Ummm... so yeah... I've really not done squat to the poor Rollfast save riding the bejabbers outa it whenever I get a 'mo, up to and including my fabled "long lunch breaks" that don't seem to end till 8am the next mornin' lol
Ofc there's not much that seems to
need to be done, save occasionally adjusting the chains... there's a buncha stuff I
should do, like complete the rear fender and mounting the dropstand that I finally remembered to get, heck - wiring up the lights would only take a few minutes... but I suspect that's not gonna happen till a rainy weekend heh
The "dreaded" CNS carb has actually been treating me quite well... once I remembered to stop bein' a n00b and blaming it for the engine's birthing pangs, my incessant and misguided tinkerin' only messing it up. Once I stopped fussin' w/it and fixed the real issues (leaking head gasket & a vacuum leak & ofc break in) it was fine... the float sticks from time to time but that's minor, I'll delve into that when I get a moment... like the aforementioned rainy weekend heh
I worried some that my original front rim mighta been bent or slightly outa true, while spinning it on the bike left me undecided, riding it there was a definite symptom if something hinky. Meaning to stop by and strut my stuff at the local bike shop anyway I summoned up my courage to take her out on the first "long distance" run instead of vrooming around in circles in my neighborhood like the coward I truly am. It's really not that far to the bike shop at all - it's just the next town over... but hey... I'm sure ya'll know what I mean heh, not only is my new toy "unproven" but I tell ya what - pedaling a 70yo cruiser with an engine and assorted accessories strapped to it is no joke... add in a questionable front wheel and it's a lil worrisome.
Needless to say the Rollfast was a big hit amongst the techs there, the fellow who built my wheels more than happy to pop it off and throw it in the truing stand to see whats up. Armed with far more experience than I and better equipment it became clear as day that the rim was about perfect, he gave one spoke a 1/8th twist for good luck and pointed out what I
should have caught my dang self had I not been so obsessed with over complicating
every symptom in my "new dad" ways - the super-cheap crappy tires I had bought "just temporary" to keep my freshly painted & built rims off the ground are indeed "super-cheap crappy tires" and as such are poorly molded, there's a big ol' lump on the side that's plain as the nose on my face... I r shamed I missed that *blush* Unfortunately it's not a twisted tube, the tire is junk and needs be replaced, I'm saving mine pennies for a nice set with wrap around tread. While they wont look as original as the square, flat-tops... the Rollfast isn't exactly built for cornering with those almost ridiculous handlebars (they are quite comfy tho), a nice set of sneakers outa help.
I've been wondering if the gearing might be a hair too tall given the hefty weight of this build, it's not "sluggish" off the line and 1st & 2nd gears are about right but third... well... it's so "almost" heh, no matter the speed/RPM I hit it at it holds it - doesn't loose speed but doesn't gain any. While in some ways this is good, it's like a cruise gear - I think if I swapped out the lil gear on the SBP shiftkit from the 10t to the 9t they offer as the "hill climbing" sprocket it'll be jus' about perfect.
BUT - as it's not fully broken in yet I'm gonna wait, it jus' keeps runnin' better and better with more power every time I ride... the gearing so "close" that jus' a lil more power might "fix" my gearing all by itself *crosses fingers* Still, the sprocket is cheap 'nuff so I might grab one anyway and it's so easy to swap that one out that having the 9, 10, & 11t sprockets as "spares" for differing riding conditions might be kinda neat (I already have both the 10 & 11t, go figure lol). Ofc the Sturmey Archer 3 speed also offers different sprocket options as does SBP with their front freewheel chainrings sos I've LOTS of gearing variety & options, JOY! I do so loves to mess around w/gearing FTW, gettin' it dialed in jus' right for my weight & the bike's - matching it to the engine's power and the terrain part of the fun fer me.
I jus' need be patient and log a few more miles... not exactly a grueling chore
Soo... here's those "dirty girl" pics nasty ol' Tom was after heh
Thanks Cogswelln, get that gasket set and we'll sort that out FTW, given yer build prolly weighs less than 1/2 of mine...
