Monday, February 29, 2016

RC77: Chapter 9. Bumbling around with the bike and Atlas

I always need help with the engines these days.  
Hutch to the rescue!
Remember, bottom two bolts first next time...
 Coming along.
 Figuring out carb clearance for some velocity stacks.
 Snow house?
Cold hands.
 Getting this tank to fit.
I cut and sanded out an area so the neck will *just* fit.
 But what about this setup?
Nah....tired of tiny tanks.
TTT.
 Handlebars are okay for now.
Maybe?
 Getting there.
 Kinda fits.
 Maybe too small for this one still....
 Headband?
 Bicycle swap with Atlas and the boys.
This would be sweet for him...in 10 years.
 Or this and he could take Moyou for rides.
 I need to figure out a kickstand.
Everything for these cb77's was attached to a feeble aluminum bracket that attached to the frame in two places.  Possibly the worst thing about the stock bike.  I chopped off the center stand mount there is room for a kickstand there now.....twisted metal came with the bike.  The other thing here with the footpegs is from a cl77.
I have also been thinking about footpegs.  For some reason things tend to lean to the dirt bike side of things when I have my way with parts.  There are donors from an early XL350.
 Tie and balloon to him and let hime run around the store.
That is my style parenting.
Just kidding.
Kind of.
Last year at this time my Dad was goofing around in Hawaii with my mom.  That place was always magical for my father.  He took our family there so many time over the last couple decades.  Vacations in general but especially when in Hawaii dad was actually able to turn off and be more present.  He always had something churning around up in his head but when we were in there he was normally focused on finding adventures for everyone.  I surfed for the first time, went to my first farmers market, went to my first nude beach, swam in my first waterfall with my dad there, first kayak...........memories I will always cherish.  I don't know if I will ever be able to go there again but if I ever had the chance again I would love to hike back to the waterfall and swim under the waterfall....I have an old film picture of him laying on a huge rock sunning after we made it back there.  I need to find it!

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

RC77: Chapter 8, moving forward.

Atlas and Z on a Honda mini....
I have a 19 inch cb450 rim on the front and a cl77 rear setup.  I would love to get some high shouldered aluminum rims for these but I like to be able to change my own tires....
 Sad to see this bike go but I didn't get to ride it very much last season.  I was starting to see this as a source of cash for treatments and since I have other vintage bikes I like better......  The only vehicle I ever bought new.  I've been to and through more states on this thing that in a car.  Almost died a number of times too.  I will never forget getting hit by a semi truck tire right after it exploded.  It hit me on the hand and chest, left a pretty nice welt, and almost knocked me off my bike.  The only long motorcycle trip I ever got to go on with my dad was on this bike too.  It was actually my first trip to Midohio.  My dad and I rolled out and met some of his buddies really early in the morning.  We left from the Ft. Wayne area and rode there and back in one day.  My dad was on his new Goldwing and had a trailer behind him.  We went to watch the races but I remember dad and I just walked around the swap meet looking at old junk.  It's hard to explain but I always felt closest to my dad when we did things together, even if he was in his own head working out some problem or talking to himself like he always did.  Riding with family and friends is like this for me.  Sharing space and knowing you are on the road together is what makes it fun, regardless of the destination.

I remember filling that little trailer up with random junk and being so excited to take my friends back the next year.  That was many years ago.....maybe 6?  I didn't make it last year but I am looking forward to the treasure hunt and time with friends this summer.  
 Atlas on Hutch's 550.
 Finley getting used to country life.
 Harper, dukes up and ready to ride?
These girls need a little motorcycle..or at least an ATV.....
 Family photo!  
(Mozzy is in there, I promise)
 These two are going to get into so much trouble.  
I hope!
 Back to the bike.

