Starting a prject

[stevestrom]

I have the brakes torn off the $100 special...I'm having some trouble freeing the pistons from the calipers. The new forks and fork logo plate are here....they may both be ready for spring. I'll post some pics as soon as I get the new front end on.

Try unscrewing the bleeder valve a little bit and then use a grease gun on the bleeder valve to squeeze grease in behind the piston to push it out. It worked for my stuck pistons.

[natemoen]

Or use compressed air, its cleaner.

[xs11lover]

I tried the air. I think I need more power. Mine doesn't have a tank.

[Ken Talbot]

Or use compressed air, its cleaner.

Compressed air is also a lot more spectacular. I did one at a gas station and sure got a lot of looks from a lot of terrified people who heard the loud bang. The grease is a much more controlled, refined method.

Cautionary note - if your finger(s) are between the piston and the caliper housing when the piston blows with air pressure, it(they) will probably be cut off, or at least severely mangled. Stuff the space with a heavy rag, and be very careful.

[petejw]

if its that tight, remove the caliper,
put a piece of wood over the piston and
whack it with a hammer a cpl of times,
once uve cracked the
seal it should be easier to remove.

[lvrsnr]

very well done, makes me wish it was in my stable...enjoy...if the piston is still stuck remove the bleeder and remove the end off of your grease gun hose, screw the hose's threaded nipple into where the bleeder came out and the grease will force the piston out without sending it across your garage

[Rickrod3]

Hey Garret

Well.....I had to order some hard to get carb parts for the CR Specials, I ordered them Oct 15th and just got them the other day.....now I'm pretty busy until after Christmas. I did take the bike out for a ride and wasn't into the low bars...my hips cramped up every 100 yards. Maybe I could do it with the rearsets but I am missing a few parts that I think I may have sent to Ole with a bunch of other things. I'll get back to that later.
I've reworked both seats and have a third one now. My new side covers and logos are here and I'm told the tank will be done "this weekend"
Funny you should say welcome to the dark side. After the rework I think it will be more like the "white knight' I did lower the front end, and would have to say this one will look more like the Orange bobber than a cafe racer.
Ods are I will sell it and pay some bills then get another 78 or 80 11 standard. I liked the look of just moving the rear fender up under the seat and just letting the rest as is.
I did see a great xs 850 standard cafe and plan to make one like it at some point.
I have to think I will spend most of the winter looking for a new line of work and shutting down my father's business. The bills are more than we are bringing in and the cost of everything is more than we can make with people not spending anything. I may take a second shift job and try to have some sort of vintage bike backup business from 8 to 3. Seeing Ole start his shop and retire from his other job has got me thinking..................

I wish I would have kept up with this tread before I came up to see you.
Thanks again for the parts.
Looks like you made some good progress this weekend.
Vintage bike business man who wouldn't like that.
You certainly have some good ideas for these bikes that orange bike and the black bike are really cool.
Keep up the good work.

Rick

[xs11lover]

Rick,, I was happy to help.
Pete, I did smack them with a hammer a few times, pushed them with air, filled them with oil ect. They are soaking now, I'm going to take them out to my father inlaw's this weekend, he has a air compresser with a tank. I'd think it will push more air.

[DiverRay]

Keep in mind a hand grease gun will push at 2,500 PSI, the air compressor will probably do 125 to 175 PSI. If you buy one of the flex hoses it will make it easier. Just use the "cheap" grease in the one gun, and go for it!

[tom clisham]

Cool!

I really like the bobbed rear fender
I think my next project will be a bobber similar to that.

Just don't ride on crappy days

[xs11lover]

It was a fight but I got all three....the pistons are really rust free, there is just a little rust around the lip on the front pistons. It seems like the old brake fluid turned to glue....they were really stuck. I hammered them in to break them loose, heated them in a bucket of really hot water, then blasted them with the air compresser. The back ones were rust free and took the most work. I had to smack them in and push them a little at a time until they popped. This is on the red $100 special that sat in a field for three years, not the black bobber.
anyway, back to work on the 1200 bobber.