Angry at my past self.

[vintagegearhead]

I had all my parts labeled and placed in baggies. All corresponding bolts were with the parts that needed them. I had sheets of notes and files of pictures like a crime scene...why doesn't it make sense now. WTF did I scrawl on all these bags?

I'm getting there, but does anyone have a breakdown system for their project that keeps everything together? My baggies and notes and boxes just leads to confusion. Better than nothing, maybe I just let too much time elapse.

 

[sphynx88]

A parts fiche is going to be your best friend. Take it section by section just studying and put your bike back together section by section. You'll get there.

 

[Maritime]

Been there, Baggie has all the parts, how did they go?/??? Pics help and as above, parts fiche can clarify really well. Bike bandit and CSML??? have a lot of good ones. Sometimes a cardboard piece with a diagram and parts stuck in or taped, numbered 1-10 etc. can help keep things clear as well.

 

[vintagegearhead]

Sweet, thanks. I do have the part breakdowns, and that has been a savior.

 

[sphynx88]

Also, post pics of said bags and others will chime in to ID them

 

[DesmoBro]

are you doing a full restoration? if not lots of the stuff is extra...after I put my KZ together I had more extra stuff than I knew what to do with now I dig through that pile if I need a nut and bolt on something else...they put too many kick stands and hoses and who knows what else on there

 

[CarbsAndCylinders]

I screw the bolts, washers and nuts back into their threads and keep them their until I need to remove them again for painting etc. But it looks like you have done everything right. I have also googled the part and bike model and found good pics that help.

 

[MNBikerPup]

If you have the space and/or $$$ and/or other misc supplies, lay out the parts. When I had my carbs torn apart, I laid out a towel in which I did the following: at the top of the towel working to the bottom and going left to right: float bowels, below that the new gaskets in which the screws for that bowl into that gasket (no roll aways), then the floats, then the float needles, then the main jet and the pilot jet (new ones below it) Then entire bank of carbs was set at the very top. Then, the slides were set to the right side with each one corresponding in order that the carbs were linked together and their corresponding needles and springs etc lined up top to bottom (This was done on a 81 KZ650 with mikuni carbs). If you need to store them for any length of time, try to find one of those shallow plastic trays that you can find at Micheals or any other craft store or tackleshop (This is for the small parts) and for larger parts, keep all screws/bolts attached as much as possible and if not use a larger bin where to you can lay things out. And ultimately, take pictures of each coming off the bike, after you have lined things up and just before you close the cover. Use an index card to map out all the parts (just like you find in those assembly packs for DIY furniture from Ikea). Having the mindset of a surgical tech laying out instruments also helps. LOL

 

[notlob]

I find a photographic memory helps. If you know where mine is please send it back ;D

 

[Rich Ard]

Less stuff in each bag; and take the project in portions. It's also progressively easier the more times you do it.

 

[beachcomber]

I find a photographic memory helps. If you know where mine is please send it back ;D

Virtually all my life I have been able to memorise what parts are and where they go - as long as I stripped it down in the first place. This probably comes from my early initiation to the hobby [ late 50's early 60's ] when there was no such thing as Haynes manuals [ Chilton to you lot ].

That' a big help with the 4 different projects using 3 different donor marques I'm now working on !

However, I've always bagged / boxed stuff into groups just to make finding the parts easier - especially after a 1 -2 year gestation !

That said, plenty of pix / video when pulling something apart would be a good idea - EVERYONE has a gadget that is capable of taking pix these days - even cameras !

It's the BIG parts I have had a problem with. I have 4 TR1s stripped or in the process of. ONE frame of the 4 has no V5 [ title ] and needless to say all the reg plates have been taken off. Solution - use a marker pen to put the reg. # of the bike the parts came from. Put it down to senility.

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

My cell phone / computer has approx 1000 times more pictures of bikes during disassembly and various parts.... than all my friends, family, vacations combined.
The "Digital Age" has really helped my memory.

 

[Mr.B]

As mentioned before, trying to keep stuff together in pieces until I have to work on them, for an example the calipers still has every piece still on it until the moment I separate them for blasting and painting. And when in atoms I try to leave it on a flat surface in order.

I tried the baggy thing.. I probably won't be able to put the gas cap back together without help when it's time

 

[vintagegearhead]

are you doing a full restoration? if not lots of the stuff is extra...after I put my KZ together I had more extra stuff than I knew what to do with now I dig through that pile if I need a nut and bolt on something else...they put too many kick stands and hoses and who knows what else on there

Not a full restoration. My CB was already cafe'd when I bought it, I just took the motor out to clean and paint it, plus polish up the valve cover. Then, my wife got pregnant...two years later I'm actually getting the time/motivation to log some garage time. Not going to bad, really, now that I'm back into it.