Spring is finally, officially here in Barnstead

[nhmaf]

The 1 mile mud path from my garage to the nearest tarmac finally dried up a bit, and I anxiously strode to the garage in anticipation of
coaxing Tillie to life again after the long winter's nap.  For some reason, the R65 didn't want to run and exhibited greater reluctance to
start than normal after a winter's slumber.  This, in spite of having a new sealed battery installed last year, with a tune up, new Dyna Brown coil, and a full tank of gas with  fuel
stabilizer added, and being hooked up to a battery tender.   After depleting the battery with the best I could get being a lumpy, 1 cylinder firing gasp and shake, I hooked the battery  tender back up and pulled the bowls on the Bings.    Only a tiny amount of tiny particles were in the bottom of the bowls, which I cleaned
anyhow, and I checked the diaphragms for tears - they should be replaced due to age but they appeared perfect.  Both plugs showed they were
getting gas, so I fiddled with the plug wires.   I think that it is time to ditch the metal-cap OEM wires - they look fine and are not that old, but after
the carb bowl cleaning and pushing the plug wires further into the coil receptacle and a bit of recharge time for the battery, she started up almost like nothing
had ever been wrong.  Hmm.   I think that I see NGK plug wires in my future...

Anyhow, I put air in the tires, checked the lights, horn and brakes, etc while doing figure-8s in the driveway, and headed out to the road after donning my warmest
jacket, gloves, and helmet.   Made a loop of several backroads for about 25 miles total distance and came back into the garage to adjust the carbs a smidge.
The mixture might still be off just a bit, but the carbs are better synched now than they were before and the engine revs well, doesn't bog, and is REALLY REALLY smooth
anywhere from 57- 70+ MPH.

I am so happy to be starting another cycling season now !  My Kawasaki Concours is next to be awoken, though it will probably light right up, it is very much due for
a number of maintenance items which I neglected to do last fall:   coolant change, fork oil change, valve adjustment (there are alot of 'em) and carb synch - it will probably take me a couple days of effort, given all the plastic work that has to come off, tanks, hoses, covers, etc.   There is alot to be said for the rugged simplicity of the trusty airhead !

Anyhow, I count the first real day of spring as the first day of motorcycling, and here it is, the 13th of April.

I hope that spring is bloomin and well in your part of the world, where ever you are !

[Jimryan]

Spring is an exciting time in NH.  I had a camp on Locke Lake in Ctr. Barstead for a few years.  i retird to FL a few years ago from Londonderry.  I still miss the great riding in NH, especially around the big lake and the mtns.  not many mtns here in FL.
Jim

[MrRiden]

Well done! You'll soon be mocking me as it hit 94deg here today making the helmet feel like a toaster oven strapped to my noggin.
rich

[suecanada]

Congrats on the first ride nhmaf!! First ride yesterday for me as LRB came home! Now starts the maintenance work of fluid changes etc. LRB's final drive was short 29cc out of the required 150cc and the driveshaft was short 62cc out of the required 350cc. I will see if the tranny is too full but right now I have emptied the engine oil to eliminate it from the "what oil is dripping off the back of the rear shelf??" Just went out to look ...no dripping oil, dry as a bone, so it IS the engine oil that is dripping. So remind me again what are the usual culprits?? Thanks. Does it make sense that the engine oil drips all the time even when the bike has sat for months and all the oil is in the sump?? Just how high is the level of oil inside that engine at standstill?

[Bob_Roller]

Rear main seal, or the oil pump cover o-ring are the suspects here.

With 87,000 on the bike, you got a pretty good service life out of them.

The oil level is all in the pan area, there's oil trapped inside the engine oil passages and the like, over the course of a winter, all that oil eventually seeps out it's hiding places, and you get drips all winter long.

When I put the bike up for the winter back in Chicago , before starting it for the first time after a winter rest, I would remove the spark plugs, and set them on the cylinder with the leads attached, and use the starter to rotate the engine for about 30 seconds, wait a minute then repeat the process.

Then re-install the plugs and start-up the engine, so I know that the oil system passageways were full of oil before starting it.

[nhmaf]

Hi Sue,

Yes, the usual suspects are the oil pump  cover/ring and/or the crankshaft rear main seal - if the bike hasn't been run for weeks yet continued to drip, I would
have greater suspicion of the oil pump cover, but if you're going in there that far, with the mileage on LRB you may as well plan to replace both so you can ride happier
the rest of the season.

Be sure to read the "Annoying Oil Leak" thread to refresh your memory and so you don't end up in a situation like our friend vontresc found himself !