Between 485 & 705 SQ/FT Mid-Century Moto Mecca Makeover
- Thread starter sakurama
- Start date
Workspaces between 485 and 705 squarefeet.
kaymccampbell
Well-known member
Doesn't everybody?
dchasins
Well-known member
That was incredible. Thanks for sharing the story. Very few people could have done what you did. Whether it was a race, or a ride or an adventure--handling what came your way shows a lot of skill, grit and determination. Like others, I am happy to see you posting again, and look forward to more. Also, notwithstanding what is happening in the market for commercial photography, what you have posted on GJ over the years is at a level I don't see anywhere else. Artwork, not just photos. I am sure it is the same in the work you do for clients, some of which you have shared here. I hope that you find a path through the jungle of AI, social media, and traditional media to be able to continue to successfully apply your exceptional skills with the camera. Good to have you back here.
Finallygotit
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I hate AI. For the first time, humans are not the smartest thing in the planet, and that to me is a dangerous place to be.
Computers making "art" so people can work menial jobs is not the future the Jetsons promised us.
Computers making "art" so people can work menial jobs is not the future the Jetsons promised us.
kaymccampbell
Well-known member
Actually it is. George Jetson pushed a button. Once he had to push it twice in one day. If that isn't menial, I didn't know what is.
Finallygotit
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I find this interesting that you know this.
But then again, I have a plethora of useless information stored in my head.
TwoBytes
Well-known member
best.story.teller.ever
Thanks for sharing.
That photo alone is worth so much more than 1,000 words.
Thanks for sharing.
Horror Business
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2014
- Messages
- 511
It’s definitely nice to have regular posts on this thread.
M.Brane
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Epic trip! Thanks for sharing.
GirchyGirchy
Well-known member
hewey
Well-known member
What an epic trip Gregor. Thanks for taking us along on the journey with your great story telling (as always).
Well, there’s a few things. Not all shop related. But there’s that too.So speaking of the shop, what's next?
One is that I’ve been dating an amazing woman named Katie for a bit over a year. It’s been a refreshing change to have someone in my life that shows up reliably. She came over to help me prune the apple tree that had been growing wild forever and I’ve not ever had a partner that wanted to work together on projects. I really like it. She’s also good with a chainsaw and a pistol so there’s a lot to love.
She’s offered to help me clean and fix the trailer after Lara (it’s been too much for me to go in and deal with the mess) and I find it so much more fun to work on things with her around and it’s also great to help with accountability. Plus she’s cute as hell. The plan is to clean and repair what’s been broken or neglected and then take it for one last outing and then sell it. There’s not much sentimentality left with it and I think the kids have outgrown camping.
I want to get rid of things in my life and simplify.
Next is pizza. These photos are by Scott Rounds - thanks Scott!
J told the kids they either had to go to camp or get jobs this summer and I’ve been getting asked to do pizza for classes and a few events so we’re thinking of trying a pizza pop up.
This last one was the local Ducati dealer‘s fashion show and we managed to serve 22 pizzas in about 3 hours. We could certainly go a bit faster but there was a lot of socializing on my part. It was Lucas‘ second time helping but this was a much bigger event. He’s spent the last year learning pizza and he‘s gotten very good. I pitched the idea of us opening something once a week for the summer and Lucas is very into it and Nadia… doesn’t want to go to summer camp.
After years of working with the Roccbox ovens I think I’d like to make my own but we’d probably start with them. There’s a lot to get into with having to get food handling licenses and whether or not we’d be able to prep in our own kitchen or have to rent a commercial kitchen. There are “Home Bakery Exemptions” and a “Domestic Kitchen License” and so we need to do research to see what we can and can’t do. My goal would be to help get this going, fine tune recipes and then see how the kids like it. I think it would a great way to earn some money and build a work ethic and business at the same time. Lucas is especially good with business and loves pizza so I’m curious to see how it would go. Lots to figure out.
