Go to page: 1 - The Beginning 2 - Oil tank, seat & gas tank 3 - Coils & fender 4 - Electric box & frame 5 - Welded frame & battery 6 - Oil tank, seat & taillight 7 - Painted parts & covered seat 8 - Painting and final assembly 9 - Last minute changes & starting 10 - Final bike photos Credits: Me: guy that owns the bike and comes up with "great" ideas that usually don't work. I can't weld Dad: does most of the tack welding and brings home lots of scrap metal from the weld shop where he works. (when I say "I welded" I mean "Dad welded") Brother-in-law Rich: mechanical engineer that comes up with great ideas that do work. Also has the mig welder that my Dad and I borrow when we work on the bike. Last updated Tuesday, August 02, 2005		I've turned my attic into a paint booth. It works out really well, except for the lack of ventilation. I use a respirator to keep from inhaling too many fumes. I'm using Por-15 paint for everything I put on 2 coats of black, then topcoat it with Chassis black. It's a nice satin finish. I'm using a sprayer to apply it. It took me a while to get everything thinned properly and to get my spraying technique perfected, but things are looking good now.		Click for a larger view
			Here is the headlight. In this photo, the satin black looks a little glossier than it actually is.		Click for a larger view
			With the seat pan painted, it is now time to recover it. Here are the four pieces that will get sandwiched together. The cover, a piece of 2" thick high density foam purchased from a local auto upholsterer, 1/2" carpet padding, and the seat pan. I ended up cutting the foam down to about a 1/4" thick. 2" would have made the seat a little too bulky.		Click for a larger view
			I didn't photograph any of the construction process of the new seat cover, but if you want a detailed description, email me. The new cover is made of red and cream colored naugahyde. After reading a book from the library on auto upholstery, I borrowed a sewing machine from my mom and went to work. The finished product is a cream colored pleated top with red sides. I used natural colored contrasting thread to do the flat fell seam when sewing the red sides on the seat.		Click for a larger view
			The seat pan already had holes drilled in it where the old cover was riveted on, so I didn't have to figure that out. I bought some 1/4" deep stainless steel rivets and washers. The cover was fairly easy to put on. I started at the front of the seat and riveted that, then stretched the cover and riveted the back. I moved to one of the sides, stretched it the same amount as the back and riveted that, then riveted the opposite side. Basically, I just worked my way around the seat stretching & riviting.		Click for a larger view
			Here's the finished product. It's not perfect, but it turned out nicer than I thought I could do.		Click for a larger view
			Another view from the top.		Click for a larger view