With the help of many, I was finally able to make it to this point.  Doesn't look like much.  May not ever be much to very many people but I am still super excited about it.  Mike at Chopnweld helped guide me through the numbers on the rake and let me know what other options I had.  I hope I can bring him a frame to be blasted and soon so I can peep his shop.......
 Ended up at 6 degrees of rake.  Just enough?
 This little project needed to go also.  It is so perfect for a fun little smokin' ride but the clock is a tickin' and money is a swirlin' down the tube so I let it go.  Kinda regret this one.  It was super hard to find parts for though.  Yamaha RD200.
 One of Atlas' slurred words is kitty. 
A lesson in patience for biter.
 Animal lover.
 What did I say about liking to put my own tires on?  Enduro tires are always so much more difficult. Z came over to help me finish up.  My spleen definitely got in the way on this one.
 Atlas really likes the Koi fish at the conservatory.  Anything with water.....
Uncle Zac doing his job well.
 I have been using Heidenau tires on my bikes for a while.  I am happy with my decision on this one too!  If you want high quality and good tread patterns check them out.
 Carb planning began.  Z dropped off some round bowl CB77 carbs for me and I have the set originally on the bike..... trying to figure out what I should use.  I have been collecting parts for a while so I have rebuild kits, gaskets, and probably 7 bodies with various bowls and jets.  I should be able to figure out a complete set.
 I'll never tell anyone I know what I am doing with this thing but these turned out alright.
First time on the knurler.
 I even snapped a belt using the cutoff tool.
 All done?
Just some guards for these fork boots so they aren't flopping around.
 I wonder what these would look like anodized black.....
Growing up with a dad like mine, you really did think that he could do anything.  I don't think that really even went away for me until I was in my late 20's.  I started to see how my brother and I had started out and grown from the foundation he set up for us, at least in a mechanical sort of way.  My brother got more into the actual building process as a hobbyist and later in college and after as a professional.  I got into it later more from a design perspective and now just want to learn as many processes at possible while building bikes.  Luckily, Ryan had been down these roads at least once already and I can pick his brain.  My dad actually started as a physics teacher at a high school, then worked as a engineer before becoming the president.  I think in his own way he also just wanted to keep learning and doing new things which evolved his career into the business side of engineering.  I was always proud of my father.  I am proud to be his son and I didn't ever want to let him down.  He taught me by example to hold myself to higher standards than others do and never settle for less than your best and above all stay humble about it.  I hope the same for Atlas.

Thursday, February 18, 2016

RC77 simplified wiring. CB77 CL77 wiring chop / simplified wiring.

CB77 wiring chop.  
Replace the battery with a battery eliminator/condenser unit maybe?
Couple switched in there?

RC77: Chapter 7 Rake and Extend. Working in the shop with dad.

Slug in place after Z helped me adjust the neck.  
Slugs turned in the shop with drops provided by my buddy Jeff.
I hope we get to skate together this spring and summer!
 Nasty MIG weld done by yours truly.
 When cutting DOM tubing to extend swing arms, always make sure to fasten baby securely to your back.  Atlas staring at the ceiling.
 When turning said tubing, make sure friends are close by to supervise....your child.
 All tubing was of course procured at Warner Steel.
http://www.warnersteel.com
Honda mini wheelie poppin' Mike and family kill it over there.


 Tig welds provided by Derek Crocker.
I've almost used up all my Crocker tokens.
Bring a set of carbs over for cleaning soon!
 TIG clean up with better penetration on the backbone.

 Duck adventure?
 Asleep already?
 Truing what I have to work with.
I would love some high shoulder aluminum rims.....
 Warm skate day in winter.
Upper cascades is always a good time.
 Not yet, buddy.
Christina photo

When working on the first two bikes I "built" (both Honda 350 twins) I often took parts up to my dad and brother's shops.  One winter when making the hardtail for the "Chimp" I remember staying out in dad's shop chopping, fitting, grinding, drilling, bending, and welding.  Ryan was out working on his RX7 and dad was working on one of his many ongoing projects.  


**He always had the longest list of things to do.  I bet dad liked making those lists, and after completing each task, I bet he felt good.  We didn't ever talk about the feelings associated with them but I make similar lists, less now than I used to but no matter what I put on it, I almost always get excited to start on it and when I finish I always look forward to marking stuff off.  Silly probably but I know dad always marked his items off as he did them, and I bet he got the same feeling.  Some people would probably get anxiety making a list and looking at it in this way.  I am always happy to get all the things I have been thinking about doing down on paper and excited for when I will get to cross them off.......

I loved working in the garage with Ryan and Dad.  We didn't talk much or even need each others' help very often but just sharing the same space and working creatively on our respective chores/projects/tasks gave us a sense of unity that I am luck to have been able to experience.  I know dad was happier with us out there too.  I miss working out in the shop with him.  I miss hearing his funny ways of expressing anger/trying not to swear.  I miss his random singing, especially his version of "my baby does the hanky-panky."  I hope I get to experience this feeling with my son at some point in our lives.  To be able to look over my shoulder and see him putting all his energy into something he loves.  Hopefully I can get up to Ryan's shop soon and check out what he has brewing and use his mill to fancy up the rims on the RC77.