NorthernPetes Bike Adventure

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#1 Unread post by **NorthernPete** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 12:43 pm

It was suggested I start one of these for my restoration project. my 1983 Seca 400 XS

June 8th

Sigh, if its not one thing its another, got my carbs in finally, only to discover Im missing a few things to actually attach them to the bike. also found that all the bolt holes to attach my pipes to the heads are stripped.. i like nothing better then tapping blind holes! oh well, no one said my restoration would be easy I suppose. But I can see the light... should I walk to it though? lol. Well, its an interesting little thing to say the least. Ill post a pic once I get the pipes all straightened out.

#2 Unread post by **NorthernPete** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 6:09 am

June 11

Got my Carberator parts in yesterday, so hopefully Ill be able to get it started up this week. Im all antsy to hear thios thing. I am going to have to macguiver a little bracket for my exhaust though, the muffler doesnt exaclty line up..umm, with anything, I tried to put it where Ive seen others but only suceeded in bending my foot peg guard. *sigh* but I got it all straightened out and have learned that if it dont fit, use a bigger hammer isnt allways the best way of doing things. But Ive got a plan, and we'll see how it goes!

#3 Unread post by **NorthernPete** » Sun Jun 12, 2005 10:33 pm

June 12 (13th, pretty close)

Well, got the carbs on, bloody hell, what a PAIN IN THE "O Ring"! I had a hell of a time getting all the fittings on. (I assume that they carbs should come apart, but the screws on mine dont wanna move, so I had an interesting time fitting my Intakes back through the air filter box. dont ask) but they are on, the cables are attached, everything seems all right. Tommorrow Im gonna hook up my fuel lines (have to go se where they go to first) and try to fire it up. It turns over though!

#4 Unread post by **NorthernPete** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 11:31 am

June 15

Well, she runs! Man, what an awsome feeling, to take something that had no life and hear it turn over and catch! louder then I expected, but that could have something to do with the exhaust not quite fitting the way it should, Im off to Canadian Tire to pick up some exhaust pipe putty repair stuff, Im gonna try to seal up the hole a little, just a slight gap is all, should be much of a problem. Man, Im feeling good. Im going to get my M1 as soon as the bike is in the shop and road safetied. Nows when they are going to find the big problem I know (Do I sound pessimistic, Ill keep my expectations low, that way, if its really farked up, I wont be as dissapointed, and if its not, Ill be thrilled...

#5 Unread post by **NorthernPete** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 2:27 am

June25

Sigh, I guess my hopes were not as low as I thought,m cause I got some news that sort of took me down a peg. I need new fork seals and rear wheel bearings, and since those are things Im not really prepared to do myself, I asked, how much? the dealer quoted me $500

Umm, considering the bike aint worth that much,m I decided to take it else where for the work, and found a much cheaper garage to do the work, and I ordered my own parts. so hopefully he is able to do the work. Ill find out next week. but the main problem I have is in the shed today, I open the door and am greeted by the heady fumes of gasoline.. the pet stick was leaking ALOT through the on possition (bad seals and o rings Im thinking) so that got dismantled, and Im waiting on parts for that now. Oh and I broke a bolt of on the horn cover (No big deal< but stilla "pee" off) Its depressing to go from having your bike go from looking street ready to back down to the frame in a matter of days..oh well, another day in the life of restoring a 22 year old bike I guess...

#6 Unread post by **NorthernPete** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 11:52 am

July 7

Well, bike is at a back yard mechanic to get the work done on her. (fork seals, rear wheel bearings, rear brake shaft and carb clean up) I replaced all the petcock internals and its still leaking, so the carbs gummed up. Fortunately with the mechanic that I have doing the work, he said hed show me how to open the carbs up and work on them since I have no idea. Nice guy eh? and at 20 bucks an hour labour a bargooon! anyways hopefully we are ready to roll soon, oh and Im going for my M1 today. wish me luck!

#7 Unread post by **NorthernPete** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 3:03 am

July 27

New fork tubes came in today.. unfortunately, the garage LOST my seals at some point so now I have to wait for new ones...Im starting to think theres a conspiracy against me here.... Oh, BTW, Old forks were bent, got my M1. thats my update... *sigh*

#8 Unread post by **NorthernPete** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 7:12 am

JULY 29

I swear, who ever owned this bike must have hit a wall.. another part is bent and the wheels wont line up...Ive invested too much to give up, but my "free" bike is gonna end up costing me 1000 bucks by the end of it... *sigh* why cant I ever just learn and buy new?

