Well, when all that happens, you can bring it inside:
...where it's cool and where there is plenty of light.
I, you see, had the brilliant f-ing idea to replace the points today, and to attend to a couple of other minor bits and pieces. In the process I took a running motorcycle and converted it into a non-running motorcycle.
*sigh*
I know it's because I can't get the damn timing set right without the right fucking tool, because motorcycle magnetos were designed by assholes.
Okay: the typical Briggs and Stratton engine, it's f-ing simple to set the points gap. You make sure the crankshaft is in a position where the points would be open; you loosen the screw, insert the correct size feeler gauge between the points, tighten the screw, and you're done. Period. END OF PROCEDURE.
None of this horseshit about making sure the piston is a certain number of millimeters BTDC and using a special tool to indicate when the points open--none of that. Just a fucking feeler gauge and a screwdriver. And it's all done with the flywheel off the engine, so you don't have to do all this intricate work through a window that's a bare half-inch wide.
I mean, fuck.
* * *
...so I decided I'd pull the exhaust system off to check on the muffler; and sure enough, there isn't a single shred of fiberglas in that thing. It's gone.
Here's what it should look like:
Here's what mine looks like:
So what do I get to do? What do you think? This one's a different design; I think it's made to have fiberglas packed into the chamber rather than wrapped around it. I'm going to have to check on this before I do anything, but worst case I'll look for a new baffle on Ebay.
...even better? EVEN BETTER? You know what I found when I decided I'd take the cylinder off to clean it?
THE DAMN THING'S GOT ONE FUCKING PISTON RING. It should have two. Whatever happened to the top piston ring? Who knows? What the fuck.
Parts list:
Oh piss, the damn power's failed. I'll finish this later.
PISTON FUCKING RINGS
Speedometer
Speedometer cable
UPDATE: Okay, the power came back on after being off for an hour, so here we go:
Parts list:
...or whatever the thing that goes behind the seat is called.
Piston rings (for the love of...)
Speedometer
Speedometer cable
Set of new seals and gaskets
Turn signals
New taillight bracket
Helmet rack
I believe the muffler can be repaired, and I can either paint it with heat-resistant paint, or I can ship it off to be re-chromed for a nontrivial amount of money. (On the plus side, I could get it done in green! "Look, my exhaust pipe matches the gas tank! I'm awesome!)
* * *
I don't know what the cause of the power failure was; but it sure helped me calm down. I was pissed off and frustrated; but after being unable to work on the bike for an hour and talking to Sailor V (via cell phone) for about 42 minutes, now I'm back to my more-or-less normal self.
I was pissed off and frustrated when I saw that the mail had come and my completion card wasn't in it; and that persisted for quite some time. I went to order the brake lines for the Fiero, and was pleasant to the clerk at the store, but got home really pissed off nonetheless. So I went to bed; and after a while I felt better, and had the Chinese food and such.
Then this with the motorcycle. FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUU--
...but now that I've had a chance to cool off and relax, I can approach the whole thing with a bit more cheerful optimism.