TOPIC:

DoubleZed, if you could take a few more pictures of it installed and finished, that would be awesome! The welder I'm working with was absolutely impressed with your fab work- he really likes the ideas that you're using and how you put things together to finish things up.

I think I'm going to end up using the same mount system that you are- it seems to be the simplest way to mount it up right now. Thanks!

Thanks again 650. The mount is pretty simple, but I had originally planned a steel mount that directly attached to the mounting eye of the shock that would be welded to the same two transverse tubes to the front and back. That was simple, but there was no way to adjust height with shims. Thinking back, it was probably unnecessary to adjust it that way anyhow. I still like how it turned out and I kept the steel one, just in case....
Obligatory assembly shot

lower

upper


underneath


right-side-on

Used the torch to massage a relief for the reservoir. The cap just barely touched before.

Going along with the momentum, I slipped the chain on to feel like I had accomplished something, and to check proximity between the chain and the lower transverse brace. In the event I need to make a roller, it will attach to the inside of the rear set bosses. With an inch of deflection in the chain, there was room to spare:

A little flash makes the metallic in the swinger paint pop. Chain doesn't really ride on the slider much. Enough slack?

One of my favorite shots of the day:

Plenty of space between the 180-55 tire....

...And slightly less between the frame
I don't think an o-ring chain would slip past without trouble. But it might be so close that it would just steadily chip paint. I think the 13mm offset sprocket would have resolved this.
Some of the earlier pics have a set of "clubman" bars I made. However, paranoia got the best of me and I didn't want one of the bars to bust off So I slipped a set of drag bars on that my dad picked up a few years ago for this bike, along with a couple other drag-specific items like forks with a brace and dual disks, wide rim with Hoosier slick, extended swinger, these bars

To attach them I intended to build the risers on the mill at work, but without it I just didn't have the motivation to make them with files, hacksaw, and grinding burrs. Luckily enough, I saw a set of 86' Virago risers that looked like they would fit in the little space left by the instrument cluster. For $15, I think its a winner!

I'll leave with these couple shots:

oops, two more:


Happy New Years!

Thanks for the pictures! When the bike is standing on both wheels vertically, how much ground clearance do you have to the suspension pivot block? Just wondering so I have an idea if my suspension ride height will give me enough clearance.

Sweet work, she's really starting to clean up

The lowest part of the knuckle (to the bottom of the middle grease-cert) was 5 3/16". Without the cert, its right at 5 1/2". I can tell you that with the exhaust, I can get my foot under the lowest part at the oil pan, perhaps 3" or so. I hope to measure it by next week, since the head is going together now; just checking the valve lash and probably making an order to Z1 for some shims. I think I'll be the guinea pig with the Athena valve seals, since there isn't much info about them. If they leak, it will suck and I will be kicking myself, but at least everyone will know....

Athena valve stem seals.
I've built quite a few engines with Athena gasket sets and seals and they've been just fine.
As with any seals put plenty of lube on the valve stem and seal and rotate the valve as the stem goes through the seal to avoid tearing the lip.
Make sure there are no sharp edges on the valve tip remaining from any stem grinding etc.
The common cause of premature seal failure is damage caused by incorrect assembly practice.

Thanks for that Zed1015, I have read some of your build threads and they are awesome, very inspirational. I think I have one or two of them bookmarked lol. I use plenty of assembly lube on the valve train components and ,as you said, carefully slip those valves in.
I guess every body makes mistakes now and then, like what I just did a few minutes ago. ( I hope this is excusable ) While checking the valve lash, I neglected to remove the intake cam after checking it and just set the exhaust cam in and torqued it down. (You see where this is going right?) After rotating it a half, I stopped and gulped real hard. You guessed it. Now I'm looking for a new intake valve..... I'm not supposed to be making rookie mistakes like this lol!

Nice work! Looking like it's going to be a statement bike when your done.

Les

les holt wrote: Nice work! Looking like it's going to be a statement bike when your done.

Les

Yup, I'm following along. Learning things too.

Thanks for the compliments guys, the learning and the tinkering is great and so is the encouragement I get here. Not sure what kinda statement it will say about me, but it has been fun nonetheless. I was afraid going into this project that some of the things I was doing might look like a cookie-cutter build, but I'm glad there is so much diversity; modernizing parts of these bikes is a great way to keep them on the road and safe, a perfect blend of form and function I think. And there is so many different ways to go about it!

So I finally got all my orders in from Z1. First for the valve ( ) and a 2.00 shim, I also picked up a neutral switch to replace my lost one. Second order to get the shims I needed and some fuel line. While I waited on that, I found an Ebay store that sells only carb parts, so I got 2 jet needles since Z1 was out. And just before the snow hit, with the help of my wonderful girl friend, we slipped the head on and torqued it down. Unfortunately, I lost all the copper washers and the local places want a dollar a pop! Once I get the looooong overdue rebuild parts for the mini lathe, I'll turn a hand full out of some copper stock and put them on one atta time. Gotta clean up the tach driver, the tensioner and the oil bypass and I can finally button up the engine, IF it ever thaws out..... I'll be enjoying the warmth of the fireplace inside to rebuild the carbs. Pics soon.

Sweet baby Jesus, how have I missed this?! Thing looks killer!