what did you wrench on today??

[GregT]

This was well outside my normal area of work...I got talked into doing it for a friend of a friend - as you do.
It's based on a BSA A10 pre-unit 650. Chopped many years ago now but at some time the A10 engine and box have disappeared and an A65 Lightning engine found. It had sat with the A65 just sitting in the frame for years before the F of a F bought it. Initially I was aked to go through the engine - but then they realised how much they couldn't do - so I got asked, Ha.
Anyway, engine done, polished while it was apart. Mounted in the frame.Two crossmembers moved and rewelded... Coils sourced and mounted, powerbox for the alternator likewise. Std pipes off the shelf locally with aftermarket mufflers. Air cleaners again locally. Footrests made and mounted. All the other little time consuming bits to convert it from a mag ignition, generator type engine to the A65.
Dry build done. Owner can now work his way around it, painting, plating and polishing.
And my bench is clear. The longest bike I've ever had here, LOL.

[Guest]

What a project! Looks great.

[Buffalo Bill]

Last Friday I gave the tall windshield a trim. My wife said it looks like I clipped a giant fingernail, LOL.

It has always bugged me but having a heavy load recently made it apparent this thing was way too tall for me.



I cut three inches off and noticed no significant difference in wind noise or protection from rain or bugs. Surely a few more butterflies or whatever will hit my visor, but after almost 400 miles it's been fine so far. I did notice how much easier it made things not having to look through the windshield for things at close range.

I been there. You're taking a first step towards buying a sport bike, but will take a few years.

[Buffalo Bill]

Cleaning up?

As I work on the detail issues with this old bike, I got a bucket of soapy water and a sponge. I'm scrubbing off all the dust and grime I can reach.


Check and adjust valve clearances next.

[Grimly]

When I fitted the GS1000 fork legs to the 850, I discovered the lowered front made the centre stand too long, so I shortened it. Too much, as it turned out.
Rather than attempt to lengthen it, I acquired a GS1000 stand and fitted that, it's ok for length but discovered the top of the stand where it bears on a cross-tube at the bottom of the frame is at a different angle to the 850 one (why on earth did they do that?), so today I hacksawed a sliver out of the tops of the legs, heated and bashed the landing pads to the correct angle and welded them in place.

[Guest]

A bikini fairing arrived today, I'm going to fit it to my gs1100gk that I d-kayed a while ago. I removed from box, put it in shed. Looked at bike.
Thats it. ha! Oh dear. Cold here, and lack of motivation. Ok more my temperament than temperature. Feeling a little sad as I sold one of my GKs and now only have 2. Needed extra funds, works been a bit slow.

[GregT]

Yeah, cold here too. This time last year, I bought an LPG/fan heater for the workshop - light industrial size. Tried it out once then got the call to go in for surgery and basically spent last winter recovering. Pulled it out today and fired it up. 5 deg C to 18 deg C in 20 minutes. Nice.
So got into the DR125 engine. Big bore, mild cam, new rod kit,new seals, mild head work with new valves. Just the cam to dial in and valve to piston clearances to check and another one out the door.

[Baatfam]

Came across a storage box at the local Ace that looked just the right size to fit in the air box hole.
Wanted something in there to carry my tool roll, and a couple other things. Zipped tied in for now, looks like it will work..

[1978GS750E]

Spooned a new set of Shinko 230's on the GS1000 today. Waiting for the thunderstorms to pass so I can go out and scrape the "new" off of them! Gotta get 'em ready for next weekend in Bedford! Hope I don't have to see how well they work in the rain.

Also sealed the tank on the GS550. Man, that Caswell tank sealer is good stuff!

[cowboyup3371]

You'll love those tires in the rain

[1978GS750E]

Yeah maybe, but the only rain suit that I own has a big Harley Davidson emblem on the back! Will a GS run with someone wearing that on it?

[alke46]

Yeah maybe, but the only rain suit that I own has a big Harley Davidson emblem on the back! Will a GS run with someone wearing that on it?

NOPE...…. It probably will, I just don't want to be behind it all day.

[1978GS750E]

Don't worry Larry, I'm leaving the Street Glide at home. Of course, to ride it I need a doo-rag, sleeveless shirt, some tats and a vest!


Ron

[Guest]

My long term "fix all the wiring hijinks of the PO" is slowly coming to an end, and I couldn't be happier. Have maybe one more weekend of taking parts of the main harness off and actually soldering/heat shrinking wires that were previously just twisted together and covered in mounds of electrical tape. Also sanded and painted my side stand and center stand since those were showing rust and general wear in most areas.

[Larry D]

20190616_155115 by Larry Dennis, on Flickr