Hope you guess my name ( new member, sort of )

[John Regular]

OK, another update on the cafftracbratskitcase. I have the wiring almost done, well roughed in place anyway, save for the rear brake switch. I'm trying to figure out how to mount the master cylinder. It's aftermarket and doesn't fit where the stock unit mounts. In fact I couldn't find anywhere between the frame and swing arm where it wouldn't run into some obstruction or get smooshed by the swing arm. I saw some use similar MCs from reading threads, Adamc's tracker uses one with rear sets and another bike has a similar MC used with mids although the brake pedal looks modified (can't seem to find his build but you all will recognize the bike). I think the PO was having trouble with this as well. When I bought the bike the MC and brakes were installed and the MC was zip tied to the frame. In the big ole box of parts I found partial rear sets and a brake pedal with the lever part cut off of the pivot. I thought WTF good is this and ordered another one off eBay. So... I don't have the complete rear sets and don't have the complete picture of how the other bike was done ( sorry ,don't know what thread to site) I think that I want to mount it to keep mid controls and will dig some more to find that thread unless someone clues me in first. Here's the pics and pics of what I've got.
I also found a cool looking headlight while I was looking for the parts. Let me know what you guys think.

 

[John Regular]

OK, another update on the cafftracbratskitcase. I have the wiring almost done, well roughed in place anyway, save for the rear brake switch. I'm trying to figure out how to mount the master cylinder. It's aftermarket and doesn't fit where the stock unit mounts. In fact I couldn't find anywhere between the frame and swing arm where it wouldn't run into some obstruction or get smooshed by the swing arm. I saw some use similar MCs from reading threads, Adamc's tracker uses one with rear sets and another bike has a similar MC used with mids although the brake pedal looks modified (can't seem to find his build but you all will recognize the bike). I think the PO was having trouble with this as well. When I bought the bike the MC and brakes were installed and the MC was zip tied to the frame. In the big ole box of parts I found partial rear sets and a brake pedal with the lever part cut off of the pivot. I thought WTF good is this and ordered another one off eBay. So... I don't have the complete rear sets and don't have the complete picture of how the other bike was done ( sorry ,don't know what thread to site) I think that I want to mount it to keep mid controls and will dig some more to find that thread unless someone clues me in first. Here's the pics and pics of what I've got.
View attachment 338746View attachment 338747View attachment 338748View attachment 338749View attachment 338750 I also found a cool looking headlight while I was looking for the parts. Let me know what you guys think.

The other bike is Sumotracker, Ratranger's I'm thinking something like this setup for my rear brake

 

[John Regular]

This happened

Nothing really to celebrate yet. The running lights work, the front brake switch activates the brakelights the rear nada, Turn signal buttons didn't seem to work and the I got the left signal to turn on, off? not so much. The computer gauge cycles on and off and the indicator lights are all fucky. Does anyone have any experience with Acewell gauges?
I'm pretty sure that some of the problem is between the 2 modules they bot have one button to control multiple things which I'm beginning to think isn't such a great idea especially for motorcycle hand controls. I have to go find the instructions which are minimal to say the leaste. I think it was like push the button one time to turn blinkers on 2 times to turn of 3 will turn on the brights hold button for 3 seconds to turn off the brights....And something similar to program the gauge. The wire colors coming from the module do not match any of the wires from the gauge or any components save for black/ground or earth depending on where you live. So that's where I'm at with wiring I still need to figure out how to mount that rear brake MC. Going to go do some brainless work like remove rust and polish chrome. 21A out.

 

[John Regular]

So I haven't been working on the Xs a lot lately as I have been trying to deal with another bike having issues. A couple of days ago we had nice weather and I attempted to take My Speed Triple out for a ride, however, when I started it up I noticed what was either white smoke or steam coming out the tailpipes. I immediately shut it off and started thinking what it might be. hopefully condensation burning off and not that other thing that I don't want to say out loud. I decided to check forums for input and and got check coolant level, watch to see if steam rises or stays lower, do rpms change, does it smell like coolant....It was a sunny day but still cold and we have a lot of humidity where I live so I was pretty sure It's just condensation also because it came out of the left exhaust first the low point. Well I pulled the rad cap off and coolant starts pouring out, not bursting but like you left the sink cracked open a bit. From what I understand about Car radiators, that shouldn't happen. I checked again tonight and a little more came out and the rest settled at the top of the filler.
The reservoir is just below the low mark, wont start, the oil and coolant lights are lit up but oil level appears fine. Could this be anything other than a blown youknowwhat? It was serviced 2 years ago and the radiator was flushed then. It hasn't been ridden much since and has been stored in a tent garage outside. Before I go spend half the blue book value of it on repairs I'm trying find other options, I even joined the Speed Triple forum but haven't asked them yet. I have to prepare for that exchange, get in the zone. Maybe get some tattoos ro piercings, spike my hair, drink a bunch of Red Bull and learn some witty come backs like "your mom or Deez Nuts!" Well, good or bad, let me know what you think.

