The Resurrection And Rebirth Of Geraldine Begins - The First Five Days

Thursday May 14:

  • Purchased 1984 Honda VT500C Shadow for $200.00.

  • Pumped up the tires (rear was flat). 
  • Cost $28 to have AAA cart it home.
  • Insurance: $12.00 through 11/1. 
  • Doesn't run, no electrical power. 
  • Rear tire shot. 
  • Front tire dry-rotted. 
  • Tank needs dents banged out & paint. 
  • Told tach very noisy. 
  • Came with a bunch of spare parts including instrument cluster.
  • Total expenditure so far including bike purchase: $240


Friday, May 15:

  • Began troubleshooting the electrical system. One reason why I got it so cheap was because the electrical system was dead. 
Saturday May 16:

  • Cleaned up the battery ground, and apparently the battery is no good. Got her started with a jump. I can jump-start it, and she'll idle with the jump disconnected.
  • Topped off oil. 
  • Adjusted clutch and throttle cables.
  • Lubed all cables except speedo (replacement came with bike). 
  • Ordered battery. 
  • Sight glass broken on front brake master cylinder. Ordered from Amazon. $8.47
  • Ordered battery $42.44
  • Ordered disc lock: $26.49
  • Total expenditure so far including bike purchase: $317.40


Sunday May 17:

  • Bought a one gallon gas can $16.19 from Autozone
  • Put in two bucks gas. 
  • Added some Sea Foam (on hand)
  • Total expenditure so far including bike purchase: $335.59


Today:

  • Drained carbs
  • Jump started
  • Disconnected tach cable - the noise is the tach, not the cable. Have replacement tach (came with bike).
  • Replaced taillight bulb with one of the LEDs I'd removed from Gertrude (2000 Kawasaki Voyager XII) when I upgraded her lighting.
  • Replaced taillight fuse (spare in fuse box)
  • Replaced front brake light switch with the one I'd bought in error for Gertrude. Perfect fit. Tweaked the brake lever where it was bent out & wouldn't work the switch.
  • Came across a box of free bike parts on Craigslist. Only thing I'm interested in is the windshield. Bunch of Harley parts. Going on eBay or Freecycle or Craigslist or in the dumpster.
  • IF I decide to upgrade the lighting, I have most of it on hand already, extras from when I upgraded Gertrude's lighting, including an LED headlight bulb. All I need to buy are the 1157s for the front turn/parking lamps, and if I want to make the brake light flash, a flashing 1157 like the ones I put on Gertrude. Also will need an LED compatible turn signal flasher. We're talking like a total of less than forty bucks, maybe closer to 25. 
  • Next on the agenda: tune-up and fluid and filter changes. I have the coolant, gear oil, and brake fluid. Just need to buy spark plugs, and oil & oil filter. Air filter is washable and oilable.
  • Expenditure today: zero
  • Total expenditure so far including bike purchase: $335.59
     Family portrait - Gertrude and Geraldine



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