Almost traded

[OR Seedman]

before and after pics.....although it might take a while....lots of little items to check off the list...

[Tfrank59]

and good luck on the 1500 project.  Maybe post a pic or two of it on the 800 forum when it's done?

[OR Seedman]

Well...I do still have my 800

[CDNRatMan]

      OR you will be welcome back here anytime.......lol.....

[OR Seedman]

Well...the bevel gear is done and the motor is back in...I am going to move over to the 1500 sections because I have several questions regarding putting things back in the right places...since the previous owner moved stuff around...

[Tfrank59]

looks like you've got your winter project!

[OR Seedman]

I have been tearing into it for a couple of days now....the previous owner did some really awful stuff...like glue on chrome bolt caps with silicon glue and epoxy....re-routed the choke and ignition switch to the same spot as an 800...but mounted it very poorly (it moves around).  he put a big air-horn on and mounted it to the old ignition spot.  the bike really hasn't been maintained very well, and the paint job is bad quality....So..I am going to yank the motor to do the bevel bearing, fix all the crappy little things done to it and probably re-paint it gloss black.

Some of the chrome dressing is going to go bye-bye.  But not much I can do about the entire front end..the forks and triple trees are solid chrome...no removable covers...same with both the handlebar controls and oil reservoirs and levers and the rear brake caliper and also the rear passenger board mounts.  Not sure why the boards are there since it has the solo seat.  Chrome, chrome and more chrome.....DOH!  Frame paint is peeling off in places so that will have to be re-done, too.  The motor seems to run well (has a programmer), so I think repairing the minor stuff should get it back in good shape.  Really needs a thorough cleaning..

Frame is currently split and the motor is loose in the cradle....I need to disconnect a few more items and then slide it out and put it up on the workbench....

[Zoar]

Man, what a steal! if you can get it running you have an awesome deal there. The only thing it needs is some larger hard bags maybe other than that why would you screw with it?

I concur.

What a deal!

That bike looks pretty sweet. I would change the bags too; hard bags in same color scheme as the bike. Then you can sell it to one of the members here for what you have into it... Bahahahahahahaaaaaaaa! (had to).... But really great looking bike and great deal you made happen!

[RockinRollin]

Man, what a steal! if you can get it running you have an awesome deal there. The only thing it needs is some larger hard bags maybe other than that why would you screw with it?

[OR Seedman]

well...the 1500 arrived today and I have to say that it looks better than I thought it would....just a couple of very minor paint chips on the front and rear fenders....otherwise in really good shape..I will start tearing into it later this week....man, though, it has A LOT of CHROME!...forks, grips, triple tree, every possible cover on anything and ...wait for it....a CHROME FRONT ROTOR!! the guy must have been nuckin' futs over chrome..LOL.

The Vance & Hines Longshots have been de-baffled completely, though.  I will definitely need to fix those as it is really loud with straight pipes.....

[Trall]

Yeah, the paint is a problem...especially since they did the frame, too.  Would require a complete strip down to the frame...not sure I really want to tackle that this winter.  It might be worth it to fix the bevel gear bearing and then sell it off in parts...like you said, there are some hard to find parts on it that would easily cover the cost, even before I sell the complete engine.  Engines alone are going for $800-1500 depending on the miles and condition.  BUT...I still would like a 1500 of my own to go with the 800....I'll make some decisions this winter after I repair the bearing and see what else, if anything, is wrong with it....Maybe I should just tape off the speedo face and spray the whole thing flat black with plasti-dip..LOL

That's part of the fun, making choices and working on your bike.  I would call several autobody guys and get their prices for a tank and two fenders.  Ask sometimes their painter does side work on motorcycles.  I had a 800 and 1500 Drifter fenders and tanks done in the past for around  $500 and the other for $750 in the two tone paint that I picked.
The frame you can brush on or small mini roller on POR-15 which is a true black or Rustoleum Hammered Black has a slight grey hue to it.  Both looked great on the frames I've painted.  Depending on the look you want, the Rustoleum Hammered Black gives you a little dimension to the paint.  At Walmart I can buy a very small mini roller, comes with smooth and nap mini roller, handle and paint pan for $3-4 bucks.  Use the nap one for added dimension.   

