The way I have built my Featherbed if I need to do any major work on the motor I just undo the engine mount bolts where it bolts to the frame 4 bolts down the bottom and 6 bolts on the head stay, remove the carbies and lift the whole motor, gearbox, primary case and all engine mounts out together can do this in less than a 1/2 hour taking my time, also with putting it back in, the motor and everything else drops right in position for the bolts to go straight in, its well set up for this, its heavy but can do all this by myself and lift on to my work bench.
Its a great bike to work on everything is so simple and easy a Commando is not so simple, I was a young lad when I built this bike with no experience in building bikes with no such thing as the internet to help and when I first rode it I was amazed in how it turned out for a first attemp at building a bike that is still going strong after 38 years its been together in the Featherbed, I got it right the first time, not bad with no experience, but its had a few modern upgardes in the last 8 years and a few improvements in its looks when I had spare cash to spend on it, when I first built it everthing was on a shoe string budget inbetween jobs, took about 2 years to build.
Its starting to show its age in the paint work has scratches, dents and flaking paint on the tank and the frame paint is flaking here there and every where but in my eyes its looks great and it draws a crowd where ever I pull up anywhere, lots of comments about no oil leaks and are surprised when it fires up first kick every time.
I have no plans in repainting it, I like it the way it is, rust colour bolt heads all over it, but its so reliable and has never let me down, except for a broken chain, I was 24 when I built it and now just turned 60, I have been offered a lot of money for it but it will be left to my youngest daughter when my time is up, I have had so much fun on this bike and no amount of money would take that away from me.
Ashley