 

[John Regular]

Update: No significant progress to report, in fact, I'm seriously considering taking a step backward and restarting the whole electrical system mainly because these little fuckers


They leave the bars looking all clean and uncluttered with lines but there are only 2 of them to control 14 functions with a series of pushings of said 2 buttons. For example; 1 "tap" ,as the instructions call it, of the left button activates the turn signal, 1 tap more is off, 2 taps turns on the high beams 2 taps more is back to low beam, 3 taps turns headlight off, three taps more low beams come on, hold left button down the horn is activated, tap left then right quickly the hazards come on.

That's just the left control button but you get my point right? What could go wrong? Well I did get all the functions to function just not when I wanted them too. I know there are connections that need to be checked and grounds and such but I couldn't always get the buttons to make contact when pushing them in series like trying to turn the headlight back on and it only registers 1 tap so the blinker come. Frantically trying to get the blinker to turn off but it wont naturally I "tap" harder. The horn goes off and it's fucking loud!

Furthermore the buttons have such a little throw and small diameter it's difficult to tell if you have pushed it far enough. the way that they are tapered makes a sharp edge around the button which is irritating and also,

I really need to cut my nails, how much more difficult is it going to be when you are wearing gloves?

Dee sucks ting is ( that's what my Samoan friend used to say "what really sucks about this") if I do decide that I can't live with these controls it probably means getting another module because I believe that that one is programmed for al the outputs to work off of those 2 buttons.


I"m sure that some of yous guys could make it work but I would probably just glue something bigger to the top of the button like another button. That's where I am at. So now I am going to go look for BSA parts that may or may not be hidden in the labyrinth that is my garage.

 

[Downeaster]

I think you're doing the Right Thing. That system looks like a nightmare when it's working, much less when (not if...) it craps out.

 

[Its been a long time]

I think you're doing the Right Thing. That system looks like a nightmare when it's working, much less when (not if...) it craps out.

Agreed, I couldn't cope with having to "think" about which buttons to press and how many times. I think for safety, you really don't want that kind of distraction. Those buttons look cool on a bike that's more for show than real world use. In my opinion, of course.

 

[John Regular]

You guys are never going to believe this....it all works. At least everything that I tried. I didn't try to kick start it on the stand and didn't get the multi meter out but all the signals, lights , neutral indicator, Definitely the horn works as stated. It still sucks that there are only 2 buttons but for now I think that I will hold of on a total reset.

Well how did you do it?

Me in regular me fashion went out and wiggled a few wires tightened some ground wires turned the ignition on, let out a big sigh of doubt and "tapped" the right button. the turn signal came on but there was quite a delay so tapped it again, and I mean like barely touched it and in about 7/8 of a second it goes off. I tested all the other functions and they worked as they were supposed to.

I was too impatient and pushing too fast expecting something to work instantaneously and got errors or whatever. I still need t dial in the speedo indicator lights but Neutral works and that's all I care about, and the backlight. So still not Ideal but better.

Oh also wanted to add, I had to unstuck my clutch to get it into neutral to test the indicator so read some threads and kick startered it free. The Xs gurus suggested lubing the cable with motor oil, I didn't want to make a mess so came up with this
I used to have goats and they got sick, still had one of these left over. It feels like I'm fixin' a horse race

 

[John Regular]

"Pieces were stolen from me, dare I say, hidden away"
a short story by TMI

That brain of mine has out smarted me once again. Instead of giving me the answers it sends me on an epic quest to discover what it already knows. This doesn't really have anything to do with the Xs other than the last thing that I said was I was going to go look for BSA parts.

So 14 years ago I bought a rolling basket case BSA A50, some know this already from other posts, and I have been dragging this thing around with me intending to restore it one day. I had all the parts and shiny pieces is totes stored in my garage ( before it became a storage unit for family friends, and other A-holes) and the chassis under a shed roof.

The past 4-5 years stuff got moved around with people moving in and out and someone put a bunch of my stuff including the totes of parts, out in an old chicken coop. The roof leaked, so did the totes and a bunch of stuff rusted. Luckily the tank, headers and a chrome chain guard had stayed in the garage but I was missing a chrome front fender that was in really good condition.

I was pretty upset when I discovered my vintage motorcycle parts were rusting away in a chicken coop. Harsh words were used, accusations made, colorful insults throw. I think "hillbilly retard, and failing as a life form, Dumbest person I know in real life" were a few. Well those ones are long gone now but I left that stuff out in my barn because I was just too upset to to really assess some of the damage.

