It's hard to tell, but there are 3 scooters on the left, two Hondas and a Schwinn on the right, and the BSA frame in the back. So many tires!
Friday, June 15, 2012
Great Workspace
I got up early and re-organized and swept out the garage. It needed it.
It's hard to tell, but there are 3 scooters on the left, two Hondas and a Schwinn on the right, and the BSA frame in the back. So many tires!
It's hard to tell, but there are 3 scooters on the left, two Hondas and a Schwinn on the right, and the BSA frame in the back. So many tires!
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Designing the Front End
One of the most important parts to make sure is completely mechanically correct is the front end, specifically, the forks and triple tree. Since I'm angling for a slick cafe bike with a scrambler twist, I really want to keep the front forks with the gaters (rubber boots).
The whole thing bolted together fairly easily, and I'm getting some great ideas about how I want to rebuild the lamp holders using the slick new aluminum ones.
My biggest problem with the front end is the crusty old sleeves. They're dented, cracked and ugly.
The problem is that if I want to use the gaters, I have to utilize the lip on the bottom the sleeve. However, I found my solution:
All I need to do is cut sleeve right above the little ear flaps that it uses to connect to the bottom of the triple tree. That way, the new headlight ears can fit easily onto the forks and the front end keeps its' scrambler look, but also looks a bit more beefy and sleek. Win-win.
I am, however, considering a second sleeve that covers the fork tube between the top of the new ears and the top of the triple tree. At the very least, I think I'll add on a few spacers and possible paint the tube tops. That's something to worry about later. For now, here is today's parts order:
Order
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Monday, June 11, 2012
A Little Less Conversation...
Still on motor hiatus, due to a bizarre accident involving a dump truck, an old house and a chunk of plaster falling on my machinist's head. So, in the interim, I've been doing research. A lot of research.
Exhaust system: While I have a perfectly good stock dual exhaust with mufflers, they're a bit rusty and crusty, and just don't have the best of lines. In addition, they severely limit my options of what I want. I could try to clean them up, but it's a lost cause. I could blast them and have them painted or ceramic coated, but that's another $250 easy. I could wrap them, but it would look silly with the crossover pipe, and just not sexy at all.
Solution: Left Side High Pipes from The Factory Metal Works. At about $200, they give me a really great line to add to the tank/seat idea, and add a little scrambler flavor which looks great on a bike with no chrome and only polished aluminum. The thought is to either paint them of have them ceramic coated in black, then custom build a sexy heatshield to make the whole thing pop.
Carb: Mine's shot, and there's no fixing it, only replacing it. After a tumultuous amount of ardor through online forums, I've found some interesting info. My bike may NOT be a 1967, but instead a later version of the 67 resold in 68-70 and titled strangely. From what I've read this isn't uncommon. However...
Some of the attributes of a later version of my bike are there, but some of the important ones are missing. Without going into too much detail, it seems that my bike is a little bit of a Frankenstein, and due to its racing background, I'm not surprised. The frame and engine match, so that's a plus, and they are definitely from 1967. However, the previous owners had made a lot of changes along the road, and updates and parts swaps happened, including a new race piston setup that they stamped in 1971.
Solution: It's obvious that I'm going to have to be careful with parts based on the year in the future, but for now, I'm replacing the MKI 626 carb with a new MKI 626 carb. If it ain't broke...
Headlamp: It's entirely possible that I'll wind up using my stock Lucas headlamp setup, but there's something sexy about pushing that piece a little further forward. It's like exaggerating the crown on a king's head.
Solution: I still can't believe I was able to get these headlamp brackets for $17. All aluminum, and they push the light out at least 3 more inches. With a bit of luck, all I'll have to do is shim from the bottom and drill in a set screw to fit over the fork tops (with the old ears ground off, of course).
The Frame: I'm 32 (+1) years old. I've owned this BSA for 8+ years. That's 1/4th of my entire life. The way I look at it, is the first quarter was spent drooling. The second quarter was spent in preparation for when I could drive. The third quarter was spent chasing girls, finding a career and creating a home. The last forth has been spent developing taste and culture, and has not been put towards fixing up this bike.
In my adolescence, I favored building the Beezer into a bobber. With the little grace I had, I didn't build it into a hardtail, and I'm forever glad for that. The huge cuts I made to the frame are exactly the cuts I would have had to make for this build, so everything is still awesome. There are a lot of extra tabs and crap that I know I'm going to cut off, but for now I can wait. I've grown patient in my old age.
Solution: The stupid low-rent powder-coating that I mistakenly did to it in 2004 is now gone. I've given it a thin coat of primer to prevent rust and it's ready to be transformed into the gem it should be. From my estimates, I spent almost $300 to bring it back full circle to where it should have been in the first place for $50. Folly of youth, but back on track. (In my defense, this wasn't a bid deal when I bought it. It's only become a big deal because of media in the past decade. It wasn't nearly as heartbreaking to cut up this frame back then. Time opens all wounds.)
Friday, June 8, 2012
Please Forgive Me
I almost did this. I was 24, and made a lot of rookie mistakes when I started building this bike. This is my confession.
