Chris' Cafe build (02.11.08) Winter Update

Re: Chris' Cafe build (09.03.07) FIRST RIDE!

chrisf said:
Thanks DrJ. The headlight was not installed, but the tail light was on. Plus, I don't think those batteries were fully charged. I am concerned about the headlight because it is hard wired on. I may install a switch so I can turn it off until I ride off. At what RPMs does the charging system kick on?

--Thanks, Chris
Click to expand...

You shouldn't hardwire the headlight to have it on at all times. The bikes recharging system wasn't designed for that and will drain your battery. The stock headlight switch increases the amps from the stator when the light is switched on to compensate for the extra draw. Don't you have the stock right handlebar switch? All the wiring should be there.
 
Re: Chris' Cafe build (09.03.07) FIRST RIDE!

I do have the switches but they aren't being used. For the charging system, I have it wired as such:

Regulator:
Black-->Ground
Green--> Rectifier
Yellow-->Generator + Rectifier

Generator:
White --> Nothing
Yellow-->Generator = Regulator
Pink--> Rectifier

Rectifier:
Red--> Battery
Yellow--> Generator + Regulator
Green--> Regulator
Pink--> Generator

So it's all pretty custom. Does this look right to you?

--Thanks, Chris
 
Re: Chris' Cafe build (09.03.07) FIRST RIDE!

chrisf said:
I do have the switches but they aren't being used. For the charging system, I have it wired as such:

Regulator:
Black-->Ground
Green--> Rectifier
Yellow-->Generator + Rectifier

Generator:
White --> Nothing
Yellow-->Generator = Regulator
Pink--> Rectifier

Rectifier:
Red--> Battery
Yellow--> Generator + Regulator
Green--> Regulator
Pink--> Generator

So it's all pretty custom. Does this look right to you?

--Thanks, Chris
Click to expand...

I dunno, the white from the generator or stator is activated by the highbeam switch. It activates another field in the generator to crank more amps back into the battery to compensate for the extra juice it takes to power the highbeam. Do you have a diagram?
 
Re: Chris' Cafe build (09.03.07) FIRST RIDE!

DrJ:

Yeah, I have a color diagram and a factory manual; I just didn't understand the switch diagram. Now I get what the white wire does. Looking at the diagram (and with the help of your explaination) I see that the white wire feeds into the yellow wires when the headlight is on. This goes through the switch on the hand controls. So, I assume the won't be an overcharging issue if the white wires goes directly to the yellows because the current is still getting regulated and rectified. Plus the headlight is on.

What do you think? WTF would Honda wire the bike like this?

--Chris
 
Re: Chris' Cafe build (09.03.07) FIRST RIDE!

Well, some good news. Kit (Mysta2) stopped by and rode he bike around quite a bit. This was right after I rode it around for 10 minutes or so. If the bike was running strictly on the batteries, I'm 95% sure they would have died after a 20 minute ride. They must have been really drained last night. This probably happened during the wiring process when I was testing things. The next step is to install the headlight and go for a continuous 20 minute ride or so. That should really expose a weakness in the charging system and/or battery capacity.

In other good news, I managed to get the mechanical tach to work...

On a more negative note, I'm a horrible rider. It is very difficult for me to modulate the hand controls. I'm either all throttle or nothing at all. Besides almost hitting both cars in the driveway last night, I almost hit the neighbors trash can today. Hopefully, I get the hang of it. F cking noobs!

--Chris
 
Re: Chris' Cafe build (09.03.07) FIRST RIDE!

thanks for giving me that opportunity to ride it, that felt good after a stressful weekend.

The throttle on that bike definitely could use some tightening, the dead space is huge, and it doesn't return really well, that could be a routing problem. My first ride was on Loudbike, and although it was a good first bike because it was small and didn't do anything all too fast, it might be helpful for you to get a feel for motorcycling with a bit tighter bike for a couple of rides. I'd be happy to let you take my Duc out, we should go for a ride this week.
 
Re: Chris' Cafe build (09.03.07) FIRST RIDE!

I would agree with Kit on this one, while it's awesome to ride something of your own creation, trying to diagnose problems AND learning how to ride might be a little tough. I would hate for something to happen to that machine as the result of something silly.

But! Looks fantastic! I remember watching this one from the start, awesome to see it done. Can't wait till I can say the same about mine.

Steve
 
Re: Chris' Cafe build (09.03.07) FIRST RIDE!

Bike looks great Chris..
Look into the headlite wiring , as it might be a similar issue that I had on my CB450 (with only part of the charging system
being active untill the factory headlite switch being turned to the "on" position)..
 
Re: Chris' Cafe build (09.03.07) FIRST RIDE!

I think I finally have the wiring sorted. It turns out that I misread the wiring diagram and forgot a ground connection for the regulator and the recitifer. Once I soldered in a new lead, everything worked like a charm. The headlight kept bright and the bike didn't studder.

I'm better, but still getting the hang of launching the bike. Today, at a stoplight, I mistakenly did a wheelie :eek: So, once I get the bike registration sorted--hopefully in a week or so--I'll take a longer spin into Dallas. That should really exploit any weekness int he charging systm.

--Thanks for reading, Chris
 
Re: Chris' Cafe build (09.03.07) FIRST RIDE!

chrisf said:
I think I finally have the wiring sorted. It turns out that I misread the wiring diagram and forgot a ground connection for the regulator and the recitifer. Once I soldered in a new lead, everything worked like a charm. The headlight kept bright and the bike didn't studder.

I'm better, but still getting the hang of launching the bike. Today, at a stoplight, I mistakenly did a wheelie :eek: So, once I get the bike registration sorted--hopefully in a week or so--I'll take a longer spin into Dallas. That should really exploit any weekness int he charging systm.

