My '73 850 rebuild..

KSUWildcatFan · Aug 5, 2011

Timing cover painted, tall instrument housings mocked up (don't think I like them--will probably go with the shorter housings):

Hoping to get a lot done tomorrow.. We'll see.

-Jordan

KSUWildcatFan · Aug 6, 2011

Today wasn't overly productive. Got the headlight shell mounted with the light fitted (it's not wired in yet), some small polishing tasks, a bit of wiring, new spark plugs installed and not much else.

I think we're going with the tall cups after all..

The front view looks fantastic. Very retro, IMO.

With the tall cups, I can use my expensive housing covers!

What the hell?!?! Tach bulb spliced in (wire simply twisted together), wire knotted, and the whole thing wrapped with a huge gob of tape. Jesus!

We also found out the pistons in my caliper are less than fantastic (GO FIGURE!!!) so I guess I'll be ordering a new pair of stainless pistons..

We decided the Corbin seat isn't going to work out after all. I don't think we can easily manipulate the pan how I want in order to make it look right against the Interstate tank. The nose ends up being at the wrong angle so it's just..off.

I'm going to dump the Corbin, pick up an original interstate pan, and have a seat like nortriubuell's lovely Corbin custom made locally.

This rebuild is the gift that keeps on giving..

-Jordan

KSUWildcatFan · Aug 6, 2011

Oh, and I took some pics with the tank/seat mocked up so I'll post those later. They're on the wife's camera at home.

It's too bad I don't think I can get the nose of the Corbin to sit correctly against the Interstate tank. The mockup picture looks like it has serious potential.

-Jordan

Hobot · Aug 6, 2011

Delicious progress and plans. How'd you get such a nice neat fitting fork gaiters?
I agree keep IS tank at all costs and make the seat like ya like it, so rest of us can swoon over it too. Get SS master cylinder too or keep a close eye on the rust making boot leak over time and then the paint melt, as blows off grip at speed.

KSUWildcatFan · Aug 6, 2011

hobot said:
Delicious progress and plans. How'd you get such a nice neat fitting fork gaiters?
I agree keep IS tank at all costs and make the seat like ya like it, so rest of us can swoon over it too. Get SS master cylinder too or keep a close eye on the rust making boot leak over time and then the paint melt, as blows off grip at speed.

Jean was the creator of those lovely fork ears and collars for the gaiters. I'm just slightly in love with them.

I really wanted to make the Corbin work but I'm nervous about cutting into it, being unable to get it "right", and then having what amounts to a worthless seat. Instead, I think it makes more sense to ditch the Corbin and have a local upholsterer do something similar to nortriubuell's seat (too bad I can't just talk him out of his!).

My resleeved master cylinder is on its way from Clubman. I'm running standard (new) brake lines when stainless might be better, but oh well.

I wish it was progressing faster but I'd be lying if I didn't admit to loving how it's looking! The seat is really the biggest hurdle right now..

-Jordan

Hobot · Aug 6, 2011

Jean was the creator of those lovely fork ears and collars for the gaiters. I'm just slightly in love with them.

As so, way to go, beyond me to tap into though.

Ya know it took me a few years to finally admit I can look at my C'do longer than naked women. I early on learned my road orgasms were longer lasting multiples.

KSUWildcatFan · Aug 6, 2011

hobot said:
Jean was the creator of those lovely fork ears and collars for the gaiters. I'm just slightly in love with them.

Click to expand...

As so, way to go, beyond me to tap into though.

Ya know it took me a few years to finally admit I can look at my C'do longer than naked women. I early on learned my road orgasms were longer lasting multiples.

LOL

KSUWildcatFan · Aug 6, 2011

I said I took some high-res photos..Here they are!

Note: The short instrument cups are back on again so I can repaint the tall cups. They'll be dumped when those are painted and the front end is tightened up and ready to go.

Tank on the bike:

Looking things over, trying to figure out how in the hell to make the Gunfighter work:

Test fitted dad's beat-up stock Interstate seat:

Just a mockup with the Gunfighter:

It's really too bad. The Gunfighter/Interstate tank has some serious potential, but the problem I'm seeing is that if you bring the rear of the seat down by carving out the pan, the nose tips up and doesn't mate up with the tank right. There's a big ugly gap that just doesn't look right and I'm not sure there's any way around it. I don't like the stubby look of the seat if the nose is cut, so that's not an option either. Trying to flip the Gunfighter now so I can acquire an Interstate seat pan with which to have a custom seat made. Unless I can find a way to talk nortriubuell out of his custom Corbin seat... ;D

-Jordan

bwolfie · Aug 7, 2011

The corbin will work, just cut and bend the rear hoop!

KSUWildcatFan · Aug 7, 2011

bwolfie said:
The corbin will work, just cut and bend the rear hoop!

Nooooooo!!!!

Corbin sold last night anyway.

-Jordan

steveyacht · Aug 7, 2011

Sent the Interstate seat to Corbin and have them make you a Gunfighter on that pan design instead.

KSUWildcatFan · Aug 7, 2011

steveyacht said:
Sent the Interstate seat to Corbin and have them make you a Gunfighter on that pan design instead.

Yeah, that is certainly an option if I buy the seat/pan combo I found, but more likely I'll probably just have a local upholsterer do it.

KSUWildcatFan · Aug 7, 2011

New seat + pan on the way. I'm going to run the goofy stock Interstate seat while the pan is having a nice, new seat cut and covered. I'm planning on having the upholsterer use nortriubuell's seat as a reference point for what I want.

-Jordan

speirmoor · Aug 7, 2011

Looks good so far! Any pic of the Nortribuell seat so we know what your looking for?

KSUWildcatFan · Aug 7, 2011

nortriubuell's lovely custom Corbin (hope you don't mind I linked your picture!):

I flipped the Corbin for a net of $350. The seat and pan cost me $145. SO...if I can get the seat cut and covered for $200 locally, I will have broken even and won't have had to cut up a nice, new Corbin in the process..

-Jordan

KSUWildcatFan · Aug 7, 2011

Turn signals installed!

-Jordan

KSUWildcatFan · Aug 7, 2011

Also, I think I've decided I may be sending dad's interstate tins off for paint.. Thinking Plymouth Prowler purple with silver lettering. Mmmmmm.....

Or... Nissan Skyline GTR Midnight Purple..hmm..

If I can swing the price tag, I think I may do this sooner rather than later. This should make Brent very happy!

-Jordan

cyclegeezer · Aug 7, 2011

KSUWildcatFan said:
Turn signals installed!

-Jordan

What are you doing with a standard KS tag on that antique. Do your wallet a favor and convert to an antique tag next renewal. It's a little more expensive the first time, but then only 15 dollars a year.

KSUWildcatFan · Aug 7, 2011

I could be wrong, but I don't think the standard plate was that expensive. Idk; I'll see when I go to re-register.

-Jordan

Edit //

Just checked. $31/yr for the regular plate. Dad said not to go for the antique plate because they'd be all over my ass about it and it wasn't worth it for the savings. Idk.

cyclegeezer · Aug 7, 2011

KSUWildcatFan said:
I could be wrong, but I don't think the standard plate was that expensive. Idk; I'll see when I go to re-register.

-Jordan

Probably not, the personal property tax on one that old can't be too much. I guess I just like having the antique tags. You could go whole hog and get a tag from 1973 and have it registered to the bike.

My '73 850 rebuild..

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