It Lives.

[JohnP]

I just posted about this a week or so ago after pulling it out of the back of my basement. My wife pulled out the title and the warranty papers today that she had found while visiting her father this summer. The bike was sold as an 82' in 1985 as new. I remember my father in law telling me it was in a crate in the back of the dealer and they gave him a good deal but he didn't remember what year that was. I picked up a new battery last night, rebuilt the petcock, replaced fuel and vacuum lines and reassembled. I removed the H intake and gave it a good heavy cote of Flex Seal. after putting some gas in the tank I pulled the choke and it fired right off. 9 years ago the starter solenoid wasn't working when I tried to start it so before I tried it this time I pulled it out and gave it several good raps on the vise that seemed to free it up.
I've run it up and down my driveway a dozen or so times this afternoon shutting it off each time. My son made one run as he's not fond of gravel but he did decide he really likes the size and feel of the bike. Now I have to get new tires, a chain, fork dust covers, brakes and whatever else I find when I go through the bike.

 

[tstidham]

Very cool story to go with a cool bike!

 

[JohnP]

Ordered tires, tubes, air & oil filters, chain & sprockets and a few other items today. While I'm waiting I'm going to prep the tank, fenders and side covers for paint. haven't picked a color yet but thinking metal flake gold after talking to my son.

 

[avemachina]

Metal flake gold would look really cool--if you're planning to buy tank emblems to replace the ones that seem to be missing, those are usually gold already.

 

[JohnP]

Metal flake gold would look really cool--if you're planning to buy tank emblems to replace the ones that seem to be missing, those are usually gold already.

I do have the originals in chrome but was looking at the gold already.

 

[JohnP]

Just an update. The tires, chain & sprockets, brake shoes and a long list of other things have come in. The only thing on my list that I'm waiting on are the fork dust covers. I'm slowly going thru and doing a deep clean and freshening the paint. I stripped the fenders & tank and removed the old name plates from the side covers. These will go to the body shop for a yet to be determined paint job. When I told my friend who owns the body shop that Jacob wanted tan/gold or maybe mint green he asked about a green he had just painted a jeep he recently built. We may do a combination metallic black and green in a flame pattern.

 

[CaptChrome]

Thanks for the pictures in the update. It is looking pretty nice. Can't wait to see how it ends up.

 

[JohnP]

Slowly but surely getting things cleaned up and adding a little paint here and there. I am still working on some ideas for the fenders, tank and side covers.

 

[JohnP]

Got the paint done tonight.

 

[tstidham]

Wow! That turned out great! Funny enough, I had thoughts of painting mine eventually, but was going to do white with an orange stripe! Parked next to one another they'd be in opposition (if I recall my color theory from school).

 

[JohnP]

getting close now, just the rear lighting and an oil change.

 

[CaptChrome]

Nice job on this!

 

[JohnP]

Nice job on this!

Thanks, This was a long time coming. It helped that my son really liked it and wanted to help get it on the road. He is home on break and was more than happy to drive into the nastiest parts of it. The best part was after I put the back fender and tank on when he saw the paint for the first time and he loved it.

 

[avemachina]

Slick! Great paint job.

 

[JohnP]

Sent my father in law photos of the bike last night. He was happy to see it being used and gave a little bit about when he purchased it. He told me in 1985 he went into Jerry Phibb's dealership in Albany N.Y. looking for a motorcycle. After talking to the owner he said he had a bike still in the crate in the barn he would let him have for $800.. When he came back to see the bike he saw the bike as it sits in the first picture with the back rest on it. All he ever did was have it serviced every spring until around 99' when he parked it for the last time.

 

[CaptChrome]

Sent my father in law photos of the bike last night. He was happy to see it being used

Well, since three generations have now officially touched it, this bike is now a bona fide family heirloom. Nice to see happen.

 

[JohnP]

Head light bulb burned out so I put in an H4 bulb with a little bit of work. Now I'm waiting on new carb intake boots. I am going to check valve adjustment and do a full rebuild and sync the carbs before my son takes it up to his campus.

 

[CaptChrome]

I put in an H4 bulb with a little bit of work

So, it looks like you set the replacement bucket aside and mounted the entire new H4 bulb/reflector/trim ring assembly inside of the original chrome trim ring? What size replacement H4 headlight did you use that fit like this?

Sorry, but I sort of geek out on headlights and I have not seen this before!

 

[JohnP]

So, it looks like you set the replacement bucket aside and mounted the entire new H4 bulb/reflector/trim ring assembly inside of the original chrome trim ring? What size replacement H4 headlight did you use that fit like this?

Sorry, but I sort of geek out on headlights and I have not seen this before!

I pulled apart the old bulb and used a Dremel to open up the hole until the new bulb would sit in the reflector. I then used epoxy to attach the new bulb. If I need to change the bulb again I would use silicone so it can be changed easier. The bulb is 9003SU Sylvania Silver star Ultra that is supposed to be their "brightest down road". The existing plug works so you don't have to touch wiring.

 

[CaptChrome]

Ah, thanks. Now I see the epoxy and the lack of the wire spring bulb holder. The halogen bulbs are so much better than the old sealed beams. A nice upgrade.