colpumpkinnuts
Banned from public transportation
That's sorta what I was thinking at first. "Anybody can buy a seat..." Then I built one and it sucked. So I guess I did build everything on my bike at one point...
1979 CM400T
- Thread starter colpumpkinnuts
- Start date
colpumpkinnuts
Banned from public transportation
So I made some more progress. I've got the rear seat mount all finished up. I've just got to paint it. I fabricated a license plate mount that attaches to the rear fender. No pics yet.
I got the bike running for a little bit today. It was struggling a lot. I think the gas I've got in there is pretty shitty. The tank might have had a little water left in it from when I cleaned it. That's something that I'll have to spend a little time with to figure out. At least it's running.
I went to the local motorcycle shop where, a week previously, they told me a new chain was going to cost $50-$60. When I went to buy one today that price rose to $80. The bastards. Ebay it is.
So what's left? Paint the seat mount; mount the tailight to the seat; paint and mount the rear turn signals; order and install a chain, paint the tank and seat; cover the seat; make some kind of veil to hide the battery and electronics; tune the motor. Almost there. The plan is to have the bike road worthy by March 1st.
200 posts, I've been spending way too much time on here.
I got the bike running for a little bit today. It was struggling a lot. I think the gas I've got in there is pretty shitty. The tank might have had a little water left in it from when I cleaned it. That's something that I'll have to spend a little time with to figure out. At least it's running.
I went to the local motorcycle shop where, a week previously, they told me a new chain was going to cost $50-$60. When I went to buy one today that price rose to $80. The bastards. Ebay it is.
So what's left? Paint the seat mount; mount the tailight to the seat; paint and mount the rear turn signals; order and install a chain, paint the tank and seat; cover the seat; make some kind of veil to hide the battery and electronics; tune the motor. Almost there. The plan is to have the bike road worthy by March 1st.
200 posts, I've been spending way too much time on here.
colpumpkinnuts
Banned from public transportation
Well, the chain is going to have to wait until next month. I ran out of money. I got the taillight mounted to the seat and the seat mounts are all painted. I'm working on painting the seat and tanks right now. I also got a lot of work done on my blasting cabinet. So far I think I have about $14 invested and I don't have much farther to go.
colpumpkinnuts
Banned from public transportation
The tank is painted, I've almost got the seat finished up. I've gotten the bike running pretty decently. It starts right up and idles well but it doesn't want to rev. I engaged the choke and it revved up just fine. Is that a good indication that it's running lean? I'm going to try syncing the carbs this weekend, then I'll pull them, clean em again and check the float levels. With the exception of the chain, the bike should be just about done by the first of March, wait, that's in 2 days. Correction, the bike will be just about done by the time I get paid again so I can buy a chain. Hopefully the snow will melt a little by the time I get a chain. It's not looking good, we're supposed to get more snow this weekend 
If I have to, I'll shovel a path out to the road to get a shakedown run in. Hopefully it will warm up.
If I have to, I'll shovel a path out to the road to get a shakedown run in. Hopefully it will warm up.colpumpkinnuts
Banned from public transportation
I tried to synch the carbs. It's impossible. The adjustment screw is jammed into a narrow spot that a 5 year old couldn't get his hands into. So I took the carbs off and eyeballed them the best I could. I cleaned em up while I had them off and turned the air screws in a half turn. It's runs much better now but it's still not perfect. I don't want to do too much messing around until I get it on the road and put some fresh gas in it. Then we'll see what happens with it.
colpumpkinnuts
Banned from public transportation
Almost done!
I'm almost done with this thing. I've got the seat painted, turn signals installed, all of the lights work. I just need to order a chain and install it, touch up some paint here and there and finish the cushion for the seat. You better believe that even if the cushion isn't done I'll still ride around on the bare seat. It's too bad we just got 6+ inches of snow and it's still going. :'(
edit: make that closer to 12 inches of snow
I'm almost done with this thing. I've got the seat painted, turn signals installed, all of the lights work. I just need to order a chain and install it, touch up some paint here and there and finish the cushion for the seat. You better believe that even if the cushion isn't done I'll still ride around on the bare seat. It's too bad we just got 6+ inches of snow and it's still going. :'(
edit: make that closer to 12 inches of snow
valvesprung
Over 1,000 Posts
That looks fantastic man!
colpumpkinnuts
Banned from public transportation
Thanks guys! Once I get the chain on I'll (hopefully) get some good pics of it out on the road.
Maritime
Over 10,000 Posts
Looks great, I like the yellow and the tank dents look good too. I am at about the same point on my bike and we just got Freezing rain and every thing is frozen solid. I can't wait for spring! The snow just sucks, can't wait to see your bike on the road. I got to update my thread with pics.
Cheers,
Maritime
Cheers,
Maritime
colpumpkinnuts
Banned from public transportation
Maritime Biker, I know how you feel man.
I ordered a chain off ebay yesterday. It should be arriving shortly. I've got next week off for spring break. I'm not planning on doing anything but getting the bike on the road. I'm working on some little metal bits that will hide the battery under the seat. I'll post some pics when I get them done. I've got the seat cushion shaped, I just need to cover it. I used 4 layers of camping mat foam and I think it will be pretty comfy.
I've also got a bid on a NOS tach cable on ebay for $.99. It's the only cable that hasn't been replaced on the bike and even though the current cable is working, for 99 cents I couldn't pass it up.
I also just spent a large chunk of my savings on some decent camera equipment. So, good photos are sure to follow. I think I'm going to do some shoveling in the yard to speed up the snow melting process. I'd hate to have the bike stuck in one place when the snow melts.
