Progress report on '99 Valk

[Tropic traveler]

Bought a very solid '99 Standard in need of TLC a couple weeks ago. Bike runs excellent but looked like a bit of a train wreck!
So far here's what has gone on.
Total cleaning. Filthy everywhere.
Reversed handlebars back to stock. PO had installed the risers leaning forward. ???
Put baffles back in Cobra 6X6's. YIKES without baffles!
Desmog & rubber parts check over. Fuel line & petcock vacuum line are bad.
Changed ALL fluids.
Removed Kury trans covers, big ugly highway pegs.
Fixed broken stay on RR signal lamp.
Polished up all lenses... all were crusty!
Installed passenger seat & sissy bar, PO had them but not installed on the bike.
Shock bushings, shift shaft seal
That's so far!
Bad things I found...
Petcock not working. Kit on the way.
Middle alt. bolt broken off. Doesn't appear to be a problem so I'll wait on that.
One exhaust stud looks a bit cheesy but is holding OK. ???
The tank dents... still working on that one! If I can't get them out w/o ruining the paint it may very well may become a Fast Black edition!
Lotsa little crap missing, tag reflector, wrong or missing fasteners, etc. All better thanks to friends & my own Valkyrie parts stash!
So far I've had to buy new- RH switch... I busted it fixing the backwards bars.
Petcock kit. Rear m/cyl chrome resevoir cover. Chrome hose slinky,{my personal obsession }, handlebar cable clips, used Tourer w/s {Thanks Bert!}.
Looks like I'll have used an entire bottle of chrome polish & whole can of NeverDull just on this bike. It took a whole bottle of bike cleaner to get the grunge off the bike!
Lots of work but I'm having a ball doing it. Something really satisfying about restoring a beautiful machine back to it's former glory, or better. 
As bought.. You can't see the garage grunge & neglect but trust me it's there!!

Seat on, disassembly started.




Looks nekkid... But MUCH cleaner!


Going to take a little vacation this week but by the time we get back the 2nd round of parts should be here!
More to come.

[R J]

You got the engine guards off for a reason?

Do ya plan on putting them back on?

They save a lot of damage if ya happen to drop her.

Looks real nice so far.

[Tropic traveler]

They're off for the de-smog & to be cleaned. They took a lot of elbow grease & chrome polish but they look good now! I pulled the Cobras to clean them too. They were VERY nasty. Sure did make changing the shift shaft seal & rear end lube change easy with the pipes off! 
Proper cleaning takes a lot of disassembly doesn't it?

[R J]

Lot of cleaning cuts into a lot of riding time........

If ya a cleanin, ya not riding and enjoying the Phat lady.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

" Removed Kury trans covers " .......Are you putting them back on ? Every Valk I've owned thats the first piece of bling I buy. That area of the Valkyrie is the first thing that draws the eye and without the covers IMO its makes the Valk look cheap.

[Tundra]

" Removed Kury trans covers " .......Are you putting them back on ? Every Valk I've owned thats the first piece of bling I buy. That area of the Valkyrie is the first thing that draws the eye and without the covers IMO its makes the Valk look cheap.

+1 Engine hangers and side covers, sure dress up a bare Valk .Looking good Eddie Youv'e had your share of tearing into Valks this year

[big turkey]

+ 2 or +3 No Trans Covers = Marginal Looking Valk.

Chrome wnn't bet you home but sure looks good when your pushing it.

BigAL

[Jabba]

I live in the camp... "If it doesn't add to the ride... it's a waste of $." 

remember... I am a Libertarian, and in NO way think any less of the guys that bolt on lbs and lbs of shiny doodads.  Some people go too far IMO... but, their entitled too.

For me... less is more.  Anyone with a credit card can bolt stuff on.  Make some cool add ons for yourself.

Black-Dog's Dragon Wing Floor boards are the coolest on-of mod I have ever seen.  I don't WANT a set for MY valk.  But they are VERY VERY cool on his.

Jabba

[Tropic traveler]

I don't like the looks of the Kury trans covers. To me they look like you're trying to hide something that shouldn't need hiding. Now the hanger covers are a different story! I don't like looking at the hangers & all those vent hoses hanging down.
A nice clean Valk engine case with good paint & all those chrome bolts looks better to me than Kury covers. I also like to keep it clean & open to get good air flow under the carbs. Guess I'm just stuck with my old hot-rodding way of thinking.   Also the chrome covers that came on this Valk were bubbled. Go figure, bad Kury chrome.   If anybody wants them I'll sell or trade 'em cheap! I have all the mounting hardware.

I'm going to make my own hanger covers that come down a bit more to hide the hose bundle better. They will be painted aluminum. Trying to keep the $$$ down on this bike but still make it look nice. I like chrome in selected doses!
Coming out good so far!

[fudgie]

Chrome wnn't bet you home but sure looks good when your pushing it.

I thought it was 'Chrome wont get you home but will get you laid'. My bad! 

[Hoser]

I like the seats.  hoser

[Tropic traveler]

Got a lot done yesterday on the '99 project Valk.
Cleaned the wheels & tires real good before putting the shined up Cobras & engine bars back on. Also stripped the alt. cover & painted it semi gloss black. Looks good.

Startin' to look like a Valkyrie again!


Sometimes it's the little details that can take so much time up. Example, 4 of the spark plug wells were not draining after the big cleaning job. Three of them blew right out clean with just air pressure but one took almost 45 minutes to dislodge the crap blocking it! 
Also I have been stripping & painting all the brackets & hardware as I go. Just cleaning the bolt threads takes up a lot of time.
Coming along nicely & tomorrow the petcock kit, RH switch assy, & new W/S glass should be here from HDL. I'm going to put Kim's W/S on the '99 & use the new glass for her bike. Hers is still pretty good but she wants new glass. Early birthday present from me!
Getting the dents out of the gas tank is the next big problem. Other than that this Valk is looking real nice!