darrell's Bobber Project Starts Again

[darrell]

I figgured I'd start off slow today, so I sat on my roller chair and stared at the bike for about 10 minutes.

Good, now that that's done, I mucked around with the exhaust, looking that it clears everything and that it will work. Well, the mounts are going to need to be modified (dam, left the mount that came with it at Nick's), but this is a part that I can safely cut because I know another one is only up at Nick's, right?

WRONG!

Don't Modify Original Parts!

I will not cut this one until I have another one in my hands. Period.

So, anyway, once I set down the exhaust, I decided to put on the shifter. I couldn't remember what the shifter looked like exactly while I was at Nick's, so I bought two that may have worked. The first one I tried looked to be the better of the two, so with a little encouragement, it was on. However, the bolt that snugs up the splines needed a relief cut into the shaft so the bolt could pass through. I didn't have the right drill bit, so I tapped a relief in the shaft. That'll do.

Now just to snug up that bolt...

SNAP!



Well, I see how today's gonna go. Well, it still looks OK:



Maybe I'll wait on the brake spring, but I can still put in the brake crossover shaft (this bike is right side shift). Well, to put in the shaft, I need to remove the chain, which necessitates loosening the rear axle and the adjuster nuts and ...

Well, that took 45 minutes just to put in the dam shaft. I hope I didn't forget to put anything on it, cause I re-attached the chain. Oh well.

So, I wasn't gonna go fooling with any more bolts tonight, lest I have something break that actually improtant, so I decided to change the seat springs. The ones I had on there were 3" and they bottomed out pretty frequently. I got a set of 5" at Nick's today, so I attached them.

Then I got hungry.

That's when things can really go wrong, so I decided to drop back and punt. Tomorrow's another day.



to be continued...

[Geezer-Glide]

[darrell]

Alright, I just got in from the garage, and the pics are uploading now.

I did what I said I and you shouldn't do today. I modified a part to which I had no backup. I admit it. I cut up my exhaust bracket. I just couldn't wait. Luckily it came out right.

But first, before I even laid a hand on the exhaust, I installed my brake pedal. Since I had "modified" the original brake pedal, I installed the pedal I got off of flea-bay. After I got it on I saw it had a little bit of a unnatural hook to it. I left it on, I'll modify it later. It just needs a little heat and a twist and bend to make it right:



As you can see, it's hitting the primary. Like I said, I'll fix that later.

So, with the brake situation under control, it was time to move to the other side of the bike, which is where the "modifications" occoured. Since I put the hardtail on, the original exhaust bracket would no longer fit. The rear part of the bracket hit the hardtail. So I cut the rear part off. And stuck it directly to the hardtail:



I can't MIG weld for sh!t. But, it's on there, and it ain't comin off.

I attached the front part of the bracket, and mounted up the pipes:



I can see these are gonna be draggers:



I'm not worried about any scratches (like you couldn't tell) because I'm gonna wrap a good portion of these pipes with heat tape. They look good on there though, don't they? It's startin to look a little more like a bike:



So, with the pipes out of the way, I moved on over to the other side of the bike again. And that's where the night came to a screeching halt. Time to think. I have to figgure out a way to mount the license plate holder/brake light. C-clamps and welding vices won't hold it forever:



I just have to figgure on a mounting system for this, and I do believe I know what I'm gonna do, but it took over an hour for me to come up with a plan.



Hopefully, the plan will come to be reality sometime in the next few days.

Stay tuned...

[LittleBear]

Now this right here is some great sh1t. One of the best threads I have read about somebody doing it themselves. Darrell, great job man, screw ups and all. We all can learn from it. I think it is going to look great when you are done. I always like the minimal look and the bare nuts and bolts type of bike.

Keep it up man, I am jealous as he11.

[darrell]

Thanks, Paul.

I know I'm really just throwing this bike together, and not really paying alot of attention to the details, like perfect chrome parts, unscratched tins, a motor that doesn't look like it's been sitting in a vat of grease. But, I hope, in time, that if I get this up and running right again, that I can slowly replace or fix all the pieces that show their wear and age with something that looks a little more pleasing to the eye.

But right now, I'm more interested in pleasing my want to ride.

Damn... sure am enjoying this, Darrell... you have a nice way with words...

You've got to get us some pics of Nick... and his place.

[Highmiles]

It's looking good, and you're doing fine. Keep it up. We are all enjoying this.

[Red Rider]

Great thread Darrell. Makes me want to start a project... I'm not too far from South Jersey, I love to go see Nick's place.

[Geezer-Glide]

Originally Posted by 8-Ball

Damn... sure am enjoying this, Darrell... you have a nice way with words...

You've got to get us some pics of Nick... and his place.

Originally Posted by Red Rider

Great thread Darrell. Makes me want to start a project... I'm not too far from South Jersey, I love to go see Nick's place.

Well. First of all, nice Job D!! I'm an old Ironhead guy too, if'n you get stuck, you got my number.

Now. Nicks. Nicks can't be visualized in photos. Nick's really can't even be "seen." Nick's has to be ...................... experienced. Am I right D? Maybe we can hook up tomorrow, make a run out there? Take some photo's anyhow, try to convey the depth of his place.

[Scabbydoo]

Great thread darrell!!!

This is some enjoyable stuff. I'm with Red Rider, need to ride over and "experience" (I believe you Geez) Nick's.

[darrell]

Geeze,

I'm up for a Nick's trip tomorrow, iffin ya want.

I purchased two used mirrors the other day, but realized once I got home that the stems of the mirrors are slightly different. So, I guess I need to go and get ones that will match up a little better.

I have made some serious headway on this project just in the last two days. But, I'm afraid it's gonna slow down here a bit. I have to make a brake linkage, mount the tag holder/brake light, and purchase new used mirrors. Besides that , the bike should just about be ready to run. Except...

I need to get a new generator with upgraded electrical components, or get an alternator conversion. No matter which way I decide to go, it's gonna take a little chunk of change. Something I may actually have to save for a week or three before I can get.

So, stay tuned to see a little bit of progress, but nothing near what's been accomplished the past two nights.

Hopefully by the middle of next month we'll be able to see this baby fire up.

To be continued...

[Q-Dog]

You're progressing nicely!
Really cool pictures...


Hey some of us are on a diet.
Can you slide in some pictures of yer snack foods that are providing the energy to do this build?.....

[fxr4mikey]

D' nice thread man !!!!!!!!!

I'm glad that you were inspired to get after it again !!!!

Watching daily as you progress .......... can hardly wait til you have your generator and are ready to fire it up !!!

Keep posin up dem pics man !! and the stories too !!!!!!!!


KEWL Bike !!!!!!

[darrell]

Well, I just got done eating dinner.

I had pizza.

A white pizza with spinach.

A large.



That's what was left of it after I got done with it.

Can't eat the crust, too many carbs.

Oh, and I washed it down with two Diet Caffeine Free Pepsi's. That's my secret.

[fxr4mikey]

I can't believe ya didn't eat the crust !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!