Non-Harley wrench report

Non-Triumph too...

Shirley, set 'em up.

I've been working a little on the Honda 450 this week.

Hey Les

I've got some odd stuff left from my old 450. Gaskets, and.. not sure what else.
I'll look them up and send them to ya if you want 'em.

That'd be great, not sure what I'll need yet, but I am looking for parts.
Dechrome my email and drop me a line when you find 'em.

I missed that, when did you get the Honda? Yours or working on it for
someone else?

I picked it up last weekend. A neighbor stopped to check out my sidecar and
told me they had it and wanted to sell. Priced it at $50. The title was with
her nephew in Arkansas. I told her to get the title and I'd take it. She
showed up exactly a week later with the title and keys in hand.

Sweet, you can't beat that price.

I'm working to get it ready as a starter bike. It'll be loaned out as long
as needed, then I'll do something with it. It's sounding like a strong

Not a bd idea.

Good luck with it, I was thinking that you needed another project.

The good thing is I had enough time before getting it to actually clean the
garage out some. Instead of backing the Triumph out of the garage to make
room to work inside, I have enough room to work on either or both without
moving them. Still have some more cleaning to do though.

engine for a 450. I'm watching a set of mufflers on ebay, the auction ends
Sunday. I'm hoping the price stays down, but not counting on it.

I've gotta pull the carbs again. The left one that was so gummed up still
won't idle unless I hold my hand over the carb throat. It'll hit when I rev
it though.

It'd fire both cylinders when I sprayed carb cleaner in 'em, but would only
fire the right side running fuel thru the tank. I found that holding my hand
over the left carb throat would allow it to fire also. As I figured, gummed
up carbs from setting for 2+ years. The left side looks like it sat with
water in it. The biggest problem I ran into was with the accelerator pump.
It still has a blocked passage, but it's been soaking in carb cleaner for
about 24 hours now. Hopefully it'll clear out in the morning.

I know that they say never use wire to clean out stuck lines.
I have used fishing line without harming the alum.
Find a nylon line a little smaller than the drill size and use a razor blade
to cut a chisel tip on the in. =>, like that.
When you stick it in, give it a twisting motion.
I like taking a wooden dowel and drilling a cockeyed hole the same size of
the fishing line that starts on the end and comes out of the side. Just tie
a knot on the side hole and you have a good handle to twist with.
Be sure to check your carb cleaner with the fishing line to see if the carb
cleaner will melt the nyon. Most of the time you will be ok but check
anyway, you don't want melted nyon to clean out.
I have worked out some really tough clogged lines with this little home made
tool and use it as my last resort on carb cleaning. So far, it has worked
well.

I was gonna get new plugs while I was buying the carb cleaner, but the local
parts store didn't have 'em in stock. These were firing enough to run it,
might as well clean 'em up some. I used a wire brush on a Dremel, made quick
and easy work of 'em.

I took a couple of pics of the seat, as I may have one located. I also
uploaded a picture of the repalcement front brake master cylinder, line, and
caliper I just picked up on ebay.

I'm hoping to install the carbs Saturday (ok, later today, after a few hours
sleep). Once the carb issues are resolved, I'll tackle a small electrical
problem. I haven't been able to get it to crank over using the thumb kicker.
Not sure if the clutch lever needs to be pulled in or not, I'll check that
out. If that doesn't do the trick, it'll either be a bad solenoid or switch.

I've been told I don't need to hurry on this project, but it's something to
work on until I'm ready to start swapping the tranny from the old Chevy van
into my '68 Chevy truck.