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A Little Progress
I haven't been on the site for a few months now and my '79 Special is still a work in progress.
Crazy Steve was more than a little prescient when he mentioned the pain he went through with his back. I popped something when I lifted out the engine and apparently pinched a nerve that goes to my left arm. My left shoulder, side, arm, back of my hand, and the pinky and ring fingers are alternately numb or feel like there's a band of fire running through them. It is difficult to type.
The '79 frame is still at the welding shop. I'm supposed to pick it up Wednesday evening and if it's not done I might take it somewhere else but there's no hurry.
The bad new is that the engine sat too long. When I removed the oil pan I could see and feel tiny slivers of metal embedded in the oil pump pickup screen so while I was waiting for the frame I split the cases. The #3 cylinder has several giant pitted grooves from water damage so it wouldn't have lasted very long. The metal bits in the screen were iron from the cylinder sleeve that had been broken/shaved off by the piston and rings when I started and ran the engine.
The good news is that I have a spare set of jugs from the XJ and all of the bearings and journals look great. I was able to pick up new crankshaft seals, a couple of complete gasket sets and for sets of piston rings for ~$150.
So, not much is really going on for now but I hope to get something running 'real soon now'.
Crazy Steve was more than a little prescient when he mentioned the pain he went through with his back. I popped something when I lifted out the engine and apparently pinched a nerve that goes to my left arm. My left shoulder, side, arm, back of my hand, and the pinky and ring fingers are alternately numb or feel like there's a band of fire running through them. It is difficult to type.
The '79 frame is still at the welding shop. I'm supposed to pick it up Wednesday evening and if it's not done I might take it somewhere else but there's no hurry.
The bad new is that the engine sat too long. When I removed the oil pan I could see and feel tiny slivers of metal embedded in the oil pump pickup screen so while I was waiting for the frame I split the cases. The #3 cylinder has several giant pitted grooves from water damage so it wouldn't have lasted very long. The metal bits in the screen were iron from the cylinder sleeve that had been broken/shaved off by the piston and rings when I started and ran the engine.
The good news is that I have a spare set of jugs from the XJ and all of the bearings and journals look great. I was able to pick up new crankshaft seals, a couple of complete gasket sets and for sets of piston rings for ~$150.
So, not much is really going on for now but I hope to get something running 'real soon now'.
Good luck on the recovery, hopefully one of the bikes has some sympathy for you and decides to run right.
since we havent seen you around lately.....anyway, bodies can be fixed and hoping yours is coming along with the healing process. Why is it the hardest thing about a back strain is when we want to work on the bikes we can"t without LOTS of pain??? Lots of parts down here in Sun DIego if needed,,,,,The Wiz left an engine and a half if needed. What happened to the infamous Columbo?? It was a legend in the xs circle........so, nothing you dont know, rest, relax and it will slowly heal,,,oh, and lots of those little white pain killers. Take Care, MIke in Sun DIego
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