What did you do to your motorcyle today?

[hardrockminer]

Impressive shop!  Three times the size of mine and half the size that you will realize you should have built when you try to move things around next year!

Today I dismantled my starter with the intention to rebuild it, but there really wasn't a whole lot wrong other than a bunch of carbon in the back end.  I was planning on replacing the brushes but you can see from one of the photos comparing to a new brush that they were almost like new.  So they went back in.  The sheathing over the starter cable was pretty ragged so it was changed as well.

1) Carbon from the brushes in the back cap.  The bushing was in good shape.
2) One of the brushes along side a new one.
3) The back ring all cleaned up and ready for assembly.

There is one trick to reassembly.  The end caps can go on in two directions.  If you get it wrong you can't bolt the starter into place.  So I took a photo before disassembly so that I would have a reference for reassembly.

[754]

 Nice shop FFF,  wished I had one right now.
 Hope you get to enjoy it a lot of years, and get to put a few bikes together.

[Wheels]

Nice Frank and I am sure you will enjoy.     June and I are trying to think of what next here as the garage is full and bursting.   Kids have moved out of the suite now finally but it would not serve as an overflow for the bikes.
June has been looking at real estate now as with the children gone we need a small house with a giant garage somewhere between here and Mission.

Good work on the starter and nice picture Bill.    I used to have spare starters in my Czech cars and would simply clean and polish the windings to get them going again and always had one in the trunk.  Got so good at it that I could crank one side of the car up with a jack and replace one in less than 10 minutes time.

[fffCycles]

Thanks guys, I know it is not ever going to be big enough to fulfill my dreams but should allow enough space to work through my piles of spares and get somewhat organized. 

The brushes on that starter are barely bedded in good for lots more duty. The past five weeks of intense work on the shop has not allowed for much work on the other bikes but hoping to get back to it after the holidays.
Frank

[754]

 You have a very good start.. and important ....room to grow.
 My problem often was  lack of dry outside storage, stuff that is fine if it's dry.. like wheels and frames.
 So for later, looks like room to build lean to on 2 sides, and if you really need  it, wall in the covered area on the right.
 So when it's time you have a plan B
 Looks pretty good.. enjoy..

[hardrockminer]

I put the pistons back on the crank today.  Then added a new timing chain.  All of the engine cases are ready for vapour blasting.  I'll check with Kevin and hopefully drive down next Saturday. 

Meanwhile I'm cleaning the frame.  The more I get into it the more I'm leaning towards a complete paint job.  Parts of it are still very good, and parts could use a new coat.  I lean towards powder coating because it does a great job of providing a tough finish.

[Runningdog]

Well, after fartin' aboot with two separate Gurtner carbs, both of which won't stop leaking, I'm taking the smarter approach, and ordered a new Dellorto carb and larger intake (15mm vs. stock 12mm).   

The original carbs are both almost 50 years old, so maybe they should be retired.

Maybe I'll get a result exceeding  the speed limit.

[754]

What uses the Gurtner carbs ?

[Runningdog]

Coupla ancient French mopeds.

[hardrockminer]

Measured my rear sprocket today.  Supposed to be 215 mm dia minimum.  Something ain't right.

[Wheels]

Wonder if someone wanted more speed or longer legs for some reason.    I think my sprocket is 38 tooth and yours is 35 however the gearing was likely different in 1978

[Galactica]

I believe the gearing is the same.

[hardrockminer]

A 35 tooth sprocket was standard in 1975.  Mine says 35 right on it and I counted (twice) just to be sure.  The only way to get 35 teeth on a smaller diameter is for the teeth to be smaller.  But my chain runs over the sprocket just fine.  I'm left wondering if the service manual spec was wrong...just a theory.

[754]

I have never measured a sprocket. Get a new chain or piece of, place it over 3 or more teeth , try moving it radially,  if sprocket us worn there will be lots of movement.
 Checking for chain wear ? Try pulling a link away from rear of rear sprocket, the further it moves, the more worn out.

 Often we would cut a new chain to fit, so if we had a piece with 3 or 4 links we keep it around to check sprockets and chains,  easy.

[hardrockminer]

Kawasaki has a spec on both chain wear and on sprocket diameter.  Chain wear is done by measuring the length of 20 links and comparing to their spec.  Mine is fine.  For the sprocket, while it was off, I thought I would measure it.  But it's just given me other things to think about.  For one thing, a smaller diameter rear sprocket means the engine will rev higher at highway speed. 

I need to measure the front sprocket now.

Engine cases are back together with a new Tsubaki cam chain and ready to put back in the frame for reassembly.  But I need to sand and paint the downtubes first.