85 FJ1100 refurbishment/custom

[Mike Ramos]

I know why the engine is out of Mr. Conlon's motorcycle, but that is a long story for another day.

What I can't believe is how goofy looking Randy is;  and it looks as if there is a misshapen bald head under that hat...!

At least he is using the correct tool for the job at hand...

Keep smiling,

Midget.

[Pat Conlon]

Hey Dan, I was afraid someone would ask....Short answer: operator error.
I cooked a couple of exhaust valves from failing to check my valve clearances after the first 500 miles like Randy advised me. I figured a trip to the WCR and back couldn't hurt..
It turned out to be a good thing because when Randy opened up the lower end for a look see, he found some damage (galling) to the crank shaft thrust surface that happened when I had my low side accident 2 years ago.
This happened when I went down on the right side, I went one way and the bike went another, and ended up about 30 feet away. I broke 4 ribs on my right side and I could not move to get over to the bike to shut it off.
The bike idled on her right side for about 3-4 long minutes before my fellow rider, Gazza could get to her to shut her off.
The damage was done. FJ's don't like laying on their side with the engine running.

This turned out to be a very expensive and painful WCR, but survivable. Thank God for Randy. He worked so hard putting together the first 1350 engine only to have to do it again. I don't know what I would do without him.

Pat

[racerrad8]

Why, on god's green earth, was Pat's engine out of the bike?

Dan

Sorry Dan,

I missed this, because down there in that dry, dusty desert that he lives in ruined the engine case paint. It was in very bad shape and needed to be resprayed, so I pulled it so I could paint it.

Randy - RPM

[Pat Conlon]

Ahem, yea, what he said....

[Dan Filetti]

I thought I posted this comment yesterday, but it seems not to have taken...

You know how you get a picture in your head of what someone looks like before you meet them,  then you meet them (or, as in this case, see a picture of them) and they are either somewhat close to your mental picture, or way the hell off?  Well, for me, this is the latter.  For whatever reason I pictured Randy as younger-looking, -sort of a 'Jimmy from Superman' look about him.  



Man was I wrong...

Dan

[Joe Sull]

You guy have been buzzy, on my thread!
I'm at a Days inn and they only let you log in for 20 minutes. I tried to post yesterday and they cut me off.
All I can do is think about paint schemes.

[ribbert]

a

[Joe Sull]

After reading some posts, I was able to get the motor out. It was as easy as rotating the frame clockwise. I made a simple fulcrum and lifted it on to the bench.

I started cleaning the engine with Gunk just to get the heavy stuff. I'll use something stronger next like carb cleaner before I strip the paint off. I've been looking at the VHT and Dupli-color product. I've got some Ideas of what I want to do.

I got the frame hanging, half striped. It will stay there till the engine is done.
 

OK, This is what I want to do;
The tank and all the plastic will be candy apple red or red/blue mirage.
The engine head- red VHT flame paint. I'll polish as much of the engine as possible and use the dupli-color red anodize paint on the covers and such to make a contrast.
The frame- Red VHT krinkle paint
The swingarm-Red anodize
The wheels- Red anodize where the black is, otherwise polished.
Hopefully I'll get chrome headers.
Calipers- Blue or yellow

All the reds are different in shades and I think it will look very different. I'm looking for different.
What do you think?

[FJmonkey]

The frame- Red VHT krinkle paint

Is this the paint that looks cracked and aged or the stuff that wrinkles up almost like anti-skid surfaces? The raised up crinkle stuff will a real Bitch to clean.

[Joe Sull]

It should take solvent cleaning. I'll have to bake it on by making an enclosure that I can bring up the temp to 200 deg. for 20 min..
You can read about it here.http://www.vhtpaint.com/products/wrinkleplus/

[FJmonkey]

I am talking about all the microscopic nooks and crannies that dirt gets into. We use a wrinkle finish where I work and this stuff is a sponge for dirt. Works well as anti-skid.

[movenon]

I am talking about all the microscopic nooks and crannies that dirt gets into. We use a wrinkle finish where I work and this stuff is a sponge for dirt. Works well as anti-skid.

Never get that "stuff" clean after a year or two. Looks like crap then.  I woudn't even use it for anti skid but that's me. But we all make mistakes, I powder coated my wheels black... Now they are hard to keep clean looking.... 
George

[FJmonkey]

Maybe you should pack it all up and send to me... It looks like a total loss... 

[Joe Sull]

Ya! You guys are right. I'll have to forget about krinkle paint. It would look like crap in no time short.  Thank for the input.

[Joe Sull]

A little report on napa brand paint stripper.

Not very good. It did'nt work as I had expected. Some places bubbled up like the clutch cover where the casting is very smooth and In places where , I think, did'nt get degreased good before the paint was applied.
The can cost $8 and did'nt last long at all. The good side was the spray comes out in a jell, with almost no airbourne mist that might get breath in.

I used a popsicle stick to scrape and an acid brush to work it. I don't want to scratch the aluminum. It will just make it harder to polish later. Next I'll try "Zip Stripper brand" . If that don't work, I'll end up ordering cans of VHT stripper.