While darkness still exists and no movement around the home is heard, its time to move and move quickly. To awake anyone at this time in the morning would ruin my selfish thoughts. The bike awaits outside in the still morning air and has not been started for six days now. Slowly becoming a memory of a summer gone by. Work has been relentlessly calling, weekends have become part of the working week, enough is enough. Today is the break out day. A pocket full of hundreds is all that's needed. You can keep your GPS systems for they only get in the way of the mission, getting lost on my bike. No need to leave letters of intent, they will only be lies. Personally Am a bad lier so why bother. Slowly and softly oping the door to exit my home. The familiar squeak from the door hinge sounds a quite alarm. This hinge will need oiling in the near future. Shutting the door it clicks into locked position. Today there is no need to check for my keys because I do not plan to return anytime today or the following. I worry about that later, the mission is at hand. A simple note explaining what I am up to is all I left. Pulling back the cover that keeps the rain from decaying chrome, what little chrome I have.
Personally I do not like chrome, it only starts to rust and decay as soon as you install it. Preferring instead polished aluminum. The reasoning is that aluminum you can re shine at a latter date. Chrome, unless it is the expensive variety (triple chrome) is not worth it. To pay for triple chrome you can expect to pay a premium. There is a fellow on the "West Coast" who charges more than a premium and gets away with it. Triple chrome is very expensive and hard to come by with the stringent EPA regulations, so why bother with it. Nobody will say directly that chrome doesn't look good. It does look good but trying to maintain it on a road bike is near impossible. Bikes that are carried in covered trailers have a better chance of maintaining polished chrome. Never mind that argument," wheres the throttle."
Leaning the bike to the left with the handle bars kicked to the left, grabbing the throttle with the right hand, several preliminary twists to prime the cylinders. two quick twists is all she needs. Kicking the motor over several times with the ignition in the off position. Bring the front cylinder to or near top dead center. This will be indicated by the kicker being harder to push through its cycle. once top dead center is established, one more twist of the throttle. Flick the ignition on. Stand straight up on the kick starter and with full force drop down on the kicker. In the morning (first start), the motor will on occasion give just a cough. Re prime and kick through again, she will fire with ignition properly timed, it has no choice.
Ending the last sentience with "will start" is an intriguing phrase. Most "junk boxes' wont start. A pan head or other similar older motors need to be rebuilt properly first, key word is, properly. Areas that are neglected on the motor will affect ignition timing, namely the timing gears. There are a series of gears and bushings located in the timing cover that are commonly over looked and they affect timing, it is called "accumulative error." With compression, (good) fuel and the ignition times properly the motor has no choice but to fire if it does not then there is some position of this that is "off." Notice that I cover my ass with the use of the word "properly."Another area of concern is the distributor. There is potential for gear lash in the shaft. When considering rebuilding an older motor there is real potential for cost to rise vertically in short order. A new top end is not a motor rebuild. Owning older bikes is not for everyone unless mechanically inclined or have a bank account flush with funds. Mechanically inclined is enough as long as you are willing to talk to folks that know and are willing to listen. over the years I have asked many questions to Ace mechanics who usually are willing to answer your questions and then elaborate on other areas of concern. Keep picking at there brain if you are able to catch them when hey are willing to give information (timing is everything on this one). Next thing you know several hours have pasted and your walking away with valuable information to apply to your bike. Most shop manuals do not tell how to rebuild a motor and the many areas of concern. these manuals assume you are a trained mechanic.
Where was I. Maintain idle while the motor warms to operating temperature. Off I go to get lost on my bike.
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Dess Dermondy
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