Did I mention how much I hate winter ?      

Gaskets starting to trickle in from UK for Half Pint. Installing transmission & cam  & lifters. More cam homework to do , stock cam has 2 different timing marks , a line like mating gear and a V. Glad I love reading manuals , factory manual in a file but the other 2 are aftermarket books. Took a minute to find & buy a factory edition manual on eBay. I already have both parts books for 1971 250cc & 500cc , now I have the manual too and one book for both 250 & 500. Best as I can tell from multiple sources ignore the line and use the V. On this engine with stock cam isn’t the problem. It’s the MX cam , it uses the line and has no V but the line is in the same place as the stock cam. So  I guess when I build engine #2 I will need to put a degree wheel on the stock cam and the MX cam. Years ago when I used the MX cam on a 250 I may have gotten real lucky that piston didn’t hit the valves. So more cam homework needed for engine #2.

Ooh I see that Cafe Racer Web Shop has a line of rectifiers for use especially with lithium batteries. Definitely pricy compared to other import crap. For years my bike has always started and runs fine but it has always had an intermittent parasitic draw that is near impossible to find. I’ve swapped rectifiers , no change. Add it to the next maintenance list. They make them for a lot of makes , a interesting place to shop , all kinds of good cafe stuff.  Tanks , fiberglass seats , rear sets , you name it. You can build a cafe bike out of their catalog , a cafe candy store !    

My motorcycle engine building was only learned by necessity , waay back when. I didn’t have anyone interested enough to teach me. And it was mostly so I could go ride with my friends , not so much to work on others bikes. So in time others brought their engines to me. Most but not all we’re ok doing a piston but if cases need split then people would bring it to me. 2 strokes & 4 strokes , singles & twins , I’ve never built a 3 or 4 cylinder , yet. In time I found a trustworthy machine shop for boring , valve work & crankshaft work , used him for many years. Working on those tiny transmissions came in handy too. I built a 3 speed car trans , then a 4 speed , then a diff. By then I was building transmissions for commercial trucks , 4,5,6,7,8,9,10,13,15,&18 transmissions and all kinds of differentials
& steering gears too. PTO systems as well as the hydraulics they power. So essentially my hobby of motorcycles started me learning the skills that took me thru a career as a mechanic. Always looking over the shoulders of the best most knowledgeable mechanics wherever I worked , cause very few mechanics willingly teach you anything but if you observe and only ask an occasional question you might just learn something. From dealerships to rental companies , my own mobile repair service for a while , then got a job at the port. Last 13 1/2 years were at the port , either you were a capable mechanic or a brown noser . And I ain’t no brown noser , I would rather throw down than have ring around the collar from sticking my head in the bosses as$ !!! The port is still old school and you better stick up for yourself or they will eat you up. Worked  for 2 companies in that time and at 7 different terminals but mostly container terminals and some bulk , heavy project stuff & car ships  too ! The last place I worked had between 2 terminals 13 port cranes , 20 rolling cranes , 75 top picks , 15 side picks , 50 forklifts , 5 fuel trucks , 540 support vehicles(suv & p/u) and seven people lost their lives  on the job in 13 1/2 years  , R.I.P.

Half Pint waiting on side cover(next week). Double Ugly waiting on brakes to arrive(this week or next). Got out of mowing the yard , rain on & off next 3 days. Have a guitar to restring , after that put my Honda TLR200 back together with stock tail light & turn signals(bike without a name) and pull sportster out , get it started(annoys neighbors)(another bike without a name). Indoor stuff , mow next week , maybe. Brake job is the priority, early spring and early fall provide a window of fair weather , before the heat ! All projects get prioritized by parts on hand & weather.  

Most everything project related is waiting on parts. Honda TLR200 just needs some fresh fuel , find pink slip and work on selling it ! Totally lost interest in the BSA 650 that will never be imported here. But a glimmer of hope , be it very dim glimmer but supposedly Honda has made moves to bring the new GB500 to the USA & UK. The big brother to the GB350S that sells good in the UK. A retro styled thumper , hope it looks like the 350 with a bigger piston. 2026 year model , so maybe late 2025. More than a few sources announced it , something positive is good to hear with KTM in deep dodo , last I heard BMW was going to buy that disaster. And seems Harley also in deep dodo. I watched a video of a guy installing a 1200 kit on a 883. Looked pretty simple , I haven built a twin in about 45 years and never a Harley. Baker 6 speed and 1200 kit and Mikuni carb kit are up in the warehouse waiting. Along with a bunch of goodies. Build it or sell it , just not sure , leaning on the sell it side , hell idk ! But if I build it , I’m goin all in , something special , a 883 sleeper with a stock looking fire breathing 1200 with 1200 gearing & a 6 speed trans. Think I bought set up for stock air filter to fit on Mikuni carb , already has a 2 into 1 exhaust. Have plenty of time to decide. Hot on gettin my parts for Half Pint so I can finish it , my Sunday bike. It won’t have the big attitude of the Tracker , but she will have  a classic British style and note. I been under the weather for 2 weeks. Got the itch to finish the engine.

Hey MM , The bike might be done by then but until I’m feeling a whole lot better all my rides are 40-50 miles max. That and looking after my wife as well. I’ve done every heart test the can throw at me , they say it’s not my heart , we are adjusting meds now , now I’m adjusting to feeling like Mr. Potatohead , so not riding or driving much until I level back out again. After 40 miles of seat time I’m exhausted and that’s not right. Doing ten miles on  e-bike when I feel good. Sensitive to hot & cold & bright lights too. That tells me infection or worse. Awesome weather this week , Spring is here ! I’ll still sneak out for a bit of therapy here & there. Still waiting on a bushing and a wrench from UK for 250 engine maybe another week or two. But I have studied videos for the sportster for installation of baker 6 speed , Barnett clutch , 1200 kit with cam timing too. 4 videos , got the manuals , piece of cake , but will need to go be dyno tuned = $$$ ! All without changing its appearance of a XL883R. I will be sure to weigh old pistons to new and adjust as needed. I’m still gonna sell it , I’m sick I just want to build it first !

Do you know where this years ride will be ?

MM , Do you miss the cows ? It’s been 3 years since the ranch had homes built on it ! I liked the cows more than all the rest of my neighbors ! I definitely miss the cows ,