'Rusty' - We Have a Heartbeat!

[Dr. Frankenstein]

Finally got a chance to go out to the lab and dig into Rusty again - a few days ago I put in that 50/50 mix that Randakk recommends when bringing back a bike that hasn't run in a long time - like, 19 years! I turned it over a few times while trying to start it, had no luck, no spark on my 3&4 cylinders...I went out today and went over the electronic ignition again, not expecting much, and adjusted the unit a little - took it out and reinstalled it, actually - and the test light lit up where and when it was supposed to on both coils...so, what the heck, right...? She cranked one or two times and fired right up!
Whoo-Hoo...!!
DSCN2459 by Dr. Frankenstein1, on Flickr

That smoky exhaust is the ATF burning off, and whatever 'film' was left in the sump or on the gears, I suppose...(yes, I had fresh oil in there with the ATF); once she found her rhythm I pushed the choke all the way in and she idled for a good 20 minutes, didn't even have to blip the throttle!

Here's the vital signs:
DSCN2460 by Dr. Frankenstein1, on Flickr

A better view of the gauges - 13.5 volts! I was only running on some gas I put into the bottom of the tank/Reserve, and the Temperature gauge rose nicely, although I think it was getting a bit hot just sitting there running... (see the picture above).
DSCN2458 by Dr. Frankenstein1, on Flickr

The tach seemed a bit sluggish, but I haven't taken it out and cleaned the cable yet, and the water pump had a slow leak (just a few drops) from around one of the bolts - more of a PITA than anything else, but at least it wasn't coming out the weephole, so that's good. I'll tighten it down and see if that does anything; but no popping, backfiring or anything else unusual...the starter did get hot again, though, but could that be just the heat from the engine?

I turned it off and restarted it a couple times, just to check, and it seemed to rev and return okay, so at least I'm on the way, it seems.

"I love the smell of 19-year-old engines in the morning...that smell, that gasoline smell...it smells like...Victory!"
(With apologies to Col. Kilgore )

[5speed]

[Sidecar Bob]

Don't trust that ancient voltmeter. When these bikes were made it was standard practice to use gauges that operated by passing a current through heater wire wrapped around a bimetallic strip connected to the needle in vehicles because their needles move slowly so they don't jump from engine vibration or every time you hit a bump.

That said, 13.5V at idle is about right as long as it rises to 14-15V at something like 3,000 RPM.

[Dr. Frankenstein]

Oh, yeah - I understand the gauges on these 40-plus year-old bikes are mostly for show, at this point, as I found out with the gas gauge on my '75...isn't there a post in here somewhere on how to change them out to possibly more accurate LED's?

Still, it did give me a reading.

[rcmatt007]

with the temp that high was the fan coming on? also, if the thermostat is old, it may not open all the way, causing it to run hot

[Dr. Frankenstein]

Yes, it did, thankfully. It has a new thermostat in it too. I changed it out when I was in there putting on the front. New O-rings, new water pump and seal - the works.