What a concept - A Girl Bringing Back Her 1966 Super Hawk

[sarals]

Fixed. After a chat with LM, my suspicion was confirmed. He gave me some advice on cleaning up the bores (NOT the slides), which I did (sanding straight up and down over the high spots with wet 400 grit paper). After that, the slides move up and down in those bores smoothly. I also disassembled the chokes, cleaned them up, and reassembled them - being very careful NOT to overtighten the shafts. They work smoothly now, as well.

Both carbs are on the engine, the throttle cables are installed, and the old girl is oh so close to coming to life again!

[sarals]

The handlebars are installed, lever perches and switch assemblies have been cleaned and polished. The wire going to the starter switch had been pinched and had a bare section, which needed fixing. The throttle cable is in perfect shape, so it has been cleaned and lubed and is installed and adjusted (mostly). I hooked up the (new) tach cable to the tach and the engine (looks nice).

I then hooked up all of the wires in the headlight bucket - I had to replace bullet connectors on several of them. I still need to get out my VOM and check the wiring to see if everything is connected according to the schematic - and that various switches do in fact work. They all bench tested, but I need to see if they're okay in circuit. The neutral light boot had rotted out, so I need to order a new one from Retrobikes. The light is just hanging there for now. I have to service the battery and get it on the charger, and then put it in it's cradle. Once that's done, I can turn on the key and see if the electrics breathe!

[sarals]

With some help from a strong young man, I managed to assemble shocks and they are now installed on the Old Girl. I have the rear fender at work with me, and in my spare time I've been prepping it for primer and paint. I have the brake backing plate for the rear brake with me, too, and I'll get to polishing that out when I have the time, as well.

I wonder if she'll run?? That does worry me a little bit!

[Geeky160]

Probably is too late now but I once picked up my 160 after a float adjust and the *tech* told me he put new flange orings in. I immediately noticed my slides were now sticking. Luckily, he gave me the old orings back and several days later I put them back in. No more sticking. Lesson learned if the orings are not correct, the carb may distort slightly thus causing the slides to stick.

[sarals]

Probably is too late now but I once picked up my 160 after a float adjust and the *tech* told me he put new flange orings in. I immediately noticed my slides were now sticking. Luckily, he gave me the old orings back and several days later I put them back in. No more sticking. Lesson learned if the orings are not correct, the carb may distort slightly thus causing the slides to stick.

It's never too late to share ideas, Geeky!

LM told me that the age of the carbs (material used to make them, etc) can cause them to "go out of round", too. I can't tell you if the slides were sticking when I started the rebuild last year, I didn't check them, because I'd pulled the slides out of the carbs earlier - like years earlier. The fix was pretty easy, just some sanding with 400 wet paper on the "hot spots" in the carb (NOT the slides), and the now the slides are moving very smoothly. I can see where the O rings could cause the mount flange to distort, and LM said that over tightening the mount bolts will do that, too.

[sarals]

I'm having a heck of time finding the proper bolts to secure the mufflers to the "arms" that extend from the frame near the center stand. Even more maddening is trying to get the silly things to line up. It's beginning to appear that the right side arm is bent a little, because the muffler wants to rotate outboard when the tangs are on that arm. The through bolt to the engine case and the hanger bolt to the footpeg perch aren't even close to lining up.

I need the exercise, I guess!

[sarals]

I've decided to postpone starting the Old Girl until next month. I have a business trip at the end of the month - next week - and I don't want to feel trapped if something goes wrong with the first run. Besides, I have a million little things I need to get on her first. So - on hold!