Snippets

[Crusty]

I've been writing about my exploits in the thread Crusty's Travels, but it looks like my traveling is going to be minimal for a while. But I still love motorcycles and I still love writing about them. SportsterPaul suggested that I start a thread here in the General Discussion area, so while it won't always be about motorcycles, they are a major part of my life and I usually have something relating to them. Also, I think that the other things I write about might be of interest to some folks. So here's my latest Snippet:


Nice Day For Somethin’


I’ve been sitting on my dead ass since I got home from Australia. There were some valid reasons; the worst jet lag I’ve ever experienced and a couple of migraines. The first of which was the worst I’ve had in decades. There were also some other reasons. The relatively cold temperatures – I was used to daily highs between 90 and 107 F and the grey skies. One of the weather heads said that Cincinnati has had only 3 sunny days since New Year’s Day the other night and we’ve had 15 days with some rain or snow. Also, I’m on a very tight budget, this month. I need to squeeze the nickel until the buffalo shits and the Indian begs for mercy.

Well; yesterday, my lethargy broke. I finally started getting things done. I finally made it to the barber shop and got my hair cut. I was really looking like a bum. I hadn’t gotten a haircut in almost 3 months and it looked it. I had the barber leave my beard a bit longer than I usually get it cut. I think that the thicker beard will help keep my face warmer in the winter weather. She did neaten it up a bit, though. My hair got cut to its normal fairly short length.

I also went by the YMCA and got signed up. I get Silver Sneakers as part of my Medicare supplemental insurance and that gets me free membership at the Y. They have exercise bicycles and they have a pool. It's nowhere near as nice as the pool at UQ Gatton, but I can swim laps in it. I just signed up yesterday. Today, I start working out.

After dinner last night, I was restless. I checked the Program Guide and there was nothing I wanted to watch on the Idiot Box, and I had finished the book I was reading, so I put on my boots (I wear slippers around the house) and went down to the basement and started playing with the ’78 Sportster. I don’t have the money to get it up and running, but I could get a start on doing things that don’t require any cash. I changed out the generator. There was a Cycle Electric generator that was wrapped in rags that came with the bike, but wasn’t installed. I’m going to have to investigate how to wire it in, as the regulator is attached to the end of the generator. The stock regulator was attached back by the battery box, so I guess I’ll have to look at the wiring diagram in the Service Manual and get it sorted out. I also saw a sheet of instructions for a Dyna electronic ignition, so I’ll have to check that out, as well. There’s no battery, so I’ll have to get one, eventually. I need to replace the oil lines, so I’ll be buying several feet of “Transmission Oil Cooler 5/16” hose, as well. The bike is wearing a set of stock Factory staggered dual mufflers (Guido wants them; they’ve become rare), I want to put a 2 into 1 Chrome Salami exhaust on it and I just happen to have one that I’ve been saving.

My goal is to turn it into a Tribute bike for Bill. I want to get a Superglide gas tank for it and have the tank and fenders painted Brilliant Red. I want it to look like Bill’s old ’78. It won’t be an exact copy; I want to put better brakes on it. I had a ’78 Superglide, and I remember just how much the brakes sucked. If I’m going to ride this bike around like I hope to, I want a bike that will stop. There are a lot of things that will need attention or replacement. The rubber isolators for the handlebars are clapped out and need replacing. The drive chain looks good, though. I need to find a trident style sissy bar; both Bill’s Sportster and my Superglide had them.

Other things that are going to cost are getting the oil tank painted black. It’s painted blue to match the current tank and fenders, and I want to find a front wheel with the original aluminum rim. The bike is wearing a wheel with a steel rim.

But that’s all in the future, when I have some money. For now, I can do little things like I did last night. I spent a couple of hours going over the bike. I basically wiped all the accumulated dirt and corrosion off. I removed the gas tank and seat and did a bit of cleaning.

I’ve had the bike since before I moved to Cincinnati, I hauled it down in the U-Haul Truck along with all my other stuff; but I didn’t have the spark to work on it. Yesterday, I not only got the spark to hit the gym, I got fired up to start working on the ’78. I hope that spark stays with me.

A couple of pictures from last night:








You can see the Chrome Salami standing over in the corner in the second photo. The bike cleaned up pretty nice. It's got a ways to go, but little by little...