What did you do to your motorcyle today?

[Wheels]

Very interesting read fellas.  Good to know if I ever have to pull mine apart I wont be stuck for knowledge around here.

[754]

Easy way to measure a slot to within around 5 thou.
 First you need a drill index with drills up to 1/2 inch. And a way to confirm size, altho you can check them offsite later.
 Drills in 64ths sizes are about  16 thou apart, so one drill shank will fit, and next one up and down won't.  Now you just need to describe the fit. Like barely squeezes in, rolls in but is snug... a little bit of play but tight with a 5 thou feeler guage.. or flopping around in the groove..
 That should easily get you to about 5 thou or so..

[hardrockminer]

Two great ideas in one Frank...find a drill bit of the correct diameter or use feeler gauges.

[hardrockminer]

Took the crank out of the case today.  Bearings all sound fine.  I spent a couple of hours cleaning #1 piston and checking it and the rings.  The rings were barely worn..could still see the "N".  They are the old style with a single piece oil ring instead of the newer 3 piece oil ring.  Piston was good other than the carbon on top.  I used a combination of WD40, carb cleaner and alternated between a wire brush and some 3,000 grit sandpaper to clean the dome.  The wrist pin was in spec but the center portion was slightly smaller diameter than the outside parts.  That's just weird because the center section doesn't wear.

I'm debating whether to replace the rings, but that means honing the cylinders, which means a trip to see Wally.  If the pistons and rings are OK and if they go back into their original cylinders then all should be fine.  Compression was good before the teardown.

The cam chain is still in spec but I won't reuse it.  I have a new Tsubaki endless chain that will go in during reassembly.

[hardrockminer]

Pistons are finally cleaned.  Before and after photos below.  The carbon on top was removed with a wire brush (brass) and lots of WD40.  Then the pistons were put in an ultrasonic bath with degreaser for a couple of hours.  This removed the laquer built up on the side, above the first compression ring.  There was also a large build up on the inside of the piston. 

All rings and wrist pins are well within spec so will re-use them in the rebuild, but will go with new clips to hold the pins in place.  The bottom case is finally clean enough to take to Scotty without feeling embarrassed about getting his vapour blast dirty.  Currently working on the top case and hope to have it done in a day or two.  All bolt holes have been re-tapped.  All bolts were put through a die to clean and freshen up the threads.

I need good weather to drive the Coq down to Chilliwack, but hopefully I can make the trip this year and get started on the re-assembly in January.

[Galactica]

Valspar combustion chamber cleaner works really well. 

[hardrockminer]

Thanks for the tip Ross.  Too late for this one but maybe next time.

[hardrockminer]

Today I finished cleaning the top case.  I still need to tap the bolt holes before vapour blasting.  Before and after photos below.  I cleaned the gasket residue off with a brass wire brush.  There were also some red lines on the gasket face..likely from when it was in the factory, but no idea why.  Lots of gritty sand and dirt in the holes for the studs.  

[kilowop]

I doubt I would have the patience to do that much work to resurrect an oldie these days.  At this stage in life, I would more likely just push it aside and get something newer that was running.  Job well done !!!

[hardrockminer]

Thanks Ron.  Dismantling and cleaning is the easy part.  Putting things back together is where patience is necessary. 

[Wheels]

Funny that you mention grit/sand in some of the crevices Bill.    Back in my younger sillier days I did some burnouts on the beach in San Luis Obispo CA burying the back tire so deep I could walk away from the bike and take pictures.
I can swear some of that salty sand still comes out every time I am doing detail work on the underside of the bike.  Betcha there is still some grains lodged somewhere that I have not located some 30 odd years later.

[Galactica]

Heh, heh.  Ya, I think you posted that pic once didn’t you John?  At least I think I’ve seen it.  Post it again please. 

[Wheels]

Yes Ross it is an old grainy pic with me and my wild hair,  not sure how I could even fit a helmet on in those days riding with a 25 buck helmet hand painted, bomber jacket and winter non leather gloves and an old 70 year suitcase strapped on the back.
Somehow or other we survived those days.

[hardrockminer]

I think we all have a photo or two like that.     Here's one of me from around 1976.  Notice the snazzy shirt.

[fffCycles]

More about what I am doing for, rather than to, my bikes but here is my new storage shop waiting for roofing to go on tomorrow, interior will be sheathed today, electrical is ready for tie-in. Garage door will come in next few days, heater will be connected and placed in service, then paint applied so I can start moving in before Christmas Holidays. 960 sq ft of heaven with a 230 sq ft mezzanine (shelf) for better storage and plenty of wall space for all the shelving of spares.
Outside covered space is for the son-in-laws stuff like snowmobiles and quads and hay.