A Roaring Red Rascal |
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After the shopping from last night at
Van De Waerdt motors in Doorn
the shopping list for the "Red Rascal" was complete. I had everything, and
in my head I already had checked my list, not twice, but three times,
it had to be alright!
And what does a CX rijder do, on a sunny saterday morning? Right, finishing his CX. I placed the battery, according to the 'trick' I picked up at Alemre, the newyears workshop : Less, minus first, more, plus first. What's next, what do I miss? And then I saw it, while looking in a box with sme parts. The starter engine was not yet mounted. While manouvering the cable trought the frame towards the startrelay, I heard a loud "Tsinggggg", and a big spark jumped across between the plus and the top of the cable. I was afraid that the electrical system was damaged, but a quick test showed me that all was okay. | |
 ... placing the battery ... |
 ... all was okay ... |
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I took the new oilfilter, and removed the old one. I placed the new
rubber rings, andmounted the new filter into the filterhousing. Simple,
and what's next ?
Now I have to mount the silencers. These silencers are just more or less chromed pipes, whitout any sound reducing capabilities. But there nothing else, the better pipes are stil underneath the "Blue Angel", until the red CX will become my 'first' bike again. Passengersteps, bolds for the exhaustpipes, and everything fits. I don't turn the screws and bolds tight, there is plenty of time to do that later. But now the pipes are fitted, this CX has to go outside. the weather is very good sun is shining. Yes, it's perfect for riding a motor. But the CX is not ready, not yet. It stands outside, after months and months in a small shed, torn apart, stripped down, and rebuild. It looks a bit naked, whitout side panels, and a tank. | |
 ... a bit nakedl ... |
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Now I fill up the cooling system, with more that two liters cooling liquid.
Next point on the todo-list : the oil. And after that, I can not, and don't have to control myself any longer. Now I can finally hear the engine from the "red Rascal" turn around and around and around. I hope. Or is there someting stuck inside, after all these months of in-activety. The push on the starter button assured me that all was well. The starter-engine pulls the engine easely round and round, thereby distributing the oil through the inside of the motor. | |
 ... the oil ... |
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The final task, waiting until it realy was nessesary, was getting a
few litres of fuel for my "Rascal". This was the right moment, and
on return the partial filled tank was fitted onto the CX. After that
I pushed the CX to the street.
Why the street? Wel, if anything goes wrong, then it can be better there as behind the house. And something did go wrong! A steady stream of drops came from under the engine, and the heavy smell of fuel filled the air. What was it? Leaking carburators, or faulty fuel-tube? I closed the fuel valve, and sat down, thinking about it. What was wrong? Could it be....., yes, it must be that simple. I got a long screwdriver and checked the carburators. The first was close. But on the second one the drain-srew was still open. No wonder it leaked! | |
 ... onto the street ... |
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Right, this is the great moment, the moment we worked towards all these
months. Chok, checked. Fuel valve, Open, checked, neutral, checked. Contact!
"Tjsakke, tjsakke, tjsakke, tjsakke" is the sound that the CX produces. But what really happenes is an other story. Fuel is sucked throught the carburators, and mixed with air sucked into the ignition camber, where the gas is compressed, until a spark, generated in the new stator, passed forward by the CDI and the bobines, eventualy reaching the spark plugs, ignited the mixture. Again, and again.... With a migty and heartwarming roar the "Red Rasal" is reborn. I don't drive away at once. Sitting on the CX I leave the engine a couple of minutes to turn idle, silently enjoying that my engine, my CX, works. Then I turn it off. Time to check for the things that i have forgotten. The best way is to look at what still lay in the box with bolds and stuff. A number of bold has been replaced, therefore they remain. But this one, isn't that from ..... The bolt to secure the shaft. That is not in yet. The shaft has to slide to the back, after my juggling with the jack, two evenings ago. It takes a little effort to get the shaft into the right position, but then the safetybold, is fit in place, and the shaft cover slides neatly on the engine. Exhaust shields i fdont need right now, but the balancer is, however, fixed already fixed. That is a little difficult, because I have two bolds, and only one nut. How was that done? A first test ride on our street shows me a almost not working rear-brake. I adjust it, but the marker on the brake indicates that the brake has to be replaced. Nect, I put the side-shielding on and set the mirrors right. Finally I get the new heat-shields, donated by Johan de V. and mount these on the black exhaust-balancer. The "Red Rascal"looks fine again. I did not fitted the radiator hood, because I have a Polaris fairing, and I want to mount it one of these days. The CX looks a whole lot better, now it's the most part are put back onto it agan. A longer test rus shows only one small fault: When closing the throttle the engine turns off, as if the stationair is not right adjusted. Presumebly that is the case, but that is not such a big deal. | |
 ... the Red Rascal ... |
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A quick tour trough Ede, to get a booklet for someone, goes fine. This
CX rides almost by itself, a very different experience in compare to
the "Blue Angel". Now I remember how good and relaxing it is to ride a CX.
But I must not forget to buy some lightbulbs for the rear light,
there aren't any in it.........
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