1958 Enfield/Indian Trailblazer - Kustom Cafe Racer Project

Been absent for a few days and missed the discussion re: thermal spacer. That WAS the fix in the day - there was a company called Gander & Gray in the UK [ Ilford ] who specialised in all things RE and you could buy them off the shelf. Actually - you could at most dealers come to think about it ! G&G also sold them as a kit with longer studs.

Both my ex. Bob Mac Thruxton Connies came with them already fitted. Someone used to do a finned alloy spacer [ Velocette ? ] - I tried a pair of them on one occasion - looked the bollox, but no improvement over the thermo versions. ::) and were 5 times the cost !

Glad you got it sorted.
 
If the thermal spacers didn't work, they wouldn't still be stocking them on the shelves 50 years later. Right? ;) I was even able to pick it up locally from The Bonneville Shop, who are an awesome supplier of Brit bike parts and have an amazing Ebay store as well. Not to mention great customer service. I'm just really happy things are starting to sort out, tho I still want to replace the valve springs, exhaust guides and the primary chain as that is on it's way out.

Anywhooser, here's a video from yesterday, starting out with my final timing adjustment, road-side-style. :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoOQ6SzEmwc
 
I think my coil is bad. The bike runs fine and then after about 20-30 minutes of riding it starts cutting in and out and bucking and all that fun shit. Has anyone used the Dyna coils or the Trispark coils? Know anything about them? I know the Dyna coils are a popular mod for the HD guys.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dual-Lead-High-Output-Trispark-Post-Mount-Coil-12-Volt-/261322883328?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cd80ec100&vxp=mtr


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dyna-DC1-3-Mini-Coil-Dual-Output-3-0-ohm-Kawasaki-Suzuki-/191504176465?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c9689d551&vxp=mtr
 
I see a lot of dyna coils being used. Mainly the green type. I also never hear complaints. Personally I have not used mine yet. But the ones I have do appear to be high quality.
 
Brodie said:
I see a lot of dyna coils being used. Mainly the green type. I also never hear complaints. Personally I have not used mine yet. But the ones I have do appear to be high quality.

I actually found a Drag Specialties coil that looks identical to the Dyana DC7-1 but is $30 cheaper and rated at 35,000 volts. there's an authorized DS dealer just a couple of miles away from where I work, so I'm going down there to have a look this week sometime.
 
Can't imagine they would be too different. Usually in factory situations it is cheaper to change the brand then the components.
 
Brodie said:
Can't imagine they would be too different. Usually in factory situations it is cheaper to change the brand then the components.

I totally agree. Well, it looks like Thorspark is sending me a replacement coil, so that's cool. I'm thinking I may still get that Drag Specialties coil tho too, I like the idea of it being 35,000 volts. :)
 
High On Octane said:
If the thermal spacers didn't work, they wouldn't still be stocking them on the shelves 50 years later. Right? ;) I was even able to pick it up locally from The Bonneville Shop, who are an awesome supplier of Brit bike parts and have an amazing Ebay store as well. Not to mention great customer service. I'm just really happy things are starting to sort out, tho I still want to replace the valve springs, exhaust guides and the primary chain as that is on it's way out.

Anywhooser, here's a video from yesterday, starting out with my final timing adjustment, road-side-style. :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoOQ6SzEmwc

Sweet!!! Fantastic Bike. I bet that was a very rewarding ride. Thanks for sharing.
 
I've really been trying to wait out this cold, snowy weather we've been having in Denver. I couldn't wait anymore, so I bundled up and cruised around town for about 30 minutes until my face and nose went numb. Which made me realize my cold weather gloves work very well. :D

Does anyone else on here go play in the snow from time to time? Let's see some pics!


Taken at shopping plaza near by.



It was so cold that when I got home, most of the road grime was frozen to the bike. So I filled up a spray bottle with hot water to rinse it off. The detailing spray froze to parts of the bike too, but was a little easier to get back off. :)



 
Nice. I tried to play in the snow last year but the GL500 was having none of it. Spent about 15 mins spinning in the driveway before I gave up. Was wishing I had snow tires or mud grips or something. No fun.
 
Snow? What's that? Last time I saw that much snow was when I lived in Colorado. ;)

Round here we just keep 'em running and take em out when the temp gets above 40.

Believe it or not this was in early February

NtPPLr.jpg
 
Frogman...I am SOOOO jealous, this is the time of year I keep wondering why the hell I stay here.

Octane, the bike looks great, even in the snow...I used to go snow riding now and then in my younger days, just to see if I could, but now I just wait until it gets above 5 degrees C.
 
No snow was going to stop me either! BTW great build!
 

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frogman - I live in Aurora, just outside of Denver, so that is authentic Colorado snow. I don't get winter here this year tho. It was in the 50's and 60's all January long. I get the bike running, and the temp drops to 15*F and won't stop snowing. I'm going to get me a ride in today tho. Supposed to be 50*F and full of sun! 8)


goldy - I pretty much play in the snow now just to feel like a kid a again. When I was a teenager, you couldn't keep me OFF of my bike. Mud, rain or snow, it didn't matter, I was riding. In fact, my friends and I would look forward to the winters just so we could go ride out on the frozen lakes! And as I tell everyone here in Denver, "I'm used to cold and know how to handle it. It doesn't mean that I like it." ;D


jag767 - Yeah buddy! Nice bike yourself there! I think this summer I am going to look for a cheap YZ, RM or CR 125/250 to convert into a supermoto. I really want a supermoto, and it would be sic to build some ice tires for it and go ripping down the interstate at 50mph in a blizzard while everyone else is doing 10mph in their cages. ;D
 
I spent from late 1979 to late 1998 living in in Co, born and raised out on the plains believe me I know what its like, spent many a winter on snow sleds and atvs chasing things and having fun. I have family all over the state, I go back at least every Xmas, some years we get snow some years we don't. This year I caught a blizzard in Kansas coming home that about trapped us. Wife kept wanting to stop, I kept following the snow plows south and made it out.

To be fair I haven't gotten mine out nearly as much as I have in past years, we've had LOTS of snow and rain and ice this year. Warm days have usually been on weekdays when I have to work. :mad:
 
Finally getting around to the finishing touches on the bike. I pulled the seat pan and outer primary cover off last to get it ready for paint. I'm color matching them to the gas tank, black base with gold and white pearl coat. I got them sprayed with acid etch primer this morning, and then after work I got them sealed, based and pearled. Tomorrow morning I'll be hydro-dipping the primary cover and the cowl section of the seat pan in a skull pattern. It should look sick as fuck when I'm done. :)


Green Acid Etch Primer



Gold Pearl Coat



 
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