Tune Up part 1

Emma and I set a couple tappet clearances and gapped all the spark plugs today. I started Gunk-ing the carburetors (1 down, 3 to go) and wow! does that stuff eat the goo right off the carbs. Looking forward to adjusting idle once they're back on. On the down side, I didn't recognize there was a rubber tip on the end of the float valve... and into the pot it went. It came out looking ok but it's a no-no to put rubber in the carb cleaner. O well, I need a rebuild kit anyway...
1. Napco and Keyster appear to be the suppliers of choice - here's some folks selling the Keyster one, and here's a guy working out of his kitchen who wants to sell something similar but a lot cheaper. The 100% price variation (aka "too good to be true!") is just one of many things that makes me nervous about internet sales. Maybe later.
2. Economy Kit! Bowl gasket and the float valves... stock No.:+CB750RK... Yes!
3. or just the float valves? Hmm... need the gasket, so I don't think so.

The full carb kits are darned tempting since I can see some of the rubber is getting old, brittle, or flattened. AND both the kits appear to have the adjustable needles I'd want for pod air filters. Unfortunately the pod supplier is yet another question:
1. K&N's way cool tapered pod filters...
2. Dynoman's pretty cool knock-offs...
3. or maybe some dirt cheap no-name look-alikes.

So it looks like the CB750 uses a PD model (that's 28mm Keihin or "kay-heen" if you're keeping track). Sure enough, 105 mains and according to the stamp, 15A needles. But wait, there's more: all sorts of jet needles to try... and main jets... for cheap, Oy! No wonder people mess with carbueration all the time. They do it because they can! Ok, one thing at a time. and one carb at a time.

Tweaks

Put in 5hours Saturday... and before you shout "slacker!" just keep in mind it's unpaid... but the weather was so nice I figured I'd better take advantage of it. There was some little stuff I wanted to do: lose the ugly muffler hardware, adjust the clutch, tighten the chain. While I was at it I decided the case gaurds didn't look right, so I pulled them off. One engine mount bolt stripped on the way out, fooey. Fortunately, these guys (from Granby!) have J.I.S bolts and washers, and I found some chrome cap nuts here to make up for the ho-made stuff I keep finding from the previous owner.
Been reading a lot about powder coating. It's a lot cheaper than I expected, and there's a lot of local suppliers. I'm thinking the lower fork tubes would look better re-coated, maybe an Edward Gorey color scheme.

Side Covers

Right side cover is absent - not shown - and left side is cracked into several pieces. Not a big deal to me except that when I'm leaning it against myself I often end up putting a hip into this cover, and it clicks & reminds me that it's broken.

Options for repair or replacement appear to include:

1. Do nothing. always available! Sounds good for now!
2. Buy some exceedingly expensive originals. Wait for them to break, too - and in some cases they arrive broken. No, thank you.
3. Buy some pricey aftermarket refits- $100 on ebay and I'm in bizness (assuming they're not gone before I make up my mind). Finish is not so great... Probably later.
4. Make my own! Which is why I posted this in the first place. Dr. Crash has some great online tutorials on vacuum forming plastic, very entertaining & inspiring. With some fiberglas on the inside they'd be pretty strong... appearance limited by a combination of the artist's ability and deranged imagination. Sure, why not?
   

Decisions, decisions. What message, or what symbol would or should one place in a ho-made side cover panel? Too slick and/or clever and you keep them longer, more botchy and the $100 versions from the UK show up sooner. Alternatively, pay attention to the cost of the "cheap" vacuum former and determine that buying a better part makes more sense... sort of like the replacement seat experience, below...

Plates, Permits, Morbid Corporate Wagers

Sure would be nice to see a title... Andy wouldn't just sign the title over, wanted to be a dealer about it and gave me an RD-108 instead. Hopefully I don't end up with a salvage title. Regardless I want a plate from Ms. Land pretty soon now. No helmet is probably more obvious than no plate, but after spending time in helmet-optional states the plate feels more official.

No permit is probably more subtle than no helmet and no plate. I wonder, too: after 180 days of "temporary permit," I might be ready to sell the bike. My eyesight has been deteriorating so the vision test may be discouraging... maybe three out of four is good enough. Here's the link. Ms. Land also says there's seven testable skills between you and unfettered two wheelerdom. Alternatively one takes the 2 or 3 day class, that is, if there were any space available in it.

Equally difficult to observe would be the lack of insurance. Charlotte says we can add insurance with a phone call; I think she means more life insurance but I hear motorcycle insurance. "Hey I bet I wreck and die!" "Well we're betting our lawyers can weasel us out of this bet."

So, other than a helmet, a plate, a permit and insurance I'm ready! On the plus side it looks pretty easy to adjust the clutch. I'm concerned because the engage/disengage point is nearly fully out on the lever... hopefully there's still some paper on the clutch, and all I have to do is reset the apply point.

Reseated

A lumpy but improved profile. Look closely... the bars moved forward as well.

With the benefit of hindsight I think a seat kit would have made more sense.

Ho-made risers & slotted screws

Begone!

Zinc slotted -> black cap, bars moved ~1.4" toward's Supreme Adviser Soichiro's intent.

Re-bar and de-throned

wife suggested a blog, I heard "online parts wish list"

Fixed up Robert's trailer (thanks again! we all miss you & Crystal): new wood (should have gone 3/4" on the floor), new tail lights & ho-made brackets for them, and rewired. Two @ 3 hour round trips, brought Emma on the first one and had a great time with her; trip #2 I brought E-n-K. One daughter per long ride is the best bet for getting them to talk, I think.

The Saddleman(tm) double bucket w/backrest & luggage rack really bugs me. Plus, the luggage rack won't let the seat open. My immediate options include:

1. Do nothing: lowest cost option but I have to hold up one hand to block my view of the rear end when I'm looking at the bike. Carries has the benefit of being uncomfortable for both me and the passenger (we tried), improves my life expectancy by making me reluctant to sit on it as well as look at it. NO.
   
2. Rebuild the seat. Vinyl: 20$/yd -40% off coupon + $12 Proctor-Silex electric carving knife, probably need new push nuts (very cheap) & sundry hardware. High entertainment value. Rework may be required. Possible bragging dividends, probable shameful & ambiguous attempts at denial. YES.
   
3. Get a kit: here's one... decent prices - which is good because option 2 may not work out. MAYBE LATER.
   
4. Buy an entire seat: wild variation price & availability. Sitting on an additional 25% over the purchase price seems unjust... cost containment rules this out. NO.