[Old Drifter]

Yeah, the paint is a problem...especially since they did the frame, too.  Would require a complete strip down to the frame...not sure I really want to tackle that this winter.

Nice score on the 1500! You could probably do a decent job on the frame with some rattle cans.

[OR Seedman]

Yeah, the paint is a problem...especially since they did the frame, too.  Would require a complete strip down to the frame...not sure I really want to tackle that this winter.  It might be worth it to fix the bevel gear bearing and then sell it off in parts...like you said, there are some hard to find parts on it that would easily cover the cost, even before I sell the complete engine.  Engines alone are going for $800-1500 depending on the miles and condition.  BUT...I still would like a 1500 of my own to go with the 800....I'll make some decisions this winter after I repair the bearing and see what else, if anything, is wrong with it....Maybe I should just tape off the speedo face and spray the whole thing flat black with plasti-dip..LOL

[Trall]

like Ratman, I decided I need another one, too...so I bought a 2001 1500 on ebay auction that has a bad bevel gear bearing....total cost including shipping to my location is $1,370.00.  I have already ordered the new ORS bearing (which I bought from a real bearing vender...not one of the oem crap Koyo bearings...) for $10 wholesale.  Total parts will be around $30.  Looking at the bike pics, someone invested a lot of time and money in paint and chrome.....not crazy about the paint, but for the low $ I spent, I can live with it...although I am not quite sure what I will do with it when it's fixed....I really like my 800...

Great deal.  I saw that one on Ebay and with shipping costs sounds like a good deal.  With your dollars saved you could get  the paint job you love.  That color combo is different not is a good way but somebody loved it.  Maybe a female owned it.  You got some great accessories, Rear pass floor boards worth 200-350, factory 1500 Seat rail worth 200-400, solo seat saddlebag struts and horseshoes worth 150-250, so those alone on the high side covered what you paid.  Whats better then a Drifter?  Two Drifter's.  Post up and you make it yours.......

[RockinRollin]

The Ratman is getting another Drifter? If only!

[OR Seedman]

Probably more like welding goggles.....

[mittico68]

Nice (and cheap...) catch, Seedman! 
But I guess you'll need to wear sunglasses to ride her, in a sunny day... 

[OR Seedman]

Depending upon what kind of shape the paint is actually, I my keep it as is and take it to some bike shows.....I am sure it will require some detailed cleaning up, but it is an unusual paint scheme....even the frame looks like it has been powder coated to match...and there is a ton of chrome on it....chrome forks, saddlebag mounts, shifter, grips, etc....someone went off the deep end with chroming it...even I don't go that far..LOL

[Pilgrim]

Man..that is nice and a great deal. I would have it painted.

[OR Seedman]

like Ratman, I decided I need another one, too...so I bought a 2001 1500 on ebay auction that has a bad bevel gear bearing....total cost including shipping to my location is $1,370.00.  I have already ordered the new ORS bearing (which I bought from a real bearing vender...not one of the oem crap Koyo bearings...) for $10 wholesale.  Total parts will be around $30.  Looking at the bike pics, someone invested a lot of time and money in paint and chrome.....not crazy about the paint, but for the low $ I spent, I can live with it...although I am not quite sure what I will do with it when it's fixed....I really like my 800...

[Tfrank59]

Well if all is well Tfrank I'll be travelling this Thanksgiving weekend 6 hours south to pick up a second Drifter 800 and so hoping all goes well.......

hope you're getting a killer deal. post Pics when you can.

[Pilgrim]

one for the bedroom...

[CDNRatMan]

   Well if all is well Tfrank I'll be travelling this Thanksgiving weekend 6 hours south to pick up a second Drifter 800 and so hoping all goes well.......

[Tfrank59]

Yeah, don't know what I was thinking there...glad to keep my girl for the foreseeable future.  Fact is, this time of year nobody can sell anything unless they'll take half off, which I ain't doin'  Plus I just remembered how much I love the look of my "Indian-Drifter" 

[Zoar]

Nah, I'm always on CL.  It's how I got the Drifter (and every other bike I've owned in the past decade;-)

HA!! I was just joshin' ya.

I was merely trying to keep you from selling your Drifter...