Subject: introduction
Author: DannyR
Date: Jul 15, 2000, 7:53 PM
Post ID: 1701419842
Hi Y'all,
I bought a 1966 Yamaha Twin Jet 100, in 1967, and sold it a year later. Bought
a brand new 1970 Honda 450 Scrambler, sold it one month later for more than I
paid. It vibrated too much. Then a guy moved into in down the street with a
1971 Ambassador, pulling his full time residence, a 14' Puch self contained
trailer. He wanted a new 850 Eldorado so he could have a side car to help
stabilize the bike when pulling the trailer. I bought his Ambassador for
$1400
since I could not afford a new 850 Eldorado, which was $2100 at the time.
Rissman Motors, Albuquerque NM was our dealer and I have photographs of Dave
Miller, the previous owner, riding my bike, pulling his trailer. He eventually
sold the Eldorado to a guy who wrecked it and killed himself on it.
In 1976 I blew a head gasket and pulled the heads, but let the bike sit until
1984, when I rebuilt the engine. I rode it until 1992 when the intermediate
plate warped and I could not get it out of gear. I pulled the clutch out and
decided to overhaul the transmission, since it was whining, and decided to put
in a five speed and Eldorado rear drive. In 1992 I bought a very rough 1972
Eldorado and found the transmission was no good and I let both bikes sit.
In January 1998 I felt the need to have a running bike, so I found a 1977 850
T-3. I hated the T-bikes when they came out in 1975, but somehow they have
grown on me. And besides, I still have my black Ambassador to look at in the
garage, so it was not so bad.
The I really wanted to get a bike that ran. So I bought a 1998 EV in March
1999. Why couldn't they make a black EV with white stripes? I had to settle
for gray and black. At least you can get a Jackal in Black and have the
stripes
painted on.
I got a used four speed from a friend, (two years ago), and put the clutch,
intermediate plate and transmission back into the Ambassador. But the clutch
cable is too short and it won't release completely. The same clutch cable,
battery tray and so on are back on the bike, the only thing that is different
is the transmission. To even get the clutch cable to fit I have to unbolt the
battery tray and use a vice grip to hold the cable end, and then I can get it
into the slot. When I bolt the battery tray down, there is no free play. I can
pull the clutch cable and turn the rear wheel and I can feel when the clutch
releases and grabs, but there is just no free play.
I got frustrated with it and it is still in the garage where it has been
parked
against the wall, so I can get the other bikes into the garage.
DannyR
1971 Ambassador
1972 Eldorado, rough
1977 850 T-3, nice
1998 EV, Very nice, comfortable, fast and Italian