Dirt Quake

Dirt Quake was a really great event. Tombo and me went down on the bikes, thought it was gonna be a very wet ride, but it turned out to be fine!

Showed up and left the bikes - I never remember to take pics of my own bike - so pinched these from Detroit Chris' blog (was lovely to meet his good lady too!)

Me and Tombo watching the action!

This was bloody lovely - I would still have taken Milo's 45 home before this - but it was clean as a whistle and given me plenty of food for thought when I get round to mine...

best laid plans and all....

Well......

Had battery issues, so had to use a huge battery. No room in the electrics box, so taped it to the tank for the MOT  

As for the MOT, I didn't ACTUALLY make it to the test centre, so it didn't fail...

Broke down or cut out around 7-8 times in 9 miles as I tried my best to get across Leeds to the test centre. The best was 10 yards onto the busiest roundabout in Leeds when the main fuse popped. I had to push- sprint the bike to safety 

So I managed to get it 1/2 a mile from the test centre when it cut out the last time ( due to the carbs). 

At this point I wished I had an electric foot, had eaten or drunk in the last 4 hours, or had the energy to keep kicking. Unfortunately none were available.

I attempted to call upon the strength of 10 tigers, but my phantom powers were absent.

It's then I saw that I was 20 mins late and a greggs was 100 yards down the road!









Regained my strength, phoned the guy to apologise, and phoned a mate with a van...

I then pushed the bike 3 1/2 miles half way across Leeds to my mates place - that was fun!!!

I did get some good shots though...







That's my bike building limit reached for a while. Not too disappointed, didn't really have enough time to set it up.

Gonna have a couple of weeks off it now, and just ride when I get chance.

MOT tomorrow!!!!!!!!

Stuggling with the balistic batteries - dying really quickly. Had issues with the charging circuit today pptom has been a great help on the phone - cheers mate.



Well its all together and "running". it will only run on choke, and start on the right amount of throttle. Tried to put the foam air cleaners on, but they wouldnt fit - i split the rubber on one trying.... maybe i can cut out the extra rubber if it will restrict air flow...

heres a little video of it ticking over rather fast!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVOTNNxs-04

Any advice on getting it setup would be great, a few questions:-

the breathers on the intake rubbers - should they be covered at all times unless using vacuum guages, or are they ok to be open?

i have the carbs tilted to the side to allow for the fuel taps (error on my behalf!) will that be a problem?

which screws do what on the carbs - 

there are ones on the top with the cables. i guess they set the ballance of the 2 when lifted

there is a big screw that sets the lowest point on the floats - i played with them a bit and that affects the tickover rate

there is a screw near where the air cleaner meets the carb (furthest away from the engine) - what do they do.....

gonna have about 2-3 hours to fettle tomorrow before i head off for the MOT - would be great to have it in some sort of order before then.....

I am pretty happy with how its looking too!

Shoddy painting

A bit of painting while I sit in the garden...



Filled and primered 




There are a lot of marks in the paint mainly as I did a shoddy job of rubbing down filler. so it needs rubbing down and re-painting. But it'll do for now to keep it protected.



Put some stickers on quick. It is a pretty good match paint wise, maybe a tad lighter, but looks well.

Couldn't find the tap to cut a thread for the tank, so left it there for today.

Assuming there are no major engine issues I'm hoping to aim for an MOT on Thursday/ Friday...

Front end done

Had to order new bolts for the front wheel, bought the first set the wrong size, so new ones arrived today.

Once the disc was all fixed and the nuts locked on it was clear that I got the spacings wrong. Not only that, but the spindle was - well I believe the technical term was shagged!

I had another 15mm spindle, but it required shims to fit the fork legs.

Here are my lovely spacers.... 



Until now the top yoke hadn't been pushed far enough down and tightened. They were tight as hell, and I manage to knock the bike off its wooden block. Nothing dramatic, caught it as it went, but with no one around the bike sat like this for a good half hour!!!


Finally I picked the front end up on blocks and got it back in the air.

The bike is looking good with the extra height!



I sorted the paint out for the tank. This is it on some bare metal. Should work out fine!



Couple of other things, 

gonna run 2 petrol taps, one for each carb - will need to make a threaded bung and weld that tomorrow

All wiring is now done!

Front end all complete!

Oh- and my stresses on the rear wheel- if I can't get the cb500t one to work before next weekend, i'll just use the one on the relic- stock xs650....

Wiring

Mounted up the electrics box. No frills with it, need to just get parts together. I can always make nicer parts at a later stage...



Also cut in the ignition switch



Tibbs came through with the stickers already. This may have to do temporarily, but ultimately it will need to be painted up green like the tank...



Then on with the dreaded wiring! 

So far I've sorted the front lights, and the firing circuit! Not had it running yet, not got enough oil to run it, so will have to wait till tomorrow...



Knocked up a quick mount for the rear light...



Finally I got the front brake working. Messed up on the bolt sixes for the front disc, ordered M6 instead of M8 bolts...

Scrambler Decal

Knocked up a decal for the scrambler today at dinner time. Well happy. Hoping to get them made up by Tibbs for the bike....

Sh'eeeet Metal Work

Finished up the main fabrication on the electric box. Well pleased with it!

Used some steel tube to get the front rounded off..





Then welded all up. Will need a little filler to finish it off, but not bad for a first effort...



Oh, and cut a hole in the top



Sits nicely in the frame



Just sprayed it up black for now to keep the rust off. Will be green when I'm done with it...

Started laying some of the electrics out too.

70's scrambling

Found this old picture of McQueen on a Triumph Scrambler - very similar to the style I'm going with the Yammy!