1968 Laredo restoration project

Here's what it looked like the day I got it back in 1986. Nice hair.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 12:11:54 -0700

Jerry
Here's what it looked like the day I got it back in 1986. Nice hair.

It had been sitting under that camper from '87 until we pulled it out on 11/20/05. It still had air in the tires & rolled out easily. We recreated this picture once the restoration was comp ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 01:34:02 -0800

Jerry
It had been sitting under that camper from '87 until we pulled it out on 11/20/05. It still had air in the tires & rolled out easily. We recreated this picture once the restoration was comp ...

A quick wash got rid of the dirt to show us what we had to work with.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 01:34:06 -0800

Jerry
A quick wash got rid of the dirt to show us what we had to work with.

Jerry's photo

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 01:34:04 -0800

Jerry

Rusty bars

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sat, 11 Mar 2006 14:14:07 -0800

Jerry
Rusty bars

Jerry's photo

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 00:36:21 -0800

Jerry

Original California license plate from 1968, still has the '87 registration tag on it

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 01:34:08 -0800

Jerry
Original California license plate from 1968, still has the '87 registration tag on it

View from left side, battery and airbox removed

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 01:34:09 -0800

Jerry
View from left side, battery and airbox removed

Jerry's photo

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 00:36:48 -0800

Jerry

Tear down begins 11/27/05.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 16:38:26 -0800

Jerry
Tear down begins 11/27/05.

Jerry's photo

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Mon, 28 Nov 2005 10:12:23 -0800

Jerry

Carrie & Dallas lend a hand

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 12:12:14 -0700

Jerry
Carrie & Dallas lend a hand

Jerry's photo

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Mon, 28 Nov 2005 10:12:25 -0800

Jerry

Dirty engine

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 23:37:21 -0700

Jerry
Dirty engine

Points are in good shape. Chain area needs cleaning up as critters may have lived in there at some point. (3/9/06)

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sat, 11 Mar 2006 14:14:12 -0800

Jerry
Points are in good shape. Chain area needs cleaning up as critters may have lived in there at some point. (3/9/06)

Engine is cleaning up nicely (view from right rear)

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sat, 11 Mar 2006 14:14:08 -0800

Jerry
Engine is cleaning up nicely (view from right rear)

Bottom front of engine (cleaning up nicely)

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sat, 11 Mar 2006 14:14:10 -0800

Jerry
Bottom front of engine (cleaning up nicely)

Frame, swingarm, center stand, side stand & mount back from powder coat at BR&F Spray. It was like opening up Xmas presents!!

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 18:04:00 -0800

Jerry
Frame, swingarm, center stand, side stand & mount back from powder coat at BR&F Spray. It was like opening up Xmas presents!!

Jerry's photo

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 18:03:58 -0800

Jerry

Engine didn't split open until 8/5/07, so this picture is out of order. 5th gears are completely toasted. Shaving fouled the area, possibly leading to a plugged oil line and cracked piston.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 23:43:09 -0700

Jerry
Engine didn't split open until 8/5/07, so this picture is out of order. 5th gears are completely toasted. Shaving fouled the area, possibly leading to a plugged oil line and cracked piston.

New gears and everything is shiny again

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 17:29:58 -0700

Jerry
New gears and everything is shiny again

9/27/07, The first time the engine has been back together in a very long time.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 17:29:36 -0700

Jerry
9/27/07, The first time the engine has been back together in a very long time.

Me & my "new" engine

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 23:37:00 -0700

Jerry
Me & my "new" engine

Carb before cleanup

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 23:25:07 -0700

Jerry
Carb before cleanup

Carb after cleanup

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 23:25:00 -0700

Jerry
Carb after cleanup

Before cleaning

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 23:28:30 -0700

Jerry
Before cleaning

After cleaning and brushing

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 23:29:31 -0700

Jerry
After cleaning and brushing

Gotta like that brushed look!

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 23:28:50 -0700

Jerry
Gotta like that brushed look!

RH sidecover before work

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 23:37:10 -0700

Jerry
RH sidecover before work

RH sidecover after work...shiny!! Lots of manhours put into polishing.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 23:30:27 -0700

Jerry
RH sidecover after work...shiny!! Lots of manhours put into polishing.

Painting the RH sidecover (9/27/07)

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 23:31:18 -0700

Jerry
Painting the RH sidecover (9/27/07)

RH sidecover is done!

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 23:28:24 -0700

Jerry
RH sidecover is done!

The tank gets masked up 10/23/07.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 23:36:36 -0800

Jerry
The tank gets masked up 10/23/07.