And finally there is a shop project. Ben picked up a Ducati 698 and liked the bike but not the range. He also thought it would make a good project bike and in the spirit of going too far we have some rather complicated and interesting plans. Sadly, because of the Philippines, work and my procrastination we’re not going to have it for this years 1 Moto Show. Ben wanted a bike that could go at least 50% farther on a tank and I want to get it under 300lbs because - lightness! That means losing about 30-40lbs and I think that should be possible.
Finally, (and you can tell I’m trying to stack projects to create urgency) I’ve decided to restart the Saku-Moto tours in a limited way with a small trip to Nepal this fall. Probably Oct.
Nepal another story that I’ll workshop here but I did a trip to Nepal in 2021 and it was pretty magical. Because that trip was with a woman and I was in the middle of a contentious breakup (they were not related) I never posted about it save for oblique photos on Instagram. Time heals all wounds and I have the team and local support in place so I’m going to finally tell the story of that trip and then bring together a small group to ride this fall. One spot is already taken - thanks Andrew!
But that’s all for the moment. I’ll show some Ducati shots when I get back home and talk about that and the goals and issues. And finally I’ll tell the story of Nepal.
Gregor
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Hawk136439
Well-known member
Would Nadia be interested in taking Video/Photos and running the Marketing side of the Pizza Business?
All my son talks about is being a "Youtuber" (he's 6 so obviously in a different developmental state than Nadia) but if the idea of cooking pizzas doesn't interest her, maybe getting a taste of a different side of the business could get her buy in. It would also give her some useful experience for later in life and open the door to work partnership deals with pizza oven manufactures. That might keep the overhead down as well.
Also turning the camper into a pizza trailer could be kinda cool...
Happy to see you you posting again Gregor! That trip looked amazing!
All my son talks about is being a "Youtuber" (he's 6 so obviously in a different developmental state than Nadia) but if the idea of cooking pizzas doesn't interest her, maybe getting a taste of a different side of the business could get her buy in. It would also give her some useful experience for later in life and open the door to work partnership deals with pizza oven manufactures. That might keep the overhead down as well.
Also turning the camper into a pizza trailer could be kinda cool...
Happy to see you you posting again Gregor! That trip looked amazing!
GirchyGirchy
Well-known member
Simplify. Use Roccbox.
VMX42
Well-known member
I was going to ask 'what have you been doing'...but I guess that is a redundant question at this point.
What an amazing trip, glad you survived, and very glad that you documented it so that we could share in your lunacy.
Look after yourself Gregor, we only have one of you...and a very slim chance of finding another.
What an amazing trip, glad you survived, and very glad that you documented it so that we could share in your lunacy.
Look after yourself Gregor, we only have one of you...and a very slim chance of finding another.
Motoman1100
Well-known member
Dude that was EPIC!!! Thanks for taking us along for one helluva adventure!
ayer
Well-known member
What a great adventure, and you only lost 4 pounds!! Something like that ride sure has a way of clearing your head for other things in life. Great news on Kate, sounds like a good fit. Keep up the great work.
Ayer
Ayer
So I'm slowly getting back to the shop which is really helping me keep my head in a good place. In many ways things are pretty good and in many others the world is burning - it's a very strange time. We no longer share a reality and that's a real problem. The algorithm wants division and to that I say...
...tractors!
Okay, that's not the answer but it's better than most. My goal for this spring/summer is to simplify and sell off junk. So I bought a second Gravely. I don't know why I looked on CraigsList, maybe to see if I could just sell my broken Gravely. And there it was - second owner, the rare and useful 8 speed gearbox and about 25 years newer than mine.
For $200. Plus he had a tiller he'd throw in because he just wanted it to go to a good home since his kids didn't want it.
My original one quit working because the timing slipped. I tried to find someone local who would just fix it for me but the one person who works on Gravely's said it would be an expensive hassle so it became another project I did not need instead of a useful tool. $200 was less than the repair bill and the tiller (I already have one) was worth that.
And that's how you end up with two vintage tractors...
I was never able to use the tiller I had because my tractor was geared too high and you need a slow ground speed to do the tilling. Now I can till 'til Tuesday.
