Screwed

Ok, I have been slacking a bit on this project, but what the hell, it’s springtime, and I have the big scooter to ride, and surely you understand the need to test ride to make sure she’s up to par. I guy has to play with is toys, ya know? That’s how I got myself screwed anyway, on an ‘exercise the bike’ ride ….

See, I just had to pop off the side cases on the motor to get the engine cleaned of all the darn grime, and yes the JIS* screws probably hadn’t been opened in decades. Even with soaking in PBlaster the impact screwdriver wasn’t getting the job done so out comes the hammer and chisel, and off they come. I wanted Frankenbolts anyway, the cool, allen heads. Onto the trusty interwebs and there they are, and cheap too, on to ‘checkout’ and gasp !! The damned shipping is twice the cost of the bolts. It’s like Ebay, buy cheap stuff and pay a damned arm & leg to get it shipped into the woods here.

Have no fear, for decades one of my favorite places is Shamrock Bolt & Screw up in Springfield, MO and I have an excuse for a ride. I ride up visit some friends, etc. and take out for Shamrock. The counter lizard returns with a bag and happily says I’m SOL on the 15 or so of the longer bolts … sorry. Off to Fastenal and I get the same smiley shizz from the owner, nice guy, but his comment is ‘damn, them thangs is long’.

So, my only choice is my first choice, back to the interwebs to order 1/2 as many bolts as before and I still get to pay the same $12.50 for shipping. At least they’ll get here next week. Till then, I’ll start soaking the inside of the gas tank today and it will ready for the shiny finish outside soon.

I did pick up the leather needles and thread for the sewing machine so the new seat cover can commence. The wiring loom is installed and awaits the motor to do the electrical testing. I’ll be firing up this puppy pretty darn soon.

*JIS Japanese Industry Standard

Idle compare of 2 CDI’s

You do not have to use the stock CDI in order to make your scoot run well, you can use others. The video posted here I made over a year ago so that you can listen to the scoot with each in operation. You should be able to hear the difference.

The non-stock CDI has a slightly different firing point and advance curve from the stock unit, so the scoot feels and reacts a bit differently. Overall, the stock unit is “better” in my opinion. I run the stock unit. The other is a spare, and should the stock unit fail, I will be running again very quickly.

By “better” I mean more pleasing to my scooting experience. Of course, the stock unit is also better because the engine (specifically the valve train) were designed and engineered for the stock ignition timing.

So that is two different styles of better.

Be careful, as better is one of those words that each person defines in their own unique way. Many people apply a moral meaning to these slippery words, as in right & wrong. You can find that you have offended their godly and righteous view of the universe at which point they might kick your ass.

We’re Rollin’

Ok, I’ve sorta made a start at getting this thing rolling.

Up top are what are called ‘pages’. I’ll put some info up there, very general stuff.

Over on the right, as I add new posts/videos you will see a list of ‘catagories’. This is where the action will be. These catagories will keep everything organized into intelligent topics like: tuning, brakes, tires, mechanical, tools, electrical, carbs, fuel … you get the idea.

I’m setup for the first two videos, but it’s dark, and rainy, and yucky out today so …..

I thought I’d just throw this in. I do have some older clips which I will toss up here, this I kept just cause I thought it was funny.