OK...now what

So after playing around with the new to me sidecar rig I went for a ride in the R80.  Very fast bike, But after a short ride I noticed an oil leak from the front engine cover.  Looks like it might be the front crank seal, so I went back home and parked the bike.  I guess tomorrow I'll open it up and see what needs to be done.  With luck it's a minor problem and I can be back to riding again.

I had enough wrenching today with reassembly of the other bikes cylinder.  Time to ride....so out comes the R100.........bye!

Small steps, big results.

OK, here we go.  The R80 is up and running, tuned to factory spec's but I have a broken neutral switch.  The front brake was not working but I was able to rebuild the master cylinder and it works again.  I have to admit it is a real nice bike and Ed if you are reading this "Thanks Again" and don't forget to come to Maryland to drive your old bike this fall.  I do plan to use this bike for my road trip, I just need to put a few miles on it plus replace the front inner tube because after a few days the pressure drops.  Everything else about the bike is nice, from engine, drivetrain and paint.  I just wish I had the stock seat and not the Corbin.  I spent about $450 on parts to make the bike road worthy again, not counting many hours in the shop.

The R60 is nice and running but I am not 100% confident with the bike and for that reason the R80 takes center stage.  Not sure what to do with that bike.  I have about $500 in parts and A Lot of time working on it.  If someone offered $2700 I think it would be out the door.  I hope to trim all my machines down to the R50/2 conversion and the R80 for my motorcycle passion.

I picked up a Moto Guzzi California just because I could.  Beautiful Machine and like a young Italian Woman, curvy in the right places, strong and graceful.  They really know how to build a bike.  It's a 1997 with 106,000 miles but pampered all it's life and if I didn't tell you the mileage you would have never guessed.  New tires and clutch, a paint scrape here and there (but difficult to find).  Not sure what to really do with it but too good to pass up.

So, the blog is still active.

Ed you might like these shots!

Where to go from here

The R60 is up and running.  Not as well as I would have wished and really not to where I feel it's up to a good x/c run.  Today I got in the colorized and large wiring diagram for the R80.  The R80 has some minor wiring problems and with this diagram I think I can finally make the last repairs so I can start riding this bike for my trip.  I have the area were the wiring is not correct, I think it's a bad diode for the start system and a bad neutral switch.  Once I get that corrected and ride the bike a bit I'll head out.

Hoping that this will finally get me out the door............

So here is what is going on.

Well the bike runs...but I'm not real happy with it.  Little things keep popping up.  If not a fuel problem it's a shift problem or brakes or lights or...you get the idea.  Now I'm not really complaining, hell, it's an old bike that wasn't maintained properly over it's time away from the factory.  It sat under a tarp in some ones back yard.  It's had mis-fitting or just plain wrong parts installed and besides needing a lot of TLC it was a bike without a proper home.  It has one now and I'm slowly getting it back in shape....but it's taking longer than I wanted.  I should have been on the road, maybe even heading back by now.    The only thing that has been keeping me sane is riding my R100 sidecar rig every chance I get....mainly to build up riding time.

My friends say repaint the bike.  I like the patina, it shows its age but it also shows it's poor maintenance over the years.  To me as long as it runs strong and starts easy, that's what I want out of the bike.

Anyway, that is where the R60 stands right now.  The R80 will be on the road this weekend for a long shake-down.  I only wish it had a kick starter.  I might wind up taking it on my ride.  We Shall See.

Carb back together

Yesterday I was able to install the new needle valve and so far it's holding and no overflow.  I wanted to go ride today but it's raining.  I need to put more local miles on the bike before I head out on my ride but it is getting difficult to do that with parts needing and or rain.

Since the rain is here again I will do a general bike cleaning today.  I might even try to re-stretch that seat cover the previous owner had installed.  It is a little loose and tend to fold when sitting on it for a while making it uncomfortable.  I wanted to install a solo seat but it was becoming a major task so it's back to the stock bench seat.....I can live with that.

Hope I can head out soon.

Parts

Well I'm waiting for my new needle valve and seat for the left carb.  It continues to overflow and that's not good.  I hope it arrives in todays mail because I still need to get the bike in a dependable condition.  The R80 is going back together later this afternoon and I hope to ride it on the road tomorrow.  If it checks out ok I'll give  Ed a call and invite him down for a ride out on his old bike.

I've been driving my sidecar rig as everyday transportation so to get use to being on a bike all the time since my trip will be many days in the saddle.

For Sale. One left shoe soaked with gasoline.

Yeah, you guessed it.  Left carb float got stuck while riding and my foot was slowly getting fuel all over it.  I tapped on the bowl but it would not stop so I drove home with one foot in the air.  More work needed........oh, well.......

Went back to the shop and dropped the bowl.  Float seems ok and I checked the drop.  Might have to replace the needle valve.  Very frustrating but better to happen here than on the road west.

Took a break from the bike and traced the wiring on the R80's electrical problem.  Starter switch is now working but still not getting enough power to the solenoid.  Must be a week wire or internal break somewhere in the line.  I plan to put a temp wire and try again tomorrow.