Project Cheap Racer

thx rob. its been a fun month of building. im very happy with it. the bars arent that bad (so far) more road time will tell but i love the look.

 

Man the bike looks good, but (there's always a but) those bars really take away from the overall appearance of the bike. Superbike, clubmans, clip-ons, but those just don't flow with the rest of the bike.
Not "hating" or "flaming" just that when a picture of a bike is posted it will get criticism as well as praise.
...and my back hurts everytime I look at it! :roll:

 

I'm digging the new tailight.

 

Bike is looking great. As Maxim-X pointed out, the bars really take away from the bikes appearance. If you like the dropped feel like that go for the clubman or clip-on bars.

 

Yeah clip-on is on my wish list. I only used these bars for now cuz I really don't have the money just yet but hopefully soon.

 

BikeMaster bars generally run right around $20; they have "clubmans" and a variety of low/superbike/drag bends.

Looks like you're going to need to add fork seals to your "to do" list based on the pic, your right one is weeping. And maybe a rear tire with tread.

 

yeah those are on the horizon before i swap out the bars. god, i'm just so happy that its up and running. it sounds great and pulls hard. may be a lil lean but i'm not to knowledgable on it to tell. she seems fine though and idles well.

 

Take the plugs out and get us a good in focus picture of the electrode end and the ceramic insluator.

Lunch bag brown is what you're after.

White = lean

white with silver specs = melting motor

black = rich

 

thx for the info. i will pull them and check when i get home from work.

once again i want to thank everyone for the help. i dont think i would have got her running on my own.

 

well I pulled the plugs and to my surprise:



i'm actually running rich? that's weird. with my intake setup and open exhaust i'm actually running rich. is that right?

 

It's either way rich or burning oil.

Toss a fresh set of (the correct) plugs in there and check again after a ride or two.

Best to take the pictures against some brown card borad for us internet folks to see.

Search "plug chops" and you'll find pictures good and bad and all over in between.

NGK Plugs should only cost about $8 for the set and you can get them at any autozone or advance usually. BP7ES I believe.

 

It could be overly-rich from misadjusted float levels, and it's dumping fuel.

OR, it's in need of valve stem seals (or even rings.)

Have you A: checked the valves? B: done a compression test? C: checked the float levels using fuel and the "clear tube method?"

 

@iwingameover: sorry bout the pics. I'm going to get some plugs when i get off work.

@bigfitz52: A: No (not sure how but there probaly some info somewhere on this site). B: No (dont have a compression tool). C: Will check when I get home.

I'm new at this I probaly messed something up but I'm not telling my wife that

Also: Would running a hotter plug (BP6ES) help or would that just cause more problems?

 

This is how to do valves: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=14827.html

It's fitz's write up. Top notch.

Compression tester can be had at the same autozone you get your plugs at for about $25. Some may have a loaner for free.

Valves should be check/fixed prior to your compression test so as not to give false readings.

I don't think I know your wife so you're probably safe there.

 

thx for the link. that looks like something that will have to wait when i get a day off (if that ever happens).
do you think running hotter plugs (BP6ES) is a bad idea or possible help since it seems to be running rich? i dont think its burning oil (wouldn't there be traces on the plugs?)
sorry to sound like i'm asking dumb questions i'm just trying to find the easiest fix with the least amount of time needed (since i really dont have alot between work and home)

 

I don't think that exists in owning a motorcycle, especially an old one! :roll:

 

good point. looks like im just going to have to deal with the sh*t storm my wife is going to give me when i take this thing apart.

 

Make sure you have donuts and a gasket BEFORE you take it off. The old donuts won't seal the cover back on if they've been there for awhile.

There are no shortcuts. You can do it right or do it again.

The valves don't take long at all. A bit of a pain the first time but after it's no big deal.

Have you had the carbs apart? (didn't read back through) Jets in the right place? What size? Maybe drilled?

 

i didnt take them completely apart. just the bowls and the diaphram and piston. shot some carb cleaner through them with a small straw. didnt check jet size but they may be larger than stock if its running rich. or it could be something else

 

With flipping the bars around and other stuff you've done is it possible that the choke (enrichment) is not completely off, therefore running on the rich side. Just throwing it out there.

