The Silverwing Project
Progress Reports
There he is!
This is after initial paint and a once over.
Nasty looking ignition switch doesn't work right. Gotta jiggle it and crap and the bracket is all faded so it's time for Steam punk mod #1. A new ignition switch.
The main system is in great shape but it needs a good cleaning. I cleaned, painted. buffed and tightened everything under the instrument pack. The instruments themselves may be changed out later but for now I just have to fix the rust and pitting.
Here he is all back together.
I made brass cover plates for the fairing. On the right was a large hole that needed filling anyway. The plate on the left was the same size/ shape, but plastic and I used it as the template for the brass plates.
The switches on the left are: Fog Lights, Radio, Accessories jack.
On the right are 3 x 3 way switches all hooked into the new key switch.
To start the bike you must have all 3 switches in the correct positions and the key on.
I removed the leather straps on the left cover and made brass replacements. I also took off the chipped paint old black snaps and put new brass ones on it.
I think I may make new brass plates with ribbing and repousse decorations and replace these later but this works for now.
The ignition is great now. Problem fixed.
This cost about $45 total for parts and took a day to do.
Sanded, cleaned and
repainted the instrument panel while I had it off.
I plan to replace these eventually so I didn't want to spend to
much time on them.
Did some cleaning and painting to the engine.
He is now named Zephyrus.
I got the rest of the pin striping on.
Steampunk Mod #2 Handlebar treatment.
First off I replaced the black plastic zip ties on the handlebars with copper 2-hole plumbing straps. A 3/4" for the handlebars and a 1/2" for the wire and it makes a cool standoff. The final product is cleaned and polished and has acorn cap nuts on it.
So I bought these little LED lights for the license plate of the scooter. You remember the Il Bello Tuxedo?
I sold it 3 days after registering the Silverwing. It was a great scooter but I need to be Interstate ready. Well, I never got around to putting the LEDs on it so I dug them out and started trying to figure out this Steam punk thing.
The results are good and I'm getting closer to the Steampunk feel.
They are hooked into a switch and work just like a dome light in a car. The 2 lights shine just on the top of the gas tank and are great for map reading or just general parking lights.
It's 1/2 copper plumbing pipe and fittings. Black plastic wire covers and 3/8" romex connectors. Everything is screwed and bolted in then JB Welded just to be sure. They are wrapped in 14 g. copper wire and clear coated.
I'll be doing this type of plumbing in The Ceilidh so I figured this would be a good way to learn and not waste the materials. "Sweating joints" is a fun new skill!
I did dry brush some black, brown & green ageing paint in.
Ok the brass plates look cool but I haven't hit "Steampunk" yet so I made another set.
A Luann wood panel inlaid into the brass plate complete with scroll work and copper rivets. The switches are all at an artistically jaunty angle and I hand ribbed the brass plate to strengthen it and give it another dimension.
The gauge is the old generator usage time gauge from the RV. It's hooked into the radio so I'll always know how long I've been jamming out.
Swapped out the fancy CD player (comon a CD player in a Fairing? Skip much? lol) for a cheap tape deck. Less incentive for someone to steal it and it actually sounds clearer/ louder now.
Update 10/24/09
Steampunk hooooooo!
Brass plates with gears and wires and 2 types of rivets on top and copper pipe rack system. The rack is kinda inspired by real Interstate chrome trim but is a key piece of the luggage packing system.
The 2 - T connections, one on the front of the bottom pipe, one on the rear of the top pipe, are there as mounting points for the luggage rack. The gauge is a thermometer in Celsius. I'm planning something fun for the other hole.
My De'Jimbe Drum will go on this side and the guitar will go on the other.
The racks for these will be specially made to fit the instrument and insert into the T connectors. They'll probably have a lower brace too but why get complicated here?
The brass plates are just trim pieces I made. Playing with the theme.
Gotta go spend some quality time with The Ceilidh, look for an update to the build report there any day!
Back to work, Ciao
Here we go!
I bought this 1983 Honda GL650 Silverwing Interstate off Craig's List for $900. It was listed for $1100.
The before picture was sent to me by the previous owner since I forgot to take one.
It was a gun metal gray old paint job with duct tape sticky and wear marks etc. all over it.
I spent $78 on paint. I splurged and bought the best spray paint on the shelf. It sucked! $8 a can and it sucked! sucked! sucked!
Fortunately the bronze I got for the accent color turned out to be a beautiful color and I had just enough at 4 cans do do the job.
In fact I just painted my helmet to match.
The woodgrain contact paper turned out to be to light. I got some more today and will work on that.
I ran some chemicals through it and just changed all the oil & filters & plugs. Sprayed graphite in the cable ends. I gave it a basic old bike once over.