End Of Weekend Marathon!
Darn! I'm so tired I can barely type, but I have so much to show from today. This weekend is gonna hurt me tomorrow for sure. This will definitely be my LAST rebuild of anything. I'm officially retiring after this project.........unless of course I get a nice lift put in the garage!! Then I'll have to think about it.
Okay, I'm drifting, sorry. So last night I wrote up a list of everything else I could think of to be done. I wound up with 12 items. I want to be done in three more weekends so I'm thinking 4 items a week.
Today I brought down a long piece of cardboard and laid down alongside the bike with my kerosene, scotch brite, Eagle One, and rags, and went to town on whatever I could reach. As I hit the headers I was amazed at just how ruined they were. There is no way that place Ceramic Coated these headers! I'd say that he just powder coated them cause there is NO WAY that one ride would be able to do this damage! I was so pissed I called the place and guess what??!!, yes, the phone was disconnected! Surprise Surprise! I'm gonna pass by Monday with my camera to talk to the guy if it's the same place. Anyhow, I cleaned up all the road salts from the engine block, rear shock area, headers, and oil pan. Sorry but I forgot to snap a photo, being so mad and all.
After I calmed down I decide to try out my new spark plug tool that I got from Great Britain. I attempted to get to the plugs from the bottom so I tried the number 1 cylinder. Being that the tool has two sizes, one per end, it was too long to make the bend onto the plug. I broke out the cutting wheel to make modifications. I cut the end which I won't be using and then it went in perfectly.
In seconds the first of four was out! Aside from the grime I got on it, it looks like it's burning just fine.
The second cylinder would be a bit tougher. So again I had to improvise. I cut some rubber vacuum line, then broke the plug loose with the wrench, removed it and inserted the hose. It was out like nothing! This is gonna be a breeze!
This is how it looked with the hose attached.
In 20 minutes, side one was done!
BREAK TIME!!!
Wow! Thanks Rich, I needed that. Now back to work.
Once I had the system down, cylinder's 3 and 4 were both done easily and all buttoned up!
While I was laying down I was fortunate enough to have found the coolant leak I had seen. It looks like the thermostat housing. I'll have to change that gasket, or maybe a hose. I'll have to lift the tank to see.
I decided to start on the front end next, so I broke out the lift I got from Earlzach (David), and gently hoisted her up just enough to get the wheel off the floor, then locked it in place.
I got the filthy front wheel off, and also noticed that my "pinch bolt" is missing from the fork. I'll have to see if I have it laying around, or if I never had one on there.
I cleaned and polished the rear front fender so that was done.
Next to go were the front forks.
I then broke out the heat gun and hit each rotor bolt with some heat to melt the locktite which made them come off easily.
Dirty Wheel!!
I hit the wheel with kerosene to remove all the crud, and then polished it up good with the Honda Polish. Wheel Clean!
Next I took the rotors and hit them with fine scotch brite and brake cleaner.
The rotor came out beautiful.