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Finished!!!!! rethinking a 1200

Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 2:18 pm
by rcmatt007
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to give a bit of history. We got our first sidecar in 1980 when we were expecting our first child (a California sidecar)
with the second child we up sized to a motorvation, which never handled well and with the weight and big flat windscreen overwhelmed the 78 at times. Here we are pulling into my parents in Sedona AZ on the way back from a St. Louis to SoCal trip (1985 or 6)--I guess that means redwood has been on two wheels for nearly 30 years
In 1988 we bought our 1200. Honda had come out with the GL1500 and was cleaning out the wear houses (more on that later) and the price was right. We sold off the motorvation sidecar and bought an EML conversion (cost more than the 1200).
Initially I painted the rough gel-coat sidecar white (couldn't find a picture). Then I painted it the same two tone candy apple blue as my 78 and about 93 or so matched up the bike. That is when I discovered that Honda LITERALLY cleaned up the wear houses. On various parts there were three paint schemes under the wineberry, and on some parts there were two schemes under it.

When I was in Oregon starting residency, the bike had an argument with a tree. The EML front end, fairing, shelter cover and handle bars lost the argument. So I tore it all apart. I started to rebuild it (no pictures, sorry) and discovered ebay. Anyway, the frame was from a breaker in Georgia (it is now an 85), and the needed parts from various places. I sold the EML sidecar, and then painted it the color of my current HD. Redwood did not like that color on it, sooo.....

In 2003 we moved back to Oklahoma and bought a motorvation spyder sidecar. This was all painted at a storage facility (lest than optimal) and I never was happy with the results, and the top coat urethane started peeling

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Re: rethinking a 1200

Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 2:22 pm
by rcmatt007
so what better time than when I have the engine out to replace the stator to rethink the 1200 (I have never "named" bikes, it is simple the 1200 or the 86 wing (even though legally it is now an 85)). So time to wave good bye
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pile o-parts
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a shining repainted engine
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and away we go

Re: rethinking a 1200

Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 2:27 pm
by fish
thanks RC!
it ig good to hear the back story action1

Re: rethinking a 1200

Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 2:32 pm
by rcmatt007
remember I mentioned urethane over lacquer. What I learned in '02 is that ALL of the urethane MUST come off the lacquer or any paint you lay down will lift the urethane and ruin the paint job. You can see the top clear coat here.

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this piece is a particular challenge because of the deep crannies. I actually let it soak in some lacquer thinner and it lifted everything off.
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leaving behind a big pile of dust
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Re: rethinking a 1200

Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 2:43 pm
by Neil
And, you are of course wearing a mask while sanding.

Re: rethinking a 1200

Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 5:10 pm
by rcmatt007
no, but I am blowing out blue boogers.

Re: rethinking a 1200

Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 6:17 pm
by Casper
I'd only worry if your pee is also Blue. ;)

Re: rethinking a 1200

Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 6:28 pm
by wingrider
Oh Rodger....you docs should always know better! I have to admit, the RT in me cringes when I hear that, yet I have been caught doing the exact same thing!

Re: rethinking a 1200

Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 6:57 pm
by rcmatt007
Casper wrote:I'd only worry if your pee is also Blue. ;)
there actually is a pill you can take that does just that!

yeah, I admit, I know better..... will scrounge some masks at work tomorrow

Re: rethinking a 1200

Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 7:41 pm
by wingrider
rcmatt007 wrote:
Casper wrote:...snip....
will scrounge some masks at work tomorrow
Ha ha...that's where mine come from too! anim-cheers1

Re: rethinking a 1200

Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 7:59 pm
by rcmatt007
I really did not expect to get so much done today. Still have to the two boxes, and bottom of the trunk. The fairing, sidecar and one other piece is across the state. The sander was really to remove as much of the clear coat first. Everything then will get wet-sanded.

Redwood really liked the color combination I did on the 79 project (the photobucket link in my sig). I have wondered about doing a gold pin stripe instead of silver. However, from eastwood, it looks like I would have to buy a gallon. Way too much for just pin striping.

Did wake up last night realizing (once again) I am at that age of having some mild arthritis in my hands..... holding the sander in my right hand "shook" thing up a bit.

Re: rethinking a 1200

Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 9:22 am
by KYpondman
Great thread Rodger. +1 on the back story. I look forward to seeing this in person when it is finished.
Claude

Re: rethinking a 1200

Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 12:04 pm
by rcmatt007
got home too late last night to start wet sanding. Washed off the parts I did, and you can still see little bits an peices of the clear coat, but that will remove with wet sanding. This weekend I plan on tackeling the sidecar and fairing.

Re: rethinking a 1200

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2015 5:39 pm
by rcmatt007
this weekend it was time to put the engine back in
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With JBZ's suggestion I tied up the carbs out of the way
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A real tight fit
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as they say.... it is always one broken part away from spending real money...
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that took most the morning and then it was off to an Easter egg hunt with out grandson. Next weekend more sanding on plastic, especially the nooks and crannies. I also thought, as long as it is apart. Pull the muffler and renew the black paint.

Re: rethinking a 1200

Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 8:04 am
by rcmatt007
took off the muffler to clean it up and repaint the horseshoe part and discover the left muffler to frame bolt was missing. We have a trailer hitch on the bike which also uses this mount. The trailer hitch part sat on the muffler and dented and eventuall made a hole. So I took some flat steel stock and made a patch. not the prettiest, but it covers the hole

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