18 years ago I got the bug to have a Convert due to all the Convert talk right here on WG. I found one with only 11,000 miles in Saginaw, Michigan, a 400 mile drive one way. My daughter went with me to collect it. It had been sitting for years. The brakes were dragging and it looked pretty rough in person, but I handed over the $1800 and brought it home.
There were many bike restorations that had a higher priority than the Convert so it just sat, and sat, and sat. It was never completely ignored as I would buy parts for it from time to time, such as a wiring harness from Greg Bender.
A year and a half ago I finally tore the bike down, and found it to be nastier than I had imagined. It was obviously ridden on Michigan roads when salt was out as it was very crusty for a bike with 11K miles.
This was a very labor intensive restoration every last piece of this bike required attention. The up side to all this was being able to finally delve into the mysteries of the Convert drive train.
Reassembly began in earnest over a year ago, but again the Convert was sidelined for 2 other major bike projects.
This spring/summer was the Converts time! It is essentially complete and has had its first engine runs. I must say it is running sweetly! Road tests to begin soon.
A short running video from yesterday after timing with a strobe, and balancing the carbs with a Harmonizer.
https://youtu.be/jfNGRLsGJz0?si=OnCzOmK0HlYqE7i0
