Today I picked up an air tool accessory kit with the fittings I need for the sand blaster and air nozzle. Cost: $17.00
And I got a Hydrometer to test the battery fluid. Cost: $5.00
It's dark out because of the clouds and it's about to rain and I still don't have a light in the shed, so I'm gonna skip working on the bike today. I used a crappy flashlight and battery powered lantern yesterday, but that doesn't work very well. I got pissed at the flashlight and broke it. It was a piece of shit and deserved it.
I would say what I'm going to do tomorrow, but I tend to change my plan a lot based on what's practical at the moment. Plus, nobody is ever going to read this, so who cares anyway!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Lernding
Borrowed Aaron's compressor and bought cheap sandblaster and air nozzle from Harbor Freight. Need to get connectors so I can find out that compressor does not have enough power. Want to sandblast and repaint fan shroud. Want to blow dirt off bike.
Could not find air filter--assembly is complicated and pieces are missing. Stopped by Shucks and had them order K and N. Should arrive in a few days.
Could not take out air filter box to clean. Would have to remove rear wheel, fender, and reserve tank. Must clean in frame, but has moldy rat poop inside.
Got parts from Netherlands. Had to drive to Redmond after UPS couldn't catch us at home. Hella money for plastic box.
Filter: $60
Blaster and nozzle: $40
Tomorrow: Need some damn power and lights in shed!! Heat would be nice, too.
Could not find air filter--assembly is complicated and pieces are missing. Stopped by Shucks and had them order K and N. Should arrive in a few days.
Could not take out air filter box to clean. Would have to remove rear wheel, fender, and reserve tank. Must clean in frame, but has moldy rat poop inside.
Got parts from Netherlands. Had to drive to Redmond after UPS couldn't catch us at home. Hella money for plastic box.
Filter: $60
Blaster and nozzle: $40
Tomorrow: Need some damn power and lights in shed!! Heat would be nice, too.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Starting Tune Up Stuff
Oil and filter have been changed. New oil filter wrench was required. Guy at Bent Bike sold me a big square air filter, but the hole is small and round. So I have to go back tomorrow. Shucks can get me a KnM one in 5 days for $60, but I'm gonna try to get a normal one.
I took the fan and shroud off the radiator, (which is still sitting on the bench), so I can clean up the shroud. It's good, but is covered with surface rust and isn't really accessible when installed.
Battery has one empty cell. Tomorrow I'm going to get distilled water and a hydrometer, fill it, shake it, test it, and either charge it or get another one.
I'm also gonna take off the speedo cable, (which might need replacing anyway, as I recall), which will allow me to completely remove the front fender for polishing.
Today's cost: about $20.00.
I took the fan and shroud off the radiator, (which is still sitting on the bench), so I can clean up the shroud. It's good, but is covered with surface rust and isn't really accessible when installed.
Battery has one empty cell. Tomorrow I'm going to get distilled water and a hydrometer, fill it, shake it, test it, and either charge it or get another one.
I'm also gonna take off the speedo cable, (which might need replacing anyway, as I recall), which will allow me to completely remove the front fender for polishing.
Today's cost: about $20.00.
Further Disassembly
My air cleaner box is in Denmark, scheduled for delivery Monday. They neglected to tell me about the freight, so the total was $187.00!
The fan shroud is hella rusty, so I took off the radiator to get to it, and to just have a look around the area. The coolant looked new, so that's a good sign. I got some coolant from Shucks to replace it. Cost: $8.00.
I opened up the air filter box, and of course there was no filter. There were, however, a bunch of moldy rat turds.
I also removed what was left of the old air cleaner box, and the carbs look very clean inside, (not sure how much that means, though.)
After work I'm gonna change the oil and filter, remove the speedo cable and front fender, and start thinking about the battery.
I'm still researching forks. They would cost about $3,000.00 new!
The fan shroud is hella rusty, so I took off the radiator to get to it, and to just have a look around the area. The coolant looked new, so that's a good sign. I got some coolant from Shucks to replace it. Cost: $8.00.
I opened up the air filter box, and of course there was no filter. There were, however, a bunch of moldy rat turds.
I also removed what was left of the old air cleaner box, and the carbs look very clean inside, (not sure how much that means, though.)
After work I'm gonna change the oil and filter, remove the speedo cable and front fender, and start thinking about the battery.
I'm still researching forks. They would cost about $3,000.00 new!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Air Cleaner Chamber
Ok, the mutilated and mostly missing part is actually the air cleaner chamber--it's a big part that carries from air the air cleaner behind the engine to the carburetors on top. Also the band, clamp, and screw that hold it on to the air cleaner box are missing. As luck would have it, there are two sets of these parts in the Netherlands! They will soon be making a trip halfway around the world to my house. Cost: 87 euros.
Up next: fluids, filters, recovery equipment
Up next: fluids, filters, recovery equipment
Getting Started
The first thing I needed was a place to work. The two metal sheds I had were full, even after a full weekend of going through everything, getting rid of a ton of stuff, and organizing. So I built another storage area from some dog kennel fencing, a cheap gazebo, two giant tarps and some rope. I put the bicycles, lawnmowers and yard tools in there. Then I had one metal shed with my working motorcycle, (old CX500C), my toolbox, and the Shadow. Cost: $0.00.
