The restoration has begun

Well, after breaking one of the exhaust studs, I decided today that this is the day that the maxim x is coming apart for a much needed frame/swingarm/engine painting. The bike is basically naked, and the engine is coming out tomorrow. I'm replacing a few gaskets and I have a tight valve somewhere, and we all know how much of a pain it is to check the valves while in the bike. I'm hoping for some warm weather like I had today so I can maybe get the frame done and start working on the engine. The tins are going to go for a repaint later in the winter when finances allow. A very serious and lengthy detailing will be taking place too. I have pics, but right now, the patriots game is more pressing.

 

well, it is nothing but a frame now and I have begun polishing up and detailing the parts that need it. I am going to be stripping the frame, using an etching primer, and then hitting it with a semi black or a black with clear. Not sure yet. Here are some pics of the bike and my little helper.

 

Sounds like fun. Looks like you have some good help too.

 

BE CAREFUL. Your helper gets any oil or grease on those pink gloves momma will have you spending the winter on the porch!

 

Wise words Carl! But I do agree, you have a great helper! Hope my tike is similarly inclined when she reaches that age.

 

I have one just like that....Mom was not impressed when I let her sweep up the oil dry on the floor and got her shoes all messy!
Good thing they were her old pair!
Then my 2yr old son decided that all the valve springs and keepers were fun to play with! I was ONLY missing (3) of the keepers and one of the washers.

It's still fun to have the help (if you can call it that)

 

My four year old has been very "helpful" with what I've done so far, mostly in a supervisory fashion. I've been "what's that?" and "what're you doin?" to death it seems. But I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

Mine are older, but this brings back memories.

You have to watch them closely. When my oldest was about 3 she was helping me do body work on a Suburban I was fixing up. I let her sand (how much damage can a 3 year old do sanding a vehicle I was going to paint?).

Unfortunately she worked real hard with some 80 grit on the passenger side windows.

 

I've often times found my 3/8ths sockets and ratchets in various places as well as saying 'sweetie, where are daddy's tools?'. It's cold as heck here now, and the wife is sick as a dog. I've gotten 0 done on it since I got it totally stripped. It's a pile o parts and a frame right now. I hope to maybe get the frame stripped and paited this weekend along with the swingarm. That way I can have a rolling chassis in the near future...

 

the frame stripped, primed and painted. the little one was helping me last night putting the center stand, swingarm, rear wheel on...I'll post pics later today

 

LOL, now that is hilarious oh well, you cant really get mad at them.

 

I fitted lockable door handle to internal garage door just this week to keep my little "What are you doing dad?" helper out of the tools

 

here are some updated pics. frame being striped, striped, primed, without guages and with. the last pic is the most recent if I posted them correctly

 

ok, in reverse order, I'll get this pic thing down someday. I haven't done too much too it lately. Polishing this and that. I'm a bit let down by the lack of work to do on it. I figured out that I have been working on this bike since I got it, doing a bunch of little things along the way. I am currently in the process of prepping the engine for paint. I have a few seals to buy, brushes to install and carbs to pretty up.