Got back to the front wheel I'd started working on it a week ago. I already had a good start on cleaning the grease and grime and had knocked down the worst of the rust but still had quite a lot to do on it. Took the tire off the rim this morning and found that time had not been kind to the inner rim. Tons of rust that looked very bad but a few minutes with a cup brush took care of 99 % of it and about all that's left is down around the spoke sockets. That little bit should clean up pretty well with some smaller Dremel type brushes.

When I first started cleaning the rim rust I was using 0000 steel wool which works but after trying the aluminum foil on the handle bars yesterday that's how I'll finish up the rims. I used it on a couple other small pieces last night and played around with it on the rims a bit this afternoon and I really like it. I'm probably the last one on the planet that's ever tried that stuff but if any of you haven't I recommend you give it a try. So easy to use, cleans off the rust quite nicely and leaves no noticeable scratch marks. Just tear off a half foot or so, crumple it up a bit and use it like it like you would sandpaper.

Last week an old buddy stopped by just as I was contemplating what to do with my fuel tank. It had several dents, two which were really bad. I told him I had no idea how to fix it but was considering drastic measures like splitting the seam or maybe cutting a hole in the top big enough that I could access the inside with tools, then welding the cut out back on when finished, then lot's of grinding etc. Mike about had a stroke and begged me not to do that. He said he had a friend that worked in a body shop and that he would probably do it for far less than anyone else in the area. And about the time I was considering his offer he says "Screw it, I'm taking it with me" and walked it over to his pick up and plopped it in the bed. I told him to get a quote on just getting the worst of the dents out, not ready for paint or anything but just good enough that I could finish with a thin layer of bondo. He called me today and said 50 bucks for what I was asking. I jumped all over it and think I got a good deal. Whatever he does I'm pretty sure it'll be way better than what I could've done myself.
I've been looking around for paint and can't find anything in a spray can that comes very close to Geneva green. The two hundred dollar a pint matching stuff that I found is out of the question. I'll keep looking, but if I can't find an affordable close match to the original I'll probably incur the wrath of everyone following this thread when I paint it black. But hey guys, black is a great bike color and I have absolutely no intention of ever selling it, will definitely own it till the day I die so could care less about it's resale value or anything of that nature.

mdscott has posted his paint match for the 74 360 green... saw it in person, looked great to me. He did it in his garage.

Thanks Mark, I saw that. Can't find that paint for sale other than in a touch up kit where you get about an ounce of paint, something like 20 or 30 bucks. If I do find somewhere to buy a pint it'll probably be too expensive. But I'll keep looking for it just in case it's cheaper than what I expect. I think there's an automotive paint store a couple towns over. I'll check with them (if they're still there) and see what they say.

Did more work on the front rim today. That's pretty much all did all day in fact, got the rim and hubs as well as I can get them and then set to work on the spokes. Cleaning, buffing, and waxing each spoke individually is a tedious mind numbing job but I'm pretty happy with the results. Considering how it looked a few days ago it's a big improvement and well worth the effort. I'm almost done, just a little more work on the spokes and I can put it away and start on the rear rim.

I think I've found the tires I'm gonna use. I can get Kenda 270 Dual Sports in the same size that's on there with similar tread. I think they'll be work well for me. Gonna look around just a little longer before I order anything though.

Looking into the possibility of Rustoleum Metallic Racing green (7252830) in spray cans for tank color. The cap color looks similar to Geneva green, not a perfect match for sure but similar and as I suspect most of know already you can't really judge what a paint really looks like from the cap color anyway so think I'll try to find a can and run a test on some scrap metal. It may be way off or very close. Won't really know til I try it.

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