So once I got back from Mexico (that's another story) I pulled it out of the van and started swapping over the dual wheels and the restored brush hog attachment. The two are the same basic design but the new one has an updated carb, timing and a governor/speed device. Oh, and a choke. That makes a huge difference in cold starting.
He had the strangest way of starting it which I loved. He had an enormous 110v electric motor mounted on a sheet of plywood and he threw a fan belt over the pulley and onto the pulley of the tractor and then just pushed them apart until there was enough tension to spin the tractor motor. It was a brilliant and truly a farm style solution; what do I have to solve this problem right now with no additional effort.
Since I've gotten it home I've had zero issues starting it via the pull start. First pull every time. I am not going to touch a thing on this less my "fixing" breaks it. I need to adhere to the farm adage: If it's not broke, don't fix it.
Then again when I got the first one it came with all the parts to add an electric start and I'm tempted to install it just to get them off the floor. It adds a bit of weight but if the tractor has sat for a long time it makes starting easier. Jury is still out on that since it's another project...
Part of wanting to get the tractor going was to continue to clear the property. I've mostly eradicated the blackberries and so I use yard work as a way to get away from the computer for a break. It's also turned into date weekends because Katie loves gardening and helping me.
Look at those arms. I've been lifting weights for two years and I don't have arms like that. Wtf?
I rented a chipper for our last date - I'm very romantic that way. Girls love chippers. Drives them crazy.
Renting a tool is a good way to motivate yourself to finish something since the clock is ticking. We got rid of most of the downed tree limbs that were left, cut down a lot of brush and generally did a lot of thinning and clearing. Next work date is to finally clean and repair the trailer after Lara's stay. Then take it out for 4th of July and decide if we want to keep it or sell it. If I sell it and the motorcycles in that black trailer I would consider taking out that upper driveway and converting it into a garden. It's already leveled and gets good sun.
I'm now taking breaks helping Nadia on a school project which is shop related.
Gregor
...tractors!
Okay, that's not the answer but it's better than most. My goal for this spring/summer is to simplify and sell off junk. So I bought a second Gravely. I don't know why I looked on CraigsList, maybe to see if I could just sell my broken Gravely. And there it was - second owner, the rare and useful 8 speed gearbox and about 25 years newer than mine.
For $200. Plus he had a tiller he'd throw in because he just wanted it to go to a good home since his kids didn't want it.
My original one quit working because the timing slipped. I tried to find someone local who would just fix it for me but the one person who works on Gravely's said it would be an expensive hassle so it became another project I did not need instead of a useful tool. $200 was less than the repair bill and the tiller (I already have one) was worth that.
And that's how you end up with two vintage tractors...
I was never able to use the tiller I had because my tractor was geared too high and you need a slow ground speed to do the tilling. Now I can till 'til Tuesday.
So once I got back from Mexico (that's another story) I pulled it out of the van and started swapping over the dual wheels and the restored brush hog attachment. The two are the same basic design but the new one has an updated carb, timing and a governor/speed device. Oh, and a choke. That makes a huge difference in cold starting.
He had the strangest way of starting it which I loved. He had an enormous 110v electric motor mounted on a sheet of plywood and he threw a fan belt over the pulley and onto the pulley of the tractor and then just pushed them apart until there was enough tension to spin the tractor motor. It was a brilliant and truly a farm style solution; what do I have to solve this problem right now with no additional effort.
Since I've gotten it home I've had zero issues starting it via the pull start. First pull every time. I am not going to touch a thing on this less my "fixing" breaks it. I need to adhere to the farm adage: If it's not broke, don't fix it.
Then again when I got the first one it came with all the parts to add an electric start and I'm tempted to install it just to get them off the floor. It adds a bit of weight but if the tractor has sat for a long time it makes starting easier. Jury is still out on that since it's another project...
Part of wanting to get the tractor going was to continue to clear the property. I've mostly eradicated the blackberries and so I use yard work as a way to get away from the computer for a break. It's also turned into date weekends because Katie loves gardening and helping me.
