Setbacks or blunders to your cafe projects?

biker_reject

biker_reject

Over 1,000 Posts
After a seemingly productive weekend working on my various cafe projects, I came upon a setback that effectively stalled my kz400 build. So, I thought this could be a good thread to start and may offer insights to others embarking on this journey. :-D


This happened to me. I purchased and pieced together a front end from a '85 ZX600 GPz to put on my KZ400 build. Sent the triples to my favorite machine shop to swap stems and press in bearings. Meanwhile, I set off to tear down the forks this weekend instead of going bass fishing. Shoulda gone fishin'. The ADVS (anti-dive) valves are known to have been neglected on these things, so I disassembled them. The left side looked perfect. The right side, totally corroded adjuster, frozen in a mass of rusty flakes, impervious to PB Blaster. So, it looks like I'll have to find another ADVS valve. Can anyone guess how difficult that will be? Ha! So, I have the wheels done (spoked, trued, shod with Avons), axle custom turned to fit GPz forks, triple tree to be returned to me this week, and I can't even put together a roller. Frack.

What are your setbacks?

Left ADVS valve fugged up, right ADVS valve, perfect...
 

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Re: Setbacks to your cafe projects?

Ya Money, time and knowledge. Also, the bike taking longer than originally planned leads me to see things that I want to change and do differently/better which, inevitably leads to taking more time. Parts are always a big set back for me. Buying something that I think will work only to find out that I'm an idiot and didn't think of something else.
 
Re: Setbacks to your cafe projects?

Definitely money, but also the "I need this to do this to do this" conundrum. Such as... I need the seat to measure the frame brackets and tail hoop for welding. I need the brackets and tail hoop welded before I can have the frame powder coated. But I need the Ballistic battery so I can measure the electronics to see how much room I need under the seat, but I need to figure out which tank I'm going to use so I can measure where the seat's going to go. Wait. What? What did I need to do first?
 
Re: Setbacks to your cafe projects?

All the time. I sheared off a tiny banjo bolt for the oil feed line into the cylinder at the end of buttoning up the top end of the TS250 last night.
*sigh*
Oh well.
 
Re: Setbacks to your cafe projects?

Money is the biggest setback for me. (Married with a baby). The items I need all cost over 100 bucks. (Tires, cycle x dual carbs, exhaust tip and adapter for the header I have, need brackets welded to frame for imaginary exhaust parts, etc... anything under 100$ I can swing, anything over that has to simmer a while...
 
Re: Setbacks to your cafe projects?

TIME!

That, and indecision over major things, like where exactly to cut the frame.
 
Setbacks to your cafe projects?

The "need this to do this" thing, waiting for a friend to have free space in his spray booth. Money money money. Waiting on parts.....mostly though, I had never built a bike before and I'm doing three, compounding all the problems above.
 
Re: Setbacks to your cafe projects?

I find that after having messed with about 4 sets of wheels, that they (and finding NOS spokes) are a major head ache. Or at least finding good OEM wheels are a PITA because I can't afford tasty aluminum shouldered rims and or new spokes from Buchanan. Ha! I should also have asked what everyone's threshold of pain is, money wise. I tend to cringe when something costs $400 give or take a few $. Cost is one of the big motivators in learning how to weld. I am tired of paying others to weld or asking a friend to help me do stuff because he has a regular job, kids, and projects of his own.

And yeah, down time often gives me a different eye towards the finished product. Of course, this leads to cost overruns. I think I've been lucky in not destroying any original parts in my ham fisted attempt to build a bike!
 
Re: Setbacks to your cafe projects?

MB said:
The "need this to do this" thing, waiting for a friend to have free space in his spray booth. Money money money. Waiting on parts.....mostly though, I had never built a bike before and I'm doing three, compounding all the problems above.
Click to expand...

Me too! I had 4 projects going at once, but I actually finished one a year ago. I ride it illegally around the neighborhood. :)
 
Setbacks to your cafe projects?

I just started rebuilding my motor. Got it all buttoned up in the bottom end and was putting the jugs on.
Moved the cam chain tensioner because it was in the way and bam, tiny little plastic piece fell straight into the engine.
So tomorrow I have to flip it upside down and shake, but that probably won't work, so I'll be splitting the cases AGAIN.
 
Re: Setbacks to your cafe projects?

Just happend last night . Adjusted my valves and was test fitting the gasket that i pick up a few months ago . Wow to my suprise didnt fit not even close so now need to find the right one .
But mostly same as everyone else money ! I have tried to stay on a budget but thats out the window do to the fact i cant just leave things alone !
Been trying to hold off and save money till i have to when picking up the big ticket stuff but thats where im at and it hurts and feels good at the same time !
 
Re: Setbacks to your cafe projects?

right now the exhaust on the 400 is holding me up. and it should go without saying money and here lately time! (or lack there of) ive got to change my brakeside rearset around to accomodate the headpipe and the silencer since its all custom work and not factory anymore (had already made brackets and linkages for it ) not a huge deal ,but it still stopped me from going any futher saturday night.(just got aggravated,and experiance has taught me ,if your aggravated may as well just stop before you f*#k something up) so maybe after work saturday ,ill try again. :-\
 
Re: Setbacks to your cafe projects?

Great idea for a thread ! I know we all can related to issues. For me it's almost having the bike ready to ride, and something like a throttle cable snaps. There goes the ride for the weekend. I hate having to order something and wait 5 days for it in the mail. The bikes are old, so it's expected that stuff will break, but just waiting on parts really gets to me.

X2 for ordering a stock replacement part that doesn't come close to fitting!
 
Re: Setbacks to your cafe projects?

Planning!! Which is a sorry excuse, but when a little spurt of motivation pops up and you realize you didn't put in a parts order yet, it becomes a bummer.
 
Re: Setbacks to your cafe projects?

Welding, fab work and especialy motor work relax me. Paint and buying tires suck.
 
Re: Setbacks to your cafe projects?

Swivel said:
Stroll around the net and find out exactly how to remove the anti-dive stuff and make a pair of ally plates to cover the holes.Those old anti-dive systems were just a waste of everybodys time.
Click to expand...

I agree. ^^^^^^

For me it's time. A 60 hour week at work with family responsibilities on top doesn't leave much time for projects. I have to plan my "getaway" weekends long in advance. When a free evening comes along, I honestly just wanna crash. :'(

Money... sure. I could always use a few more dollars for the "project-of-the-week". I'd just be tempted to spend it on the labour for someone else to finish what I've started. That's not what I really want though. :p

Time. The most valuable commodity. :)
 
Re: Setbacks to your cafe projects?

me being 2.5 hours away from the bikes for the last 3.5 months, I now have them in garage at the rental and am ready to dig back in. I already spent the oney on parts and paint so I will hopefully get some progress......as long as I can get the time ;D I have to work this weekend on a special project for work so my first weekend with the bikes is shot :'(
 
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