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

[jleewebb]

You're coming up on the fun part now!

+1 on installing center stand first, makes it a lot easier, and on tying it off to prevent it snapping up or rolling off...you can hear center stand hitting swing arm at one point in this video of me, my brother, sister, and brother-in-law installing engine in a perhaps unorthodox it-takes-a-village way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch v=GT3l_NoZkIU&list=FLHNkjVvv6F1zK1Pk9QxWzaA&index=1

It felt like a long time but was actually less than 10 minutes, managed to do it without scuffing fresh paint except bottom of swing arm.

Here's more video for inspiration, what you can look forward to when done:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8mRJwI2 ... aA&index=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN9C-5pO ... 1Pk9QxWzaA


Thanks for a great restoration log, looking forward to seeing your end result.

[Superchicken]

The way I work with a spring, is to load the coils with pennies to make it long. I also have mounted the wheel to the swing arm first. I also washed all grease out of the chain, then coated it chain wax, for a no throw oil the clean wheel. I heated the chain, on some foil on top the barb, then coated with wax on long cardboard.

[sarals]

Gentlemen, thank you for the center stand suggestions! I especially liked the tip about putting pennies in the coils on the springs - nice!

What's going to happen next is that I'm going to put the engine/frame on a stand, and then remove the frame from the engine. I'll do some prepping on the engine (get the carbs secured, put some of the hoses on it, put new bullet connectors on the alternator loom), and then the frame will go on. I'll sequence the center stand into there somewhere.

J Lee, I've watched your videos a few times over - love them!

[sarals]

Here's an off topic read about my bike race yesterday. bear in mind that I'm an over 60 woman racing with much younger gals. Towards the later half of the season I've been able to more than hold my own. Two weeks ago I had a crash, not in a race, but on a day off "fun ride". I didn't sustain any major injuries, just cuts, bruises and road rash, but worse than that was the fact that I couldn't train effectively for the last two weeks. At my age, you can't miss training.

Anyway...warning, full of bicycle jargon!


"Dunnigan Hills RR, Yolo CA, W4 (45 miles)"

Bear with me, I still can't see very well. There's going to be typos!

My WORST performance of the season. Also, DFL (Dead effing Last). 20 rider field, knew some of them.

Got to the venue with 50 minutes to spare. Check in was no where near where I parked, so I had ride over there and get my number. Got back to the car, found myself partially blocked in (couldn't open the right side doors) so I had to move. Finally got my number pinned on, kitted up, had 30 minutes to start. No time for the trainer, so I did some hasty warmups on the road. Lined up and - sat there, for 30 minutes. Legs went totally cold. Finally started, I was front row, diddled around clipping in, now mid-pack. No prob, neutral start, moved up to fifth or sixth wheel and sat in. Went hot, still no issues, chit-chat, stayed around fourth wheel, handled a few accelerations with no issues. I was thinking it was going to be a decent race for me. Then, we got to the first feed zone, at around seven miles, and some riders attacked - in the feed zone. Okay, covered it, recovered, still sixth wheel or so. Next came some rollers, another attack, another cover, it gassed me a little bit. Was able to recover, then came the big attack on a fairly steep roller. I managed to stay mid pack until the top, when there was an acceleration, but my legs were just lead and I couldn't match it. Some riders were yelling at me to stay attached - and I couldn't.

I never did really recover from that. Rode the next 30 or so miles, in the wind, by myself. Cussing a lot. Pissed. Wondering why I was doing this. At around mile thirty, a men's race overtook me (not the first one, that's for sure), and I decided, eff it, I need a wheel. I looked back, no moto ref, so I tucked in with them. I got a lot of, "hey, welcome, catch on, nice to see you"...and I sat in with them for about five miles, and then got concerned, and dropped back.

I had NO recovery after efforts today, although I did have my speed. I think the recovery faded because I didn't train really at all between crashing and this race. I also didn't warm up, and the little warmup I did get was negated by my sitting on the line forever. Most of all, today I just sucked. I was awful.

Now, I can't see very well because last night I had the worst dry-eye episode I've had in some time, and both eyes have scratched corneas (yes, I do have medication, and it goes in every night). I was late to the venue because I had a heck of time driving (ever gone 60 on I-5? I don't recommend it!). It didn't affect me on the bike, I could see well enough to ride.

Not a good day for me."

[sarals]

Graham - definitely "Taa-Daa!!!" with some "Ah-Ha!" thrown in!!

[G-Man]

Sara

Love your account. As for the scratched corneas, I did one of my eyes bringing home my XL250 project from Canterbury in the car. It took me 2 months to get it right. When I finally managed to drive the car again it was with wrap around sunglasses and a cap pulled down over my eyes.

You realise just how important eyes are. I feel for you.....

As for the bike ride. I have trouble with my right knee from years of abuse on motorcycles and the like. It hurts just reading those words. You get my respect, for sure.

My Uncle Ted (who introduced me to motorcycles - the Matchless 350 was his) did Land's End - John O'Groats (900 miles) at the age of 72 on his bicycle with just his doctor friend for company. They got stopped for speeding on a downhill section. Once a crazy old fool, always a crazy old fool. The big "C" got him but he didn't give in easily.... :-)



G

[sarals]

Thanks, Graham! This was the worst case of dry-eye I've had in at least two years. The OTC medication I use (Systane) has worked very well at controlling it. It's a chronic condition, and there is no rhyme nor reason for it to occur. It just comes out of no where, and almost always at night. My vision has finally completely cleared up this morning. I can actually see the LCD screen on the Mac clearly! Thank heavens.

Today is going to be a full court press on the old girl. I've noticed there are no seals for the inside surface of the swingarm, where it meets the frame. I don't know that there was anything there. I have the cups that go on the outside. I'm going to have to look into that.

I hope, by this evening, to have the fork sliders, fork ears, seal covers, and shock springs in paint. I might even be able to reassemble the T-stem to the frame; we'll see.