 

i didnt think about that. something to check. i will kick my own ass if that what it is :lol:

 

Sometimes it's easy to over think an issue and not consider the obvious, I think we've all done it a time or TEN. (I know I'm guilty)
...and from your earlier post, it sounds like your wife is quite capable of doing it for ya! :roll:
:twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

 

Well I checked the float levels (that was fun) and they were a lil high (18mm) on all four carbs and there was a lil slack in the choke so i closed that all the way. I got some new plugs and going to ride it a lil bit and check tonight when I get home to see if that helped.

 

may as well check 'em wet too. use clear tube method on bowl drains and it'll tell you the amount of fuel sitting in the bowls that way you KNOW how much fuel is in there. its the only way you'll know for sure.. search on here for "float height" and you'll find a pic of approx how high fuel levels should be. its a PITA but worth checkin if the carbs are off

 

Well found and corrected the problem. Valves werent closing all the way. I did a motor flush to get the old oil outta there gave her an oil change (duh). New plugs and shes running just fine. So, since I got that fixed (fingers crossed) I decided that she needed a lil sprucing up.





Still working on the tail section and some side covers. I will post more pics this weekend

 

What is the #7 in reference to? If I missed something in an earlier post, sorry.

 

Its a lucky number for me. I was also born June 7th so it really fits

 

Well I got some more work done on the bike
mocked up the side plates


Side plates mounted and base coat sprayed

Got some clip ons on the way so the old bars are off. Also gotta add the white stripes to the side plates and tail section before clearing it all. Seat upholstery should be here by the end of the week

 

man that thing looks full of purpose.hope she goes as good as she looks.

 

Well I finally got her dialed in before I did the redo so she should be a great runner. Cant wait to button this girl up and hit the road (again lol)

 

doing a really nice budget job

 

thx schooter. just waiting on my clip ons to show up and my uphostery so i can finish the seat. going to finish the paint (weather permitting... really wish i had a garage) hopefully sometime this week.

 

Why bother with a garage, just start spraying and share you colours with all your neighbours! :roll: :roll:
Ever think of putting up hooks in the carport and hanging tarps temporarirly? But don't forget to put one on your driveway otherwise you'll mess it up! :wink:
I think from your pictures you have a car port.

 

or spray it in the kitchen.you can tell your missus u are re decorating.

 

@maxim-x: yeah thinking about making some sort of paint booth im my carport
@grinder: haha yeah right she'd make me live outside with the bike. now that i think about it that might be a win-win

 

So what size clip ons did you buy im kinda curious how my bike would look with them what are you doing as for as controls are you going to rearsets. Sorry if I am asking questions you already answered

 

Just get a cheap old style box fan (20") from a yard sale or thrift shop, stick a furnace filter on the inside and point it out the end of the driveway. Not a Devilbiss extractor, but might keep the fumes and overspray down a bit.
Just an idea.

 

36mm clip ons from a 86 FZ600. i might go with rearsets but im happy with the stock setup

 

so here i am with this baby:
paint is laid (just have the pinstripping to do)
clip ons are here (clean paint and get them mounted today, maybe)
still waiting on upholstery (really starting to piss me off)
stripes finished

clip ons arrived

 

Good effort overall, but I'm not diggin' your side panels. How about something that ties the OEM tank mounting hole with the side cover and sweeps up to join the tail? Kind of like this:

 

zap2504: I'm going for a minimalist look on the bike. I'm even getting rid of the sides to the seat so its just one flat unit and showing a lil more frame.

quick question: what size socket do I need to remove the center nut on the top tree?

 

I'm liking the look. Looks more like a bike you build for the track than the street I'm diggin it.

 

thx man! here's the progress on it. got the pinstripes laid and cleaned up the bars and painted them. just got to put the bars on and do the seat (still waiting on the upholstery)

 

Lookin' better and better!!!

skillet

 

thx skillet. I can't wait to get my seat done now!

 

I'm liking the paint scheme. :wink:

 

god damn that's looking awesome!
good work man!

 

thx guys. well i got the bars on and everything is together (except the damn seat). i love the look of the clip ons. what do you guys think:

 

That looks awesome, clip ons are nice, nice! Great hue of blue.

 

Just ain't "cafe" without clip ons :wink: !!!

skillet