NGWClub®, Inc.

Rednaxs60 wrote:Very nice work. Enjoy reading about these projects and how the end product turns out, especially when everything is taken off the bike. Haven't got the courage up to take one of my bikes down to the frame. Learn something new whenever I read about these restorations. Keep up the good work. Cheers

Ha! Don't know if it's courage or stupidity, lol! It always starts out innocently enough.
"I'll just take the seat off and clean up a little more." Then it's the faux tank. Pretty soon you've got a pile of parts scattered here and there and you're wondering how you're ever going to get it back together.

They’re easy to take apart ....

Gord

I spent the day (on and off) experimenting with the assorted household chemicals in an attempt to remove the green film from the gas tank. Acetone? Nope. Mineral spirits, nada. Lacquer thinner, CLR, tire shine, no chance. Way in the back of the cabinet, Zep commercial oven cleaner, probably a 20 year old bottle. Why not? And it worked!
Onward and upward!

Good to know. The 81 I'm starting on will need some cleaning.

You said you tried carb cleaner. Most of those are primarily acetone.

Track T 2411 wrote:

Rednaxs60 wrote:Very nice work. Enjoy reading about these projects and how the end product turns out, especially when everything is taken off the bike. Haven't got the courage up to take one of my bikes down to the frame. Learn something new whenever I read about these restorations. Keep up the good work. Cheers

Ha! Don't know if it's courage or stupidity, lol! It always starts out innocently enough.
"I'll just take the seat off and clean up a little more." Then it's the faux tank. Pretty soon you've got a pile of parts scattered here and there and you're wondering how you're ever going to get it back together.

Painted my 1500, now to put it back together. Have all the bits and pieces in Ziploc bags, but did miss a few. Heck of a jigsaw puzzle. Next on the list of major projects is to freshen up my '85 LTD paint. Searching for the decals.

The (hopefully) last major hurdle has been overcome! Fuel tank, battery box, and a few small bits prepped, primed, and painted. I still have a small box of assorted brackets, fasteners, and miscellaneous doodads to clean up and sort.
Tomorrow reassembly begins, starting with timing belts, setting the valves, replacing the coolant tube o-rings, and replacing the tach and shifter shaft seal. If all goes well, I should be pretty close to having all the engine mechanicals and wiring completed by the end of the weekend.

Nice paint job. Looks like new.

Great job on that tank Track T.

Looking so nice. Too bad it has to be jambed back in. Protect it well!

Spent most of the day 'communing' with Layla... Shiny! I must admit I'm waxing the frame. Can't say that I've ever waxed a frame before, but I'm hoping it will cut down on road grime buildup, etc. Also finished cleaning the 40 years of accumulated grunge from the writing harness and around the gauge cluster and steering head. I did notice a few spots around the swingarm that I missed, so I'll have to revisit that.
The timing belts, new coolant crossover tube o-rings, and a spiffed up radiator shroud got installed as well. Tomorrow I'll set the valves, lube cables, install the carbs, fuel pump, coils, and get started on the electrical components.

Very nice. Won't be seeing a clean like this for another 40 years.

Wow, that paint looks magnificent.

Liam wrote:Wow, that paint looks magnificent.

That's the original frame paint, and except for some stone chips on the lower front crossmember and the front lower engine mounting tabs, it's in very good condition. Oh, and the front down tubes where the fairing and engine guards mount. The swing arm is kind of battered with stone chips, too. I'm guessing the bike saw a bit of regular use on gravel roads at some point. Even the transmission cover looks beat up compared to the rest of the engines paint.

Waxing the frame ??

Sorry .... this makes it impossible for me to continue our relationship ....

Gord