Next was the workbench. I discovered that there are quite a few people out there selling plans for workbenches. That's ridiculous. I found some pics of one I liked, modified the design a little, and built a rock solid 2 level bench to fit the space I had on one wall next to the toolbox. It's topped with 3/4" plywood and some high density polyethylene from Tap Plastics. (That seemed like a good surface to protect the wood.) Cost: $100.00.
After a much needed re-organization of my tools, I got my manual out and went to work. The first problem was that there was no key. To get the tank off, the main seat has to come off. To get that off, the passenger seat has to come off. And to get that off, the storage compartment in the back must be opened with...you guessed it...the key. So, I did some research and found that there is often a code stamped on the ignition cylinder from which somebody somewhere can make a key. So I removed the headlight, undid about a million electrical connections that I will later regret not labeling, wrestled a bunch of stuff out of the way and removed the ignition cylinder. Sure enough, there was a code. I had to take about 10 shots on macro with my camera to be able to read it all, as some of the characters were barely stamped into the metal. I then did some more research and found a guy in California that makes keys from codes, and ordered 2 of them. He is very quick to respond and get your order shipped--www.motorcyclekeys.com. Cost: $30.00.
While waiting for the keys, I got some Nevr Dull and a rag and set to work on the rust. I've never used it before, and I was impressed. It works great on the exhaust, handlebars, and some other metal parts that are supposed to be shiny. However, the forks might be a problem--the tiny spots, (pits?), that are left after polishing don't want to come off. And they will tear the seals as they move in and out. This is as yet unresolved. New forks will cost more than the bike is worth. Anyways, Never Dull and rags. Cost: $12.00.
When my keys arrived, they worked perfectly. I removed the seats and tank. This bike has a crazy fuel system, and gas was spurting out from the line that I pulled off the tank instead of the tank! It seems that there's a secondary fuel tank--it will become clear in time. The fuel lines don't look correct. They worked at one time, but I began to suspect jerry-rigging. That makes my job a lot harder. The air filter box didn't look right either, so I compared it to the book. It's been cut in half, and the top half is missing. There's a metal screen poorly pop-riveted in it, and two oil soaked pieces of crumbling foam jammed in on top of it. I guess that's been my air filter.
Next up: air filter box and air filter!
Next was the workbench. I discovered that there are quite a few people out there selling plans for workbenches. That's ridiculous. I found some pics of one I liked, modified the design a little, and built a rock solid 2 level bench to fit the space I had on one wall next to the toolbox. It's topped with 3/4" plywood and some high density polyethylene from Tap Plastics. (That seemed like a good surface to protect the wood.) Cost: $100.00.
After a much needed re-organization of my tools, I got my manual out and went to work. The first problem was that there was no key. To get the tank off, the main seat has to come off. To get that off, the passenger seat has to come off. And to get that off, the storage compartment in the back must be opened with...you guessed it...the key. So, I did some research and found that there is often a code stamped on the ignition cylinder from which somebody somewhere can make a key. So I removed the headlight, undid about a million electrical connections that I will later regret not labeling, wrestled a bunch of stuff out of the way and removed the ignition cylinder. Sure enough, there was a code. I had to take about 10 shots on macro with my camera to be able to read it all, as some of the characters were barely stamped into the metal. I then did some more research and found a guy in California that makes keys from codes, and ordered 2 of them. He is very quick to respond and get your order shipped--www.motorcyclekeys.com. Cost: $30.00.
While waiting for the keys, I got some Nevr Dull and a rag and set to work on the rust. I've never used it before, and I was impressed. It works great on the exhaust, handlebars, and some other metal parts that are supposed to be shiny. However, the forks might be a problem--the tiny spots, (pits?), that are left after polishing don't want to come off. And they will tear the seals as they move in and out. This is as yet unresolved. New forks will cost more than the bike is worth. Anyways, Never Dull and rags. Cost: $12.00.
When my keys arrived, they worked perfectly. I removed the seats and tank. This bike has a crazy fuel system, and gas was spurting out from the line that I pulled off the tank instead of the tank! It seems that there's a secondary fuel tank--it will become clear in time. The fuel lines don't look correct. They worked at one time, but I began to suspect jerry-rigging. That makes my job a lot harder. The air filter box didn't look right either, so I compared it to the book. It's been cut in half, and the top half is missing. There's a metal screen poorly pop-riveted in it, and two oil soaked pieces of crumbling foam jammed in on top of it. I guess that's been my air filter.
Next up: air filter box and air filter!
Saturday, September 19, 2009
The Facts
This blog is about my adventures repairing an old and neglected '84 Honda Shadow VT700. Here are the facts:
MOTORCYCLE
MOTORCYCLE
- Hasn't run in 6 years
- Sat partially exposed to weather
- Missing a key for several years
- Two local shops refused to work on it
- Doesn't know much about motorcycle maintenance and repair
- Has no proper facility to perform repair
- Does what he says
- Says he's going to fix this bike
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