Look at those arms. I've been lifting weights for two years and I don't have arms like that. Wtf?
I rented a chipper for our last date - I'm very romantic that way. Girls love chippers. Drives them crazy.
Renting a tool is a good way to motivate yourself to finish something since the clock is ticking. We got rid of most of the downed tree limbs that were left, cut down a lot of brush and generally did a lot of thinning and clearing. Next work date is to finally clean and repair the trailer after Lara's stay. Then take it out for 4th of July and decide if we want to keep it or sell it. If I sell it and the motorcycles in that black trailer I would consider taking out that upper driveway and converting it into a garden. It's already leveled and gets good sun.
I'm now taking breaks helping Nadia on a school project which is shop related.
Gregor
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bunks-tj
Well-known member
If you get there, dont take out the driveway, just build raised beds ON the driveway. no need to double your work.
tweidman
Well-known member
The algorithm wants division and to that I say...
...tractors!
Me too. Takes me away from the chaos. Those Gravely's are a beast. If you were closer, I could give you a third. I ended up with one, but I don't collect the two-wheel variety.
...tractors!
Me too. Takes me away from the chaos. Those Gravely's are a beast. If you were closer, I could give you a third. I ended up with one, but I don't collect the two-wheel variety.
And that is the last thing I need. They seem to be really popular/common on the east coast and pretty rare out on the west coast. I love the attachments and wish I could find the power broom (which I absolutely do not need) but the wagon is the one thing I'd really like. I'm at the stage where most of the logs I've got left are 250-300lbs and I can not carry those. Moving the wood and debris would be much easier with a wagon. Plus, another great date option - very small hay rides...
I've certainly considered building one.
Just bought my first gravelys a while back, several 1940s-50s in need of restoration and a 1966 swiftomatic 7.6 with electric start that needs... less restoration. Came as a package deal with mowers, rotary plow, tillers, snow blade, sulky. Just got it running but it needs new throttle butterfly bushings so only runs on full choke and has no power.
Pretty fun, haven't been able to do real work with it yet. Mostly it will be used for the brush hog in places I can't fit my SCUT, but might try to get a snowblower for it, too. Also considering building up a power washer to run off a belt for it. 7.6hp should be able to wash anything I need lol.
It is silly how easy those Gravely T-heads start!
Pretty fun, haven't been able to do real work with it yet. Mostly it will be used for the brush hog in places I can't fit my SCUT, but might try to get a snowblower for it, too. Also considering building up a power washer to run off a belt for it. 7.6hp should be able to wash anything I need lol.
It is silly how easy those Gravely T-heads start!
thomfr
Well-known member
Well, that is something different. Having two (or double two) wheels beside each other instead of behind each other of a bike ;-) Garden work looks good. What bikes do you consider to sell? But I'm too far away I'm afraid.
Thom
Thom
Aladinsane07
Well-known member
I've been telling my wife this for years. I think she's broken.
LOL. Seems common 'round these parts.
At this point I'm willing to sell every motorcycle that I have. About the only one I'd keep is maybe my Dads bike and that second R80 that I want to build. It's not that I'm not interested in bikes but I am tired of having so many - especially ones that don't run. It's all about trying to simplify my life. And as I've mentioned before I enjoy building as much or more than riding so I want to have space for that. Also, I'm interested in making a really super light adventure bike based on the old BMW. I pulled a muscle in my back in Mexico lifting that Desert X up in a dune and I'm pretty over heavy bikes. There's no point in anything more than 350lbs. Except for say a street bike. Plus, the simplicity of the old BMW is something I'm missing right now.
The new tractor is setup with the old (restored) brush hog blade and it's so much better with the 8 speed gear box. It will really crawl now which makes eating the blackberries and thick grass/weeds much easier. I came home from the gym, already sweaty, and decided to just take the tractor and cut the front down as another form of therapy - relaxing and meditative and it made me so happy to just do this one thing. It occurred to me that tractors are like girlfriends - you can't explain how awesome they are to people that don't have them...
