Author Archives: Pat

My First iPod

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For various reasons I’ve been thinking about upgrading to an iPod lately. First, with the MacBook on the way it seems the easiest way to integrate my music with the system. Second, the Creative Nomad that I’ve currently got is not compatible (and yes, I know about the Nomad library project and if it gets closer to 100% I might think about it). Third, Creative’s end-of-lifed the model I’ve got.

So today I went down to the Southlake Apple Store and picked up a 5th generation iPod. It’s a lot smaller than my Nomad, sounds better, has a color screen, and has space for photos and videos as well as music. It’s a pretty neat little gadget and I’m glad I finally got one.

First Break-In Oil Change

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The break-in of the new top end is going well. On the way back from work today I finally rolled over 100 miles, 118 to be specific. It’s been tough to keep the revs and speed down, the bike really wants to stretch its legs. But being good now means more fun later. I just finished changing the oil and now have another 382 miles to go!

Ordered My MacBook Pro

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I’ve been an Apple fan for literally decades now (does that mean I’m getting old?), starting off with a Laser 128 and then an IIgs which saw me through to college when I started working on NeXTSTEP based computers. Now that Apple has started putting Intel processors in the Macs, I’ve been drooling over them. Well, they just released the 17″ MacBook Pro and I placed my order. It’s scheduled to ship on the 16th and should be here by the 23rd.

It Lives!

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I got back over to Crude’s this evening and he’d managed to fix the pushrod leaks. It only took three more tries! I finally got to take it out for a ride after that. Just by seat of the pants I can feel a bit more power there. It’s not as much work to get it rolling and it’s been kind of tough to keep it below 3000 RPM. I put a whopping 8 miles on it today, but it’s good to have it back!

Almost There!

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I spent the evening over at Crude’s place putting the bike back together. Lots of fun stuff, lots of things to learn. Filing piston rings in order to get the ring gap set correctly, reassembling rocker boxes, and putting pushrod tubes back in. The last one was the real problem. We got the engine all put back together and fired it up without a problem, but then we saw that there were some pretty nasty oil leaks coming from the bases of the intake tubes. We called it quits at that point (at about 11:30) and will be working on it some more tomorrow.

But it felt really good to hear it running again after so long!

Looking At Grad School

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I’m getting close to completing my undergrad degree and have been seriously considering going on for an advanced degree. I went to a graduate forum at The University of Texas at Arlington this morning to see what they’ve got to offer. I’m really impressed and will be starting the process to get my admissions stuff done, including the GMAT, as soon as I’m done with the undergrad degree. The current plan is to start working on an MBA with a concentration in Information Systems and a M.S. in Information Systems concurrently since it looks like it’ll take about another year in addition to the MBA in order to complete it.

The Cylinders And Pistons Are Back

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The UPS guy brought a present for me today in the form of a box from Nallin with my pistons, cylinders, rings, gaskets, and the new pushrod bases. Now all I’ve got to do is work out a time with Crude to start the reassembly and then get through a 500 mile break-in period and I’ll be able to quit paying so much for gas.

Starting The Rebuild

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Mine and Crude’s schedules both had some free time today so I went over there to do some of the non-engine work. We got the new neutral switch and front pulley installed, and put in the throttle lock and new lower right control housing. Crude also helped me out by getting the connector that I worked on when I installed the tach put back behind the headlight housing. All in all a productive evening.

And I heard from Nallin, the pistons are supposed to be in tomorrow, so they’ll be shipping everything back to me later on this week. Hopefully that means that the final reassembly will happen next weekend.

Setting Up The 2m/70cm Vertical

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I finally got around to setting up the 2m/70cm vertical that I bought almost two years ago. It’s now in the attic, at about 30 feet, being fed by about 40 feet of LMR-400. I’ve tested it on both 2m and 70cm and it’s getting out with no SWR problems and good coverage. Now all I’ve got to do is set up the 2m and 70cm HO Loops to get a little side band action.

Getting Some Head(s)

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I picked up the heads from Evolution Bike Works this afternoon. They had to replace the exhaust valves because they were a little pitted. In addition they replaced the seals, recut the seats, and did a general clean up on them. Now I’ve got all of the parts back except for the stuff from Nallin which is waiting on back-ordered pistons.