Pre-surgical preps

Working up my nerve again to assemble engine attempt #5 from crank up.
'72 Trixie is hanging from rafters with just enough apart to get engine out.
All the rest been gone through from prior events. Bird and bug poop to grime and dust. Did first full wipe down last pm. Hopeless to get old gal to show room sheen. Have not opened boxes of parts, crank cheek, new .040" piston set and what nots.

Next prep is leaf blower out shed - leaves and cobwebs, then get tools all in order. I've got the full factory tool kit which makes more pleasant task. Then must lay out all the engine parts to see if I'm missing something. A luxury I've not had prior. Will try to photo it all in one place. Then invite Wes and have at it over a weekend. Then may make Swoohdave turmoils seem like slick going to figure out what I've done wrong.

Worse item on Trixie is rough and rusted gray painted chain guard. I've been a decade resisting 80 bux for one, maybe this time around. Wes gave me some old crash bars but would just twist frame if not backed up some how. If I don't I know in a season or 3 Trixie and me will bit the dust again.

I feel like leaf blowing tonight and chasing stuff blower uncovered I need.

A cooler and a 6-pack are handy in these situations. And clean rags and Simple Green. Peel will be better than ever. Trixie can be spiffed up pretty:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Norton-commando-chr ... 19bf115818

Take heart. Tell yourself that you'll never go down again, and believe it.

Step 1: Remove the stuff you want from shed.

Step 2: Tell wife you had a 2 carat diamond you intended to give her for Christmas stashed in the shop and now you can't find it.

Step 3: Sit back and watch your old recordings of Moto GP, World Superbike, Formula 1, and nascar races.

Step 4: "Honey, I couldn't find the diamond, what kind of setting was it?"

Step 5: "You know what, sweetie? I think it was actually a dream I had the other night."

Step 6: Once you are able to walk again, drag your bike back into the clean shed and get to work.

Shed is blown out -1930's desk to the webs in rafters. PU bed full of tools and bike parts awaits dumping into buckets or trays from working on mower to sink to car to plumbing to Ms Peel in living room. I've tested my wife handling skills just like cycles to know what I can get away with and what to avoid. A for instance.
Used one of her kitchen tools w/o asking, when challenged about it, I just couldn't resist - "Well Its easier to beg forgiveness than ask your permission."
Thank goodness heat ray vision is a myth. Just like over doing a Gravel turn once upset hits, the recovery is wild and woolley but feels so good when ya do : )

BTW do ya know what wrench and socket size the Grop Monster and pack rats like the most - 7/16" Snagged a few in pawn shop to complete sets again.
I've got enough tools am try to make a basic tool kit for each machine to work on the spot. I almost never found a use to fit those racket end wrenches till mowers, about everything on them is best to use em on.

I'm public ally committing to keep my noise to the project now. Photo's before after if ya like, but I ain't sucked out the big rats nest in part draws so that what I'm dealing with but long ago learned only heavy plastic or tin boxes keep rats from trading shiny items and pissing on the rest to corrode.

Most disheartening sight on poor Trixie is her nice chrome front rim has rusted beyond nice clean up. Will be out again after mid night organizing so its nicer to send the time with a buddy getting life back in a Combat.

Here's busted case repair via JBWeld with magnets and clay to contain.