My '73 850 rebuild..

New kickstarter shaft and bushing installed:






Transmission back together, MK3 kickstarter installed:

Well, my amazing luck continues..

With the fuel tank (can't seem to get it shipped ANYWHERE without it getting damaged in transit) and seat fiascos, I already knew this build was cursed..

But now, we've identified a leak in the oil tank so it's been removed to be shipped off to CNW for the exchange.

I sure hope this thing eventually stops sucking my money like an unstoppable vortex. A small drip is fine, but damn! It really is looking like this will end up being a spring unveiling. Ugh.

-Jordan

Well, SOME good news in the swirling vortex of waste that has been this project to this point..

I made a deal to sell some stuff I had for cash+labor to repaint my tank and side covers. So..they will be stripped down and redone--CORRECTLY this time. No shipping around this time. I'm done with that fiasco. $250 for materials, but the labor will be done and I'll get to monitor/help out as it goes along. I wish I had gone this route the first time around, but whatever. It was only $800 wasted... :/

The oil tank is still at CNW.

-Jordan

So who dicked up yer paint?

850cmndo said:

So who dicked up yer paint?

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I'd rather not say. I don't really want to start a flame-war on here. I'm considering it $800 wasted on frustration and moving on. Nothing else I can do about it now except take it as a lesson for the future.

-Jordan

So did the pinstrpes set you off? Just trying to get a feel.

KSUWildcatFan said:

850cmndo said:

So who dicked up yer paint?

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I'd rather not say. I don't really want to start a flame-war on here. I'm considering it $800 wasted on frustration and moving on. Nothing else I can do about it now except take it as a lesson for the future.

-Jordan

Click to expand...

So was it the pinstripes that set you off? Just wondering.

KSUWildcatFan said:

Well, SOME good news in the swirling vortex of waste that has been this project to this point..

I made a deal to sell some stuff I had for cash+labor to repaint my tank and side covers. So..they will be stripped down and redone--CORRECTLY this time. No shipping around this time. I'm done with that fiasco. $250 for materials, but the labor will be done and I'll get to monitor/help out as it goes along. I wish I had gone this route the first time around, but whatever. It was only $800 wasted... :/

The oil tank is still at CNW.

-Jordan

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THE guy to do the work in Topeka is Travis at TC Concepts. He did the paint on a 73 Commando Roadster I just finished up for a friend of mine and the finish is outstanding!

Wish I had asked you before I made my $800 mistake. Oh well. Live and learn..

The oil tank has returned from CNW!






That being the final item needed to get it running, it should be back on the road very soon (just in time for freezing cold winter!). The lone task at this point is to have my "freshly-painted" midnight purple tank/covers stripped with bodywork done PROPERLY and then repainted with that "horrible", cheap junk they sell at O'Reilly ( :roll: ).

Can't wait to get out and ride this thing!

-Jordan

Jeez. It's been a while since I logged on..

Well, dad got the new oil tank installed and took the bike for a ride. He said he got it up to somewhere around 90mph although he has no way of knowing for sure because the speedo stopped around 50mph. Oops.

He said the electrical system isn't charging properly and he's had some difficulties getting the bike to idle properly with the Mikuni. It just don't have that classic 'British' sound, but rather, sounds like a friggin' Jap bike. Ugh. He's going to try some more to get it dialed in before we give up and switch it back to amals.

Additionally, he noted a slight rattle somewhere up front but couldn't figure out what was causing it. His initial thought was that it was perhaps the headlight brackets which are more or less just 'floating'.

Anyway, some more issues to work out before it's ready for DD riding duties in the spring, but it's closer anyway.

The tank and side covers will be heading off for new paint within the next few days. For now, she's sporting dad's black/gold tins until the midnight purple is redone. I still have to get the 'custom' seat fixed up but that requires the bike running smoothly and being ridden in to town so the upholsterer can see--in person--how bad the seat looks and can address all of the bad spots.

That's pretty much it for now..Nothing too exciting..

-Jordan

Dunno why the bike sounds, uh, ricey. Are the mufflers from Commando Specialties?

swooshdave said:

Dunno why the bike sounds, uh, ricey. Are the mufflers from Commando Specialties?

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Yes. I think it's just idling too high. I haven't heard it since he fired it up again.

Congrats on the bike seeing the road again. I'm about 60 days out from mine being done, I think. I don't care if its 40 below. That bike is getting ridden.

Congrats again! Nice Job!

:|

Bike's still not done. Still not ridden (dad did take it for a ride and got it up to 80 or so, but that's it. I still haven't ridden it at all), and no time to do anything with it. No money to fix my tank and side covers (at least I had my black/gold set to switch back to so it has SOMETHING)..

It's idling like crap (hate the stupid Mikuni, and will likely be switching back to Amals), oozing fluids (wishing dad hadn't talked me into the chain oiler, but it's oozing other places too)--may still be finding its level (I really don't know), and it's not holding a charge. The horn also stopped working. /facepalm. The rectifier and zener diode can suck it.

I wish I had some time to mess with it, but I don't. Too much going on these days and it seems I don't get to ride much these days, be it the Norton or the Kawasaki sitting in my garage while the Norton hopelessly sits. Sigh.

-Jordan

You might want to consider the twin flat slide carbs from JS motorsports, only heard good things about them, the idle is one of their strong suits, and they're modern and they're dialed in (or almost and if they need attention the customer support is reportedly very good) priced right too. Cj

I too am wishing your Dad hadnt talked you into the chain oiler.
If you can, with Authority, Press down the button on a can of
Chain Wax. Thats all you need.

Hang in there Jordan,
This is just the gremlins having a spit, they do leave with perseverance.
If all you have is a Mikuni, you can sort them to work well.
I agree about the chain oiler, a can of ceramic chain wax is great. (Putoline is good stuff and doesn't make a mess)
Pazon etc are the way for me, I don't have time to muck around with old electrics.
PCV reed breathers should cure most weeps and leaks. (and the rocker covers surfaced on a sheet of glass with wet and dry)
Good luck
graeme

Hang in Jordan, It will all be worth it in the end when you get the grin.

Phil

Well, I too have missed your posts on this forum Jordan ! PLEASE don't get discouraged with it at this point, you are so friggin' close to being done. FWIW, all mine have taken their share of "fettling" to run right as well. But when it's done, man what a great feeling.