The Neglected Ones

They're always in the back of my mind, and I just don't have enough love to give out to everyone. But today I did.

Lori's Dream:
It hasn't been ridden in a couple of months. I sat in the DMV (WITH MAX!) for 90 minutes and played the registration game. She is now fully registered and plated and thus legal! Truly the only fully functional bike in the house! I turned on the key today and she started first kick! Now to get Lori to get back in the saddle.

The RD:
The last adventure with the RD left me stranded about 4 miles away. I thought it was running great after bumping the jets up even more (my highway top speed was about 60mph). Apparently I went too far, and it fouled like crazy. I bumped the jets back down to 27.5/220 today. Next opportunity I get for Lori to watch Max, another test ride is in order.


The XS:
I've been staring at a disassembled top end for a while now. I've been waiting for reviews to come in about the $80 (vs $180) piston/ring set from Japan on ebay. It's getting good reviews. I bit the bullet and ordered a set yesterday. My machinist has been holding my barrels for months now waiting. Time to get a move on!

Buds

Amusing caption here

Fiddly Stuff

I'm sort of in limbo again on the Triumph, one thing waiting on the next. Here's what's been done recently and what needs done.

Rotor/Stator:
I had to replace the rotor as mine was obviously bad. I got a cheap good one on ebay and put it on only to discover my stator wasn't centered. This might explain why the last stator was totally fried. The previous owner had helicoiled everything in inner primary, and he must have been slightly off on the stator bracket. After a surprisingly long amount of dremel and drill use, I managed to ovalize the holes in the bracket enough to shift it over the 1/16" I needed. I then used cut up pop can pieces as shims to center everything.


Leaking Gearbox:
I had a good drip coming out of my gearbox, and luckily only the outer cover. I discovered some of the threaded holes had some lips to them, so I took a larger drill bit and did a few turns on each to get them flat. So far so good.

Leaking Sump Plate:
This was a bad leak. Basically I think it all came down to a non-flat sump plate. I bit the bullet and ordered a nice billet one with a drain plug from SRM Engineering. That's still coming from the UK. I specifically chose this one because the 4 stud holes have a flat surface so I can use nuts. Most of these billet sump plates have counterbored holes for allen head bolts, which wouldn't allow you to use nuts.

Magneto:
After not getting any spark, I contacted Greg Poirier who rebuilt it for me. I ran a few tests, got nothing, so sent it back to look at. He got it and instantly saw that the cam ring that opens and closes the points had moved. There is a locating notch at the bottom of the ring that engages with a pin. He says that the cap must not have been tight enough. I don't know how that happened, as I always had it tight. That's on it's way back, and then I'll have to time the bike again.

Exhaust:
I managed to find some 1-3/4" I.D. Superior trumpet tips, so I won't have to use the 1-7/8" ones I got with shims (I'll sell them). Those are coming, and once they are here I can mount the exhaust. Finally.

Rear Brake:
And finally after all that is done I can finally remount the rear brake.

Brobi's his bro

Coffee

Work From Home

Lori worked from home yesterday, and she will kill me for posting these, but they're too cute.

New Art Project

i couldn't even tell you the last time I drew anything not related to the Lily book, this is payback for some welding by Pops!

Got my book, get yours!

I finally got copies of the book I just completed. GO GET YOURS!

State of the Triumph

And it's a pretty sad state. Things started great Saturday morning. She started right up. I had Lori and Max watch me take off for the first time. Everything was perfect. She runs like a raped ape. I've ridden a few other pre-units, and you can see the difference a thorough rebuild makes. 100% hot rod. I had a timing cover leak, a sump plate leak, and a front fork leak... all superficial and easy.


I was 10 blocks away and turning around and she just died. No spark. I contacted the rebuilder and we went through a few tests. Looks like I have to send the mag back. He thinks the armature failed. Out of 500 mags, only 2 have ever failed. Guess I'm #3. It is not easy to remove a mag with the motor and gearbox in.

Whataya gonna do? I have plenty of things to work on in the meantime. I need to retorque the head, readjust valves and chains, mount the exhaust. The rotor isn't sitting centered due to the previous owner's helicoil stator mounts. But still a bummer.

PURPLE POWER

SHE LIVES!
I've waited 8 long years to hear this bike. It did not sound like this when I got it. All that time and money I put into it has finally paid off. I have a hotrod Triumph 650 and I can't wait to ride the shit out of her! Tons more to do, but the beast is alive!