CodeName Clara - my winter project

**vmac3205** · 3rd January 09, 01:50 PM

She's a sweatheart. I should be getting your package posted Monday.

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 3rd January 09, 02:44 PM

Could you guys post some of those pix on the Show Us Your Ride Thread?

**JamieKerr** · 3rd January 09, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by runewolf

Great old bike! I ride an antique myself, a 1978 Suzuki GS750. One thing to remember, the project never ends

You will always find something to replace/repair/remove lol.

I would not have it any other way. I'm a gun collector. I absolutely love going to a gun show and purchasing an old military firearm that's been stored in cosmaline (a preservative agent that looks rather like vaseline). Once I get it home I have to rub it down with paint stripper to get the preservative off, then sand the wood parts down and clean every single little part. It's so fulfilling. When I purchase a brand new gun that comes in its own original clean box, I don't know what to do with myself....its just there! When people compliment me on the purchase of a new gun, stating how wonderful it looks...I don't say a word. I had nothing to do with its beauty. It came that way. When I purchase a used gunked up firearm, I make it beautiful by putting continuous work into it!

**JamieKerr** · 3rd January 09, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by ChattanCat

Those carbs look pretty gunked up. Are they gunked up from sitting? The floats would do for a good cleaning and check to make sure they still float. I would check the needle valves also, that is where you will get in trouble with the gunk. The needles may also be worn down too.

The bike is a 1975 with only 17,000 miles on it. The man I purchased it from was the second owner, and said he only rode it a few times. He seemed to know very little about motorcycles in general, so I believe him. My guess is that it sat in his garage since the day he bought it. I scrubbed the floats heavily, and they look 100% better now. This may sound stupid, but is there a way to check to see if the floats...float? The needles looked absolutely fantastic, believe it or not!

**ChattanCat** · 3rd January 09, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by JamieKerr

The bike is a 1975 with only 17,000 miles on it. The man I purchased it from was the second owner, and said he only rode it a few times. He seemed to know very little about motorcycles in general, so I believe him. My guess is that it sat in his garage since the day he bought it. I scrubbed the floats heavily, and they look 100% better now. This may sound stupid, but is there a way to check to see if the floats...float? The needles looked absolutely fantastic, believe it or not!

I am not aware of anyway to check the float level when in the bowl. Best bet is to give a visual inspection of the floats for any cracks or voids. I assume you have the plastic solid type of float, if so, you might want to replace them just to be sure since they had so much sediment on them. Otherwise, set the float levels by the measurement given and hope for the best. Don't forget to Synchronize the carbs when you reassemble them onto the complete engine.

I used to have a 750 Kawasaki, two cylinder. Still have the tools and carb synchronizing pressure gages if you want them pm me.

**Cerebite** · 3rd January 09, 07:06 PM

"This may sound stupid, but is there a way to check to see if the floats...float?"

It sounds pedantic but you remove the float from the carb and put it in a tub of something. Water and Gas have similar densities so you do not need to test in Gas but make sure the float is dry again before you put it back in the carb.
I have had a sinking float, not a fun problem to diagnose and not fun to fix on a brass float [vintage Land Rover]
Welcome to the vintage vehicle addiction. As others have said find and use the online brain trust specific to your vehicle, it/ they are worth their weight in diamonds/ gold/ crude oil

.

**JamieKerr** · 4th January 09, 01:20 AM

I just purchased a set of carb rebuild kits, and a set of new plastic floats. It's better to just do it all now so I don't have to worry about it later. Unfortunately my stuff won't be shipped for another week, hopefully we don't have any more stints of nice weather 'round here to make me antsy. I spent my night last night scrubbing various parts of the frame with a tooth brush and hot water/ soap to keep me busy. Tomorrow I shall begin painting the seat!

**JamieKerr** · 7th January 09, 04:17 PM

Some updates....

Cleaned out carbs

Rebuild kits won't be here for another week and a half

Scrubbed float bowl covers

I'm not done painting and sanding. It needs some touching up, additional layers, and then to be clear coated.

Almost done sanding down my speedometer. Next up tonight is the tachometer

The gas cap just needed a good scrub. It seemed to have had some sort of peeling lacquer or something on it.

There's still some rust spots, but I'm working on it.

**ChattanCat** · 7th January 09, 06:57 PM

Those carbs look Great!

**JamieKerr** · 7th January 09, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by ChattanCat

Those carbs look Great!

I'm gladdened to hear that from someone who knows way more about carbs than I!

Tonight I finished sanding down my Tach and Speedo. I think they'll match my seat and tank quite nicely!

Next I'm trying to decide what to do with my exhaust pipes. They were painted flat black, but I'm thinking about stripping them. I think I may have to put the seat and all the other cleaned up parts back on the bike first to decide.