...a little update.

Not lots to say here, but the epoxy job on the intake manifold of the Sgian Dubh lasted, oh, 13 or 14 minutes. Made it home okay. Made it to the doctor's the next day okay. I actually rode it to Prescott and back last Saturday for a Big Brothers - Big Sisters fund raiser the Sheriff's Office is doing. It did NOT, however, run well. Not particularly slow or jerky or anything...just not right! Letting off the throttle then on again created a hesitation I knew wasn't supposed to be there, along with a few other telltale signs.

So, that night I removed the intake manifold again and sho' nuff, it was ALL busted up. So I used a pliable silicone based contact glue covered with black electrical tape. It worked alright, but I still (in the back of my mind) knew it wasn't right, so I ordered one from HelixParts www.helixparts.com/usa/ for the princely sum of about twenty bucks on Tuesday. They shipped it on Wednesday and it showed up in my mailbox today, Friday!!! Wow!!!

Well, I scurried to the garage and began untaping wires and removing seats and all of that stuff. The swap only took about 10 minutes. Big difference! Starts much easier without all that extra air getting in!!

Of course, with the seat removed I saw a major issue. I had originally bolted the tailight assembly to the seat base using self-tapping screws. They were holding okay, but I knew it was just a matter of time until one or more just dropped out, sending my tailight onto the back tire in a splash of plastic and rubber. Not my idea of a good time. Also, with the tailight bolted to the seat, I could only remove it as far as the wiring would allow, which, inevitably would NOT be far enough.

So, a quick trip to my local ACE Hardware store for a length of steel with holes already drilled in it and some zip-ties was in order. I got home and did a little measuring and cutting and doggone if it didn't just bolt right up! Of course, there was the always time consuming job of locating the correct nuts and bolts in the bottomless pit that is my garage. I know, I know...I should clean it out, but my deal is this; I go in there to fix stuff, NOT to hang out! And if stuff is fixed, I'm riding it, NOT hanging out in my garage. So you see, I just don't have time...

I got the bracket built just fine and with a minimum of fuss, but like always, I see what I could have done either better or differently, so I'll probably have to do it again sometime. Not right now, though...it's time to ride!!!

C-ya...ride on!
--Keys

Big Doin's

Had some big changes here at "Casa Del Keys" this month. I finally traced all my performance issues in the Buddy down to crappy wires. Yep...they just cracked and broke inside the insulation where you just couldn't find the break. Finally got that straightened out with the careful application of quality wire and wiring loom relocation. Apparently, over time, combined with heat, weight and bumpy roads, the seat bucket "settles" and bounces up and down on the wiring loom, thereby breaking individual wires.

Fixed it. Sold it last weekend to a nice young man from Tucson...I hope he's happy with it! Then, THIS weekend, I sold the '53 Allstate to Damn Dirty Dave. I guess forty scooters in his garage wasn't enough.

Bottom line is I took some of the money and bought my dear long-suffering wife some jewelry for Valentines Day (which just conveniently coincides with our anniversary) and spent the rest on my newest project...the "Sgian Dubh" (skee-an doo), which is gaelic for "Black Knife". The Sgian Dubh began life in my garage as a $600.00, 1986 Honda Helix with almost 32,000 miles on the clock and a rear hub in which the drive splines were stripped.

I loaded the Allstate into my pickup for a quick trip to Phoenix Thursday (Feb. 14th). I called DDDave, who met me at Bob's Used Motorcycle Parts (no particular web page, although you can find address and phone by googling the name). He slipped me some cash and I slipped him an Allstate. Then I went in a visited with a nice guy out in the yard who found me a couple of good Helix rear wheel assemblies. I grabbed the best one, paid $40.00 to get out the door and headed home. I stopped at D&K Service in Cottonwood where the Helix was and handed Seth the wheel assembly. He said it'd be done by 5 p.m. and I could ride it home.

Ski and I were going out to dinner, so we got all dolled up and swung by D&K. Seth told me he had discovered a wee bit of problems. No, not the wheel...it turned out fine...the rubber intake manifold between the carb and the head was cracked. Seth epoxied it and so far, so good. Have another on order, though...

I rode it home and noticed it didn't like to turn, but it was too late too mess with it...Alaskan King Crab was calling Ski's name and we had to go!

Well, we got home from dinner about 10:30 and Ski plopped in front of the tube and I headed straight for the garage. I started taking screws and bolts and nuts off like a madman! I removed the entire rear subframe and "trunk" (made my ass look too big, anyway). I removed the windshield. I relocated the tailight. Man, the dust was FLYIN'!!! Good start.

So, this morning, I rode it to a doctor's appointment I had. Did fine, didn't like to turn, still. I checked the air pressure in the tires and sure enough, they had less then 10 pounds in each. Topped 'em off and it handled fine. Started raining while I was at the doctor's office so I got soaked on the way home. Changed clothes and was back in the garage again.

I cut the tailight assembly to a more usable size, then I cut the windshield to a more sporty size...small. Relocated the mirrors for what I think is a sportier look...then came the paint. Yep, my favorite...flat black!! Eventually, I want to highlight it with red wheels and trim, but for now, it's all black!

Ladies and Gentlemen...I present for your viewing pleasure (or fear), the frankenscoot known as the Sgian Dubh!!