#9 Unread post by **NorthernPete** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 11:44 pm

Aug 1

*sigh* why cant I ever just learn and buy new?

apperently never. Just got home with my maxim 650. which hasnt run since 98 according to the registration sticker (unless it just wasnt renewed. it was pared 5 years back according to the seller.

anyways, Ill have some pics posted soon, Its a sweet looking bike.

#10 Unread post by **NorthernPete** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 9:33 pm

AUG 24

Got my Seca running safetied and plated..went for a short little round the block sort of ride, gased it up... not insured ATM, so i didnt go far, tommorrow the real practice begins. Im liking this though.

#11 Unread post by **NorthernPete** » Sun Feb 26, 2006 2:21 pm

You know, anyother year Id be out ripping around on my snowmachine at this time, but I havent touched it all winter (Might have somthing to do with the Trails not opening until February, ya, Ill shell out 230 to use the trails that are crap and wont be open past the end of march) Im actually for the first winter ever looking forward to the snow melting so I can get my bike back out on the road! Havent really done any work on the bikes at all, had great plans, but those seem to have not materialized. Oh well, Im sure with the baby on the way (march 19th) Ill probably be looking forward to being outside working on the Maxim this summer, maybe get the little one on the lawn to watch daddy. Heres to the snow melting quick yall!

PS, Im thinking about getting another bike... but not a new one, do I ever learn?

#12 Unread post by **NorthernPete** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 6:15 pm

Have made a pact..Im not getting that other bike... good thing I have impulse control (looking at the POS in my shed ATM *L)

Snow can melt anytime.....

#13 Unread post by **blues2cruise** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 8:54 pm

Couldn't you put studded tires on your bike? Or maybe some outriggers?

Where are you that you have so much snow? Chetwynd?

#14 Unread post by **NorthernPete** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 1:48 am

Timmins Ontario... about 9 hours north of Toronto.

jstark47 · #15 Unread post by **jstark47** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 10:24 am

NorthernPete wrote:Timmins Ontario... about 9 hours north of Toronto.

Yeah, c'mon Blues, y'know Timmins, doncha?? ........ it's right next to South Porcupine!!!!

(I have no idea where Timmins is, but Mapquest is a wonderful thing!!)

#16 Unread post by **dr_bar** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 3:09 pm

jstark47 wrote:
NorthernPete wrote:Timmins Ontario... about 9 hours north of Toronto.
Yeah, c'mon Blues, y'know Timmins, doncha?? ........ it's right next to South Porcupine!!!!

(I have no idea where Timmins is, but Mapquest is a wonderful thing!!)

Just like Lumberton is just around the corner from Pemberton....

Now that confuses me, because I always thought that Pemberton was just around the corner from Whistler???

jstark47 · #17 Unread post by **jstark47** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 3:33 pm

dr_bar wrote:Just like Lumberton is just around the corner from Pemberton....

Now that confuses me, because I always thought that Pemberton was just around the corner from Whistler???

Lumberton is of course adjacent to Pemberton..... which is just around the corner from Whistler, which is not too far up Rt 99 from Vancouver, which is 3,000 miles from Lumberton....

Obviously a wrinkle in the space-time continuum!!

#18 Unread post by **blues2cruise** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 9:21 pm

jstark47 wrote:
dr_bar wrote:Just like Lumberton is just around the corner from Pemberton....

Now that confuses me, because I always thought that Pemberton was just around the corner from Whistler???
Lumberton is of course adjacent to Pemberton..... which is just around the corner from Whistler, which is not too far up Rt 99 from Vancouver, which is 3,000 miles from Lumberton....

Obviously a wrinkle in the space-time continuum!!

That would make us almost neighbours.

#19 Unread post by **blues2cruise** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 9:29 pm

This must be you, Northern Pete.

jmillheiser · #20 Unread post by **jmillheiser** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 9:49 pm

9 hours north of toronto? thats pretty far north.