Progress report

I completed the first round of winter maintenance and got the bike back on the road today. I gave it one priming kick with the ignition off then turned the key on and the bike started first kick! It warmed up and settled into a smooth idle without any drama.

One thing I worked on was the forks. Previously they had a very harsh dead feel and topped out with a hard clank on every little bump. I changed the oil, flushed them out with some kerosene, and refilled with 20wt fork oil. I also replaced the springs with Progressive Suspension springs and replaced the rock-hard plastic wipers with long euro-style gaiters. Then I torqued everything down in the proper sequence.

Wow what a difference! Clanking gone, forks much smoother and more compliant now. I went looking for all the potholes, bumps, and speedbumps I could find and the forks handled everything nicely. It's an amazing improvement. I was planning to install the Coventry kit but I don't think it's necessary now.

Tomorrow, off to the local NOC's New Years Day ride if I can tolerate the cold. Temps will probably only be in the 30s at best. Brrrr.

Debby

Let's see now. Clackety points, ratty ole Amals, tuned front forks. What's next, a functioning TLS!!!!
Good job, keep us informed.

Life!!

So...Congatulations Debbie !!! Doesn't the sound of something coming to life just mess with you? It's wonderful and I'm jelous 'cause my bikes new central nervous system is all spread out on the kitchen table...labeled with masking tape identifing where each of the neural bundles go (I hope)!
Just one wierd thing mine when purchased) didn't come with a "warning light assimilator" and I wonder if I even need one??
Signed... jelous billsq4 from over the hill (Oh yes about those forks...I'm not looking forward to these clunky buggers but I guess their on the list too.)

Hey Bill,

My bike didn't come with a warning assimilator either. Apparently they have a high failure rate. The PO just connected one of the wires (can't remember which one now) to ground. That results in the light being on anytime the ignition is on. I've just left it like that, I like it being an "ignition on" light.

Debby

Assimilator

Deb. your idea of a ignition "ON" seemed like a good solution to buying yet another part, however...does the light go out as your alternator fails, or will yours keep indicating till the battery is sucked dry? I don't seem to find my Recitifier Type 2DS 506 "Obviously a battery back-up" A turn signal set is yet to be found (purchased...any out there cheap?) and when they are, of course there will be the "flasher unit"(anyone got one of those too..and of course the holder for it as well??) Is any of this sounding familiar for all of you rebuilder/restorers? This wireing loom restoration is going slowly and plodding, but it beats making a living in the day-in-day-out California (liqiuid) sunshine that won't stop falling.

Hey Debby,

It is good news to hear you are sorting that bike of yours out.
It is a good feeling to know your own bike isn't it

Did you make the run with the local club on New Years Day ?
If you did, how was the ride ?

Bill: the light stays on until I turn off the key or until the battery goes dead. If you want the warning feature you can buy a solid state assimilator unit. I haven't bothered because I had bigger fish to fry and now I'm used to it as is.

Reg: no, I didn't make it. Too cold for me. The club did go out for several hours in the hills. I did a short ride on my own later in the day when it warmed up a bit. Froze my butt off. I guess those guys are made of stronger stuff!

Debby

solid state warning light assimilator

I played with a solid state assimilator on my '72 750. There is an extra contact that needs to be wired up with this unit and it was made for a higher output alternator. At best I could get the light to flicker up to about 3000rpms before it would finally go out. At the time I also had a '74JPN that had an alloy can assimilator and the high output alternator. I swapped the two, then both worked fine. The JPN is now gone and the alloy can assimilator is still working fine on the '72, how long is anyones guess. If someone knows of a solid state unit that has only three contacts and works for the RM21 alternator let me know.