Winter projects anyone?

MikeM · Oct 12, 2014

Now that I am up and running, winter changes will be a new front tire,(rear is done) front brake maintence while the wheel is off. Replacing the broken glass on the tach and speedo. Repairs to both so they work.
Shopping for a steel tank. Have to save my pennies for that.
The bike is a pleasure now that it is on the road and useful. I have a hard time staying away from it. Safety first and then start on the cosmetics. I am considering wrapping the front header pipes with tape but Im not sure about that yet. I want to stay with chrome but funds will come into play.

Unclviny · Oct 12, 2014

I am just continuing to play with "Commando Bizarro" (the custom/café 1971 Hi-Back), two steps forward and one step back as usual. I have been marking the shop wall every time I take it apart and so far it has been taken down completely 5 times (and I have not made a motorcycle out of it yet!).

Vince

kerinorton · Oct 12, 2014

I am waiting on the fine weather and time to ride again. Have just bought a pair of polished pea shooters for my 750. Have to wait for the Leanometer to give me permission to spend more on cosmetics. I am lucky though that when something needs to be fixed, I have cart blanche with that kind of spending but I have been lucky not having much go wrong lately though. There is a long weekend coming up so could be in for some big rides , but I hear there is a list of things to do round the home . Shit cant win. Not going to win the prize for most miles done this year either. Looking forward to the Kaikoura/Little Wanganui trip. Its been nearly 3 years since I rode the 850 up past L'l Wanganui to Karamea.
Dereck

DogT · Oct 12, 2014

Read up on arcing the front drums, it will do wonders and make sure the lever is set up so both shoes contact at the same time and the drum is centered when you tighten up the axle. It will make a real brake out of it, at least the first time. Tends to fade with multiple hits, but I remember in the 70's I had better luck shifting down than using the front brake. Required a lot of planning going around the DC beltway.

Deets55 · Oct 13, 2014

About to order rims and spokes from Buchanans and attempt to lace them myself. I'm sure I will have many questions. Be prepared guys.

auldblue · Oct 13, 2014

Unclviny said:
I am just continuing to play with "Commando Bizarro" (the custom/café 1971 Hi-Back), two steps forward and one step back as usual. I have been marking the shop wall every time I take it apart and so far it has been taken down completely 5 times (and I have not made a motorcycle out of it yet!).

Vince

Do you have any snaps of said hi-back cycle? My own project as yet untitled May or May not be finished as bits of it are spread throughout the land awaiting some engineering excellence that I unfortunately can't provide.

A couple of the bits I do have!
J

Nater_Potater · Oct 13, 2014

Change to a 3-phase alternator, and a leaky head gasket. Re-torquing the bolts didn't help, so it looks like I'll be learning the finer technique of pushrod re-alignment. push-rod-total-frustration-again-and-again-t20408.html?hilit=pushrod

Nathan

Unclviny · Oct 13, 2014

Do you have any snaps of said hi-back cycle? My own project as yet untitled May or May not be finished as bits of it are spread throughout the land awaiting some engineering excellence that I unfortunately can't provide.

A couple of the bits I do have!
J

I have a dark, shadowy picture around here somewhere but it does not resemble a motorcycle very much, it sounds like we are in the same boat engineering-wise. The oddities on this bike are too many to list so I'll just say "the only unmodified part is the inner primary cover" (for now!).

Vince

Torontonian · Oct 15, 2014

Dark- cold - old man- winter plans are to power-winch Crazy Combat up the stairs for : 1. Swapping tires front to back, back to front. Both still good and pliable , but it's what I do. Rear about half worn now. AM 26 love 'em. 2. Create a battery retention bar. Big cable ties worked fine , but... 3. Electrical , get rid of single glass fuse. change to modern fuse(s). LED headlight upgrade interests me a lot so as this is a Chinese made system will check out as price drops. Bike still will look stock

. That's about it. She's running great , just got back from a 700 k.m. drive to Ottawa and back , fishing every opportunity , beautiful fall colors , caught 5 Pickerels (Walleyes to the Yanks ) released the 4 small ones and kept the 4 lb.er , lunch now , wonder what ?

Oh yes , activity on the Mk111 project. Just finished RH10 head valves then beautifications so will now continue with bottom end as cold sets in. Wonder if I can drill hole into lower left TS oil pump casing area as suggested and leave all those other breather -holes open ? Seeing as cases are clean and apart , enjoy.

mschmitz57 · Oct 15, 2014

Let's see...

Commando:
- Rebuild the wheels with stainless spokes from Buchanan's to replace the corroded, bent originals. Also a little hub love / polishing while I've got them apart.
- I've got another set of fork yokes that I'll be installing (after bead blast / painting) as an experiment to eliminate a wierd "off-center bars" feeling.
- Devise a better battey hold-down setup.
- Get the Roadster saddle shaved down an inch or so twards the rear to lower + flatten it out a bit.
- Rear brake pulsates. Either get it turned or replace it completely with a new one. Install new rocker shaft gaskets with a smear of sealing goo to eleiminate persistant weeps.
- LED headlight / H4 reflector install.

