'73 TX about 70% done.
started with a couple of bikes and sold off the tanks and side covers and used a nice RD400 tank from the local vintage bike salvage. that required some careful frame mods to reset the rubber mounts etc...
frame was de-tabbed, hardest part of that being removing the passenger footpeg sheet metal assemblies. they are a PITA. stock 34mm forks were also cleaned up, with new seals, and wire wheeled trees. clip on bars from a CBR (with shims), and a stainless brake line for firm response from the disassembled and cleaned caliper. recycled a pair of rear shocks lying around suitable for solo riding. cleaned up and used the great looking shouldered rim wheelset that had good tires already mounted
modded the footpegs with welded on knurled steel tube, redesigned the brake pedal, used a piece of aluminum bar stock for rear drum brake stay, and also added a little hook axle adjuster device i like to use to insure that the axle stays where you put it- and the wheel doesn't shift under hard accel.
had a very good road tested 18K motor, so no rebuild. 40 hours of clean up, detailing, paint, adjustments, exhaust porting (you can hog out a fair amount of material from the outside if you know what you're doing...), new 7/6 clutch plates with socket screw mod and heavy duty springs, kick only PMA with 2nd generation welded stator bracket and slotted cover plate for cooling. miraculously, both oil filters were in great shape, with no crud in sump and just very minor debris in side filter- both thoroughly cleaned with new gaskets all around as required.
just as a note re using those Dorman freeze plugs to permanently block off the E-start hole: that is a procedure that could be frought with serious peril, as in busting your lower motor case. they DO NOT hammer right in as is, or at least not in a '73 motor. i know better than to wail away on such a relatively fragile casting. i've done two of these, and anything more than a .010-.012" interference fit is asking for trouble. i was able to chuck the plugs in my lathe and shave a bit off the plug OD, plus i use some copper based silicone gasket maker.......
refurbished a pair of 34mm VM snowmobile carbs with proper brass. forgot to add pics... they will be installed with the aluminum intakes i fabbed and welded up today. made 3 sets for a couple other bikes.
complete re-wire next with Andrews coil, custom 2 into 1 exhaust, seat pan, various details. hope to fire it up within 2-3 weeks. note the appropriate Halloween color scheme.
started with a couple of bikes and sold off the tanks and side covers and used a nice RD400 tank from the local vintage bike salvage. that required some careful frame mods to reset the rubber mounts etc...
frame was de-tabbed, hardest part of that being removing the passenger footpeg sheet metal assemblies. they are a PITA. stock 34mm forks were also cleaned up, with new seals, and wire wheeled trees. clip on bars from a CBR (with shims), and a stainless brake line for firm response from the disassembled and cleaned caliper. recycled a pair of rear shocks lying around suitable for solo riding. cleaned up and used the great looking shouldered rim wheelset that had good tires already mounted
modded the footpegs with welded on knurled steel tube, redesigned the brake pedal, used a piece of aluminum bar stock for rear drum brake stay, and also added a little hook axle adjuster device i like to use to insure that the axle stays where you put it- and the wheel doesn't shift under hard accel.
had a very good road tested 18K motor, so no rebuild. 40 hours of clean up, detailing, paint, adjustments, exhaust porting (you can hog out a fair amount of material from the outside if you know what you're doing...), new 7/6 clutch plates with socket screw mod and heavy duty springs, kick only PMA with 2nd generation welded stator bracket and slotted cover plate for cooling. miraculously, both oil filters were in great shape, with no crud in sump and just very minor debris in side filter- both thoroughly cleaned with new gaskets all around as required.
just as a note re using those Dorman freeze plugs to permanently block off the E-start hole: that is a procedure that could be frought with serious peril, as in busting your lower motor case. they DO NOT hammer right in as is, or at least not in a '73 motor. i know better than to wail away on such a relatively fragile casting. i've done two of these, and anything more than a .010-.012" interference fit is asking for trouble. i was able to chuck the plugs in my lathe and shave a bit off the plug OD, plus i use some copper based silicone gasket maker.......
refurbished a pair of 34mm VM snowmobile carbs with proper brass. forgot to add pics... they will be installed with the aluminum intakes i fabbed and welded up today. made 3 sets for a couple other bikes.
complete re-wire next with Andrews coil, custom 2 into 1 exhaust, seat pan, various details. hope to fire it up within 2-3 weeks. note the appropriate Halloween color scheme.
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