Rear brakes all set-up

Still been waiting for some parts, so knocked up a new brake rod (out of brass of course) and adjusted my rear brakes up.

Not much happenning....waiting for parts

 Waiting on a few parts before I can do much more:

- Thrust washers on order so I can complete the engine re-build

- Springer front end on order so I can finish the front end

- Front wheel bearings on order so I can finish the front wheel re-build

Decided to do a couple of small jobs:

- Fitted a Gorilla alarm

- Fitted up the kickstand (found some black hose...MADE IN USA)

 

Best way to get rid of chrome

Way too shiny

I am trying to have no chrome showing on my bike and a few guys on the XL Forum suggsted the following ways to get rid of chrome:

1. Take the parts to a chrome plating company and they'll strip them in the chroming bath by reversing the polarity. 

2. Leave it parked in the hood overnite...

3. Donate it to the poorest guy on the forum...

4. Use salt spray on the chrome

5. Scotchbrite pad over the whole thing and the paint

I have been using the following process and it has worked well so far on a lot chrome items, such as bolts, caps, brackets:

Step 1 - Buff with a Scotchbrite pad (medium) as this get rids of the shine and creates a profile 

Step 2 - Clean with some metho

Step 3 - Paint with an etch primer (3 light coats...1 hour in between coats)

Step 4 - Paint with satin black acrylic (3 light coats...10-15 minutes between coats)

Here is how my kickstand turned out.

Etch Primer Coat

 

 

All finished

I am going to add a short piece of black hydraulic hose over the bottom of the leg to protect the paint when the kickstand is down and also my frame when the kickstand is up.

Kustomtech hand controls

Did a bit of custom work to my Kustomtech hand controls, dulled down the brass so it has a satin finish and also painted all the aluminium satin black.

Oil tank fitted plus a few other items

Painted my oil tank, added some pinstriping and brass fitting plus a few other items:

- Oil filter

- Solo bag

- and a brass hammer

Hidden wiring

Finished off my rear end wiring, all nicely hidden up inside the rear fender.

How to remove front wheel bearing outer races

Was trying to change out the front wheel bearings and the outer races were stuck hard.  Couldn't tap them out from the back and didn't have a suitable puller.

A few of the guys on the XL Forum however came up with the idea of running a bead of weld on the faces.  This not only puts a bit of heat into the process, when they cool down they contract a bit and then with a bit of persuasion they fell out real easy.
 

Added some pinstriping

I know it is a decal, however looks bloody great.