Atlas:
- Install a genuine Domnator side stand (eBay) which bolts in between the frame rails and the engine cradle to keep it from twisting on the rails. Nice design.
- Check valve clearances. Oil change.
- Install shorter throttle cable to eliminate excessive throttle play. I think I need a 1/4 turn or quick turn throttle cable.
- Maybe install twin Concentrics if we have another long winter.

worntorn · Oct 15, 2014

Mk3 850- Strip it down, sandblast chipped original frame paint then powder coat, reassemble with new wiring harness. Might consider adding a 6 or 8 place fusebox, but then the replacement stock type wiring harness is probably of little use.
Might also resurrect the starter sprag, tho it is an easy one or two kicker, so not a top priority.

Glen

Torontonian · Oct 15, 2014

Have issues with the term "sandblast". So many new better air-blast products/methods now.

auldblue · Oct 15, 2014

mschmitz57 said:
Let's see...

- Get the Roadster saddle shaved down an inch or so twards the rear to lower + flatten it out a bit.
.

May I ask the reason for this improvement?

J

mschmitz57 · Oct 15, 2014

auldblue said:
mschmitz57 said:

Let's see...

- Get the Roadster saddle shaved down an inch or so twards the rear to lower + flatten it out a bit.
.

Click to expand...

May I ask the reason for this improvement?

J

Purely esthetics. I don't care for the way the stock Roadster seat ramps-up at the rear. I prefer the level seat of an Interstate.
I really like the look of the thinner seats on older Brit Bikes like Commando "S" models. Also my saddle is kind of hard and I feel like I'm perched on top of it instead of settled into it. Sort of like this but not quite as extreme.

mschmitz57 · Oct 15, 2014

Torontonian said:
Have issues with the term "sandblast". So many new better air-blast products/methods now.

I's say "sand blast" is a perfect solution for a heavy steel frame. Especially if you're gonna do it outside due to the size of the frame. Sand really takes it off quickly and leaves some good tooth for the paint to adhere.

Torontonian · Oct 15, 2014

O.K. just checking. Blast away then !

ashman · Oct 15, 2014

I don't get the chance to do winter projects here as we can ride all year round :lol: but thats is why I have 2 on road bikes so when need to do anything on my Norton I still can ride my Truimph Thruxton around while the work is been done, but I have just brought a lathe and milling machine for my workshop and will be making a set of alloy rear sets for my project bike (1960 Manxman Caferacer) and maybe some alloy triple trees, just got to find some billet alloy.

Ashley

auldblue · Oct 16, 2014

mschmitz57 said:
auldblue said:

mschmitz57 said:

Let's see...

- Get the Roadster saddle shaved down an inch or so twards the rear to lower + flatten it out a bit.
.

Click to expand...

May I ask the reason for this improvement?

J

Click to expand...

Purely esthetics. I don't care for the way the stock Roadster seat ramps-up at the rear. I prefer the level seat of an Interstate.
I really like the look of the thinner seats on older Brit Bikes like Commando "S" models. Also my saddle is kind of hard ]

I also think that Commando seats can look like an afterthought and I don't particularly like the Corbin seats on offer. My hopper bike built last year from ebay scrap and other mixed bag dross had a modified seat looks a bit odd but fits ok and is very comfortable, but I crashed that bike. Picture of seat.

Best of luck on project posterior .
J

willy mac · Oct 17, 2014

kerinorton said:
I am waiting on the fine weather and time to ride again. Have just bought a pair of polished pea shooters for my 750. Have to wait for the Leanometer to give me permission to spend more on cosmetics. I am lucky though that when something needs to be fixed, I have cart blanche with that kind of spending but I have been lucky not having much go wrong lately though. There is a long weekend coming up so could be in for some big rides , but I hear there is a list of things to do round the home . Shit cant win. Not going to win the prize for most miles done this year either. Looking forward to the Kaikoura/Little Wanganui trip. Its been nearly 3 years since I rode the 850 up past L'l Wanganui to Karamea.
Dereck

I envy your trip to Kaikoura, my son and me took a ride down from Nelson via Arthurs Pass on a couple of hired beemers in Feb,but I'd loved to have had my JPN out there for the run. I think anyone would have a job to find better roads, Enjoy.

mschmitz57 · Oct 17, 2014

I also think that Commando seats can look like an afterthought and I don't particularly like the Corbin seats on offer. My hopper bike built last year from ebay scrap and other mixed bag dross had a modified seat looks a bit odd but fits ok and is very comfortable, but I crashed that bike. Picture of seat.

Best of luck on project posterior .
J[/quote]

That looks like a High Rider tank. Were the HR tanks all fiberglass or did they make them in steel as well? I really like the proportions of the tank/seat. Very cool. The HR tanks were reminiscent of the Atlas tanks.

Winter projects anyone?

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