Earlier this year I decided to check out all the parts and run the numbers on the frame and block. I discover that all the connectors are rusted, the stator has other components rusted to it like some kind of fritter and pieces are missing from the totes. this is also when I realize that the fender is gone. It was the one piece that was in the best shape and I just knew that one of their tweeker friends had come over and was like "ooh shiny!" and hauled it off like a fckn pack rat. But what am I going to do?

I've spent the last two or so years cleaning up and throwing away piles of dumbfuckery that they had left on my property and find more all the time also some of my parts stashed away here and there. After following Jim's BSA build I remembered how cool that the BSA line is and decided to start looking at my bike again, break out some of my best parts and see what condition they were in. I even posted some pics on his build and expressed regret that i didn't have that fender anymore.

As I start gathering pieces I start finding more and more stuff. I knew where the tank was but I find the headers, the seat, chain guard side panels, the Tank badges and they are in great condition. I think "He didn't put this stuff out there, maybe he didn't move the fender either and it's in this mess somewhere? Now my garage has book cases stacked in front of other book cases, rows of boxes and tote 4 deep. It's like a game of Tetris and super Mario with spiders and rodents instead of those turtle gators and mushroom things but I'm determined and have to know for sure.

I spend days doing this, one box at a time. Some I can eliminate right off because they are too small to fit a fender in as it's like two feet long. I have a few box avalanches but get through the garage without major incident. The fender still eludes me but I can't hel but feel that I have missed something. I had already checked the chicken coop and removed everything form it but some old rusty parts and 2 of those black abs foot lockers filled with moldy clothing and spider nests. Those had been checked already but either one is big enough to fit a fender in. What if....I HAD WRAPPED THE FENDER IN THE CLOTHING TO PREVENT IT FROM GETTING DAMAGED?

Was this a memory? Now I am starting to visualize this but am I making it up? Could It be?

It's dark, cold and raining and I know the coop is filled with all kinds of nastiness. In fact, it looks like this


Underneath spider nests and moldy Navy uniforms is something wrapped in brown paper and I already know what it is. I'm feeling triumphant, now for the reveal, I don't even care what kind of spiders might be in there. So here we go and...Oh shit! Piss ants, thousands of them, no time for pictures. I run the whole thing outside and gently place in the rain while I go get bug spray.
And now for the reveal "Shine like it does"
"and if you're looking, you will fiiiiind it"

If You have made it this far there is a point to the pointless story. I could have just said "hey I found that fender that I've been whining about" but what fun would that be. Instead I did what my brain likes to do to me, I sent you on an epic adventure or maybe more like a Monty Python episode, or Blues Clues. Doesn't matter, I found the fender and it's still in good shape and I'm pretty stoked. I'm gonna start making stuff shiny and hang it on the wall so I always know where it is. Now back to or regular programing.

 

[Downeaster]

John, I have been known, on rare occasions, to embellish what would otherwise be a mundane statement purely for the (alleged) entertainment value.

I think we may be related.

Oh, and congratulations!

 

[John Regular]

John, I have been known, on rare occasions, to embellish what would otherwise be a mundane statement purely for the (alleged) entertainment value.

I think we may be related.

Oh, and congratulations!

Well a little of it came from being in an Infantry squad. Every one of "those stories" was started with the phrase "So no shit, there I was" and useally the audience would echo "Nooo Shit!" and then the story would start. The last part was true , I was talking with my renter about how I had looked everywhere and he asked if I had looked in the chicken coop. I told him I had unloaded and moved every thing out of there save for 2 footlockers full of moldy clothes and spider nests and then it hit me just like I wrote. I still don't remember doing it but I do know why i did.

 

[Downeaster]

We called those "Sea Stories". Invariably started with "This is no shit..." followed by the biggest load of bullshit you ever heard.

 

[John Regular]

We called those "Sea Stories". Invariably started with "This is no shit..." followed by the biggest load of bullshit you ever heard.

Well, this is no shit. I was in the navy for a short bit. I was in a Source rating that I don't think exists anymore; OTA? You were crypto right? You probably know what that job was.

 

[Downeaster]

Sometime around 1972/3, the CTM rating was overmanned and some folks were involuntarily converted to either EW or OT. I was "lucky" as my crypto repair NEC was undermanned and I couldn't have converted if I wanted to.

Which I didn't. Those guys go to sea...

 

[John Regular]

Sometime around 1972/3, the CTM rating was overmanned and some folks were involuntarily converted to either EW or OT. I was "lucky" as my crypto repair NEC was undermanned and I couldn't have converted if I wanted to.

Which I didn't. Those guys go to sea...

When I was in OT was land based and 60% female so we considered ourselves lucky. AW I think went out in helicopters we had a guy who had to re-rate because he couldn't be aircrew. Also had a few Nuke washouts, we called them nuclear waste.