Polishing Aluminum

Ive been working on the wheels. I was going to paint them but decided that it was probably not a good idea since this bike will see only offroad use. I chose to polish them instead. I dont think I will take them to a mirrored finish though. Just a clean "brushed" look. The rear is pitted badly in one section, but I worked it out as much as possible. It wont be show quality, but it wont be an eyesore either. Here are some videos I found very helpful. Ill post some pics of the process of polishing the front rim.

Primed and almost ready for paint. A little fine sanding to smooth out rough spots.

Cleaning up the rear wheel while the rust converter does it's thing. The frame should be ready for primer soon.

New Toy

Well, new to the garage anyway. Yamaha DT175. Rusty, greasy, and in need of a lot of work as usual. Came with another DT tank, a seatpan, and a Husqvarna vintage tank. Hell yeah! Not to mention the possibility of another rolling frame. Ok, back to work on the TY.

More Engine Porn

Allison liquid cooled V12. Developed by the Allison Division of General Motors Corp. The design is that of a modern engine featuring overhead cams, 4 valves per cylinder, and single point fuel injection. It made at lest 1 HP for every pound it weighed. This particular engine coming from a P-38 produced 1,450 HP.

Engine porn #2

I was at the Aerospace Museum of California in Sacramento last week oogling various aircraft and engines. Should have been a pilot. Or at least an aircraft tech.

Engine porn #1

28 cylinder air-cooled airplane engine at the Sacramento air and space museum. The pistons are bigger than my head!

Zoom

My second favorite tool

The "metal make go awayer".

She's a true basket case now

Spoke too soon

A gift from UPS yesterday. The hub probably isn't going to work. Hooray for respoking wheels. I think it's time for a sandblaster as well.

Small crack on the ouside edge of the silver one.

Pioneer?? Scott Towne's Chainsaw Chop

Have a look at this sweet 2-stroke bob built by Scott Towne in his "spare-time". It might have been done before, but this is the first I've ever seen. Much respect for this awesome toy. Check out his blog and link to a Chop Cult article on him.


Scott, you are a modern day pioneer. I want to build a little 2-stroke chop now. I'd bet my botton dollar I'm not the only one either.


In his post he mentions what the hell he would do with a smoker hardtail. Good question but, its the bombbay doors. Cheers for the inspiration.

Heep Jalopokee

The jeep didn't want to stay running today, or the past 2 weeks for that matter, because of an air leak underneath the carburetor.


Look at that nest of wiring and vacuum hoses. When I get around to rebuilding the weakling AMC 150 I think I'll take the opportunity to do away with most of the computer controlled feedback carburetion system and put in a properly jetted carter yf sans electronics. The right size catalytic converter and some tuning should keep it within emissions standards. This thing is kind of a roach. I wouldn't be bothered to take the sawzall to it and make a trail rig out of it. Perhaps a future project. For now, I'll stick to the drive, repair, drive a little farther, repair again routine.


Well here is why it's sucking air. The four little screws holding the carb to the base plate are loose. ( I loosened the 9/16" nut.) The carb was rocking out harder than Beavis and Butthead.

Honda TLR 200 Survival

Some pics of the survival 'Flex. Yes, in case zombies happen.

Barbeque black and olive drab, undeniably my fave.


Ooooo scary.




Stoplight made out of a rattlecan lid. I think Im going make my own fiberglass fender a la Manual. Be sure to check out the Manual Blog to be fully amazed.

Disassemblification

Getting it all broken down finally. If I had a dollar for every time I cussed at rusty, frozen bolts on this bike I'd be a millionaire and could buy factory bikes all day long. Eh.. but what fun would that be???



The front axle gave me hell until I got out a big ass hammer. Steel + aluminum + heat/cold + h2o = stuck. Same with the swingarm. Except there is supposed to be grease in the swingarm. Well I guess the factory squirt 34 years ago isn't doing the job anymore. Imagine that.