I ended my last blog by saying that I was going to get help for my bike addiction. It wasn’t a joke. Before I’d even collected my latest bike I wanted to get back to window shopping motorbikes. I love looking at them, weighing the pros and cons, and generally enjoying the thrill of the chase. The trouble is, while 98% of them I can dismiss as ugly, meh, too dear, etc, etc, there is a consistent 2% that pop up and are ridiculously good bargains. I know I’m not going to see that bike for that price again. Then I have to try and hold out and prevaricate for the few days until it sells. Or, like the CB550/Four, I will end up buying it. The only way to avoid the trap is to not look. But when I’m bored I love to look.
For a long time it was a joy for me to be able to buy all the bikes I’ve always wanted but couldn’t afford, but this latest purchase, while it is a bargain, and a lovely bike, was done with regret. I felt bad that I’d given in to a symptom of my condition. If I’m too self aware to enjoy the buzz of the acquisition of new bikes, it’s time to quit.
Since arranging to buy this bike I’ve shut the search pages I had open. I am genuinely tired of the cycle. I’ve also found a free online BPD course. It’s called a Dialectical Behavior Therapy. It seems to be about mindfulness and being in the moment. I can only try.
My running has taken a bit of a hit this week. I had to call in work and tell them I couldn’t come in at ungodly o’clock on Saturday morning, as I had to run Wendy into the hospital with bad chest pains. The doctors said she was OK, but it was not a good time.
On Sunday I was picking my new motorbike up.
Today, Monday, I had to drop the van off, jog the 3 miles home, then take Wendy back to the hospital for an angiogram (whatever it’s called. Where they fill you full of dye then X-ray your heart and arteries.) It’s supposed to be the gold standard test. It will reveal any constriction or blockages in the veins. She’s getting the results within a fortnight, so hopefully then they can treat her accordingly and all the nasty chest pains will go away. And the concomitant risk of instant death.
So, not much running. Tuesday’s are my rest day, but I’m in at 07.20 for a twelve and a half hour shift, so I wouldn’t have been running. Again.
Today I did a few tests on the CB550/Four. Apart from the low beam bulb the electrics all work. When I picked up the bike it was only running on two cylinders. The seller claimed the others kicked in when it warmed up. I checked for spark on the two cold cylinders. Plenty of spark there. I took the tank, seat and air filter off to get at the carbs, then took them off. When I stripped them they were immaculate inside. I’m leaving them in a bucket of Pinesol and Muckoff to dissolve any crap in the jets. I’ll turn them over tomorrow and work on them on Thursday when I’m off.
I had a moment when stripping them. 3 screws per float bowl, the video said 4, then they didn’t have this spring clip thing that supposed to hold the main jet in place, it was the normal, screw in, jet. I was flapping thinking it was the wrong carbs for the bike. Not what it showed in the workshop manual or the online videos. If the carbs were wrong, was it the wrong engine for the bike?
I found a CB550 owners club online and somebody had compiled a step by step guide to stripping the late 77 to 78 model carb. 3 screws, no spring clip! Yay! Stand down.
On Thursday I’ll strip the jets, clean them, replace all the seals in the carbs, and reassemble them. Judging by the condition of the interiors of the carbs (spotless) I don’t think that’s my problem. I bought a some new fuel line and a new petcock to rule them out. The bike has a new petrol filter fitted and the petcock looked like new. I changed it any way, but I think somebody has already tried the obvious stuff.
Hmmmm.
Right, got to get to bed.
Later,
Buck.