Insert clever airhead based title here ....

[pjcr12]

So, where were we? It rained yesterday, so I didn't do any work on the bike and, because it was a Sunday, I spent all day on self-indulgent pursuits. Yeah.

So, where are we? Fucked, that's where. Two days ago, I had the bike turning over nicely on the starter, with sparks at both plugs, and the lights and indicators/hazards, all doing their thing like well-behaved electro-mechanical systems should. Today, I had intended to fill the carbs up with petrol and fire it up. I was looking forward to it. That's where we make our biggest mistake with airheads....you think you've sorted them out, leave 'em for a day, and they fuck with your mind.

Grrr. I'd just lugged a battery out to the bike, hooked up the positive and, as I touched the negative clip to the terminal, got a beefy spark and the starter solenoid started whirring....! No keys in it, nothing turned on, but direct juice was finding it's way to the starter somehow, and guess what? It still is, the fucker!! Like a man with an obsessive-compulsive disorder* I tested switches, connections and replaced all relays and got absolutely fucking nowhere. But I did stay calm, which is unusual for me. The only thing I can think of, is that the starter solenoid is stuck**, or there's a problem with the start button/kill switch. Or just me. Tomorrow will tell.....

[rightsideup]

Random Airhead Anomaly? I confidently expect you'll have it pinpointed and fixed within 24 hours, maybe sooner.

[pjcr12]

Originally Posted by rightsideup

Random Airhead Anomaly? I confidently expect you'll have it pinpointed and fixed within 24 hours, maybe sooner.

See, rightsideup, positive vibes mate; cheers. Yes, it is now all sorted and.......The Standard One lives!!!!! Vroom fucking vroom.

I'm so happy I could shit my pants and not give a damn; what a relief. I started off today ignoring the problem, and decided to fit the tank rubbers and rear footpegs instead of pandering to the evil pixie that was haunting the bike...I find reverse psychology to be a real boon in airhead fettling, I relay do. So, just to see if there'd been a miracle in the night, I hooked up the battery and it was still the same. I pulled out the starter relay, disconnected the handlebar switches...and it was still the same. Solenoid whirring away, no keys in it, nothing switched on, and still with the fucking whirring. Keeping calm, I took off the starter (once again) and went to the shed, bench tested the starter and it was good, very good in fact. Scratched head...drank coffee, smoked, even imagined myself as an electron, swimming down the cables, and lo! The answer came to me. Once again, I am a twat. There's somethingwrong with my short-term memory, which makes me forget things I've recently done. Strange but true. Anyway, what I'd recently done was swap the original lighting relay for a brand-new shiny one. Obviously, the brand-new one was completely wrong, being a different relay entirely (twin pole, but with a curious twin-dioded oddness)....so, putting the old relay back in, no sparks on hook-up, all lights and switches working correctly......

That beautiful, sweet little fucker fired up instantly...picked up on the throttle without any fuss, and ticked over in tune with my heart. It's true.
I had a brief, but glorious, 5 minutes when I experienced genuine happiness.
The Martha Farquar Organisation may be justifiably proud by that...and we are, let me tell you.

So, because the solenoid feed on the starter gets it's juice from the lighting relay first, which then goes to the starter relay and then to the solenoid, putting in a wrong relay, as I say, makes you feel a twat. I rest my case.

Here's a pic of the offending relay, followed by a freshly rubbered'n'badged tank.

[pjcr12]

Tank..red'n'shiney plus brand new tank badges and scrubbed-up second hand tank rubbers....almost makes me want to take a bite out of it, but as we know, that would be wrong. I'm still happy, it just won't wear off. I think I will pinstripe this fucker, after all. It's the least it deserves.

Here's a couple of tank pics

[pjcr12]

Tank

[pjcr12]

So, today I decided this bike was finished. Here's the last pics I'm going to post, as the job's done. Apart from a bit of road testing, and getting an MOT test, the STD1 has been resurrected, and is a joy to behold. I won't fucking do it again, that's for sure. Not unless I'm on wages, and have an expense account with various purveyors of Teutonic bike parts. To be honest, I'd love to do it again, but with someone else's money and their heated workshop to work in.

Considering this bike was renovated largely outdoors, and the respray done in borrowed rooms (even a classroom!) I don't think we did too badly. The important thing is, as far as planktonnn and I are concerned, is that this is an honest bike, faithfully restored and (almost) as good as new. No corners have been cut*, we've done our best** and have worked from the beginning with the potential new owner in mind***. Which is a first for us, let me tell you.

Due to circumstances beyond his control, planktonnn hasn't been able to be here for the final stages, but I'd like to say that he's my best friend**** and I couldn't have done it without him, especially the paintwork which is just fucking lovely. Rock on planktonnn!!

So here's the final pics, all 8 of them.

* yes they have
** No we haven't
*** Ha-haar
**** Ok, only friend.

[pjcr12]

Next pic....

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Pic 3

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Pic 4

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Pic 5

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Pic 6

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Pic 7

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Pic 8

[tenderfoot]

The bike didn't come out half bad.!

Will we still have to endure normal warped MFM service after this foray into the world of serious wrenching.?

[slartidbartfast]

Beautiful job gentlemen!

Be careful with it - It would be a shame were it to receive so much as a paint chip before it's safely in a new owner's care (and you have your just rewards for a lot of hard work.) I'd be interested myself if I didn't already have one very much like it (although nowhere near as clean of course)