I really haven't had much to say lately, and I haven't gotten any further on my painting. My parents are in the process of moving and where they currently reside, sat my 1987 YZ250 dirtbike. Obviously I did not want them to sell it or donate it even though it had been probably sitting at their house for a good 2.5 years. Sooo... I made my dad drive it down to me where I can fix it up. This sort of took presidence over my painting because the bike wasn't in the best shape. Especially for sitting for as long as it did. Here is a picture when it came home.
I started by tearing it down. Removing all of the old plastics, seat, tank, exhaust, etc. I had to be able to see how dirty and gunky everything had become. Needless to say, it was filthy. Here is the bike stripped of all its goodies. Before starting with the outside (which normally I would want to do first - since I am so impatient and would much rather have that instant gradification), I decided to clean up the exhaust and carburator. Here she is right before I pulled the carb out.
And just before I opened up the carb (which was spotless inside by the way - no dirt, no gas build up. The floats were working properly (or so it appears).
Once this was all done and put back together. I wanted to do some light touch ups. I cleaned the bike as well as I could without a pressure washer or anything and probably got a good gallon of grease off this thing. I then started doing some cheap paint touch ups to the frame and the engine. Nothing crazy. I didn't pull anything apart, just stuck newspaper behind certain parts and sprayed away.
As dented as the pipe is, its not even that noticeable with a nice new coat of engine enamil on it. And with some fresh white paint on certain parts of the frame it really pops. Next I put on the new fenders and back sideplates (which finding for this year - was no easy task), along with a new filter. I tightened up the chain because it was a bit loose, and it was at this moment when I realized that the front tire didn't really hold air for more than a week. IT kind of sucks because the tire has probably got about 85% tread left on it. It was just sitting and rotting too long so the rubber has lots of cracks. Off with the front tire.
Next i decided to tackle the seat. I was going to attempt to just re-cover the old seat, which was cracked on the underside of it. I started pulling off the seat cover only to find another seat cover right underneath it. The original seat cover had many splits and cuts in it (which...came with mold, probably from when people would wash the bike and not take the seat off - so water got into the foam) Here is a picture of the seat with the two wraps.
So anyway...found a new seat on Ebay for like 20 bucks and recovered that one. no cracks. Good foam. And brand new seat wrap. Here it is with the new seat. Front tire is off. MOre to come.
