As many know from earlier post, a yellow 1970 750s fell into my possesion. After getting some great advise on the forum to not make a cafe out of the bike, but get it running and sell it and buy a cafe already done, that was the plan. Rebuilt carbs, bought correct exhaust and polished the heck out of her. Filled fluids and started her up. Ran great but tranny leaked really bad....can't sell it like that! Decided to rebuild trans with new bearings, gaskets and oil seals. (bothered me anyway to sell the bike with original layshaft bearing). Couldn't get transmission out of the frame without pulling rear isolastic shaft out. Knowing I'd probably never get the shaft back in, purchased new , adjustable isolastics. Couldn't replace just the back one...that would make it hodgepodged. Bought front and rear. Boy, them swingarm bushings will screw up the ride, and its so close to being a good rider, ordered swingarm bushings and related items. Its a real shame selling such a nice bike when those front forks springs are the only thing standing in the way of perfection! Too bad that fiberglass gas tank is gonna hurt the sale! And those tires are really old and worn. The new tires really look nice mounted up! Screw it...I fell in love with the ol gal. So I'm keeping her. The only problem is I hate yellow!
How "just clean it up and sell it" turns into full resto?
- Thread starter kempoyner
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Re: How "just clean it up and sell it" turns into full resto
Another post here just now asked how to stop that snowball. ! Good question, by the way...
So time to buy another tank and sidecovers, and keep this set for when you sell it (!).
Or paint it in wash-off watercolor.....
kempoyner said:
Another post here just now asked how to stop that snowball. ! Good question, by the way...
So time to buy another tank and sidecovers, and keep this set for when you sell it (!).
Or paint it in wash-off watercolor.....
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Re: How "just clean it up and sell it" turns into full resto
That is a beautiful definition of 'Project Creep'
I put my 850 together back in '08. Oil tank cracked in February after about 12000 miles. Get the tank out, and I notice my Pakistani gas tank is weeping at the back corner. Oh well, going to the welder anyway. May as well pull off the inner primary and have him re-do the chain guard. With the primary off, I can see the side stand lug has a crack on the weld. Since I'm going to the welder, may as well strip the bike down and have him weld that up.
Since I'm pulling the engine out, I may as well break it down and bead blast the crank case - it was a mistake to clear coat it - thing turned yellow after a few heat cycles. May as well bead blast the head, too. Valves are a bit worn. Since I'm stripping the head to blast it, may as well put new valves in it. Everything else looks good in the engine. Check out the tranny and bead blast the cases as long as I've got the cabinet down from the attic. Looks like 2nd gear is a bit sketchy. May as well do new bearings. Didn't do that first time - they were fine, but one sounds a little noisy, and since I'm in there, may as well go all new. Primary chain looks good. Only about 8000 miles on it (first one broke at 85 on the highway).
As long as the bike is stripped, guess I'll go for the Cosentino fork inserts, and while I'm at it, should I go with Hagon or Ikon? I like the look of the Ikons and the adjustability, so Ikon it is.
I liked the Red I painted the bike originally, which I think was a '71 color, but man, that Candy on the Ranger is sweet - and I've got the paint. Picked up a spare tank for the P11 and that's gotta be painted anyway, may as well paint all four pieces at the same time.
Finally get the bike all together and fill it with fluids - the oil tank is weeping! OK, out comes the tank, re-weld it (I swear it was oil-tight back in April), back in the bike, start it up.
One rocker spindle weeping a little - re-do the gasket. Won't idle down on the right side. Re-rout the throttle cable - lower cable hanging up in the splitter, re-rout solves this and carbs balance nicely. First time I built it, I was three months sorting it.
$3400 oil tank repair and 8 months to do it.
That is a beautiful definition of 'Project Creep'
I put my 850 together back in '08. Oil tank cracked in February after about 12000 miles. Get the tank out, and I notice my Pakistani gas tank is weeping at the back corner. Oh well, going to the welder anyway. May as well pull off the inner primary and have him re-do the chain guard. With the primary off, I can see the side stand lug has a crack on the weld. Since I'm going to the welder, may as well strip the bike down and have him weld that up.
Since I'm pulling the engine out, I may as well break it down and bead blast the crank case - it was a mistake to clear coat it - thing turned yellow after a few heat cycles. May as well bead blast the head, too. Valves are a bit worn. Since I'm stripping the head to blast it, may as well put new valves in it. Everything else looks good in the engine. Check out the tranny and bead blast the cases as long as I've got the cabinet down from the attic. Looks like 2nd gear is a bit sketchy. May as well do new bearings. Didn't do that first time - they were fine, but one sounds a little noisy, and since I'm in there, may as well go all new. Primary chain looks good. Only about 8000 miles on it (first one broke at 85 on the highway).
As long as the bike is stripped, guess I'll go for the Cosentino fork inserts, and while I'm at it, should I go with Hagon or Ikon? I like the look of the Ikons and the adjustability, so Ikon it is.
I liked the Red I painted the bike originally, which I think was a '71 color, but man, that Candy on the Ranger is sweet - and I've got the paint. Picked up a spare tank for the P11 and that's gotta be painted anyway, may as well paint all four pieces at the same time.
Finally get the bike all together and fill it with fluids - the oil tank is weeping! OK, out comes the tank, re-weld it (I swear it was oil-tight back in April), back in the bike, start it up.
One rocker spindle weeping a little - re-do the gasket. Won't idle down on the right side. Re-rout the throttle cable - lower cable hanging up in the splitter, re-rout solves this and carbs balance nicely. First time I built it, I was three months sorting it.
$3400 oil tank repair and 8 months to do it.
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Re: How "just clean it up and sell it" turns into full resto
Better have a close look at the Carbs & Ignition too .
While youre at it . :lol: :wink:
Better have a close look at the Carbs & Ignition too .
While youre at it . :lol: :wink:
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Re: How "just clean it up and sell it" turns into full resto
This is so true!, I bought a 67' Triumph Bonnie to make into my dream bike, started that but a friend had a 75' MKIII he wanted to sell. He said it just needed to be cleaned up to ride it. I wanted a bike to ride while i restore the Bonnie, so I buy the 850. A quick clean-up and I would be riding. Triumph gets taken off the lift, Norton goes up and i start cleaning. A few years in the Navy and 30 yrs on the Fire dept. teach me how to really clean something up! After a complete resto with a ton of mods (and bucks) I am only waiting for my FullAuto head to finish my "clean-up". The Bonnie is in boxes all over the garage still waiting and the Norton is now my dream bike!
This is so true!, I bought a 67' Triumph Bonnie to make into my dream bike, started that but a friend had a 75' MKIII he wanted to sell. He said it just needed to be cleaned up to ride it. I wanted a bike to ride while i restore the Bonnie, so I buy the 850. A quick clean-up and I would be riding. Triumph gets taken off the lift, Norton goes up and i start cleaning. A few years in the Navy and 30 yrs on the Fire dept. teach me how to really clean something up! After a complete resto with a ton of mods (and bucks) I am only waiting for my FullAuto head to finish my "clean-up". The Bonnie is in boxes all over the garage still waiting and the Norton is now my dream bike!
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