Featured Another Crk 900 Build...yay

OK friends, this is my first real thread on the forum, yes, Ive asked the odd question and I've piggybacked on others issues, but this is my CRK, there are many like; it but this one is mine.

Im American so do your worst, or since I'm in Germany maybe I should say your Wurst. I do have some experience on builds but not for many years and not on a T300. My Bonnie 790 was not up to fully laden long distance touring, so I sold her (instant regret) and found a low mileage 2001 Sprint ST with bags and stuff, I found that I loved the triple, way more than I thought I would. I went everywhere on that bike, Scotland, Wales, Channel Islands, Italy, Czech republic and France, I ate up some tires and that bike took it in stride. Then she was stolen in Birmingham UK. I decided I wanted another and a friend recommended CRK as a possible. What??? Yes Please, I decided that was it, I searched for a cheap start point and found a 96 Sprint 900 with 36k Kilometers, so what 22k miles? I posted a pic here or maybe the facebook CRK page. nothing special stock but dirty unloved and only 700 euro.

I ordered my kit from Ian and the book arrived. I began the teardown. Here are some pics.

 

Thanks, I will post photos and we will make decent progress because Ive committed to a Normandy trip for the D-Day Anniversary . Plenty of time but no dilly dally. Having said that, I will be on holiday with the wife for the next 15 days, part of the price one pays to be able to build and spend.

I have purchased a NOS Motad 3 into 1 exhaust system and have sent it off to America for Jet Hot Ceramic coating inside and out. My Bonnie had the inside and out Jet Hot and it looked great with no maintenance to speak of.

After the tear down, I had a cup of coffee and just let her talk to me. I will discuss paint scheme ideas later. BTW Im working in a detached garage with a Halogen lamp, a small space heater and two kerosene lanterns (for the heat they put out) its not too bad. The PO said she was running really bad( see photo 2), I purchased on the fact she had compression and spark.

EDIT: I see where the wires are correct, I thought I found a Duh moment. I suppose the terrible running will be the carbs

 

Damn, you are my Hero

 

Another few hours spent in a noble pursuit. Funny but I noticed all the fasteners are metric (as expected) except the hydraulic line fittings, they were 9/16 SAE See photo 1. It reminded me back in my teenage criminal days when after butchering my BSA A65 with standard/metric mixed bag and still having issues, the nice older gentleman down the street with an Austin Healy asked me if I had any "Whitworth" tools.

What??/ there are only metric and standard right? Live and learn. Yes I was a BSA guy because we had a big BSA dealer right up to the end and the city was flooded with bikes in sheds that didn't run by the mid 1970s. I was broke so, free bikes or I'll paint your house for that old bike in the garage. One day I finagled a Norton and left BSA forever.

I drained the coolant and was very happy with the condition at first, then it turned sickly rust brown. No worries I shall cleanse.

 

After I dropped the exhaust and got a real close look at everything, I noticed a whole lot of silicone squished out of almost everywhere, since the factory didn't do that I wonder if it had a sprag problem and somebody had to open her up. I'll change almost all the gaskets anyway as Im doing an engine out restoration/modification. There will be a small amount of powder coated accents. Even the exhaust had silicone...yuck.

Ive done almost all the easy stuff now.

 

As I write the third and final entry today, I leave my shop knowing I have work to do and that makes me nuts. I have too much to do over the next 3 days before we go on holiday so I won't post for at least two weeks except maybe a pic of me being miserable at some stupid tourist attraction when Id rather be dirty and cold in my shed, like all of us. The second photo is the offending member.

 

I would hope but photo 3, the one below the exhaust is the engine case

Thats what happened when you got no history. No matter, she spins, she compresses, and she sparks. She will run.

 

Nice Ride, Ive never been to the Plains, upon my return to the States I plan a whole northern tour all the way to The Pacific NW. I've been just about everywhere else.

while I've got you. Whats your thoughts on dropping a tooth on the front sprocket since now as a naked, short range (14 litres) bike, the Top speed, relaxed hi way cruise RPM is not so important. Unless people have done it and the mod makes everything to short and buzzy.

 

Thank you, of course I was basing my thoughts on the stock gearing. I failed to mention that the rear sprocket is on the edge of serviceable and the chain is nasty.

Since new sprockets and chain is going to happen, now is my chance to hear from more experienced techs than myself

 

Did I mention I have never ridden this bike or even heard the engine run? I am starting at zero with a full tear down and inspection prior to making any parts orders.