Wordman's Build (with questions, answers, and suggestions)

I'm not dead, and neither is the project!

I really just thought I'd post that, since I've otherwise fallen off the face of the earth.

Lot's of goings on over the last 6 months. Prostate cancer/prostatectomy, sinus surgery, many, many huge headaches, the moving of a lot of tools and equipment from my parents' garage in NC to my own, and a few other issues I've probably forgotten about. If it ever stops raining here in East Tennessee, I'll build my shed, after which I should be able to get my garage in working order.

Shiny Side Up!
 
I'm not dead, and neither is the project!

I really just thought I'd post that, since I've otherwise fallen off the face of the earth.

sweat.gif
 
It is great to hear from you Wordman - I was concerned. Anyhow, chin-up, the quacks are pretty good on these issues and so you should perk up nicely when the decent weather returns.

Kind regards and keep in touch as you are able.

Pete
 
Another check-in, and this one's a good 'un!

I get chronic migraines (15 or more a month). The doc started me on a monoclonal antibody for migraines 20 July. Since then I've only had 3.

But it gets better. The first 2 were within a week after that first shot. Since the monoclonal antibody's job is to kill off a certain cell that leads to migraines, I figure it hadn't finished it's little execution squad duties. Removing those 2 (that first week), I've had 1 migraine in 2 months!

There is a portion of the migraine called the prodrome. This is the migraine before you feel any pain, and can be for 24 hours, or more, before the pain hits. One of the biggest symptoms of the prodrome is fatigue. Since starting the new drug, I have felt so much better, I can only describe it as a miracle. I think I've spent the better part of the last ten years in prodrome. I've been getting up earlier, getting out and working on the garage, the yard, etc. I swear I feel like I'm 25 again (and I'm not sure I felt like I was 25 when I was 25!).

So, to the progress...

Before I can get back on any projects, I have to get the garage up and running. When we bought the house, the inside of the garage had been half converted, half gutted, to create... Hell, I don't know what the guy had in mind. In any case, he'd done a poor job of blocking up one of the garage doors and the original entrance door. Not wanting to spend too much on a new roll up door, I removed the one from the right side of the garage and installed it in the newly reopened location, and built a set of barn doors for the right side opening. I've opened up the entrance door area and installed a new door there. I've also installed shelving at the back of the garage. Along with all of that, I've been out in the yard cutting up branches that hung too low, cutting down the overwhelming number of crappy little trees growing out behind the garage, and burning all the detritus.

This is what I started with:
IMG_0030.JPG


A pile of block removed from the door area:
IMG_0880.JPG


The doorway is opened!
IMG_0881.JPG


Shelving!
62000036920__2BFC3E1E-D9FA-4C4C-8C54-CB056A900240.JPG


Lots more to do, though. Up and at 'em!
 
Another check-in, and this one's a good 'un!

I get chronic migraines (15 or more a month). The doc started me on a monoclonal antibody for migraines 20 July. Since then I've only had 3.

But it gets better. The first 2 were within a week after that first shot. Since the monoclonal antibody's job is to kill off a certain cell that leads to migraines, I figure it hadn't finished it's little execution squad duties. Removing those 2 (that first week), I've had 1 migraine in 2 months!

There is a portion of the migraine called the prodrome. This is the migraine before you feel any pain, and can be for 24 hours, or more, before the pain hits. One of the biggest symptoms of the prodrome is fatigue. Since starting the new drug, I have felt so much better, I can only describe it as a miracle. I think I've spent the better part of the last ten years in prodrome. I've been getting up earlier, getting out and working on the garage, the yard, etc. I swear I feel like I'm 25 again (and I'm not sure I felt like I was 25 when I was 25!).

So, to the progress...

Before I can get back on any projects, I have to get the garage up and running. When we bought the house, the inside of the garage had been half converted, half gutted, to create... Hell, I don't know what the guy had in mind. In any case, he'd done a poor job of blocking up one of the garage doors and the original entrance door. Not wanting to spend too much on a new roll up door, I removed the one from the right side of the garage and installed it in the newly reopened location, and built a set of barn doors for the right side opening. I've opened up the entrance door area and installed a new door there. I've also installed shelving at the back of the garage. Along with all of that, I've been out in the yard cutting up branches that hung too low, cutting down the overwhelming number of crappy little trees growing out behind the garage, and burning all the detritus.