--Thanks for reading, Chris
Click to expand...

Good to hear you sorted out the charging issue. Electrics are a biatch. Did you rev to 7000 rpm before dumping the clutch? I did that on my first 350 at a stoplight and the wheel came up to 45º. If you go on a longer ride I suggest taking a multimeter with you to check the battery.
 
Re: Chris' Cafe build (09.03.07) FIRST RIDE!

So the project is really wrapping up. I don’t know if I mentioned it before, but I bought the bike without a title—a bad move. My $500 bike needed a $1200 bond ($110 my cost) and all sorts of paperwork with the state. Since my bike is in a grey area inspection-wise, I wanted to use a local chopper shop for my inspection…except they ran out of stickers for two weeks. Anyway, I now have an inspection sticker for the grand cost of $15 inspection and $20 for the case of beer. The case of beer made the inspector look the other way on the open pipes and no rear brake light switch.

Today, I paid all my taxes ($110) and got my metal tag. So I’m legal to ride—sort of. I still need to get my MC license.

So the things left to do over the winter are 1.) polish the tank, 2.) replace the brake shoes and 3.) get new tires. I might replace the seat too. This one is too hard.

Oh, from the beginning of this project, I always wanted a pudding bowl helmet. I looked closely at the Davida pudding bowls, but went with the import ones. Trust me, they are shit. It’s almost a why bother wearing proposition. This winter, I’d like to get one of these.

full_0407_1002_90513_ret1rw.jpg


Finally, I’ve gone on quite a few longer rides. I now feel confident the little batteries are up to the task. It’s 5 miles one way to the chopper shop. Each time I go is during rush hour, so lots of stop-and-go traffic. If the little batteries were not up to the task, that’s when they would die. So I’m happy with them. If anyone wants to duplicate it, the batteries’ part number are in the photos and to wire them, connect all the red wires to the reds and the blacks to the blacks.

Thanks for following along! I’ll post any new pics in the show and shine section.


--Chris
 
Re: Chris' Cafe build (09.03.07) FIRST RIDE!

You need this helmet man, your bike is gorgeous!

Momo Fighter:
http://www.handmadehelmets.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=60

Or the Momo Essenziale:
http://www.handmadehelmets.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=62

Or a Nexx:
http://www.nexx-helmets.com/produtos/produtos/scripts/core.htm?p=produtos&f=produtos&lang=&familia=4&subfamilia=20
 
Re: Chris' Cafe build (09.03.07) FIRST RIDE!

bike looks awesome!!! gotta be completely honest though and tell you I'm glad your changing the seats....I don't think it does the lines of your bike justice.......nice work though
 
Re: Chris' Cafe build (09.03.07) FIRST RIDE!

ChrisF,

The 3/4 style helmet pictured is not a real pudding bowl. I think that lid is referred to as something like a rocketship style or something. The true pudding bowl was a hemisphere with leather lower sections(flaps) about the ears.

That said I'm from the full faced helmet school. Bounced my face off some concrete once and was real glad to have that chin section.
 
Re: Chris' Cafe build (09.03.07) FIRST RIDE!

Hey Chris, glad to hear the carbs are working and the bike is running well. I do like the Davida pudding bowl but they clearly state they are not legal for road use. The Jet 3/4 is legal. There are DOT legal pudding bowls but they are larger than the ones from the 60's and don't have the same look. So you have to choose between authenticity or safety when it comes to vintage helmets. The Jet comes closest to the best of both worlds but are expensive.
 
Re: Chris' Cafe build (10.15.07) Problems

Some of you may have been following along. When I rode my bike 30 miles into work--the longest I've ever ridden and the longest the bike has gone in at least 20 years. I had horrible vibration, which i think was the result of old tire getting hard sports. I have some new ones on order. The second issue was that my tail light/license plate snapped off. An easy fix now that I found it.

The worse issue was the exhaust pipe falling out of the port. I thought the exhaust bolt worked itself loose and allowed the exhaust pipe to shed its collars. It turns out the exhaust flange snapped off! Do any of you other guys with UNSUPPORTED high pipe have any issues with the pipes breaking? Mine was probably due to vibration, but still...

To fix it, I've welded the very thin flange back to the exhaust pipe from the inside. This should make it sronger. When I have some time, I need to dremel it smooth.

--Chris
 
Re: Chris' Cafe build (09.03.07) FIRST RIDE!

Hey Chris,

First off, congrats!

Amazing work. I too am in the same boat with saddle time on a bike :) I wish I could have seen my face when I discovered steering with my feet on the pegs lol.

Secondly, I removed the upper motor mount and it makes worlds of difference with the frame vibrations. Give it a shot and see how you like it.

-Aaron
 
Re: Chris' Cafe build (09.03.07) FIRST RIDE!

Your' plate bracket broke? Hmm, sorry about that. I guess we should have seen that coming :( Glad you were able to find it though.
 
Re: Chris' Cafe build (09.03.07) FIRST RIDE!

Hey Chris, how is the bike running/riding? Besides the aforementioned issues...

Steve
 
Re: Chris' Cafe build (09.03.07) FIRST RIDE!

Kit:

Your bracket worked great; theproblem was that I used rivets that worked loose. I'll use fastners next time.

Steve:

I've yet to ride the bike since that day. I've been busy doing this (www.fiaccone.com/Video/RunningWithAViper.html) and (www.fiaccone.com/Video/PassingAnS2000.html)

I have a set of tire that need to be mounted and some exhaust wrap that goes on after a little cleanup on the exhuast. After I fix these things, I'll like ride the bike around a bit to break the tires in. If I have the same experience as last time--i.e. no fun--I'll sell her. She does deserve a few more chances. If she sells, I'll likely regret it.

If I really think about it, I'm a car guy. We'll see though.

--Chris
 
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