Meet the Camel

[Easter]

Here are some additional views and the final result after paint. The fit is tight but does not touch the swing arm.

[5speed]

yeah, but if only I can remenber... what were we talking about?

If I can't remember where the part came from I either throw it away or paint it black and bolt it on wherever it will fit.
that is happening more and more.

paint it black and put it back.

[5speed]

The keys provided fit the ignition but not the shelter so that is a problem to solve.

Rekeying the locks isn't difficult. I did it for the bags on my 82. You can either buy the wafer kit on amazon and file to fit or what I did, remove the ones that sticking up when the key is in the lock cylinder. It wouldn't take much to unlock it with a screw driver but I locked them more for extra security so I wouldn't lose the lid on a ride.

[Easter]

Thanks five speed, I remembered a tutorial on here somewhere but haven't gotten around to looking it up. I will probably just remove the ones that stick up and prevent turning.

[Easter]

For those worried about wheels, I have started the process. Yesterday I mounted the forks and today I started removing the old tires from the wheels. The tires are hard as a camels hoofs and just as pliable. I don't have a shop yet but I do have a Kubota bead breaker. That doesn't make it much easier to get the tire off the rim but it is a start. Interestingly the front tire is way large for the rim so it pooches out about an inch on both sides. I can't imagine what it was like to ride that way.

[Fred Camper]

Where did you get the bead breaker? I need one like that.

[Easter]

Where did you get the bead breaker? I need one like that.

It wasn't easy to find. Bought it back during covid and they were sitting in shipping containers in California. Had to wait about three months for delivery. A life saver for clearing the oak scrub on my place. Great for tires too.

[Easter]

Removing the tires from the rims was a bit more physically involved than breaking the beads, but a sawzall helps a lot.

[Easter]

No dramatic progress, but if you look closely you will notice the rebuilt calipers and brake lines are installed and the exhaust headers and mufflers are present. I am still working on the right exhaust as it does not line up with the left. I think a slit in the adapter will allow it to be bent into alignment, then re-welded. I am working today on the headlight brackets, trying to repurpose the fairing weight brackets. We will see how that works. The battery could not be resuscitated so another is on order. Might be here today. If and when, I will then start the process of making it run.

[Easter]

OH happy happy day! It's alive! After I got the new battery installed, I had an oil pressure light but no response to the starter button. I fiddled around with the solenoid and eventually determined that it was fine but somewhere in the wiring I had no ground. Consequently the solenoid would not close. For now I wired a temporary ground and it turns over good with the starter button. I sprayed a bit of two stroke fuel into the plenum and got a response so went ahead and put three or four gallons of gas in the tank. After spraying into the plenum a few more times while cranking, it fired up and ran surprisingly well. I don't have a radiator on yet so only ran it a few minutes but seems good. I believe the problem with the ground is in the throttle control (kill switch) and have put one on order. Next task is the radiator.

[wingrider]

Always fun to hear them come back alive...

[Easter]

Assembly is still going swimmingly. Headlight and front running lights plugged in and worked first attempt. I do not have the blinker box so the turn signals aren't working yet. Brant is sending me a set of tail lights and rear turn signals so I should be able to hook them up in a day or so. As you can see the fenders are on but at some point all the tupperware will have to come back off for paint. The gas and temp gauges work, the tach works and I installed a horn this morning. Wheels are scheduled for sandblasting on Saturday but will have to be painted before tires are mounted. That may take a couple of weeks. It seems to be charging properly but I can't check the clutch yet. Radiator is showing no sign of leaking and the water pump and fan sensor seem to be working properly so most of the open questions are resolved favorably.

[rcmatt007]

you are making more progress than I am on putting my 78 back into service

[Easter]

you are making more progress than I am on putting my 78 back into service

The weather is probably a bit better here in February plus I am retired!

Just wanted to add a couple of updates. Brandt sent me a set of taillight and turn indicators which are now wired in. It is really unusual to see these without any rust but these are almost new looking. Thanks again Brandt. Also of note, my right hand control assembly was cracked and not very pretty so I ordered this one from ebay. I suspect it is made in China but maybe not. It was very reasonably priced and seems to be equal in quality to the original oem. When my solenoid failed to activate (mentioned above at first start up) I suspected the kill switch because of the crack but it turned out the problem was simply that the neutral sensor wire was not plugged together. Now that I think about it, makes sense as it is part of the "no start in-gear" safety circuit.

Speaking of the tail light assembly, I have never owned a wing with the oem lights, except a couple of full dress Aspencades. THEY ARE REALLY BIG!! Hope I don't catch my leg on them while mounting the bike.

[rcmatt007]

yes I started mine when I was retired and then WHATTHEHELLWASITHINKING, went back to work. Retired again end of march