The motor bike from the '80's got it's kill switch exposed and sprayed with electrical contact spray today-and while I had the housing opened I lubed the accelerator cables (push and pull type) too. I went on several test drives about The South Side and the beast seems fine so far.

I tutored Terri on window replacement- she's chipping away at the work on her Pennsylvania st. rental. She got 2 new windows installed.

The used parts are in bottom of above pic

The CX500 is back together-but no test ride yet, just started it up for a bit yesterday. The used water pump housing and water pump impeller and the acorn nut I needed came in the mail-$9.99 from ebay and NO SHIPPING!!

a 20amp circuit and several duplex receptacles added

I've been adding some receptacles in Terri's house- labor trade for the use of her space.

the metal seal cup won't be used

The CX500 got some more attention. The water pump mechanical seal: I heated the new seal over an oven burner and removed the guts from the cup, using some flattened wire I bent hooks on as a tool to pull with. These innards were then inserted into the old seal cup still in the engine in the bike(it's innards were also removed when I removed the water pump/impeller).

The seat height is never just right

Getting ready for a brief morning ride-Tz goes along.

kitchen ceiling

more kitchen

rear entry and "mud room"

I went to the s. 18th street house and installed more of my own locks and took some pics of interior. I also took a closer look at the electrical wiring needing attention before I could get it inspected. Below are a few other interior shots.These pics are close and compact in my working draft -but spread out when posted...hmm.

ceiling in middle room ready for drywall-except for the electric

funnel wallplays music during rain

Over the weekend the S. 18th street house...I don't really own, but think I might- got the trees and dirt pulled out of the gutters by spider woman Terri while I held the rope looped around her neck.

the gutter was more of a flower box

I also filled the hole by the corner of the porch with buckets of scrounged dirt. It was washed out quite deep from water falling off the roof instead of running in the gutter/down spout. Said water was then running into basement.

the back of cam shaft(center) that drives the water pump

The CX is getting more attention. I disassembled enough today to get at the water pump.The weep hole had been letting a little coolant pass so I ordered parts to see about re-sealing the impeller for the water pump. After taking apart I ordered a used impeller on Ebay.

it may not show, but impeller splines are worn off

I Finally got around to the work on my road bike I've been meaning to do for a few years. It went unused in Como as I was out of town a bit and used my mountain bike on the trails in town. I updated from the old school 27" wheels to an old 700c wheel set I put new bearings in as well as new tires and tubes-my first trip into presta valves. I also got rid of extra metal by cutting off the bars and brake levers. So, I'm set to get back on my old tall frame Raliegh (36" stand over)...and for the World Naked Bike Ride on July 27th-I'll be the one with the naked barbie doll on back.

don't try this at home...but I hooked up burner outside W.H. to test

Some water heater work today. I ended up installing a new one (a helper hauled it to the basement I was in) after cleaning and checking operation of the old one.


Cooked another fresh kill chicken tonight at Terri's...a rooster that had to be quieted- a rooster I blessed with rings of onion and slices of green pepper and sections of apple.

Rooster #2

the cx gets new fluid

A rainy day here in the Lou and cool enough for a long sleeve shirt all day-amazing. It was Vintage Bike Night last night at Schlaffley Bottle Works. We saw one CX500...it  was a Deluxe not a Custom, but close enough.  There were even some Motto Guzzi's with their engine looking similar to the CX's. Today I got to the cam chain inspection using a dental mirror inside the timing port. The chain tensioner looks to have plenty of adjustment remaining-good news! I also drained and re-filled the rear drive with fresh 80w-90 gear lube. Next- a valve adjustment and the 32 year old set of wheels will, at least, be caught up on routine maintenance.