2007 December 08: :
Created:
Updated:
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It's alive, my creation is alive! Really, it runs! Pretty well too with a minimum of fiddling. See and hear it run here: http://s100.photobucket.com/albums/m5/Amboman4/ Okay, I got that out of the way! Just couldn't hold it in, like a proud papa holding his newborn. :-)
Finished cleaning the fuel tank after lunch today. After draining all of the washing soda solution, I sat the tank on a ramp and flushed it out thoroughly with my pressure washer.
Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle.
Worked pretty well too - clean metal inside. Decided not to line the tank with anything right now, so dumped two big bottles of rubbing alcohol into the tank and sloshed it around to disperse any remaining water. Drained that and then used my heat gun set on low to warm the tank and dry the alcohol. That done, it was on to buffing it out and waxing, then installed the petcocks, mounting rubbers with top hats
and gas cap. Before installing the adapters, I drilled them slightly larger and tapped them so that the filter screens from the stock petcocks would fit.
Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle.
I also altered the two rear tank mounting top hats
so that they'd clear the tank and not rub against (or through) it. There was evidence of the originals doing just that, so I aim to prevent it.
Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle.
Finished tank:
Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle.
Installed the tank, cleaned up the seat and mounted it. Pulled the plugs out and cranked the engine over with the starter until the oil light went out, then put the plugs back in. Checked the bike over to make sure I hadn't missed anything, then put a splash of gas in the tank. Once the carbs filled, the petcocks started leaking. Damn!! But after a minute they stopped - guess the gaskets had dried out a bit and needed to swell. Turn the key, give the throttle two twists and hit the starter button. Cranks, but doesn't start. Has spark, but at the right time? - did I time it? Yes, but then moved the distributor for some reason later. Okay, set the timing and try again. Fires right off! Warm it up a bit, then let it idle - too low, set that up. Let it warm a bit more and then adjust the idle mixture closer to correct. Idling very nice now and takes the throttle without hesitation. A bit more fiddling with the timing and a good carburetor synchronization will make it even sharper. First hurdle cleared, I'm now ready for some road tests when the weather allows. Raining as I write this and the temperature is dropping once again. :-(