Having both is pretty great. I'm very lucky right now.
Onto the next shop project. It is kid related but still...
So you've seen my sketchbooks - this is Nadia's - far more cool. And bizarre. It's a constant well spring of fearless experimentation for her. I want her to have that same fearlessness in all of her life.
School project: build something cool.
She decided she wanted to build a "fish lamp" and she asked for my help. I have always wanted the shop to be a place where the kids could explore but it's not worked out that way. They know it's a place where I can make anything but it's not had practical applications for them. That's changing. I told Nadia she needed a sketch before we could start and so that's our starting point above.
We talked about using dowels and sticks or wire but in the end the "wire" that I had the most of was welding wire. We started with 3/32's wire and just started bending it with our hands. Then we moved to my slip roll/circle bender.
This gave us smooth, repeatable bends. Sadly, I was not in the "photo" zone while we were working on this and only shot a few photos of the process because I was focused on helping. And my help was mostly the welding.
And by welding I mean bronze brazing. I decided it would be easier to braze the rod together because the bronze had a lower melting point which saved me the trouble having to be super careful with heat. The bronze also flowed into the joints which we didn't bother to prep other than snipping them to the right dimensions.
Nadia cut and bent the rod and I brazed it. We built a "fin" to test our plan and see if the process would work.
With that success we moved on to the frame. No process shots, sorry. It was a lot of us both wearing welding hoods and holding things without burning our fingers. We moved fast as she put this off and we only had a few days.
From there we moved to the paper covering. The original plan was paper maché but we skipped the flour and went with hand made paper and archival glue so it wouldn't yellow.
The test fin again.
I look at that second to last photo and I can't believe that she's a teen. She's going to start driving in less than a year.
It was the perfect project. Small, contained and well within our abilities but still trying new things and working together. She got an "A" obviously but more than anything she thanked me several times and that was a big deal because she's been pretty distant and sullen for the past year. I think it was more than the project tho - I've been going to bat for her on a few things lately and she's realizing that I'm here for her on multiple levels so that feels good.
Gregor
gearhead1960
ALLIANCE MEMBER
@sakurama That is so very cool that you could do a project together with the "sullen" teenager. As the kids age, it's a learning process for all of us to figure out how to relate to them. My kids (2 boys) are now well into adulthood, but the mentoring still happens, but in different ways and sometimes, it's more about listening than giving advice....
patlun
Well-known member
Gregor, Thanks for letting us share those moments. Some of those pictures are showing so much joy and happiness. I still remember some of the projects I did together with my father when I was in her age. I learned so much from him then, he enjoyed to help me because he was able to use his knowledge in ways that was outside his usual zone.
thomfr
Well-known member
Kirmet
Well-known member
Why do all your posts result in me going down a new tool rabbit hole? Thank you for sharing the art project fish.
Looking for a slip roll wire bender now
Looking for a slip roll wire bender now
Why do all your posts result in me going down a new tool rabbit hole? Thank you for sharing the art project fish.
Looking for a slip roll wire bender now
To be fair. I didn’t look for this - it was at a garage sale for $10. I have a lot of tools like that. Ones too good to pass up but that I don’t have an immediate use for. I have a lot of things I regret buying or buy and eventually grow bored of or lose interest (right now air guns are on their way out - CZ 9mm’s are in).
Tools are never, or almost never, part of that. Tools are the rare thing whose value when needed far outweighs their cost. There are few things like the joy of a problem that can be solved right now with the right tool. It’s as close as we can get to being super heroes.
That’s why we’re all here.
Gregor
*ahem*Why do all your posts result in me going down a new tool rabbit hole? Thank you for sharing the art project fish.
Looking for a slip roll wire bender now
Damn you Sakurama!
We need to start a thread titled "Damn you Sakurama!" where we show off all the stuff that we bought because of Gregor. OK, I'll do it. Tools and stuff that we purchased (or explored to the point of buying cheap copies there of)....because we were influenced by Gregor aka sakurama, just one of...
www.garagejournal.com