Engine is now back in the bike. Intake ducting and coolant systems are done, and battery is in. When I get back from Indiana in a week, I'll have lower end gaskets, mirrors, turn signals, markers, grips, fuel pump, etc. Basically, everything but plastics.
if all goes well, I should be able to crank it week after next.

 

PO said that he bought the bike "running", and found coolant in the oil. He said he pulled the pulse generator cover and found the aluminum chunk out of the head, and decided to get rid of the bike at that point. I don't think he had it long enough to do all of this junk lol. I think it's the owner that he bought it from that needs to be octopus-slapped.

 

Got it started on starting fluid tonight - I just wanted to hear it fire. I'm missing one of the carb gaskets for the velocity stacks, so I've gotta find one of those before I can finish putting it together. I did some brief looking online ; those things are friggin' expensive for nothing more than a glorified O-ring

That's the last piece of the puzzle until the plastics arrive.

 

What exactly is it you're missing? I may have what you need.

 

One of these:


On another note - this is the first bike I've ever rebuilt - that being said, what are the back two nipples on the bottom of the gas tank supposed to be attached to, or are they just guides for tank installation?

 

The 2 nipples are for overflow. The tubes that hook to the just snake down through the bike and hang there. The other end doesn't attach to anything.

PM me your shipping info and I can send you 1 of the o-ring/gasket things. I don't have an entire set but I've got 1 or 2 spares. You are welcome to one of them if you like. They are in good shape.

 

Dude, you are a lifesaver. One is all I need, thanks.

 

No worries at all friend. Glad to help. I can probably run home at lunch and drop it in the mail for you. If I get tied up and unable to do so at lunch, I'll take care of it this evening. We are only 1 state apart, so you should get it soon.

 

So, bike started, idled, albeit kinda rough - I revved it hoping to clean it out, and it died. Got a couple of backfires/coughs through the carbs, then it started, then it died. After that, the starter would engage but not turn the engine. I pulled the plug from the pulse cover, and found that I can rotate the engine backwards to a point, then forwards to a point. In my experience, that's valve contact, and the valve is likely bent.

 

Ouch. That bites man. Sorry to hear of your bad luck.
Don't give up though. Keep it up and you will her up and running before you know it.