Lots of different things can happen to things from sitting out side in the weather and abuse.
***Yes ,grandpanystrom61, they can, and it seems like they're all bad.
Nice find, glad to year that you are younger in spirit than physical age. Think young and the mind stays young, just our bodies go to crap on us.
***It's like George Burns said, "I'd date girls of my own age, but there are no girls my age"
A lot of tips, but I like the one " go to DMV first thing, get legal papers on it" and do not let them talk you into a non op on it until road worthy,, this can cost you money and time also.
***I like this one best also. In Minnesota, they do not have non-ops. They don't even know what a non-op is. I tried to put one on a car I bought, and they couldn't understand. I junked a car in Lodi that is still on a non-op. They keep sending notices that I don't have to do anything, and the car will stay non-oped.
Best to get it legal and pay reg. fees each year. Even if it just sets in the garage, I say it is the price to pay for ownership.
***I don't think they charge registration on a vehicle here if I just transfer it into my name without registering it. I could be wrong.
Taking off the body is good, as one should look over all welding joints and all so inspect the frame for damage or bent parts from previous accident. With frame bare one can roll it over a square drawn on the garage floor to see how all lines up.
*** The body is off, and from the measurements from the outsides of the torsion bar tubes to the center rear of the neck it is within a 32nd of an inch, and that could be form the bolt being loose in the hole.
Next the trike has hydl. front fork's , or inner tube springs ? Both of these suspensions have a limit in their operation. From what I have read (rebuilding my front end) is that they start to fall short on working properly once you get to or past 45 degrees in rake angle. I also read an article that said 42.5 degree's is when they start to diminish in compression ratings.
***The trike has hydraulic forks. It looks kinda like a 350 Honda, but I'm sure it isn't. I'll post more pictures. I didn't do a rake angle yet, as my rake magnet is in my Bajie bug in Lodi. Ill get one this next week, weather permitting. I made a leading link with a set of 5' down tubes that I'm considering using if I can get some co-operation from the dmv here. I want to cut the neck that's on the trike off and use the neck I had made for the leading link. If I use the complete front end, there will be less hassles. If I get to change the neck, the front end will be at a ridiculous rake, but it will only have about two inches of trail, and it will ride like a Cady on the road, and a go cart in the curves, minus the slipping off the road.
Just sit down with paper and pin and write it all down that needs to be done or service checked. Than just go down the list repairing and checking things off as you get them done.
***I have a ream of paper in the garage that I've been using for writing. I can't get my ink pen out of my hand because of the swelling from all of the lists.
It was nice of you to save this ride, maybe you can bring life back into her.