Spring isn't far off, and it's warm enough to start on the pre-season maintenance and upgrades on my '79 Special.
First project is doing the Minton mods to my forks. I have one side done, just took a lunch break before starting on the other, and had a few observations:
1. I made the tool for removing the dampers by welding a 17mm bolt to a spare extension I had in my junk toolbox. Less chance of dropping things inside the tube that way. Also have a 24" extension so I don't have to stack extensions to reach the damper.
2. I'm doing it without taking the fork tubes out of the triple clamps. Dropped the wheel, fender and brake caliper, then when the bolt is out, I can just drop the lowers off the fork tubes. Saves all that dicking around with the headlight mounts.
3. I have a 36" tube brush that just happens to be the right size so I can stick it down the fork tube, shove it into the bore of the damper and haul the whole thing out through the top. Just have to undo the handlebars.
Two things I noticed about the writeup:
1. The instructions call for a #54 bit to "slightly enlarge" the small hole on the top of the damper and drill it through to the other side. The hole in my dampers is much closer to a #48.
2. The instructions call for two new 1/4" holes in the bottom of the damper. The holes in my damper are much closer to 3/16ths.
Are these differences likely due to changes over the different model years?
I adjusted drill sizes to match what I had, on the assumption that the mods will still be valid. Did I screw up there?
Also have new shocks and springs for the rear coming from 650 Central, carb boots from JBM and throttle shaft seals from Boats.net
C'moooooooooooooooon, SPRING!
First project is doing the Minton mods to my forks. I have one side done, just took a lunch break before starting on the other, and had a few observations:
1. I made the tool for removing the dampers by welding a 17mm bolt to a spare extension I had in my junk toolbox. Less chance of dropping things inside the tube that way. Also have a 24" extension so I don't have to stack extensions to reach the damper.
2. I'm doing it without taking the fork tubes out of the triple clamps. Dropped the wheel, fender and brake caliper, then when the bolt is out, I can just drop the lowers off the fork tubes. Saves all that dicking around with the headlight mounts.
3. I have a 36" tube brush that just happens to be the right size so I can stick it down the fork tube, shove it into the bore of the damper and haul the whole thing out through the top. Just have to undo the handlebars.
Two things I noticed about the writeup:
1. The instructions call for a #54 bit to "slightly enlarge" the small hole on the top of the damper and drill it through to the other side. The hole in my dampers is much closer to a #48.
2. The instructions call for two new 1/4" holes in the bottom of the damper. The holes in my damper are much closer to 3/16ths.
Are these differences likely due to changes over the different model years?
I adjusted drill sizes to match what I had, on the assumption that the mods will still be valid. Did I screw up there?
Also have new shocks and springs for the rear coming from 650 Central, carb boots from JBM and throttle shaft seals from Boats.net
C'moooooooooooooooon, SPRING!