This project is slowly getting done. Too slowly for me, but I wanted to do a good job, so that means that I need to take my time. Plus, I have family duties, a job and other things that take me away from finishing this bike. Then there is also the ever present waiting for ordered parts and supplies to be delivered. It's one of the more frustrating sides of this work. The deeper into the bike I get, the more stuff I realize I need. No problem though. It'll eventually get done and I will be able to ride it again while I am working on my next project.
Anyhow, this days work was pretty simple. Just a few smaller jobs to set me up for my valve job, clutch job and the rest. For today, I decided to remove the coolant hoses and finish up on cleaning my electrical connectors. Not very glamorous or fun, but it needs done, so on with it.
First up was to remove the hoses for the cooling system. They are mounted with single use clamps that peel apart easily enough. You just grab the loose end and pull up and they separate. I decided to remove the hoses in three parts. That way I can play jigsaw puzzle with the new hoses and get everything put together correctly.
The hoses pull off easy once you remove the clamp. The white build up on the engine is easily cleaned off with a green scotch brite pad and some white vinegar.
Next up it was this connection at the thermostat.
And then this one by the front intake. I removed the clamp for this hose, you bend the tab up and then peel it back.
Then I put my phone down and pulled a couple more of the top connectors off and pulled the hoses out in three parts. Once out, I put them back together in the right order so that I won't forget how they go and can assemble everything right later on.
I took some time afterwards and cleaned up the worst of the dirt on the engine with shop rags and 409. I will clean the hose connections later when I go to reassemble things.
Now though, it was onto more dirty connectors. This time up near the top of the engine. I started with this connector and hit it with some contact cleaner.
Then it was onto this one
I was thinking that all the upper connections were pretty much clean until I got to this one
Yet they all eventually cleaned up nicely. I took time to go over the wire harness while I did these to inspect it for cracks, tears or pinches. Then after the cleaner evaporated, I hit everything with Corrosion X and put them back together. It looks a lot nicer now.
There were a couple of upper connectors on the right side of the bike to do next.
That's it for those until I clean the spark plug connectors and the connectors at the dash.
Finally, I decided that since I am such a klutz, I should remove my clutch lever so I don't accidentally grab it while walking around the bike. That would be a classic move for me, so I pulled that sucker off. I should have done it right away.
At that point, before I could get to anything else, my wife came out and said she was out of vodka. That is a tragedy waiting to happen, so I buttoned up everything and headed out to pick us up dinner and refill her liquor cabinet.
Next up....the valves. Will I totally screw that up? Past events point to most likely.
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