Today was the first time back on the road in 9 yrs. for my 77D. Not very excited!!!!
Only had time for a few trips around the block, had to go to a meeting. Don't you hate when work gets in the way of play?
A little history: I am the second registered owner since 1990 of this 77D. Was basically a barn find when I got it then. PO had dropped it 3 or 4 times, and I think he was afraid he'd eventually kill himself so he gave it to my neighbour. One day I was telling that neighbour I was looking for a bike, and unbeknownst to me he said he had one that had been out under his deck for awhile. It needed work, but I could have it if I wanted to fix it up, get it running and put it back on the road. Did that and rode it until 2008 when life got in the way and I put it in storage.
Fast forward to last summer. Was asked if I would sell it. Got it back into 'Papa’s shop’, started cleaning it up, changed the oil and filters, woke it up and it ran really well, considering.
After petting it for a couple weeks, I couldn't bring myself to sell it, and then by Providence came across this forum. Now I'm deep down the rabbit hole!
Spent last summer adjusting, tuning, fixin’, waiting for parts, polishing, polishing, polishing. Won't go through the whole shopping list, but all the stuff needed to get a bike that’s been sitting for 9 years to run, roll and stop safely again. This was more of a refresh project and certainly not the level of redo/restoration that so many talented people have shown here. Tank and tins need to be repainted. PO dented fenders need to be replaced. Mufflers need to be replaced due to the typical right pipe blow out. (Although I do love the sound of those stock pipes even with an extra hole or two).
But, my goal for now was to just clean it up, get it safe, and get some bugs in my teeth again.
Parroting Mailman's thread “My 60th birthday present” I’ll be riding this 77D later this year on my 60th!
Would like to give a HUGE shout out to everyone on this forum who helped directly by answering my questions and indirectly by answering the questions of those who came before, that in turn answered mine. I certainly know this old girl a whole lot better now and never could have done it without this amazing resource.
I am repeatedly amazed at the depth of knowledge contained within this forum and humbled by the generosity of you all who are so willing to share your wisdom and experience.
THANK YOU ALL!!!!
And now………..….for the rest of the story……..
Now that I have come to my senses I realize you cannot own just one of these ol’ twins. I had so much fun wrenching last summer that there is no way I could be without a 'project’.
Came across another barn find. A 78E that had been sitting for 12 years.
19,529 kms, 12,134 miles. Didn’t know if it was seized or what I might have but after a couple hours discussing matters with PO, I left $500 lighter with a trailer 467 lbs. heavier. Hey, it even has the OEM toolkit. Saw a Yamaha toolkit on eBay once listed for more than that so worse comes to worse, I could break even. Lol.
Could say “bought Yamaha toolkit for $500, bike was thrown in”
Did the careful wake up drill, changed the oil and filters, compression strong, 150 each side, dumped the old gas, didn't bother pulling the carbs just yet, hooked up the trolling motor battery and after a few kicks she fired up and settled down pretty quick, starter motor works too.
Not running great, yet, but running pretty good for not running for 12 years!
Chrome is pretty badly pitted from years of sitting, so can't do too much about that, but it will 'shine’ again.
Plan is, get it fixed and tuned which should be easier now with my new 'Yellow Meter’. Lol.
Do some basic upgrades keeping it stock.
Make it stop again.
Clean it up, repaint the tank and tins (As close as I can get mixed up to the original Star Black) with new 78E decals (tank is pretty corroded and dented, need to pull and/or fill the dents) and get er back on the road as another survivor.
My apologies for this lengthy epistle….lol, but I thought it would be cool to tell the whole story in one post.
So now………..ride the blue on the nice days, wrench the black on the bad.
Gonna be a good summer!
Only had time for a few trips around the block, had to go to a meeting. Don't you hate when work gets in the way of play?
A little history: I am the second registered owner since 1990 of this 77D. Was basically a barn find when I got it then. PO had dropped it 3 or 4 times, and I think he was afraid he'd eventually kill himself so he gave it to my neighbour. One day I was telling that neighbour I was looking for a bike, and unbeknownst to me he said he had one that had been out under his deck for awhile. It needed work, but I could have it if I wanted to fix it up, get it running and put it back on the road. Did that and rode it until 2008 when life got in the way and I put it in storage.
Fast forward to last summer. Was asked if I would sell it. Got it back into 'Papa’s shop’, started cleaning it up, changed the oil and filters, woke it up and it ran really well, considering.
After petting it for a couple weeks, I couldn't bring myself to sell it, and then by Providence came across this forum. Now I'm deep down the rabbit hole!
Spent last summer adjusting, tuning, fixin’, waiting for parts, polishing, polishing, polishing. Won't go through the whole shopping list, but all the stuff needed to get a bike that’s been sitting for 9 years to run, roll and stop safely again. This was more of a refresh project and certainly not the level of redo/restoration that so many talented people have shown here. Tank and tins need to be repainted. PO dented fenders need to be replaced. Mufflers need to be replaced due to the typical right pipe blow out. (Although I do love the sound of those stock pipes even with an extra hole or two).
But, my goal for now was to just clean it up, get it safe, and get some bugs in my teeth again.
Parroting Mailman's thread “My 60th birthday present” I’ll be riding this 77D later this year on my 60th!
Would like to give a HUGE shout out to everyone on this forum who helped directly by answering my questions and indirectly by answering the questions of those who came before, that in turn answered mine. I certainly know this old girl a whole lot better now and never could have done it without this amazing resource.
I am repeatedly amazed at the depth of knowledge contained within this forum and humbled by the generosity of you all who are so willing to share your wisdom and experience.
THANK YOU ALL!!!!
And now………..….for the rest of the story……..
Now that I have come to my senses I realize you cannot own just one of these ol’ twins. I had so much fun wrenching last summer that there is no way I could be without a 'project’.
Came across another barn find. A 78E that had been sitting for 12 years.
19,529 kms, 12,134 miles. Didn’t know if it was seized or what I might have but after a couple hours discussing matters with PO, I left $500 lighter with a trailer 467 lbs. heavier. Hey, it even has the OEM toolkit. Saw a Yamaha toolkit on eBay once listed for more than that so worse comes to worse, I could break even. Lol.
Could say “bought Yamaha toolkit for $500, bike was thrown in”
Did the careful wake up drill, changed the oil and filters, compression strong, 150 each side, dumped the old gas, didn't bother pulling the carbs just yet, hooked up the trolling motor battery and after a few kicks she fired up and settled down pretty quick, starter motor works too.
Not running great, yet, but running pretty good for not running for 12 years!
Chrome is pretty badly pitted from years of sitting, so can't do too much about that, but it will 'shine’ again.
Plan is, get it fixed and tuned which should be easier now with my new 'Yellow Meter’. Lol.
Do some basic upgrades keeping it stock.
Make it stop again.
Clean it up, repaint the tank and tins (As close as I can get mixed up to the original Star Black) with new 78E decals (tank is pretty corroded and dented, need to pull and/or fill the dents) and get er back on the road as another survivor.
My apologies for this lengthy epistle….lol, but I thought it would be cool to tell the whole story in one post.
So now………..ride the blue on the nice days, wrench the black on the bad.
Gonna be a good summer!
@work but still lookin at that purdy blue ! all I see is Blu&Gold, Very nice aluminum ! Shiny wheels, shiny chrome, on a well running XS ! A lucky rider you are.. cheers
