The gentleman who sold me the motorcycle told me two things: he had just rebuilt the carb so it should be OK, and he thought the lights needed a new rectifier to work.
Wrong and wrong.
It very quickly developed fuel problems. Diagnosis revealed silicone sealer on and in the float bowl. After disassembly and cleaning it runs well. A proper gasket is on order.
Occam’s Razor and common sense decreed that the first step to fixing the lights was a few new bulbs. They were burned out. All of them. It turns out that the Passport has no voltage regulator. The battery is intended to absorb spikes and overvoltage in the charging system. It will run without a battery but guess what happens? The bulbs burn out.
The legal hurdles were easy. MA doesn’t like my paperwork, but NH happily took my money. It will wear NH plates while it sits in the garage this winter.
Still to come are tires, speedometer cable, mirrors and body panels.
Notes from Mosquito Hill 