This is what I started with:
View attachment 176158

A pile of block removed from the door area:
View attachment 176159

The doorway is opened!
View attachment 176160

Shelving!
View attachment 176161

Lots more to do, though. Up and at 'em!

Congratulations buddy! So happy to hear you are getting a handle on a debilitating illness. Your garage is really coming along, good luck with your progress. Keep swinging!
 
Congratulations buddy! So happy to hear you are getting a handle on a debilitating illness. Your garage is really coming along, good luck with your progress. Keep swinging!

Thank you... It really is a miracle. It's such a difference I keep waiting for the "other shoe to drop." You know, where they suddenly have to pull the drug because it's killing people or something.

I still get the tension headaches (I'm a professional as it comes to headaches), but they are fewer and not as severe as they used to be thanks to an antispasmodic I take.

I really am blessed. Every day was a good day before the new meds, but they're even better now.
 
Hi Wordman - it is great to hear from you and wonderful to learn about your newfound freedom from those GD%$#@## migraines. They truly are a curse and something that a non-sufferer simply cannot fathom.

Your workshop is coming along great - just keep-on keepin' on! :bike:

Pete
 
Cheers to good health !

Hey, I have a question: do your shoes plug into something? Hope you don’t mind me asking, but it looks like something special going on.

View attachment 176185

No, what you see was just part of the shoe. When that pic was taken, I sold Mechanic's tools for a living (Cornwell/Independent), and Mechanix Wear had just come out with shoes. What you see sticking up is the loop you use to pull the tongue of the show up.

258783079_84df6b122c_b.jpg
 
We have doors!

IMG_0952.JPG


IMG_0953.JPG


We have a stereo (Have to have a shop stereo!)
IMG_0923.JPG


The "equipment side" of the shop. The lathe will be restored and assembled on the box you see it on, the bead blasting cabinet goes on the wooden stand, and the three side cabinets are for paint storage.
IMG_0955.JPG


The electrical station (connectors, wire, soldering gun, etc). The big Remline goes down to Florida (it's my dad's) after I go through it.
IMG_0957.JPG


Vice grip rack and parts washer.
IMG_0958.JPG

The workbench is under there somewhere... or so I am told.
IMG_0959.JPG

Spray can rack.
IMG_0939.JPG


Yesterday I brought 3 motorcycles to storage and brought home a boatload of "stuff" for the garage. I still need to put a few pieces of beadboard up and insulate the roof. I need to check on insulation prices, though. 2X4s are $6 each right now, so, if insulation prices have risen accordingly, I might wait a bit.

I've been researching crankshaft options for my old Triumph (after discovering I'd forgotten to protect my crank from rust). I think I'm going to go with a 76° billet crank from MAP Cycles.

The old crank:
62301832764__90FD803B-C7E1-4F55-AF32-90CD5014B110.JPG
 
More progress in the garage!

I brought several motorcycles to my storage unit (including the XS650 project) and brought a bunch of boxes of "stuff," along with my motorcycle workbench, home. Today I got the bench setup, the Triumph up on the bench, and the bead blasting bench set up, then started going through boxes.

The bead blasting cabinet and bench:
62405413928__522E37EA-F82B-4954-B986-BB781F753CAA.JPG


The Triumph up on the bench:
62405081211__75F5312B-6CC3-43FF-B955-12036F4F25C7.JPG


I'll be putting the Triumph together before working on the Yamaha. It will "look" mostly stock, but with a larger fuel tank, the XS front end, and a stroked, 76° engine. I haven't decided on exhaust, but it will be the stock down pipes with either stock mufflers or closed mouth Dunstall replicas.

I sent the deposit to MAP Cycles for the crank. I'll also be getting their Nikasil lined "billet" barrels.

The 76° crank I ordered (89mm stroke--same as a Norton):
82mm-76-Degree-T140-Crank.jpg


If you guys want' I'll keep you up to date on the Triumph build.
 
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