Hi everyone!
I'm here, I'm here!!! Bummed that I've had to be absent for so long, but between an intense work schedule returning and getting kicked in the face by life, I have had zero time for the bike. (I didn't get notification emails about your guy's messages on the board either...strange) The bike is alive and even though I've been a bad friend, he's still my friend, albeit grumpy.
I was really hoping to do the fork seal and replacement of the MC, brake line, and caliper inspection myself since, as you know, my goal has been to do this restore and modification myself. But considering my schedule and that I'd need to rent a DIY bay or another option just to do the forks and other factors, I had to bite the bullet and pay someone to do that job. So, I ordered the parts and they did the job. Bummed, but it is what it is and it's not like there isn't plenty more to do and learn myself. Good news is that now I have a new master cylinder on, new stainless brake line, new fork seals and fresh fork oil (they were both pretty empty). (There was a leak coming from the MC after I got it back, but it looks like they just didn't secure the right side screw all the way; been fine since that was screwed in all the way haha). Brakes are better, feels like I can actually get a hard, immediate stop. (Though I do think a brake upgrade is down the line.) Oh, the mechanic did say he saw a bit of corrosion on the outside of the caliper piston. I saw a pic: just looked like two shallow divots. I'll try to find a pic of something that looks similar and post
I can post links to the parts I got for reference when I have a sec but off to work now!
Next up: new gasket for right side oil cover; trace the oil leak culprit (coming down kickstand again like with pushrod seal leak); replace oil drain washers; suss out whether neutral switch is leaking and repair...
further down: address small leak from behind cam cover(s), valve adjustment...
Oh, and because I'm super smart I pulled away yesterday with my lock on the front wheel, so now I have a bent spoke
. From the quick google I did it seems like i'm still good to ride like this? If I tug on the spoke it will rock verrry slightly (compared to when I tug on the one next to it that doesn't rock)
Ps. as for the starting issue--I had drained the battery relying on the estart. Tenderized it and I was good. I just use the kick 90% of the time now. (I do it while on the bike, standing on left peg, kick with right, bike on side stand). Goes on first kick more often than not!