BOLLOCKS!!!
And my sincere apologies… I’ve put some Brazilian lump in the hallowed halls of Trumpetdom… if admin can move… please do!
I’ve been doing more work on the ratbike… removals mainly… the chap who installed the key fob electronic switch (instead of ignition stack) was quite the artist! The mullered main loom is off and I’m debating trying to lay it out and rewire the loom myself (not something I’ve done yet) or bite the bullet and buy a second hand one that may work ok… finger pointing and bawdy laughing invited at the first idea!
The poor beast had not been short of apathetic treatment over its existence, the decision to spend money on it or not will come soon, but the deeper the dive so far… the closer to the scrapheap it gets pushed
Time and effort I can give, but the balance in my back pocket is very limited.
Ok, who doesn’t love ratchet straps??? Such a handy small garage tool! I was having issues with Roland’s rear wheel insertion (possibly a temporary rat bike name - may stick ) and the gammy rear calliper. I ended up with not enough hands to hold this, support that, clonk t’other and get the calliper to nice enough for all the rear end to come back together again. One issue is that when it’s on the centre stand there’s only a gnat’s dick of rocking between front and rear tyres on the floor… the other issue is supporting the wheel steady whilst getting all the alignment right.
With issue 1, I’d tried blocks under the centre stand feet, but the only stuff I had was too big and doubled the effort required for issue 2. So I get me auld ratchet strap on’t job (not my strap-on jobbie ) and put it between the front wheel and top yoke, this allowed steady pressure on the forks, gently shortening them and by way of see-saw, tilting the rear end upwards a bit… nice and easy access! For issue 2, a strap through the wheel and over the seat subframe area, gently suspended the wheel, allowing my only 2 hands a bit more freedom to do the wiggly-jiggly bits!
Sorted… straps are boss!
I then had just enough time to lay out the butcher’d loom and weep for all the dead sparkies who were spinning in their graves!
Like the ratchet idea!! I normally pack slithers of plywood under the centre stand by tilting the bike one way (whilst on stand) then the other and sliding it in to position. What actual bike is it? What’s the problem with the wiring? I use lumps of loom from cars I’ve broke to colour match what I’m replacing as it generally has everything I need.
It’s a CB450dx (Honda using up the Superdream parts bin) which were made in Brazil… so the manual and wiring diagrams are in Portuguese
The ignition switch electrics are missing and some previous owner has added a Hawk alarm type thing, bypassed the key by using a fob activated relay… the clocks… well, the rev counter is disconnected and the speedo has been replaced by an electronic thing!
If it didn’t have a log book, I would have thought it stolen… but it does.
Plan would be to rid it of the shite electronics, get it actually working again and looking half acceptable… but the list of expenses is building and I think I’d probably rather spend the money somewhere I’m half likely to get it back.
I can see what you mean about the money. If you were doing up a bike you have always wanted, or one you have loved owning, I can see the reason for spending on it. As you have been “blessed” with the Honda and have no real passion for it, is it worth the aggro/cost?
A mate had been supposed to do a £500 challenge (to tour Scotland iirc) but Covid struck and it sat in his storage since then… he finally felt that he was not gonna do anything with it, so kindly offered me it.
I was a bit cautious, because I know nothing about its history apart for his basic recollections.
Anyway, it’s turned up and I have moments of inspiration followed by doubt
No, I maybe should have but I kinda got it in the garage, then wanted to check the tank out (mild rust, should be ok)… then took another bit… then another until it’s how it is
Anyway, I personally wouldn’t bother with a butchered loom as it’s not worth the headache and more so time. Either buy a loom or break the bike ( subject to your costs and or end plan of it)
Ok, stuff has started to arrive… wiring loom, right hand switch unit, push throttle cable, and best of all… a pdf of the official workshop manual (in English )
I felt like I should do a little more, keep things moving kinda idea… so I protected the “vulnerable to wet” bits… took it out side and got ready to degrease and wash… first 4 pics
So a half decent degrease and power wash later, I got out my ceramic wax and clay bar to finish the job properly.
Did I fuck!!!
I did remove the water covers to ensure no ingress… nope, all fine! And a light wd40 on the chain to shift any liquid rustilizor hanging about in the crevices.
A quick comparison before and after gives an idea of how much rattle can black the previous monkey had invested in his “conversion”.
Wheels, zorsts etc would need some deeper pockets but the above looks pretty standard. I’d bin the rack though.
Gonna be interesting to see where you go on this.
) and the gammy rear calliper. I ended up with not enough hands to hold this, support that, clonk t’other and get the calliper to nice enough for all the rear end to come back together again. One issue is that when it’s on the centre stand there’s only a gnat’s dick of rocking between front and rear tyres on the floor… the other issue is supporting the wheel steady whilst getting all the alignment right.
) and put it between the front wheel and top yoke, this allowed steady pressure on the forks, gently shortening them and by way of see-saw, tilting the rear end upwards a bit… nice and easy access! For issue 2, a strap through the wheel and over the seat subframe area, gently suspended the wheel, allowing my only 2 hands a bit more freedom to do the wiggly-jiggly bits!
