Doctor, I've got no pulse!
- Thread starter airblazer
- Start date
airblazer
Active Member
As red69 mentioned, I have been busy doing work unrelated to my bike project. Here’s what I have to show for it: A titanium plate, 8 screws and a $24k hospital bill (before insurance)... The remaining balance is worth multiple concours restorations
. I’m just grateful I didn’t hit my head, neck or break a leg. It could’ve been A LOT worse!
. I’m just grateful I didn’t hit my head, neck or break a leg. It could’ve been A LOT worse!
Coastal Redneck
120cc
The plate looks cool in a futuristic way... but I reckon you'd be happier without it. I suppose that thing will set off metal detectors at every airport? Don't let the TSA grope ya, unless of course it's a hot chick, LOL.
airblazer
Active Member
I’ve had to deadhead a few times on commercial flights to pair up with my jet, but have yet to set off the metal detectors. I have TSA Pre-check status so I don’t have to do the body scan which would likely cause an additional pat down. The $85 pre-check fee every 5 years is well worth the convenience for my line of work.
red69
Well-Known Member
Glorified bus driver ?
You are just kidding, right? Do you have any idea what it takes to do that job?
Gary
Well-Known Member
You betcha- why do you think I winked?? My great uncle got his licence at 16 in 1925. Retired from TWA in '72 with over 28,000 hours. His last job was training manager with TWA in Jeddah Saudi Arabia for 18 years from the 50's til the 70's. One of his responsibilities there in addition to training was to fly King Faisal when he went from his "summer residence" to his "winter one" because he didn't trust his own countrymen. During WW2 he was a navigator with Northwest on an Alaskan route. Before the war he had his own flight instruction at Ravenswood Airport in Chicago using two J-3 Cubs teaching primary,advanced and instrument. When I get home around Christmas I'll dig out a picture of when he was flying a NWA C47 which thru a cylinder with a full passenger load. They had to put it down in the desert,not one passenger was injured. My dad and him were not much different in age and treated him like a kid brother rather than a nephew.Dad always want to learn to fly but was told one crazy in the family was enough After he retired to San Diego he never set foot in a plane again. He was the one who called himself a glorified bus driver.
airblazer
Active Member
Glorified bus driver ?
When I was working for the airlines it felt like bus driver, sans the glory. The first airline job I had was flying a 19 passenger turboprop through all kinds of nasty weather in the mountains into podunk untowered airports. The first year I was there I flew almost 1200 hours (FAA limit), but my W-2 totaled less than $14k. Fast forward past a lot of years spent in a variety of stinky cockpits, stuffy airports and crappy hotel rooms, I’m happy to know all of my passengers by their first name. My skill and experience are appreciated instead of being just a warm body behind a bulletproof door that interrupts your inflight movie to tell you about the weather...
airblazer
Active Member
I’m slowly getting around to this project again. I took the cases, head and cylinder off today. I hardly have any special tools or knowhow when it comes to doing an engine overhaul, but I believe it makes the most sense to start here rather than worrying about shocks or tires. I have the Clymer and shop manuals, and a desire to make real progress.
The top of the piston looks good, I’ve seen far worse on this site. It seems to me the cam chain must’ve worn out a long time ago based on the wear marks.
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airblazer
Active Member
I don’t know how far I should go. Years ago before I tore the bike down I did a poor & ignorant man’s transmission test and ran it down the block to verify it would shift gears - they felt normal. I did this without the motor running, as I had no way to start it since it was missing everything north of the handlebar mounts. Input and advice is more than welcome!
The engine should be completely torn down. I'd want to verify the condition of the crankshaft assembly, shift forks & bearings. Steel-against-cast-iron creates some hard debris...and...this amount of cam chain wear is consistent with a well-neglected engine. The gears are probably okay, shift forks of this era usually worn out. I'd give 50-50 odds on the crank being within spec. Pay close attention to the lower end bearings, any noticeable roughness, or notchiness, replace them. Open up the oil pump, I'd expect the gerotor assembly & housing to be scored. That really should be the worst of the bad news, just a question of how many of these lower end parts need attention, or replacement. The rest should be straightforward rebuild stuff.
airblazer
Active Member
You’d think so, but he has wrestling & piano practice, a part-time job, a girlfriend, school & homework (he’s a junior), and is an active member of our city’s youth council. When I’m not out flying I spend more hours at home than he does. But he did the tear down I mentioned above in #53 with me.
airblazer
Active Member
I took the frame to a friend who welds to repair some cracks. I also noticed the left side shock mount is bent slightly upward. To me it doesn’t warrant major surgery, but I could be wrong. Whoever owned it between 1971-2011 obviously had their picture taken while riding it. Who knew this was my bike?!