Geez....I screwed up so it's confession time. :(

[John Schmidt]

On the old 1200, if you recall I swapped out the engine a few months back and ever since it has had a very small oil drip....more like a minor oozing. I picked up an '85 FI motor and converted it to carbs, mostly because I'd already o'hauled them for the old engine. I had installed a new water pump on the old motor and wanted to transfer it to the replacement motor while I still had it out and on my lift table. It involved removing the front engine cover and while I was at it, I swapped the gear indicator harness so now I also have my new gauge showing which gear I'm in. If the engine is out, making the swap is a fairly easy, albeit messy, job. I had picked up a gasket kit for changing out the water pump and it always contains all the necessary o-rings and gaskets. I remember when done I had picked up all the old o-rings and gasket particles and tossed them out. In that mess was a new o-ring that mounts under the cover and on top of the oil pump body, I figured it was the old one. The shaft that turns the oil pump also turns the water pump, you just don't want them to mix obviously. The water pump shaft inserts through an oil seal and on top of the body where that seal is located is an o-ring....assuming you don't forget to install it.    Today, since the rear fender and side covers are at the painter, I finally got around to pulling the front cover. Replaced all the o-rings, did the necessary cleaning, and used a small covering of Yamaha bond for gasket seal, and to hold everything in place while assembling. As I was taking inventory of the front of the motor, making sure the gear indicator pin was positioned right, etc., some just didn't look right. Took a coffee & BR break then went back out to the shop, just sitting there looking at it, trying to figure out what was wrong. Then it hit me, when I pulled that cover off this time there wasn't an o-ring on the oil pump body as described above. After a couple forehead slaps, I went digging through the old rings and it wasn't there....I had never installed it when I made the change months before. I dug out the remaining parts of the gasket kit and there it was, I hadn't yet put it in place. Got it all back in place, new o-rings and gaskets throughout, tomorrow I just need to reattach the lower radiator hose and then go pick up my newly painted parts....guy called, said they're done.

The tank is off a '99 Valkyrie, silver/black with a thin red stripe separating the colors. The side covers are to be a gloss black with the raised center section a silver to match the tank, and a red stripe to separate the colors. I've seen this guys work and it's great so I'm hoping for good results. When all is done, I might ride the bike up and have him do some minor pin striping on the fenders just to break up the solid gloss black. I had also ordered new clutch and front brake master cylinders. I've upped the size from 14mm to 16mm bore in hopes I can get better lever action. Now the brake doesn't hit hard until almost to the grip, not a good thing although it will stop on a dime when they engage. If all works out well then all that's left is the seat, holding the foam in place with duct tape really loses something in the aesthetics of the bike. I might get done with the fool thing yet. 

[OnaWingandaPrayer]

Now that you have confessed, your penance will be install the tins, cover the seat and enjoy the rides.

I expect many of us have done similar things. 

[TJ]

Is that what is called old age.....                  

been there too..

[John Schmidt]

Is that what is called old age.....                  

been there too..

Old age.....NEVER(at least I won't admit to it)!  Guess I'll chalk it up to being in a hurry, you know that old saying "haste makes waste" and this was a good example. 

[Steel cowboy]

We all have "brain farts" more so as we get older. Like me installing my amp in the bike and watching it smoke because I put the black to red and red to black on the battery. "What am I going color blind too"
LOL
At least we confessed our "oop's"

[John Schmidt]

Got my parts from the painter today, absolutely beautiful and I'd call it a perfect match of the dark silver plus the red line separating the silver & black. Wish I could paint like that.

[Pappy!]

Chalk it up to being in a hurry? There's a saying for that as well.

"Never got time to do it right but always have time to do it twice!"

Been there done that and have a drawer full of tee shirts.......

[John Schmidt]

I got the old girl back running....the bike, not Rita.   I had ordered some new and larger bore master cylinders for the clutch and brake so installed them yesterday. I went from a 14mm(Valkyrie m/c's) to 16mm, the Valk m/c just didn't cut the mustard. The clutch only worked "OK" is all, but could never get the front brakes to work good. I never got braking until the last 1/2" of lever before hitting the grip and then it would put you over the bars. With the new larger m/c on both sides they work great, clutch feels almost like the Valk and the brakes come in after about 3/8" movement, never come close to the grip on that side. A lot of people were warning me about going to a larger bore m/c and gave numerous reasons. I decided to go with personal experience instead and I was right....again.

