Enigma

The new grips were a hassle. The throttle grip installed ok but the left grip was oversize. Had to wrap the bar to increase the diameter before I could get the grip to adhere. I picked up a new set of mirrors, round, long stem. I thought they were awesome but was overruled by my son. Ended up using the black ones that came with it.

Back to the handle bars for a moment. Since the new bars were "standard" type bars I had to install a shorter front brake line, shorter throttle cable and shorter clutch cable. The new shorter brake line was easy to order. I had a shorter throttle cable on hand that works but it's still probably 1" too long. I ended up cutting the original clutch cable and installed a new barrel on the end that had set screws to secure it. Locktite on the set screws. Works well but I think I may have to shorten it another 1/4" to get more adjustability.

I took the back pegs off one night. No friggin riders. Solo only. Strap your stuff down and go. He understands.

Front brakes. Pulled it all off. Replaced and repaired hoses and seals as neccessary. Held pressure to the front single disc after flushing.

She had cruiser bars originally. Swept back "buck horn" bars. Awhile into it I understood why they had given up on it. Clutch for the belt drive was on the right. All the control lengths were off with straight bars.

Kinda like gunsmithing in a way. I think. Small springs and weights, washers etc. Two cylinders to sync.

Does not and will not take throttle. Fouls plugs daily. The ignition advance was frozen solid. Torched it to get it apart. Clean, hone and reassemble. Unfortunately lost the rub point cushion on each of the weights. Retrofit, renew, hone and run.

Cleaned and rebuilt the carbs with some new kits and several other donors. Most miserable bike I have ever worked on for taking the carbs on and off. Setting the float level was a chore. Stuff wasn't sealing and sliding like it was supposed too. Finally got it to idle.

Had to rebuild the ignition switch, clean up and touch up the starter clutch. Swapped out the bars. Sorry no pics.

We were short a left side bottom cover but had a replacement. We cut the screws on all the lower covers to get them off. Cleaning them sucks. New gaskets and stainless hex bolts all around. Only one pinched wire and one leak. Resolved eventually.

Side notes: 1. The garage sits on wetlands and is 50yds from the river. The mosquitoes were savage in the shop all summer. No amount of fans or smoke could keep them away. 2. I realized quickly that I did not have the exact factory service manual for this model. I had to go off the '82 model. Not great. And especially not great when it's a digital copy on your phone. 3. A couple of months into it. Snapped a pic for some reason. Carb work maybe. Looked at it sometime later and knew from that point on it was going to be a struggle of wills.

We'd moved to a new place in March '23. I brought the bike home in April. If I didn't have a new garage this project wasn't happening. Built a bike lift out of scraps, strapped it down and off we went.

Didn't really understand the scope of work when I unloaded it but the seat was flawless, the chrome was 85%. Needed new handle bars. Gas tank looked ok. Everything was straight as far as I could tell. Something I thought I could work with.

Off of Facebook Marketplace. Travelled 2hrs to pick it up with the girlfriend's Ford Focus and trailer. Donor bike included. We try to make it happen lol.

A couple of years ago my youngest son started to show interest in riding motorcycles (I ride an old Kawasaki). I told him I'd look for one for him. He's a new rider. We agreed it had to be safe, reliable and somewhat cool. "Right up my alley" I'm thinking. Enter a 1983 Kawasaki KZ440 LTD D5 into the show. Story and pics to follow.

No. The young guy that shot it was getting it mounted so it saved us from having to try and eat it lol.

He was a three year old male cbr. As luck would have it I found myself on the end of the shooting line in the last blind. The dog owner and #1 goose caller was to my immediate left, and then the dog sat right outside the edge of the last blind. I had a front row seat for the dog show. Good stuff.

We ate duck jerky and pork braciola. The younger guys were cranked on red bull and duck videos 24/7. Some epic foos was played and a championship awarded. Making plans to go back next year.

Most days we hunted the cove near home depending on weather. Bluebills, buffleheads and mallards, etc. One of the younger guys shot a merganser.

"Cash" was an absolute beast and goose getting machine. Really fun to watch him work.

Morning goose hunt. 15 guns total, 2 bird limit. From a-frame blinds in the middle of a cut cornfield. 45 minutes of goose insanity and we were done.

Spent the last week in MD hunting late season waterfowl. Cambridge, MD was home base. Went on a couple guided hunts but mostly hunted from a boat blind. My good friend has a registered spot in the cove he lives on.

CNY weather

Taking care of business. https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/animals/man-grabs-coyote-by-the-tail-after-it-charges-his-dog/vi-AA1n3Ewi?ocid=winp1taskbar&cvid=07ab363f7d0647c4abf4a92066a54258&ei=22