Red paint is shot. Notice that we followed the line around the knee pad rather than stick to just the bottom (see earlier pics)

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 23:36:32 -0800

Jerry
Red paint is shot. Notice that we followed the line around the knee pad rather than stick to just the bottom (see earlier pics)

Tank now has a painted gold pinstripe along the border between silver and red. Almost ready for the finish work. (11/6/07)

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 23:39:10 -0800

Jerry
Tank now has a painted gold pinstripe along the border between silver and red. Almost ready for the finish work. (11/6/07)

Aluminum parts cleaning up nicely (brake hub & upper tree)

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 23:39:27 -0800

Jerry
Aluminum parts cleaning up nicely (brake hub & upper tree)

Bein' artsy (light sockets, knee pad, & Armor All

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:29:49 -0800

Jerry
Bein' artsy (light sockets, knee pad, & Armor All

One clean exhaust, one dirty

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:34:40 -0800

Jerry
One clean exhaust, one dirty

Cleaned guard vs uncleaned

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:35:34 -0800

Jerry
Cleaned guard vs uncleaned

Box o' parts before cleaning

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:38:34 -0800

Jerry
Box o' parts before cleaning

Box o' parts after cleaning

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:38:05 -0800

Jerry
Box o' parts after cleaning

Dirty nuts (did I say that?) & bolts

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:39:37 -0800

Jerry
Dirty nuts (did I say that?) & bolts

Clean nuts (much better) & bolts

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:40:29 -0800

Jerry
Clean nuts (much better) & bolts

Assembly finally begins.....2 years after starting!!

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 22:52:50 -0800

Jerry
Assembly finally begins.....2 years after starting!!

Engine first, then front end

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 22:51:56 -0800

Jerry
Engine first, then front end

Add some rear suspension.....hey, it's starting to look like a motorcycle again!! (11/26/07)

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 22:52:14 -0800

Jerry
Add some rear suspension.....hey, it's starting to look like a motorcycle again!! (11/26/07)

Front hub & rim before cleaning

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:36:48 -0800

Jerry
Front hub & rim before cleaning

Front hub & rim after cleaning. The spokes are next.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:34:22 -0800

Jerry
Front hub & rim after cleaning. The spokes are next.

36 spokes per wheel needed to be cleaned all the way around before clear coating.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 23:47:07 -0800

Jerry
36 spokes per wheel needed to be cleaned all the way around before clear coating.

Masking. I only want clear coating on the hub and spokes.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 23:46:22 -0800

Jerry
Masking. I only want clear coating on the hub and spokes.

Fenders, wheels, and front bars are back in place. She's now a rolling chassis.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 23:48:09 -0800

Jerry
Fenders, wheels, and front bars are back in place. She's now a rolling chassis.

Rear lamp, side & center stands are in place. Don't need the lift anymore.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 23:49:10 -0800

Jerry
Rear lamp, side & center stands are in place. Don't need the lift anymore.

Jerry's photo

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 23:46:03 -0800

Jerry

Jerry's photo

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:30:45 -0800

Jerry

The plastic on this connector was very brittle so it was replaced. Wires weren't corroded.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:38:34 -0800

Jerry
The plastic on this connector was very brittle so it was replaced. Wires weren't corroded.

Throttle cable is connected to the carbs and oil pump. Ignition coils had the wires recapped before mounting. (1/25/08)

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:38:54 -0800

Jerry
Throttle cable is connected to the carbs and oil pump. Ignition coils had the wires recapped before mounting. (1/25/08)

Jerry's photo

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:39:46 -0800

Jerry

Jerry's photo

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:49:27 -0800

Jerry

The rest of the cables are attached. Brake pedal, horn, battery box, and the rest of the wiring harness were next.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:30:21 -0800

Jerry
The rest of the cables are attached. Brake pedal, horn, battery box, and the rest of the wiring harness were next.

Front fender was replaced, chain mounted followed by case over the sprocket. Kickstart and shifter lever next, then oil & gas tanks.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:30:40 -0800

Jerry
Front fender was replaced, chain mounted followed by case over the sprocket. Kickstart and shifter lever next, then oil & gas tanks.

Knee grips and tank emblems are finally back on. (1/29/07)

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 23:50:15 -0800

Jerry
Knee grips and tank emblems are finally back on. (1/29/07)

Oil tank is reunited with its emblem.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 23:50:22 -0800

Jerry
Oil tank is reunited with its emblem.

Simple, yet ingenious, steering dampening system

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 21:19:21 -0800

Jerry
Simple, yet ingenious, steering dampening system

2/10/08, assembly is moving along.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 21:19:49 -0800

Jerry
2/10/08, assembly is moving along.

Jerry's photo

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 21:21:06 -0800

Jerry

Jerry's photo

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 21:22:09 -0800

Jerry

Whups, didn't realize I had to preload the kickstart shaft. Drat.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 21:23:07 -0800

Jerry
Whups, didn't realize I had to preload the kickstart shaft. Drat.

Jerry's photo

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 21:24:15 -0800

Jerry

Jerry's photo

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 00:29:40 -0800

Jerry

Jerry's photo

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 21:25:19 -0800

Jerry

Jerry's photo

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 21:26:30 -0800

Jerry

3/1/08 First ride in 21+ years! Got up to third gear but one coil quit working. Note the pillow...seat is currently in Canada being recovered.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 00:31:26 -0800

Jerry
3/1/08 First ride in 21+ years! Got up to third gear but one coil quit working. Note the pillow...seat is currently in Canada being recovered.

