79 Resto Mod

[Easter]

The bike is looking really nice.

[Pokegama]

The bike is looking really nice.

Thanks! Your Dragon Wing bike is looking awesome. I wish I had your photoshop skills, I need to get started on painting my covers and still need to pick a pattern or style. It's nice to be able to view it before you paint it. Right now I'm leaning towards an old school kind of flame job. The panels will be a bronze color and the flames will be the ivory color to match the frame.

[Fred Camper]

They do not sit out too far, perfect location if you ask me. If you want solid, you will need to tie the left and right rear corner by going around the tire.

[Pokegama]

to take the wiggle out of the back end it really has to be attached to something. HD touring bikes do this to the rear fender (which comes low in the back). Vetter bags do this with a cross over to the other side

They do not sit out too far, perfect location if you ask me. If you want solid, you will need to tie the left and right rear corner by going around the tire.

I'm hoping that if I make the frame out of 3/16 steel plate that there won't be much movement. The bags themselves have a thick plastic back with a metal reinforcement built in. If there is, I was thinking that I might be able to run a brace from the turn signal mounting points to the bag frame. I want to keep the frame as hidden as I can.

Fred, I'm glad you think they look OK where they are at. I really wasn't sure, I want to get it right. After looking at them for a while I started second guessing if they were too low, too high, too far out. It starts to drive me crazy after a while. It's good to have you guys to bounce this stuff off of. Thanks for the feedback.

[Pokegama]

I was getting ready to fire up the bike after getting the replacement heads on by adding oil, coolant and making sure all the bolts I had taken off were torqued down. One of the valve cover bolts decided this was a good time to strip out. The bolt would snug up but then break loose when trying to get it tight. I went into town and bought a Helicoil kit. I have always known about Helicoils but have never used them myself. I was more than a little nervous about drilling out a bolt hole on a head I had just put on but it went well.

Stripped hole

Helicoil kit M6 x 1

1/4 tap


The tool worked great at installing the coil and then I used the back end of a drill bit to break off the installing tang on the end of the coil. The valve cover went back on and the bolt tightend down as it should. The great news is the bike is back together and it fired up with no problems. It didn't want to idle but I need a warmer day so I can run it longer and check for air leaks.

I'm still working on the side covers. I think they are ready for primer now. I have a vision that I think will look good if I can pull it off. It requires that I learn how to use an airbrush!

More to come!

[Fred Camper]

Bummer on the valve cover bolt, but glad the repair went so well. Those seal up via gaskets, so they do not need to be very tight to prevent a leak.

[robin1731]

After you broke the tang off did you dig it out? If not they can get caught in the threads of the bolt and screw up your "new" threads. I usaully just magnetize the end of a small screwdriver and pick it up with that.

[Pokegama]

After you broke the tang off did you dig it out? If not they can get caught in the threads of the bolt and screw up your "new" threads. I usaully just magnetize the end of a small screwdriver and pick it up with that.

Yep, used a shop vac and sucked it out.

[Pokegama]

Well after what seemed like days of sanding I finaly got around to putting some paint on the side covers. It's a Ford color, a golden bronze metalic. Still not sure if I'm gooing to stay with it but it does match the caliper paint I used really well. Anyway I laid out some old school flames on the extra panel I have to see how they look. Here's the plan for the paint; The front portion and the flames will be the bronze color. The flame licks will be lightly sprayed in gold and silver pearl. The background of the tank will be the ivory to match the frame. Since the flames cross over each other I will have to outline them. The Honda logo will be done in gold leaf and have a swirl finish. The sample panel I have still has the holes for the logo badge but I filled the hole in on the good panels. The gauge pod wil be the bronze color too. I still need to lay out the flames for the lower covers but I would like to know what you guys think about the flames so far.

[transitman]

I've never done flames and have never used an airbrush, but your design looks sound to me. Nice bike too, well done on the helicoil, they can be a bit sweaty!
on the gold leaf; do you protect it with anything? and how do you stick it down? I've only ever seen it being done on ornate gate posts by guys even older than me. I've wanted to stop and chat but they never look the talking kind. Must be something to do with the price of the leaf...

[Pokegama]

I've never done flames and have never used an airbrush, but your design looks sound to me. Nice bike too, well done on the helicoil, they can be a bit sweaty!
on the gold leaf; do you protect it with anything? and how do you stick it down? I've only ever seen it being done on ornate gate posts by guys even older than me. I've wanted to stop and chat but they never look the talking kind. Must be something to do with the price of the leaf...

I've never done gold leaf either but I'm going to try! The gold leaf itself isn't expensive. About $25.00 for a small book of sheets. You paint down a sizing liquid, kind of a varnish. Wait for that to get tacky and lay the gold leaf on it. The leaf is VERY thin and sticks to the size. A little light brushing with a soft brush should clean away the excess. To give the swirl effect you use a felt pad with a cotton ball in it and lightly twist it on the surface of the applied leaf. After it's all done a coat of clear over everything and it should be good.
Thanks!

[transitman]

and thank you too, Sir!

[Fred Camper]

Sounds ambitious, but you are at the point where that is okay to try. Plan seems solid.

[Brant]

Wow, very nice. Looks great.

[past in time tony]

I have really good luck with Klean Strip Aircraft Paint Remover. Put it on heavy and dont brush back and forth. The more you move the stripper around the weaker it gets.