Winter mods for an Alaskan Drifter

[tj]

looks real nice jaglite...really like the war bonnet!

[JagLite]

Finally healthy enough to spend a few hours in the shop playing with my bikes.
I washed one that was still muddy from last fall (DR650 dual sport) and took it for a short ride.
Then I put the Drifter war bonnet stickers on the tank.

Now to finish up the exhaust system and call it good for the summer and go riding.

[JagLite]

Oooooh sweet!   
Real frosted glass instead of sun faded plastic.   
I like it! 

[mittico68]

It isn't very bright though.
Since LED's are directional it could be that a light that can be mounted inside facing forward will be brighter.
Mine are mounted so that the light is shining up into the top of the Indian head.
It doesn't matter to me but it might to others.

Maybe this could help ya: http://www.ebay.com/itm/301075101491?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[CDNRatMan]

  Jaglite seen one of them little LED lights over to Canadian Tire the other day and it was like $9.99 so bought one. I was thinking of adding it the rear of the bike. I have the stock tail light set up and right above the license plate is that red reflector. So my next winter project will be to remove that reflector and wire the LED in to the brake lights.......bit more lite back there......

[JagLite]

The front wheel was right where I had thought I put it, next to my Honda XR80.
I looked for it there several times, and I would not be surprised if I moved it to look behind it without recognizing it.
I've been like this all my life so nothing new.

The little LED light came from the auto parts store.
It can be used as a marker light, a truck bed light, or as a dome light, etc.
It has 2 LED's in it and is weather sealed.

I just removed the original bulb socket and used silicone to glue the LED to the original metal plate.

It isn't very bright though.
Since LED's are directional it could be that a light that can be mounted inside facing forward will be brighter.
Mine are mounted so that the light is shining up into the top of the Indian head.
It doesn't matter to me but it might to others.

The light came with the wires as shown so I just used some wire I had on hand to complete the hook up.
Keep in mind that LED's only work when wired correctly.
Polarity specific? I don't remember what it is called.
Unlike typical lights that will work with either wire as ground.

[mittico68]

I bought an LED light to replace the original non-working socket and bulb.

I do envy you, because of your skillness... I wish I had such ability, with a little more memory...lol...
BTW, where did you get that led light? And was it a plug & play, or did you have to make some mod for it?

[CDNRatMan]

And where pray tell was the front wheel?

[JagLite]

Finally healthy enough to spend some quality time with my bikes this weekend.

I installed the front the front fender and wheel with new brake pads and black covered ss brake line and replaced the brake fluid.

All the bolts and nuts were badly corroded from the time the bike spent in Florida so I chased the threads to clean them up.
The paint in the threaded inserts was part of the problem I'm sure.

Then I spent half an hour searching for the caliper cover for the fender without success.

I decided to search again tomorrow.
I started out today by searching for the front wheel.
I had been looking for it for a couple days but unable to find it.
I knew it was in my shop I just wasn't seeing it.
I was able to find it, right where I had looked for it at least once before...
My wife says I suffer from male pattern blindness.
I guess so since I can lose something in an empty paper bag.

When she came out to check on me this evening I told her I was searching for the fender side cover.
She knew immediately where it was, in the house, by my computer.
As usual, she was right.
Why I had taken it inside I don't remember. 

Not that you can tell from these pictures but the Indian on the fender is aglow with the spirit to guide me on my travels:

I bought an LED light to replace the original non-working socket and bulb.

Now to finish the new exhaust system and go riding!
I have the War Bonnet decal to put on the tank and do plan for a simple black stripe on each fender soon.

[JagLite]

Hah! No memories, but a lot of greasy finger prints.
That's how I know I've done that job before.
Even if I don't remember doing it...

[CDNRatMan]

  are your memories pressed between the pages of a shop manual?

[JagLite]

Hmmm, door you say?
That reminds me, I don't think I have posted a picture of the sign I had made for my door...

The SPD sign that is.
The funny Garage sign I have had for a year or more.
My wife got that one for me.

I was ordering some stickers to put on my project bikes so I chose SPD for the fun of it.
Not a business since I just build projects for myself, but now I have smaller stickers for each project.
The smaller ones are exactly the same, they are 3" wide and the door sticker is 10" (I think)
Memories... how I wish I had them.... (can you hear me singing?) 

[CDNRatMan]

like the red door eh!

[JagLite]

Paint it black as the song goes

[tj]

lol awesome! 

[JagLite]

As close as we could get it! 

[tj]

nice colour!
reminds me of another one...

[JagLite]

I am finally starting to feel better and have some energy and desire to spend time in the shop.
My poor Drifter has been neglected far too long.   

Don't remember where I left off...

We like the new tan/creme/beige color much better than the white and I was finally up to putting the bike together.
I only spent a few hours on Saturday and a couple on Sunday but I did get a bit accomplished.

I sanded down the forks and headlight trim rings that were rusting and/or corroded and primed them.
I had planned to shoot the gloss black last thing but when I went to set up I discovered I only have mat black on hand.
Oh, well, it was a good time to stop and not overdo things.

I also went through my stash of NOS Kawasaki cruiser billet dress up items and picked a couple to use.
Of course they are polished aluminum and would not go with the old school no chrome look I like on the Drifter so I sanded them and primed them.

A once piece handle bar top clamp, the indicator light fascia, and the stem bolt cover are all Fire & Steel parts.
Should be Fire and Aluminum, or Fire and Billet I think   

I know, I should pull the forks to do a really good job instead of just a touch up on the bike, but it is spring time here and I want to ride!
I will probably have the front crash bar powder painted black next winter so this will be temporary.

Hopefully I will be able to paint the black tonight so it can dry for a few days before I install it.

I also put in new brake pads front and rear, and a new ss black sheathed front brake hose.
Now to get some DOT 4 brake fluid to fill and bleed the system.

[Old Drifter]

65 WOW that is old........man to live that long would be something........

Yeah if you're lucky! The secret is good beer and young women!!!  

[Old Drifter]

 

[mittico68]

If it is correct the saying that growing old is equal to rejuvenate, you don't have to worry at all... lol..

[DC]

65?  Old?

[Troll]

HEY!!!! 65 isn't old, if you're a tree.....

[CDNRatMan]

  65 WOW that is old........man to live that long would be something........

[Old Drifter]

JagLite, at 65 I totally understand where your coming from! Hang in there bro!