The Processing Programming Language

I had thought that it was only for Arduino coding, but it turns out to have much broader and interesting goals:

Processing is a programming language, development environment, and online community that since 2001 has promoted software literacy within the visual arts. Initially created to serve as a software sketchbook and to teach fundamentals of computer programming within a visual context, Processing quickly developed into a tool for creating finished professional work as well.

CB750F: Day 25: Rolling Along

At class, it is really sitting in good company. Usually I buy dinner and eat there, by myself, though it is not lonely.
The new chain and sprockets came in so I started by removing the rear wheel. It was so simple, but I couldn’t imagine it until I had seen it: loosen the right and left alignment, there are notches that show the “setting” on each side, that is important to restore. The rear axle has a bolt with a cotter pin that I removed. Then I removed the brake link, and the caliper itself, then turned up the alignment adjusters and pushed the wheel forward and removed the chain and pulled the wheel out. The large zip ties were really helpful to hang out the brake link and caliper.
Before starting I didn’t know to find the master link in the chain and remove it first, I will do that next time instead.
The front sprocket encasement is full of centimeters of filth, that will take a while to clean it out. A non-abrasive plastic “drill bit” would nice to pull that stuff out, of course it would have to be disposable.
Tonight I did use an impact wrench for the first time, brilliant. The small one got the front sprocket bolt out and the big one got the rear sprocket bolts off, the latter were on there super-tight and the impact wrench just took them right off.
Speaking of cleaning, the front sprocket had an empty cocoon on it, and I cleaned up the rear wheel as best I could without compromising the lubrication with cleaner. Before wrenching on the bolts I tried to clean them up first to keep the tools clean.
Pat said that the rear wheel plastic pads internal to the wheel look fine, so I won’t replace them.
Today did go pretty well especially after I found out that class will continue next semester, so it is not a race to finish the bike. That said, it would be fine to make some progress, also. The headlight awaits, brake pads maybe, continued cleanup, and maybe upgraded suspension.
Continue reading “CB750F: Day 25: Rolling Along”

Antique Gas Engine BBS, Smokstak

Smokstak is an:

Antique engine forums related to collecting, restoring and showing hit and miss engines, vintage Diesel, steam engines, antique tractors, old generators, pumps, industrial antiques and collectibles. There are thousands of old engine photos and thousands of discussions about all types of engines and old iron topics. This is a world wide community with members of all ages from Australia, Europe, North America and other points across the globe.

CB750F: Day 24: That Changes Everything

Tonight I really wanted to see if I could make progress like the article did on polishing your aluminum engine case so I bought some Dremel attachments. The results were generally nice, but didn’t get it all the way there. Since I had borrowed the Dremel, I removed some of the crudified paint from the right horn and grip assembly for future painting. At the end of the night I felt good, that it looked pretty decent, even though it is not a perfect mirror finish.
At the end of class Pat told us that this might be the last semester, ever. As such, I’m going to shelf the polishing, and spend spring break acquiring the necessary gear to complete the most important service tasks, eg: brake fluid change, new sprockets and chain, front fork fluid, and more.
At the end of my work, I sprayed down the engine with a very diluted Simple Green mixture to get the carb spray off and ended with using compressed air to get all of that included; I didn’t want anything that the plastic wouldn’t like on there.
Continue reading “CB750F: Day 24: That Changes Everything”