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so it is time - looking at my '78

Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2018 11:31 am
by rcmatt007
Most of you know I have had my '78 since... well 1978. The past few years it has mostly sat, as I been working elsewhere. We are now consolidating everything in one place and it was time to take a look at my first "child" which has sadly gotten long in the tooth. But first a little history from my log book...
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the first page
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1995 when the bike turned 100,000
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the last entry--YIKES nearly three years ago :shock:
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and in the compartment, a little friend I picked up in 1979. I heard this click, click, click as the nail hit the swing arm... through the sidewall, but not into the tire/tube
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Re: so it is time - looking at my '78

Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2018 11:34 am
by rcmatt007
but here is the reason it needs some TLC... the outside still looks great, but it is all the nooks and crannies...
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Re: so it is time - looking at my '78

Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2018 11:37 am
by rcmatt007
so beginning the process...
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it is amazing how different it looks at this stage.... almost similar to Beth's softail when the rear seat is off
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Re: so it is time - looking at my '78

Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2018 11:59 am
by 5speed
awesome..another build thread. :)
love the colour.

Re: so it is time - looking at my '78

Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2018 12:39 pm
by rcmatt007
that actually is something I am going to change. It was painted 25+ years ago.... I still love it, but it was three stage, two tone candy lacquer. I was thinking of pacific pearl blue (an HD color) which is a little darker, and add back in the original pin-stripes. The other reason is the frame and sub-frame parts needs work so it will last another 40 years (I will be 104).

Re: so it is time - looking at my '78

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2018 1:10 am
by FrontRunner
I like it.

Re: so it is time - looking at my '78

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2018 6:05 am
by rcmatt007
I had been thinking of re-doing this bike for some time, but almost three years ago I had a carb flooding, and now that I am living in one place... anyway, recently rebuilt the carbs (with a Randakk kit) and now that my tools are here. I powder coated the bowels,
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and a couple of extras
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Re: so it is time - looking at my '78

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2018 6:05 am
by rcmatt007
the carb tops were painted with silver engine paint when I had them all apart

Re: so it is time - looking at my '78

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2018 2:14 pm
by Rat
Your carbs have bowels ?? :shock:

Must be custom work

Gord anim-cheers1

Re: so it is time - looking at my '78

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2018 2:23 pm
by rcmatt007
and ulcerative colitis..... then there was the paper I wrote in seminary which referred to angles....

Re: so it is time - looking at my '78

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2018 3:40 pm
by sunnbobb
Cool beans. Interesting to see how the MPG slowly increaed on average until about 15K. Thinking that log is a good read on how these engines break in.

Re: so it is time - looking at my '78

Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2018 9:17 am
by rcmatt007
starting to look nekkid - the heads are off as I am sending them off to robin for new valve guides and the work over. One of those jobs I could no doubt learn, but why not send to an expert
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while I am at it... lots of powder coating and painting

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Re: so it is time - looking at my '78

Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2018 9:19 am
by rcmatt007
I have heard if you look up OCD… there is my picture... but little details... no one will ever see the timing belt pullies, but after 40 years there was a dusting of surface rust...
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Re: so it is time - looking at my '78

Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2018 9:54 am
by 5speed
looking good.

Re: so it is time - looking at my '78

Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2018 11:40 am
by Track T 2411
Nice!