The restoration has begun... Now the questions!

Thanks for the confirm on the test Salvo.

 

Hey Salvo:

Is the plastic glue "Plast-Aid"?

If so, that is some great product. Just used it on a bike I am fixing up.

BZ

 

Bubba, It was a brand called Sonic Bond, but I think that they are all basically the same ingredients. Yes, so far I am extremely happy with the results on the pieces I have repaired with it.

 

Salvo,

Wish I had the skills you are displaying in this project. Nice! Been following your progress from the peanut gallery. I'm just a few miles south of you.

I'm not doing near the perfection on my rebuild. Crashed it and tore up most of the fairings. It's an '87 VFR700F2. Bent a few pieces of metal and scraped up the engine casing. I have mostly abs plastics. I was impressed with the plastic repair you did with the store bought repair kit. I saw that kind of stuff but was worried about strength. I ended up using a soldering iron and an abs pipe for material. Melted the edges of the fairing parts and mixed in some of the abs pipe. Kinda swirled it around rather than use it like glue. Mixed up the two sides a good 3/4 inch across. That way there's no straight line break. Took a while to figure out how hot and mushy to make it. Ended up just hot enough to mix it was the best. I haven't done a strength test. I don't have spare fairing to do so. I had to fabricate several whole sections of fairing to make my repairs as it was. Money is tight so I opted to fix them.

You still looking for steel braded lines for the clutch? There's a guy near Phoenix (Tempe perhaps) that custom makes steel braded lines. He runs a marine shop. Buddy of mine got his '84 FJ1100 brake lines from him for something like $35. I'll get the name from him if you like.

I may head up to the Pavilions tomorrow night. The Good Guys have been advertising a car show/event so it should be a good one.

 

Hey Weyrman! I almost went the route you did with the soldering iron... I hope you can find the pieces you need to fix yours... I see you have a Mustang and a Sunbeam?! Very cool! I didn't realize that Goodguys was having an event Sat. evening... Maybe I will try to head up there, I haven't been there since selling my SuperHawk! If your only a few miles from me we'll have to hook up sometime and go for a ride when the project is finished! Thanks for the kind words, they mean a lot!!!

About the clutch lines, I believe Dave Dodge has told me he has some available from him... We'll see! I wouldn't mind having the name just in case, Thanks!

 

We worked on VFR cleanup this morning getting ready to put new sprockets and chain on. Easier to clean when it's apart. What a mess! Anyway my buddy gave me the info:

Bergeron Marine
1559 North Country Club Drive
Mesa, AZ
1(480) 834-1531

Closer to you than I thought.

Tentatively planning to meet up at the Pavilions around 5 PM. We usually start with the bikes. My buddy rides a red/white '84 Yamaha FJ1100 so if you see that at least he made it there. He has seen a lot of your rebuild posts too.

I'll have to drive the cage. The VFR is a ways off yet. I have the fairings completely rebuilt and primed. They need some more sanding then I'm going to attempt painting them myself. That should be interesting. Never done that before. The bike's on a hoist with much of it apart for fork work and the chain/sprocket replacement. Plus a much needed major cleaning. It is running like a top again but since the fairings are off I wanted to do some work I didn't get done before. It had been abused when I got it. 20,000+ miles without cleaning and it was in boxes. Prior owner had tried to fix some stuff on it and do a carb rebuild but gave up. We got it back together and running like a top (but not totaly cleaned up) and then crashed it. It had been crashed before. So now both sides had broken fairings. I decided to take it all apart and redo everything. But, like I said in an earlier post, nothing like the job you''re doing.

Been lurking around here trying to find out about simple fork spring upgrades. Not interested in the conversions with other forks as I want to keep it close to stock. Your posts came up in a search.

 

Weyrman, If you need some info/help with the paint let me know... I wish I could help with the fork spring info but that is out of my league... I've never messed around with different spring rates and such. I've heard something about "Gold" Emulators that are supposed to help... From what I have heard I don't think I would ride "hard enough" to put them to use (shrug..!). I'm sure someone here could offer help if you post the question on a thread.

My wife and I are going to some friends house this afternoon, depending on what happens with that, if we get out soon enough maybe I can head up to the Pavillions, if not, maybe we can meet up sometime in the near future there. If you want feel free to PM me your phone number and if I make it there I can call you.

 

I have used Bergeron for some boat stuff in the past and never had any complaints.

It's a working weekend so another weekend of no Pavillions (although days like today don't get much better for riding!).

Anyone heading to the Antique and Classic Motorcycle show on March 28?

 

I might try to swing that!

 

Classic Motorcycle Show.....I'am jealous.

 

Managed to get out to the Pavilions. Most I've seen in attendance in a while in the motorcycle section. Not a lot of older bikes though.

Will be trying to make the classic show coming up.

 

I made it up to Pavillions a little after 8pm, it was a good turnout, I rode the VFR and met some cool people into older bikes.

 

Ahhh, You guys make me jealous! I had to work today and am to tuckered out to go tonight.... Got the grill goin' right this minute, so i'll have a cold one for ya and wonder if you guys went there tonight! Cheers! No updates this week, been to busy at work lately, I might try to get out to the garage tomorrow!

 

SALVO I see Dave Dodge is building you an engine, How is that coming along? Sounds like it will be a strong dependable shapr looking bike with all the work your doing keep up the great work and updates

 

Thanks for the compliment, Yes, Dave is building my engine for me... It is supposed to be done by the end of April but we will see, things usually take a little longer than expected. I'll keep everybody posted.

 

Hey Guys,
Just a little update... Sorry, no new pics worth sharing yet. I am still doing the bodywork. I am just about ready to lay down the first coats of epoxy primer. It has been a real pain trying to get the bodywork up to my standards, maybe I am just being too picky but I think the end result will shine! I have received more parts from the U.K., new handlebars, choke and throttle cables... I should have some pics ready when I start laying down the primer coats... It is getting warm down here in AZ and I am not expecting to lay down any color until this fall. I need to get the engine back first so I can get the bike back up on it's own wheels and mock the bodywork on so I can lay down my tape for the stripes. I'll keep you posted!

 

Guys,
Can anyone tell me if the Euro headlight setups are a direct bolt "on" ...? I was thinking about replacing my single headlight setup with a european unit. I think the only thing I need to worry about is the wiring harness. Any hints?

 

If you have an '85 upper fairing and fairing stay then there are a few things to address. On the fairing you'll have to cut off the two upper tabs inside the headlight opening that hold the headlight surround. The upper brackets that hold the top of the headlight are different from single to dual. Easy to fab some up. The lower attachment point is also different. The single uses a pin that drops vertical in a hole in the stay, while the dual uses a bolt that attaches horizontally, again, easy fix. Next, either find or fab a lower headlight trim piece. I made mine out of a spare single surround piece.

 

Salvo,..I'd like to say You're doing an incredible job! This is a huge undertaking to say the least...I fully understand the "Up's & Down's" of taking on a project of this magnitude, not to mention the cost...I usually restore "CBX's" & am fortunate to own a low milage 1000R also.. All I can say is "Keep up the incredible work & be proud of what you're accomplishing"!

Mike.

 

Salvo haven't been on for a bit just wanted to check on progress?