Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/1513811
36 Trail Rider www.TrailRider.com I laughed and pointed it out to the seller, remarking about my lower ini al offer. In looking around, the basement also contained endless automo ve tools and other shop equipment. Being curious, I asked what else was in the house. The seller replied, "Toys, lots of toys," and he led me upstairs where a sight that just boggled my mind unfolded before me. No doubt now the owners were hoarders, but these folks didn't hoard garbage, they hoarded toys. There were literally thousands of toys in the smelly old damp rodent-infested house. Organiza on was pre y much non-existent. Picture rooms chock full of old Buddy L and Tonka trucks. The big ones from the 50's. GI Joes and accessories filled other rooms — hundreds of them, most in their original boxes. Sort of like the movie 40-Year-Old Virgin but with no organiza on and filthy. Lionel O-Scale trains filled the other rooms. Yeah, it was odd but so interes ng, and no doubt the collec on was worth tremendous $$$! We soon loaded up the Qualifier and headed home. Those who enjoy vintage projects can relate to the an cipa on of digging into a new project. Once home, I decided to take some pics of how it looked fresh out of its 35-year-old tomb. The moldy leather tool bag looked super cool. We wasted no me during the resurrec on process. A er a thorough cleaning, I removed the seat and tank. It was clear this Qualifier had a very easy life. Original grips, Cheng Chin res, and minimal wear on the pegs. As with most of these old bikes that have spent years dormant, the air box was chock full of mouse house. Fortunately, Can-Am's have a wire filter cage, preven ng the li le bastards from traveling downstream into the carburetor and intake. A er pulling the spark plug and giving it a good drink of Marvel Mystery Oil, we checked for spark, and as expected, there was none to be found. What we did find was very interes ng; this par cular Can-Am had been fi ed with a Motoplat stator, flywheel, and coil, a modifica on I had yet to find on a 'Ham. Motoplats are known for requiring a very clean ground and that was the first order of business. A er wire brushing all grounds and cleaning with contact cleaner, we soon found big fat spark. Thirty-five years of si ng and we had spark within minutes. We pulled the carb, thoroughly disassembled it, and sent all the parts into the ultrasonic cleaner. Once the Can-Am was stripped down, we dra ed a parts list, including a few cables. As expected, wheel bearings were toast and the old dry-ro ed res and tubes would have to go.