Got 'er Dun

[tagordon]

Well for now at least. The advise from Airhead about the rocker end play was the ticket for the noise issue. The initial smoke problem cured by new valve cover gaskets. The puff puff puffing of the smoke was from a spark plug not sealed & front exhaust cross over pipe not sealed on that side. A bit more work included:
-Rebuilt Carbs ( sans butterfly )
-Plugs
-Disassembled Brake Master Cylinder & cleaned thoroughly. Carefully honed cylinder with fine grit cloth. FYI - the two rubber cups that pump the fluid. The one that is closest to the brake lever, the skirt part was all chewed up inside the cylinder. I trimmed the remaining potion & reassembled the master cylinder.
Took many thousands of lever pumps to bleed the entire system. But now the front brakes are good.
-Changed all lubricants with synthetics. Ran for approx fifty miles then changed engine oil to Castrol GTX 15W40
- Have leak of trans oil into boot. Will be changing trans oil back to petro based oil this weekend if not sooner. Having riden 100+ miles since valve end play adjustment. I notice a very annoying shifting behaviour. I think I read this refer to it as clunky shifting. Hope a change in trans oil will help.
-Bike insured & has safety inspection. Will try to get by DMV after work to register & get plates. Last registered 2003.
 I am so very happy to have bike on road. I hope neglecting a full tear down does not bite me later. I only commute 10 miles round trip. I spend 1-2 hours using public transit or spend lots on gas driving. I plan to monitor performace carefully to baby bike untill I can do the maintenance I know should be done.
 I hope you folks do not think to unkindly of me for my selfish behaviour.
"I don't want a pickle. I just want to ride my motorcycle."
Oh by the way Arlo Guthrie married a girl from Utah. He treats us to some very enjoyable concerts ever few years. I play Alice's Restuarant every Thanksgiving.
Thanks for all the great advise.

Troy

[Justin B.]

I'm glad you're making progress.  The clunky shift (normal, for the most part) is usually helped a bit by going to synthetic, espacially the 80w140.  I have put 80w140 in all of ours and can tell a slight difference in the 1-2 upshift.

[Bob_Roller]

Great to hear that you just about have all of the serious issues handled ! The type of gear lube may help to some point, but the airhead bikes have a 'clunky' shifting transmission, about the only thing after that, that will help shifting, is experience. I have  to admire your persistence in this hot weather, as I have just about given up on working on my R65 for now, as it's 95 F. on average in the garage at 5 am, so even getting up early isn't much help at this time of year !

[Justin B.]

Damn, Bob, is this an unusually hot summer for you guys?  Our summer has been extremely mild so far, very unusual, but I'm sure "Mother Nature" will make us pay for it in some way down the line...

[Bob_Roller]

Justin, it's been unusually hot this year, we went from our typical 'winter' right to summer conditions. Air conditioning has been on since the first week of May, normally you can hold out until about the first week of June before using it. I think the average number of 110 + degree days in an average 'hot season' is 11, and I think we are at about 20 so far this year, and it's only the middle of July. We've got to make it to the third week of October before the 100 degree temps go away.

[Justin B.]

Crap, I'll try to remember that next time I bitch about Texas summers.    Our weather is the exact opposite, today was 10 degrees cooler than the same day last year.  Last year we were in the middle of a pretty good string of consecutive 100+ days, this year nada.  But, the rain is over for the most part and I have been able to ride my bike again.  Maybe you might need to check out one of those airbag equipped, air-conditioned Hondapotami.  At least I heard a rumor that Honda was brewing up some sort of AC for bikes.  I s'pose a little cold air piped into the helmet would feel pretty good...

[Ed Miller]

Our summer has been mild.  Last Tuesday it was 105, the hottest by far, and the people I run with only wanted to go 6 miles of a flat loop, instead of our usual very hilly ten.  Wimps.  And they have the nerve to make fun of me because I won't run in the rain!

[Jon_P]

you guys can keep your summers! that is to crazy hot for me. but then again when i have a foot of snow on the ground you guys  put on your leathers and your still riding.