in place of larger rear seat

Locking storage box for the explorer.

under construction- bottom shaped to floor

inside

Some hiking yesterday in Fredericktown area.

Having sold the '95 Explorer a while back, as it was over 190k miles and the known issues were adding up, yesterday I replaced it. I found a 1998 with about the same mileage as the '95 when I bought it over 3 years ago(150k)---and for almost the same price($2400 this time) although in much better shape -new/recent tires, battery, alternator, exhaust. This one needs nothing except the left side parking brake cable and the power board for radio display. It evidently has a fancy factory alarm. I've never had an alarm and don't really trust it not to go off when not desired so I found a wire behind drivers the kick panel and wired a switch to ground it- disarming the alarm when I want. I also removed the radio ( radio/cd/cassette player)to be able to install a new circuit board that powers the display. The piece is on order. There was a keypad on the drivers door for unlocking w/o a key- and setting alarm?. I didn't get the code and it can't be re-set...but the code is printed on a sticker on the electronic module that's hidden in the jack compartment on Explorers. I found it and it works!

 the dark purple/green stripe wire to disarm alarm

The radio comes out easily with a set of special tools...or some stiff wire inserted in the holes, pushed to the outside and pulled toward you.

stiff wires to remove radio

The CB450 finally leaves the kitchen

Let's see..last weekend I gathered some old warped 2x6's and made that ramp off the rear porch for rolling the cb450 out of the house. Today decided I'd waited long enough and rolled the bike out of the kitchen, down the ramp into the rear yard. It's out! I then bought a battery and some fuel line and went about readying it for a test fire. I found out the ignition switch was bad so used an old one to make a pig tail connector to hot wire it. Everything worked/came on- headlight(hi,lo), blinkers, horn, etc. But the starter just spun as if not engaging. Funny-I had found a bag labeled "cb450 starter chain" when cleaning up a few weeks ago- inside was a chain that goes from starter gear to the gear on the crank shaft. I thought it must have been extra, from one of the parts bikes, and set it aside. Well, it turns out I had left it off when I had removed the stator to solder new wires on- like 2 years ago. So, I removed the starter, side cover and stator and installed the missing chain. Maybe tomorrow I'll get to the gas lines and tightening the plugs and give it a serious try. An additional plus- I now have room for a kitchen table.

The rough body work is done on the tank. It's primed- someday it'll get final sanding and finish paint. I set up a ramp out the back, off the porch, to try and one day soon roll the CB out of the kitchen.

if you look close-you can tell I made this personalized plate myself

Friday night cutting up license plates- while trying not to wake red dog.

petra

The cb450 tank is coming along. The underside is primed and painted a satin black. The rest is getting the old HONDA badge mounts/holes filled along with a few dings filled and smoothed.

1973 cb450 tank

winter is gone for good it seems

Spring is not going away. The peach tree has flowers and small leaves now. The plumb tree is in bloom. My greens are all up and some asparagus are over 6" tall already. I planted the 2 apple trees I grafted in pots. It's still not obvious the grafts have taken- we'll see. Also I put some blue potatoes in the ground Yesterday.

blue potato hills in the making

Harbor Freight chain breaker worked fine to shorten new chain

The cb450 project is moving along now that the kitchen workshop is warm. The rear brake parts/linkage is all hooked up now as well as the wheel adjusters(with new nuts). That all led to a new chain install and the clutch cable being hooked up. Once the clutch cable was operating it was obvious the clutch was locked up- not to be unexpected after 25 years of sitting. So, I removed the right side cover and then the clutch plates and discs. They had to be tapped apart. I then sanded the plates (7 of them) - removing any rust. Once back together all seems fine- shifts through gears and neutral. Next the new front brake master cylinder install will be taken on.

of course- the jar is plastic

I floated the Mineral Fork river the other day in the Old Town 119(Discovery).