My exhaust came today!

I took a picture but i'm too lazy to get the camera and transfer it to the computer. Plus, it will look better when it is actually on the bike.

Here is the journey it took:

- tightened some bolts and got the driver's footpegs on.

Earlier today I got the brake caliper back together (with the new brake pads), attached it to the left fork and mounted the front wheel.

Earlier in the evening I had a whole bunch of help putting the engine back in. These pictures will help explain...

I figured the best way to put in the engine would be to lie it on it's side and lower the bike onto it. We are deciding how to accomplish this.
I originally planned on Mike, Paul and my Dad helping out but Jack, my grandmother's 79 year old boyfriend, jumped right in there...without his shoes! As you can see, it is quite oily and greasy in there.
This is about the time where my Dad realized that the turn signal light would be crushed if we continued this. Oh and this is just before ALL of the fork oil (actually ATF) started spilling from the forks. That was my fault.
We decided to lift the engine in. Clearly more people were needed for this.
The end result.

Many of the bolts holding the engine to the frame have been tightened. The heavy stuff is almost done. Getting really close now...

Edit: I forgot to mention. My exhaust has been shipped! It is coming in from Chula Vista, California. Excitement!

Well there was some setbacks BUT the engine is ready to be put back into the frame. Hopefully this will be done tomorrow evening when I have some helpers over (i.e. my brothers and my dad).

However, I still need to get the front wheel on. I got the forks off, replaced the seals and got them back on (this was a huge pain). Hopefully the front wheel (along with the brake caliper) will be on before they get here.

I also got the back wheel back on. Easiest job so far!

This seemed like it would be a longer post...I guess it's because I didn't elaborate on the setbacks. One of them made me feel sick to my stomach. I honestly thought I broke something REALLY important. It was awful. Turns out it was something minor and the part is on order.

FINALLY!

Piston rings came in today along with the rear brake pads I ordered and the fork seals.

I started to put the engine back together and I got pretty far into it. I am tired and therefore I will take pictures tomorrow.

Also, my tires came in. I dropped off the wheels and they should be ready tomorrow.

Still waiting for my piston rings to come in...maybe tomorrow?! Ugh. Until then, I can't start rebuilding the engine. I also can't complete the engine build until I get a new bolt for my cam sprocket (I stripped it pretty bad trying to remove it) which is on order from Dewildt Honda (amongst other odds and ends I need).

Made a big order into Bike Bandit on the 12th. Awesome right? Not so much. Two of the four items are on back order and they won't let me know how long it will take as the manufacturer didn't give them a time frame. I wasn't aware of this until FOUR days after ordering. Also, the BIG item (exhaust pipes) are being cross shipped (??) and will be delayed. So really the only item that should be sent in a timely fashion is an air filter...which I can't do anything with until everything else comes in.

Venting complete.

On a more positive note, my tires should be in on Wednesday. However, Paul informed me that the owner has a habit of forgetting to put in tire orders. This should be fun!

I am trying to get as much done on this bike before the summer ends. My goal is to get the engine back into the bike by next week. What has happened since my last post? Well I sent in my valve head to Head and Block to get reconditioned. It looks amazing!

I wish I had good pictures of what it looked like before. It was dirty and the exhaust flanges (you can seem them at the bottom) were REALLY rusty.
Bottom. They had to machine the surface as it was warped quite a bit. Now it is shiny!
Four of the eight valves. Pretty darn clean!

This was a necessary job as I don't have the tools or knowledge to do what needed to be done. I am still waiting on my piston rings (they should be in today or tomorrow I think as they were sent out on Monday) but I did get the pistons back in the engine last night.
I alternated the old and new pistons as recommended by Paul.

I got in contact with a local bike shop (679 Bike) about getting new tires put on. I need to call them back and get the tires ordered. I also drained the forks and began the process of removing them. The seals definitely need to be replaced.

The fuel tank needs some attention so I began dealing with that. Opened the tank and found, not surprisingly, that the rubber o-ring is badly degraded. The tank still had some gas in it and man did it stink. I rinsed that out as best as I could in preparation for the rust converting liquid I picked up in Buffalo (by the way, the chemical reaction that occurs is pretty cool and I'm definitely going to be using it as an example of a double displacement reaction in my grade 10 science classes this year). I decided to take apart the petcock as well as there are a couple of o rings in there that will most likely be toast. As I attempted to disconnect the bowl the wrench tore the bottom out.
I guess that's what 29 years of old gas sitting in it will do. It was pretty gross. One more part to replace. Yay!

I order about 5 more replacement parts from Honda and I just put in a big order into Bike Bandit for a new exhaust system plus a couple other parts I need (drive chain, fork seals, air filter). I am off to purchase some fuel line and hose clamps.

I got some parts. Behold.

Not the greatest picture but I got the following:

gasket set for the engine
bag o bolts (engine)
in-line fuel filter
master cylinder rebuild kit
brake pads
headlight
brake lever
2 pistons

What I didn't get? Piston rings. I can't put the pistons in and thus begin rebuilding the engine without them. Argh. They are out of stock and will send them when they are in. Ah well...other stuff to be done.

While I was waiting for the above parts to be delivered I continued cleaning the bike of dirt and grease. I also continued stripping as much rust as possible. Slow going but progress is being made.

I did rebuild the master cylinder yesterday. It was a bit of a pain but very rewarding when I finally got it. Put it back on the bike along with the new brake lever. It looks quite shiny especially compared to the old clutch lever.

I did a little bit of cleaning on the engine (removing the last vestiges of gaskets) and replaced a couple smaller gaskets.

While I was in Buffalo I also picked up a valve spring compressor (amongst a couple other items...self etching primer, flat black paint and a solution to help rid the fuel tank of rust) which I will put to use soon to make sure the valves are running properly. I guess I need to do this before I rebuild the engine. Probably for the best the piston rings aren't in yet.