050/08 It's taken two months to get working coils and figure out that staying with NOS plugs wasn't the best choice. B77HC splugs replaced with B7HS (longer side electrode). Leaned out the ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sun, 04 May 2008 21:32:12 -0700

Jerry
050/08 It's taken two months to get working coils and figure out that staying with NOS plugs wasn't the best choice. B77HC splugs replaced with B7HS (longer side electrode). Leaned out the ...

Jerry's photo

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sun, 04 May 2008 21:33:34 -0700

Jerry

That foam is completely shot. Local shops want too much to do the foam so we're going to buy and cut it ourselves. (5/4/08)

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sun, 04 May 2008 21:30:08 -0700

Jerry
That foam is completely shot. Local shops want too much to do the foam so we're going to buy and cut it ourselves. (5/4/08)

With the foam still bad, the patent-pending Glad Seat Cover stays in place.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sun, 04 May 2008 21:30:51 -0700

Jerry
With the foam still bad, the patent-pending Glad Seat Cover stays in place.

5/4/08, Laredo's first time home to meet the rest of my ponies. I ended up running out of gas on the way home. So glad it's a small enough bike to push to the gas station!

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sun, 04 May 2008 22:09:48 -0700

Jerry
5/4/08, Laredo's first time home to meet the rest of my ponies. I ended up running out of gas on the way home. So glad it's a small enough bike to push to the gas station!

6/22/08, Trimming the neoprene base and foam to match the seat pan.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:29:29 -0700

Jerry
6/22/08, Trimming the neoprene base and foam to match the seat pan.

A few neoprene supports to level out the base.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:30:11 -0700

Jerry
A few neoprene supports to level out the base.

Trimming the foam before putting on the final piece that will smooth out the rough edges.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:30:35 -0700

Jerry
Trimming the foam before putting on the final piece that will smooth out the rough edges.

All the snaps are in place.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:30:58 -0700

Jerry
All the snaps are in place.

Final foam cover is glued down and base snaps are riveted to the pan. The actual seat cover will smooth out the last of the bumps.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:31:18 -0700

Jerry
Final foam cover is glued down and base snaps are riveted to the pan. The actual seat cover will smooth out the last of the bumps.

Julie tests out the new seat.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:29:02 -0700

Jerry
Julie tests out the new seat.

Seat cover and strap were installed. Along with left side cover and instrument covers, this signaled the completion of the restoration on 6/25/08.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:28:01 -0700

Jerry
Seat cover and strap were installed. Along with left side cover and instrument covers, this signaled the completion of the restoration on 6/25/08.

Jerry's photo

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:44:22 -0700

Jerry

Jerry's photo

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:41:48 -0700

Jerry

Jerry's photo

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:41:59 -0700

Jerry

Jerry's photo

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:44:29 -0700

Jerry

Still need to find the "305" emblem for the left cover.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:41:49 -0700

Jerry
Still need to find the "305" emblem for the left cover.

The Laredo enters a show. "1962-75 Japanese" is a tough class with lots of high-end restorations, so it didn't even place, but that was expected. I'd need to actually rechrome something to ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 23:49:37 -0700

Jerry
The Laredo enters a show. "1962-75 Japanese" is a tough class with lots of high-end restorations, so it didn't even place, but that was expected. I'd need to actually rechrome something to ...

Quite a few people enjoyed the look of the Laredo.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 23:50:31 -0700

Jerry
Quite a few people enjoyed the look of the Laredo.

One of Nathan for posterity. The build began almost the same time he was born.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 23:49:02 -0700

Jerry
One of Nathan for posterity. The build began almost the same time he was born.

So Dave, what do we want to work on next? :-)

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 23:50:29 -0700

Jerry
So Dave, what do we want to work on next? :-)

Joe finally gets a ride up Skyline Blvd on the wee Suzuki. I can see his grin through the helmet!

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 22:14:43 -0700

Jerry
Joe finally gets a ride up Skyline Blvd on the wee Suzuki. I can see his grin through the helmet!

I rode the 150+ miles to bring the Laredo back to where it all started so we could recreate the first picture taken when it was pulled out from underneath that camper shell. Aside from the ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:50:47 -0700

Jerry
I rode the 150+ miles to bring the Laredo back to where it all started so we could recreate the first picture taken when it was pulled out from underneath that camper shell. Aside from the ...

A look back...

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Mon, 18 May 2009 23:01:08 -0700

Jerry
A look back...

Uncle Steve kept this bike and the paperwork for 17 years. He deserves credit for keeping it salvageable. I wouldn't have my first bike back without his help. He was glad to see something ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:50:29 -0700

Jerry
Uncle Steve kept this bike and the paperwork for 17 years. He deserves credit for keeping it salvageable. I wouldn't have my first bike back without his help. He was glad to see something ...

Patterson Pass Road at the start of the trip back up to Arnold.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Mon, 18 May 2009 19:14:28 -0700

Jerry
Patterson Pass Road at the start of the trip back up to Arnold.

Grantline Road on the way back from Arnold.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Mon, 18 May 2009 19:15:54 -0700

Jerry
Grantline Road on the way back from Arnold.

The old Summit Garage.

nobody@smugmug.com (Jerry) — Mon, 18 May 2009 19:15:39 -0700

Jerry
The old Summit Garage.