Category Archives: Banana Garage
VW Bus – Wood Stove Heater
For a long time, I’ve wondered about how to heat my VW Bus. I can now consider the problem solved. Purchased a wood stove from Riley’s in Townsend, MT. Picked it up in the ‘factory’ from Riley himself. Each stove is serial numbered and hand made in MT, pure American quality.
Next stop, Butte MT. We get to work with the fabrication and retro-fitting with the help of our good friend and carpenter.
One of a kind and good times ahead.
XS650 Special Tank Update
This bike was painted by its previous owner with an unimpressive metallic red paint that with dissolve in gas. Really lame. I taped off a single stripe along the back and sprayed it down with aircraft remover. Scrape, repeat. I’ll leave the steel bare and either rub in some beeswax/oil or let it corrode a bit. Regardless, I think it looks great.
CB160 Non-Progress
Just before I was going to torque down the top end, I ran into some problems. It seems as though the machine shop that did my valve job fucked me. It’s unbelievable that they would return it to me like this… there’s no way that seat would come close to sealing. Good thing I decided to pull apart the valves and check their work. Always check everyone else’s work, people.
They took the head back and told me they’d replace it promptly. Sucks, the bottom end waits patiently…
Note the upgrade I made to the tenisoner: That’s a Z1000 tesnsioner sprocket and axel from Liska Racing - using some drill bits and patience you can remove the cracked, worn out, hardened stock rubber wheel and install this one. It should outlast any other part of the engine.
I’m really at a point where there isn’t much I can do without being able to get the bike together, with the motor in, to tack together an exhaust system and exhaust mounts. Hopefully I get that head back asap.
Might be time for some new gloves…
The buffer really eats ‘em up when I’m working with small parts.
Black Wednesday XS650
A beautiful 50 degree day in Chicago, what better to do than pickup an ’81 XS650 special? The seller listed it on craigslist as an “SX650″ and I was lucky enough to be the only XS650 fan in Chicago to find it. It’s in GREAT shape, brand new tires, 160+ PSI in both cylinders, charging wonderfully, perfectly tuned… all for under a grand. Woot! Rode it to and stashed it in my parents’ garage, spent the night wi5h my dad for his birthday; expecting delivery at the Banana garage by Berke on Saturday. I’d like to especially thank Berke for dropping everything he was doing, picking me up, and driving across the city just to get it. That’s not how it was supposed to work out, but he saved my ass. It’s wonderful having extra Bananas around to take care of business like this. (Also thanks to Justin for going with me the first time I saw it).
Not sure why the PO painted much of the chrome black, but most of those bits and pieces will be scrapped anyway. In the meantime I’ll look cheesy on a Special while I finish the 160.
Happy Thanksgiving.
More CB160 Progress – Polishing and Buffing Aluminum
Dexter Kill Room or Buffing Station?
My new buffer finally arrived in the mail so I got to polishing some bits and pieces for the CB160. I love polishing aluminum. Although it’s probably the dirtiest job I’ll undertake during a build, it’s also the most rewarding. It’s a shame to see everyone taking the “easy” way out and painting over pieces that have so much more potential.
On my last project I took to sanding every scratch and gouge out of each piece before taking them to a mirror finish, this time I’m leaving the big ones in. This reduces the work to get to finish; more importantly it retains the bikes unique history and character.
Dog
Just practicing TIG, made a dog for Tracy (hi Tracy!) out of a spark plug and some old bolts. I’ll be making a few more of these guys, it def could be a lot better.
Inspiration from Brown Dog Welding.
