Steve,
Your bike looks in good shape so I hope you don't have to do a lot of tear down. Seeing your pictures and what you have done has been the motivation for us to start this project. I keep a folder of everyones pictures and page through these often as reference for our project. It's been great to see what Scott and Lee are doing, it's a small world. I appreciate the help of all the experts here including you in these forums.
I know what you mean about the cleaning up, I hate that part :) I have to give a lot of credit to my Son who is very ambitious and does a lot of the work, preparation and cleanup. Last week he did a major clean up of the basement shop.
Spring is in the air in Wisconsin, it's above freezing today! Right now it's 35 F (about 1 C).
Gunner
New Superhawk Owner
I finished the extra grounding. At the rectifier bracket I removed some paint for a grounding point. I put 3 wires from this point to connect the rectifier ground, tail light and headlight. At the headlight I connected it to the headlight ring so there is a direct connection to the spedo and headlight. I ran an extra wire along the wiring harness. With the old grounding strap in place from the coil to the motor case, and battery ground to the motor case, I think everything should have a solid ground.
I finished up the headlight bucket. All the wiring is connected, and tac and spedo cables installed. The starter solenoid is in. The front brake and clutch cables are ran. It looks like someone had the brake lever in a vice at one time, so I polished out the gouges and both levers look like new. Gunner
I totally agree with your grounding method and rationale, Gunner; I did the same. I don't like relying on earth-return, preferring to to take a dedicated grounding cable to an established earthing point.
I mentioned in Scott's resto thread that he should obtain an OEM head gasket, but LM has written that he has had no problems with the AM variety. I have 3 full AM gaskets sets (2 with the camchain tensioner gasket having been used) ~ 2 from Sirius (Canada) and a Japanese 'Noboru'. I've read some pretty negative posts surrounding AM head gaskets. I intend using the Japanese set, and I'll be a guinea-pig for the forum. I've decided to postpone my full resto for this year, wishing to get the powertrain absolutely right before moving on to the paintwork next winter. If I get anything in the motor or 'box that's not 100%, that means dropping it out again and risking cosmetic damage; so I'll do the internals first, then look at painting fully, starting in the Autumn. I have many spare cycle parts, so I'll fit the new fenders and prep the replacement fork shrouds, headlight bucket & tank ready for a swap-out as-and-when. So, this year, it's rebore, pistons, gas-flow the head, replace valves, springs & guides, little ends with -305 pins, camchain, tensioner & idler, gearbox bearings & cotters, seals, clutch and primary chain / tensioner if necessary. I really want to stop all the rattles ~ the motor has covered around 31K miles ~ and attempt to make it run like a 28hp sewing machine! Having moved apartment unexpectedly, just after Xmas, I've had other fish to fry before my precious CB gets full attention. It's not as nice as it looks in some of the older pics; the original resto by a PO in '96 was OK but i starting to show its age now.
almost thereMan, looking good, you're almost there! You've come a long way since October. I hope your son realizes what a lucky kid he is. Working with my dad on my bicycles, soap box derby car, model trains and planes, my high school '51 Studebaker, etc. are some fond memories and gave me skills and more important an "I can do it" attitude that have helped me all my life. Sounds like you're a lucky dad, too. Thanks for your support, Lee
This week I finished up the wiring and tested it with the battery charger. Everything is working. Then we worked on the right side. We put on the chain, chain cover, clutch cable, and side cover. Next the linkage and pedals. Lee was right about putting the chain cover on first. The screw on the back is a bugger to get on with the wheel on.
Today we put the carbs on and the chrome on the tank. Retro bikes said they would have some rear brake cables in 3 to 4 weeks, so I wrapped the old one with some duct tape so it wouldn't scratch anything, and put it on until I can get a new one. We couldn't resist just dressing it up for a picture. Gunner
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