So, just as I was getting everything back together, the sky opened up so no test ride other that in/out of the garage. I rolled the bike out and hit the brake....stops on a dime. Worked the clutch lever a few more times, then into gear and let it out. Very nice, scooted into the garage and hit the brake....Bingo! Stops on a dime again. Did that a few more times, did a little idle adjustment, then let it sit and idle a bit more. Parked it for the night, went out this morning and so far no oil spots. So far, I'm a happy camper....and I don't even like to camp.     

Next, I'll spend some time finishing off the back end of the frame where I shortened it. Might possibly install a multi-pin connector for the lights in back, replace the bullet connectors I'm currently using. Then get the seat built and I'm done. I hope.....

[TJ]

     

[flsix]

Can't wait to see all the mods John.

[Squirrel]

John, do you have pictures of the 1200, or are they on another post somewhere? 

[John Schmidt]

John, do you have pictures of the 1200, or are they on another post somewhere?  

I do, but I'm in the middle of adapting a 1200 trunk mount rack to the bike. I recently had the side covers and rear fender painted and will leave them off until I'm done wrenching. Don't want to scratch anything and ruin a $300 paint job. I'll take a picture of the side covers and tank so you can see how he matched the colors. Re. the trunk mount, I've cut it down substantially in length so it sits pretty much over the rear axle. Sorta like I did when I adapted a GL1100 mount to the Valk and rebuilt an old 1100 trunk. The idea was to use it as a large luggage rack to carry "stuff" and slap the trunk on it when traveling. It works quite well, the 1200 will serve the same purpose for a bike I've redone as a bobber and strictly solo.

Here's a shot of the rt. side cover in place. Lighting isn't the greatest but gives you an idea of the finished product. He painted the red separator stripe instead of using tape like the factory did. I pulled the tank and took it up to his shop so he would have some color reference. Came out pretty close.

[BCoy]

    Looks great John. 

[John Schmidt]

    Looks great John. 

Thanks, still need to get the seat done. I have the seat pan, just need a shop to pad and cover it. Checked with one local guy, guess he wants to retire on the French Riviera or similar. Still looking for a decent priced shop, don't want it covered with some exotic hide....just a decent vinyl is fine.

[Squirrel]

Wow John, that tank really looks good on there!  I'm assuming you eliminated the original tank under the seat.  Also, is that an electric fuel pump I see mounted where the original pump used to be?

[John Schmidt]

Wow John, that tank really looks good on there!  I'm assuming you eliminated the original tank under the seat.  Also, is that an electric fuel pump I see mounted where the original pump used to be?

Re. the tank, the OEM had more rusted out holes than it had metal so got tossed. I adapted a '99 Valk Tourer tank by means of welding some mounts to the frame front/rear. The rear mount has a hinge welded to it so when I need to access the intake filter, fuses, petcock, etc., I just remove the front bolt and tip the tank up. The bike originally came with an electric fuel pump, I just replaced it early in the build while trouble shooting another problem. Recently I noted the battery was being charged at a much higher rate than is healthy for it....well over 15vdc. Did some research and it has to do with a "sensing" wire the regulator uses to "sense" the level of charge on the battery. With a 34 yr. old wire harness there has been a lot of crusty old connections(believe me, I know crusty ) creating extra resistance, thereby giving false readings on the battery level. The trick is to attach a wire directly from the battery to that sensing wire, and make a separate connection directly to the regulator body for grounding. Voila!  Normal charging. So, just this past week I modified that approach by installing a relay in the wire from the battery to the regulator, still needs an inline fuse in that wire but for now it's working fine. The method of doing all that is a bit lengthy so won't go into it here, but by using connectors from my "stash" it's a clean install.

I see you're not far away so any time you have nothing to do and too much time to do it in, drop by and look it over. An afterthought: I just ordered an adapter for the oil filter that screws on in place of where the original canister goes, thereby allowing you to use an automotive spin on filter. They're cheaper and of better design....plus they're everywhere.

[BCoy]

John, check your email I sent you some info for your seat. Hopefully they give you some options.

[John Schmidt]

Got it, thanks. Sent them a note.

[Farside]

  I like it lots John. Great paint job no doubt. It must be a wonderful thing to be able to do all you do on a bike. I don't have the time, garage space, tools, knowledge and maybe patients.  All the guys here that do so much with a bike, I applaud your efforts and skills....... 

[Squirrel]

You're right about the oil filter adapter, John.  Once it's on there, filters are available at local auto parts stores.  Good thinking.