~ Where I finally get to build a bobber ~
Buddhism teaches me that nothing is permanent; all things change. When it comes to breathing life back into old bikes that have been sitting for a length of time, there is one constant: All carburetors need to be cleaned. Alright…I’m … Continued
Valve-check intervals depend on many factors like cam profile, lobe hardness, the kind of followers or buckets, valve weights, average rpm and so on. Manufacturers run tests to determine valve train wear and set inspection intervals accordingly. The first few … Continued
The ZN is actually in fair condition for being 31 years old and, for the most part, was probably taken care of. The side covers, on the other hand, haven’t aged gracefully. There are a lot of bobbed bikes (and … Continued
It’s the little things that can drive me crazy. Not that I need any help in that department. Some time ago, the inside of the fuel tank was cleaned. It was, in fact, cleaned three times—once by the interim owner/seller … Continued
After reading a multitude of internet threads about painting motorcycles, here’s how I painted the ZN’s tank using just rattle cans. Yeah, you really can do that—or so I’ve read—so I decided to give it a shot…both out of curiosity … Continued
For the last post in this three-part series (see the first two posts here and here), I have a round-up of a few more fun tools and gadgets that make a great addition to any bike shop. Tire Changer with … Continued
Now that I’ve written a bit about my shop and essential equipment here, I’m going to move on to my most-used tools. My tools aren’t high end Snap-On or Matco tools, but I have what I need to get the … Continued
Some things have finally calmed down, including the big snow-making machine in the sky. And while there’s a break in the action we call ‘life,’ I decided to attempt the next two items…priming the tank (done; more in an upcoming … Continued
Next up on the bike are (a) priming the tank and (b) seeing if the motor turns over. I have all the materials on hand and I’m itching to do both, but since I’m momentarily hampered by both polar-bear weather … Continued
The internet is flooded with information of all kinds. Some of it is good. Some of it is, shall we say, dreadful. It’s no different when it comes to stripping the exterior of a fuel tank. The internet readily offers … Continued