part is a little scary, but I've got the engine and gearbox DVD's ordered and this forum has a good search feature. Right now I'm worried that the cylinder base nuts may be a little more frozen than a 1/4W open end wrench can handle but don't know what other tool could be used. So typing on this thread is really a way of stalling. I'll throw up a few of the pictures I've taken so far, which probably won't need much explanation, then stop stalling.
Bill

1972 Roadster Rebuild

1972 Roadster Rebuild

1972 Roadster Rebuild

1972 Roadster Rebuild

1972 Roadster Rebuild

1972 Roadster Rebuild

1972 Roadster Rebuild

1972 Roadster Rebuild
 
Re: New Sign On

I was going to suggest a couple of upgrade options for the stock front brake, but I see you're well beyond that, and in a good way, I might add...

Have you already pulled the spring from this valve, or is it stuck open?
pantah_good said:
1972 Roadster Rebuild
Click to expand...
Assuming so, I would imagine rust issues will require at least a top-end overhaul, but the wet-sumping issues might have saved the bottom end bearings. Here's hoping you don't have to go so far as to split the cases, although, that's a great time to clean everything!
You'll need the special puller for the clutch to get the primary all the way apart. At that point, there's not much left to being a bare frame. Also the perfect time to replace the isos. Fun times!

Nathan
 
Re: New Sign On

Thanks Nathan. EVERYTHING on this bike is coming apart. I'm starting to clean the head with kerosene to prep it for a more serious professional vaporblasting. This bike was never washed. Not sure why that exhaust valve is stuck yet, but I am guessing it is crud on the valve stem that's jammed in the guide. I am now thinking it might be a combat. It has a "C" stamped on the head top where the head steady goes, and the intake ports are 32mm. There are other stamps on the bottom side, a "P" and an "A" at each exhaust port, but I'm guessing those are inspection stamps. I'm not sure what to think if this is a combat bike, what with the issues that go along with those, and it's pretty obvious this bike didn't have the best of care. I'd much prefer good torque over h.p. in a street bike.
Bill
 

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Re: New Sign On

WOW!
That's a Combat head, alrighty. Can't wait to get a look at that cam.
That realization should offer up some serious motivation, not that you need it.
Nice find!
 
Re: New Sign On

As far as those base nuts go, they are easily replaced when looking at the bigger picture. Don't be shy, heat them up. That iron barrel will take some abuse. Clamp a visegrip on em.
A 1/4w 6 point box wrench is the proper way to go.
 
Re: New Sign On

Thanks Pete, that was a pretty cool discovery, and I'm also looking forward to digging out that cam. All of a sudden I'm rethinking my plans for this engine. Correct me if I'm wrong, but now I think it should be rebuilt to a stock Combat state of tune, along with the various operating improvements like drilling the intake rocker shafts, '72 case oil sump mods, breather mods, etc, etc. The only real requirement, aside from putting a nice smile on my face, is being able to run ok on today's premium pump gas.

I spent today shopping for head dis-assembly tools. Ordered # 064298 slide hammer from Frank at Clubman Racing and found a good loaner valve spring compressor tool at my local Advance auto parts store. I happened to stop in a thrift store, looking for a used valve spring compressor tool, and stumbled on a $75 parts washer, which I couldn't resist bringing home. There's always room for one more grungy orphan to clean up.

Should this thread be moved to the rebuild section, and maybe renamed?
Bill
 

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Re: New Sign On

A fully restored numbers matching Combat could fetch a pretty penny.
 
Re: New Sign On

pete.v said:
A fully restored numbers matching Combat could fetch a pretty penny.
Click to expand...

I have a matching numbers Combat but not fully restored. Just do upgrades and ride. :D
 
Re: New Sign On

Yes, thank you, I'm aware of the case oil system issues that will need to be addressed when I get them split. Not sure where to have them worked on yet.
 
Re: New Sign On

Never mind - got 'em - sorry

Are the copper colored rings at the bottom of the exhaust ports p/n 063253 exhaust gaskets or squash washers? If so, they are really stuck or squished in place. Any tips on safely removing them?
 

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Re: New Sign On

That appears to be the base to me and not a gasket stuck in there. Maybe residual from copper anti seize? If it is a big copper washer, it's pretty thin and not the right thing to use.
Did a crush washer fall/come out when you took the exhaust off? Those thing don't stick in there and should be replace anyhow, so put them on the list.
 
Re: New Sign On

Looks like a crushed crush washer to me. A little attention with a small chipping chisel should free it off. No need to go mad. Proper crush washers are steel.
 
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