First and formost, (thank jebus,) while I cut the frame down, I didn't cut it so much that I ruined the rear suspension mounts, and the only cutting I did is exactly the cutting I'd have to do to put on a nice new seat, so I'm in the clear when it comes to major irreversible mistakes.
What I did, was to drill some holes to mount a cheap seat, have the whole thing powdercoated at a cut-rate industrial place, and add some tabs for a rear fender mount that I'm not going to use. As I type this, the frame is at the blaster's, undoing most of my stupid youthful mistakes. I did a lot of good work, by cleaning up old parts, but did a lot of damage, but doing stupid things to them.
I'm definitely paying for my sins via my pocketbook, but it's still cheaper than buying it all over again.
First and formost, (thank jebus,) while I cut the frame down, I didn't cut it so much that I ruined the rear suspension mounts, and the only cutting I did is exactly the cutting I'd have to do to put on a nice new seat, so I'm in the clear when it comes to major irreversible mistakes.
What I did, was to drill some holes to mount a cheap seat, have the whole thing powdercoated at a cut-rate industrial place, and add some tabs for a rear fender mount that I'm not going to use. As I type this, the frame is at the blaster's, undoing most of my stupid youthful mistakes. I did a lot of good work, by cleaning up old parts, but did a lot of damage, but doing stupid things to them.
I'm definitely paying for my sins via my pocketbook, but it's still cheaper than buying it all over again.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
All Hail the Brat!
Now, this has nothing to do with the BSA, but I also own a '73 Honda CL350 and a '71 Honda CL175. The 350 is stock, in beautiful shape, and is my wife's favorite. She also lays claim to the CL175, which I've been fixing up a little for her. It's pretty crusty, but I've done all the important stuff like rebuilding the carbs, replacing the chain, etc. Right now, I'm just waiting for a replacement brake cable, and it's on the road.
But enough about that, I'm here to talk about what I want to do to it. We've all heard of cafe bikes, choppers, bobbers, rat bikes - the list goes on. What hasn't been talked about as much is the "brat" bike, and that needs to be rectified.
I've already put brand new trials tires on the bike, the tank is a stock Honda (which has good lines), and there's really nothing that has to be done except cutting out all the extra crap and build a flat seat.
The whole point is to strip the bike down to it's bare essentials, tweak the motor up a notch, and just have a clean, fast little vintage enduro.
The CL175 is the perfect bike for this project, and all I have to do is convince the wife to let me do it. Of course, it'll have to wait until at least next summer, since the BSA takes priority... but it never hurts to start thinking early. I already know the tank is going to be polished steel with some simple painted graphics. Maybe a Honda logo or racing stripes. We may never know.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Sears
Craftsman used to be great. Lifetime warranty on all their tools, a major player in the racing world: they were top notch. Now - they suck donkey balls.
Last year, I brought in a Craftsman drill to their tools department. It belonged to my grandfather, and was probably purchased in the mid-70's. Stamped to the side was a placard that stated "LIFETIME GUARANTEE". Sadly, after 40+ years of service, the drill was dead, so, according to the unlimited warranty riveted to the side of the drill, I looked to get a replacement. (In all honesty, I knew it was a ridiculous stretch, and hoped for a $10 coupon or something.) Long story short, they flat out told me that Sears no longer honors ANY of its lifetime warranties, no matter if it was sold in 1935 or 2010.
Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I find that to be absolute bullshit. Until this afternoon, I chose not to buy another Sears product again. I don't like liars. However, I needed a rivet gun, and the wife was returning a shirt on the other side of the mall, so I decided to just go and buy one while I was waiting.
The rivet gun was $20 and a pack of rivets was $5. I brought it to the counter, and the sales lady (easily 80 years old) asked if I wanted to put it on my Sears card.
no.
Do you want to sign up for a Sears card and save $15 blah, blah, blah.
no.
Are you part of our loyalty program?
no.
Would you like to sign up and get special offers?
no.
Okay, what's your phone number?
None of your business.
I have to put a phone number in to complete the transaction...
1-234-567-8910.
Would you like to purchase an additional warranty for the tool your buying?
no.
It's only half the cost of the whole tool, and extends the warranty by 12 months.
no.
Are you sure?
Lady, I'm buying the equivalent of a stapler. If it stops working in the next 12 months, I'll probably throw it out so that I don't have to deal with you again.
Okay, I need your phone number again.
Seriously?
Do you want to run it debit or credit?
Here's $30 in cash. More than necessary to buy the rivet gun and the rivets. I'm taking it, and walking out the door.
Sir, I need...
Bye.
I'm sorry, but I'm fucking DONE with Sears. Where did I put that Snap-on catalog?
P.S. I found out that Sears wouldn't uphold the lifetime warranty for its tool to Katrina victims, since they were guilty of flood damage. http://consumerist.com/2007/03/the-softer-side-of-sears-craftsman-lifetime-warranty-doesnt-apply-to-katrina-victims.html Fuck Sears.
P.P.S I went to try it out for the first time, and all the nuts and bolts holding it together popped out and the tool won't even work. Again, fuck Sears.
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