What Did You Do To Your Wing Today?

[Track T 2411]

Got a new battery and took Layla out for the first ride of the season. Spent an hour playing in an empty parking lot warming up my riding skills (and the tires, and the foot pegs a few times, lol), then took an easy cruise. Some back roads are still sandy from our last rain/ ice/ snow, so no curve carving today!

[Whiskerfish]

I think we’re pretty sure it’s not a piece of junk … take a nice picture … we need a BOTM …

Gord

She is no beauty queen for sure. I do have on picture of Old Fogey riding her on the Dragon I believe but that was with the stock exhaust. Hard to believe that it has been 15 years!!!

I did ride out to Windsor and get a tank of Fresh Gas in it. Seems to be running good.
I did not do a top end run but up to 90 or so she pulls steady and hard.

dragon pic 2 (Medium).jpg

[Fred Camper]

Nice bike for sure.

[rcmatt007]

interesting.... comstar wheels and a 78/9 exhaust... but 75-77 body panels

[sunnbobb]

Johnny Cash's bike

[Whiskerfish]

Front end is 78, exhaust is early 1000 just powder coated a light grey, tail light is 78, rear fender is HD. Frame is 75, engine I think is 77. I lost track she has had a few engines. Here is a thread devoted just to that viewtopic.php?t=27436&hilit=engines#p262696

[OhioBill]

I installed a Lithium battery in my 78. The reduced size allowed me to have a power distribution box beside it so I could clean up all the wires that were going to the battery posts. The battery despite it small size still has 350 cold cranking amps and only weights about 2 pounds.
Also stripped the forks off a 1200 that I purchased for parts. May eventually install on my 78.

[Whiskerfish]

That will be a nice upgrade

[todd54219]

IMG_3929.JPG

Time for some needed maintenance. Needed to do belts. While I had the radiator off, time to put the original hose clamps back on. Also time for new coolant. I try to replace it every 2-3 years. While I was down this far, I decided to adjust the valves, along with new valve cover gaskets. The main reason for all of this surgery was to repair leaking float bowls. I have about 6 -8 screws that were stripped and I had put in oversize screws. Last fall I noticed some indication of some leakage so off with the carbs. I am thinking of HELICOIL's. Maybe just re-tap for the next size up on the screws. Still trying to make up my mind which to one.

Need to decide and get it done as the weather here in Kansas CIty is warming up and I am ready to ride.

Todd

[Fred Camper]

Tough decision Todd, might do well to get another rack but that might come with a another set of problems. I feel your pain.

[todd54219]

Fred, it is not an easy choice. I do, however, have another old carb rack to test my choices. As you mentioned, I do not want to find a whole different rack. I do not want that can of worms. One way or another, I will fix my problem.

More to follow. I am going to the parts store to get a Helicoil kit and see what happens.

Todd

[robin1731]

IMO, the worst thing a person can do is put over size screws in the bowls. I've seen too many go through here like that. The best fix, not the cheapest, is to use time-certs. Of the correct size of course. They are fixed almost permanently that way. Helicoils in a pinch but any carbs that go through here with stripped bowl screws get time-certs.

[gltriker]

Fred, it is not an easy choice. I do, however, have another old carb rack to test my choices. As you mentioned, I do not want to find a whole different rack. I do not want that can of worms. One way or another, I will fix my problem.

More to follow. I am going to the parts store to get a Helicoil kit and see what happens.

Todd

viewtopic.php?p=830194#p830194

[Fred Camper]

Cliff has another method worth trying first. It still allows you to use time-certs later.

[sunnbobb]

Good luck!