I ordered a chain off ebay yesterday. It should be arriving shortly. I've got next week off for spring break. I'm not planning on doing anything but getting the bike on the road. I'm working on some little metal bits that will hide the battery under the seat. I'll post some pics when I get them done. I've got the seat cushion shaped, I just need to cover it. I used 4 layers of camping mat foam and I think it will be pretty comfy.
I've also got a bid on a NOS tach cable on ebay for $.99. It's the only cable that hasn't been replaced on the bike and even though the current cable is working, for 99 cents I couldn't pass it up.
I also just spent a large chunk of my savings on some decent camera equipment. So, good photos are sure to follow. I think I'm going to do some shoveling in the yard to speed up the snow melting process. I'd hate to have the bike stuck in one place when the snow melts.
colpumpkinnuts
Banned from public transportation
a shameless link
Hey, I'm selling a bunch of left over parts to include a tank in nice shape. Prices are very negotiable. Did I mention that the tank was really nice?
http://dotheton.com/index.php?topic=7226.0
Somebody has got to want some of this stuff.
edit: I sold everything but the seat. It's in decent shape if anybody wants it.
Hey, I'm selling a bunch of left over parts to include a tank in nice shape. Prices are very negotiable. Did I mention that the tank was really nice?
http://dotheton.com/index.php?topic=7226.0
Somebody has got to want some of this stuff.
edit: I sold everything but the seat. It's in decent shape if anybody wants it.
colpumpkinnuts
Banned from public transportation
Thanks, Kodiak.
My chain is on the way. I also ordered a media blaster from harbor freight along with some gloves and 50lbs of glass bead. So, it looks like I'll have to resume work on the blasting cabinet. I just have to put some arm holes in it and figure out how I'm going to mount the gloves. I'll put a post in the $50 mods thread about how I did it.
I shoveled a path through the snow yesterday to give the sun a head start on some melting. That sucked.
I'm going to get some work done on the seat cover and the little pieces that will hide the battery. Pics to follow.
My chain is on the way. I also ordered a media blaster from harbor freight along with some gloves and 50lbs of glass bead. So, it looks like I'll have to resume work on the blasting cabinet. I just have to put some arm holes in it and figure out how I'm going to mount the gloves. I'll put a post in the $50 mods thread about how I did it.
I shoveled a path through the snow yesterday to give the sun a head start on some melting. That sucked.
I'm going to get some work done on the seat cover and the little pieces that will hide the battery. Pics to follow.
NOOOO do not use glass!!!! do not use GLASS!!!! or walnut shells! on the alum the glass will leave huge poors that will be a paint in the ass to fill! use the alum oxide 60 grit... the walnut shells have an oil in them that will screw stuff up when you point... call and change your order on the glass beads!
colpumpkinnuts
Banned from public transportation
JRK, I changed the order to 70 grit aluminum oxide. I had never heard that about glass beads. Then again, I've never blasted anything. Thanks for the heads up.
I think that will be the last time I ever try to call harbor freight. The first number I called was an overseas place and they couldn't help me so they told me to call another number. The next person I talked to changed the order without a problem but she tried to sell me magazine subscriptions, a subscription to some kind of harbor freight catalog, and finally a credit card. It was pretty annoying.
I was planning to try to pick up some baking soda from a pool supply place nearby. I don't know of any places that sell blasting media around me.
Holy shit, I just noticed the additional options drop down menu. I had no idea that I could just put attachments up rather than going through image shack.
I think that will be the last time I ever try to call harbor freight. The first number I called was an overseas place and they couldn't help me so they told me to call another number. The next person I talked to changed the order without a problem but she tried to sell me magazine subscriptions, a subscription to some kind of harbor freight catalog, and finally a credit card. It was pretty annoying.
I was planning to try to pick up some baking soda from a pool supply place nearby. I don't know of any places that sell blasting media around me.
Holy shit, I just noticed the additional options drop down menu. I had no idea that I could just put attachments up rather than going through image shack.
your also going to want to buy a carbide nozel... the ceramic that comes in the gun blows balls and will clog ALOT... the whole gun that comes with it kinda sucks but wiht a carbide nozel inthere it will last 10x's as long and work so much better, the carbides are a bit $$$ at around 35 bucks a pop but they really help man, your ceramic may last though 1 or 2 parts depending on your compressor size
colpumpkinnuts
Banned from public transportation
JRK5892 said:
I order a pack of fine nozels for use with soda whenever I pick it up. When the nozel gets destroyed I'll buy some new ones. Thanks for the tips. I know that breathing in sand dust is really bad for you. Will using sand as a blasting medium inside a cabinet for rough work be dangerous?
you are going to need a respirator... i use a shop vac that hooks into the box to suck out dust... last night i blasted at a buddies house and he has a dust collector... WOW it rocked!... no dust i could see no problem.. just awesome! blasted though all this in about 3 hours! not bad at all!
ooh ya if you have never blasted... use the blasting to clean up... first hit stuff with air craft stripper to remove any paint, clean really well (i use a parts washer) the wire wheel any extra stuff off you can... the blaster is to clean the metal... blow off all the dust, acitone and paint!
ooh ya if you have never blasted... use the blasting to clean up... first hit stuff with air craft stripper to remove any paint, clean really well (i use a parts washer) the wire wheel any extra stuff off you can... the blaster is to clean the metal... blow off all the dust, acitone and paint!
colpumpkinnuts
Banned from public transportation
I've got a good protective mask that I can use and a shop vac that I can hook up to the cabinet. I'll have to put a hook up on it, maybe a piece of pvc pipe will work. I'm looking forward to trying this thing out. It should save me a ton of time. It's too bad I don't have much to use it for right now. Looks like I'll have to get another project bike...
