Parts tally

As the restoration of the bike progresses I find myself stuck in front of my computer scouring the web for parts. Asking for discounts, receiving shipping quotes and placing bids on eBay seem to be occupying more of my time than the rest of the project. This process, however, is necessary to adhere to my budgeting plan.

I personally believe in the saying "There's always a better deal out there." and I do my very best to stick to that motto. Combine this thrifty mentality with a shoe string budget and you get a very wary spender. But I figure if I were to spend my money poorly but very quickly, I would end up waiting for the next pay day to make more purchases.

The list of parts I need to replace seems endless, so to say on the positive side of things, here is a list of all the things I have managed to replace and why.

Clutch perch - (cracked)
Triple tree clamp - (cracked)
Camshaft rocker cover - (tachometer cable port broken)
Pod air filters - (old ones were old, ugly and heavy)
Seat parts - (to go with the cafe racer look (pics will be posted soon)
side panels - (were missing when bike was bought)
Wheel bearings kit - (just for good measure) - Probably my best purchase too
Front brake caliper seal kit - (rubber rotted)
Petcock gasket - (rubber rotted)
turn signal flasher relay - (dead)
fuses - (don't trust the current ones)
Key ignition bracket - (because I want it on the dash instead of under the tank)
Paint, bondo, etc...

As for the larger purchases like the handlebars, fork rebuild, shocks and tires are not a necessity at this point in the build and as such will (thankfully) not be bought until the bike is going back together.

Finally, for anyone in need of parts for their vintage rebuilds here are my top 5 websites I recommend purchasing from.

1. TASclassicmotorsports
2. Cycle Recycle
3. Cyclexchange
4. Partsnmore.com
5. eBay of course!!

If you need any help finding deals on specific parts, just leave a comment and I'll do my best to help guide you in the right direction!

Next update should see pictures of the tank bondoed, primered, and ready for paint!

DIsassembly Pt.4

TEAR DOWN IS FINISHED!

Yes, that's right, the bike is completely apart. Since the last post, the stubborn swing arm was removed (with the help of a hammer), the engine was then removed from the frame followed by the front wheel and forks. All the random nuts and bolts have been organised according to their location (forks, frame and engine) and been brought inside for cleaning. Here is a picture of the bike as of today: Not much of it is left. The carburetors Have been disassembled and are awaiting a good cleaning once the weather warms up (carb cleaner is VERY hazardous and should be used somewhere well ventilated, such as outside). Overall, the jets were rather gummed up, certainly enough to make the bike run rough. In hindsight, I wish I had taken the carburetors off before I began the disassembly, it would have given me a better idea of how strong the engine is really running. Now I have to wait until reassembly! I also noticed when I disassembled the front end of the bike that the forks are leaking from their screws at the bottom, which means a fork rebuild is now unavoidable (big $$$). On the positive side of things, I have managed to order a number of replacement parts which will be featured in the next update. And, now that the bike is completely apart, I can begin cleaning and stripping the paint off the frame, tank etc... and get ready for painting!

Stay tuned as I anticipate a large amount of progress in the next two weeks!