I’ve just had a nightmare 4 days with the bike.
I was doing the final job, checking and adjusting the valve clearances. I did a pretty good job of it. I needed two 1.90 shims that I didn’t have. I was going to leave them out of spec, but when I checked the finished job two were out of spec, too small a gap. The videos say they tighten up over time so you should err on the side of too big a gap. So I went back and replaced the two shims with 1.85s. All good. Then I went to tighten the followers down and put the cams on in the wrong position. The right timing mark, but you need to turn it 360 and put it back on the timing mark. I was rushing and knackered, and just wanted it done, so I wasn’t thinking straight. I tried to tighten it down. The was a big spark and my when I tried turning the engine over it was stopping. I panicked. I thought I’d snapped a valve by ramming it into a TDC piston. I immediately set to removing the rear cylinder head. It took me the rest of the day. I got it off and looked. It was fine. What?
I thing the cam gears jumped a tooth under pressure and screwed my timing up. When I reset my cam timing it was turning over OK. Then I had the absolute nightmare of fitting refitting the rear exhausts.
There is zero access. I had to take off all but one downpipe of the exhaust system, the back wheel, the dog bones, the shock absorber, the battery, the battery box and the undertray/ rear mudguard to be able to reach. It still took me ages even after all of that. I finally got it assembled at about 19.00, and took it for a test ride. Seems ok. I will have to adjust a blowing connection on the exhaust and the slow jet is still not working on one carb (even though I stripped and cleaned them all out) so there must be a blockage.
As I was putting it back together I noticed what the spark was, I’d sheared two teeth on the cam. I’ve ordered some more, second hand. I’ll try soaking the carbs in Pinesol when I take them off to fit the cams.
I was panicking because I seem to be getting all my shifts lately, which means I needed my bike for tomorrow. In desperation I took my pushbike off the trainer and got it road ready. The only good thing about the panic is it forced me to overcome the huge aversion I’d built up to working on the Harley. It turns out it’s just the back light that needs fixing. The bulb holder mechanism is old and falling to bits so I’ve ordered a replacement unit. I’ll wire that in, then I can fit the back wheel (the wiring runs under the rear mudguard), secure the indicators and the Sporty is ready for service. I’d built that up into such a problem in my head.
The other, brilliant news, is that the higher dose of loony pills is finally working! I had two days of feeling good, my brain whirring with activity, couldn’t stop talking, and getting frantic. Brilliant. Back to normal.
I’m too tired and done in after four long days in the shed, working on the bike, to be frantic or buzzing now. But it’s work in the morning and I’m not stressed about it. Cool.
Anyway. I’ve learned a lot about the VFR. I’d be confident to do my valve clearances again in 16,000 miles. It’s a major, and very expensive job, so I’m happy I know how to do it now.
I’ve been applying for other jobs. Nothing yet. I got a definite no from Booker. Ho hum, it was a long shot.
Later.