what did you wrench on today??

[oldGSfan]

I got a GS1000E front fork cover that is mangled on one end off eBay for $5 and had a try at repairing it. Even the halfway decent ones that were much more $ didn't look so great. Making progress building out the corner that was chewed off and sanding it back. There are some pinholes to fill but the method works really well. From the Web I found the tip to use shavings of ABS mixed with acetone until dissolved, then brush it on. New to me and it's basically free and works.

I took a spare piece of ABS pipe I had from plumbing and drilled it repeatedly to get the curly Q shavings, mixed till milkshake thickness, then brushed on. I put some masking tape behind the corner bend and dripped it on. It's cured strong and I think it will look fine. The ends are covered by reflectors so I am not sure I'll bother with that area. I'll spray it with bumper and trim paint once smooth and see how that goes, then do the silver on the raised bits. Will post pics of finished job in case there's any interest. This method would seem to be good for broken side cover tabs if they are ABS, but I'm not sure

As bought:


Work in progress:

[ddaniels]

Finally installed a speed healer on the FZ1. It's nice to see 70 when I'm going 70 instead of seeing 80.

[Burque73]

After a year of baking in the hot desert sun and being virtually unused, my F350's windshield wipers needed replacing. With recent rain showers, every auto parts place in town seemed to run out of wipers. I finally found both a 22" and 24" at WalMart and last night decided to swap them out. Standing on a stool holding a flashlight, I proceeded to change them and got a surprise.

Some knucklehead returned his old worn out wipers to the store. Another knucklehead put them back on the shelf. Now, having purchases this second hand crap, I feel like a real stooge. The same thing happened with an air filter a while back, but at a different store. Hopefully I can find the reciept and return them like I did the air filter. Very frustrating!

[Grimly]

Top Tip: When fitting either a different wheel or new discs, always remember to bed the pads in.
That way you won't be wondering why your brakes are crap as you approach the bend.

[cowboyup3371]

After a year of baking in the hot desert sun and being virtually unused, my F350's windshield wipers needed replacing. With recent rain showers, every auto parts place in town seemed to run out of wipers. I finally found both a 22" and 24" at WalMart and last night decided to swap them out. Standing on a stool holding a flashlight, I proceeded to change them and got a surprise.

Some knucklehead returned his old worn out wipers to the store. Another knucklehead put them back on the shelf. Now, having purchases this second hand crap, I feel like a real stooge. The same thing happened with an air filter a while back, but at a different store. Hopefully I can find the reciept and return them like I did the air filter. Very frustrating!

I had this happen once recently but what made it even worse was the joker kept the attachment I needed for the wife’s car. I made sure to stress the store wouldn’t want to put them out again but I’m afraid they did anyway

[oldGSfan]

Not wrenching on it yet but my wife came home from visiting a friend and said "she's got an old motorcycle from her uncle that's been sitting a long time in the garage and wants to get rid of it". I checked the pics she took, and it's a Bultaco 370, blue so I think it's a Frontera. Fingers crossed, I'll go see it ASAP.

[Rob S.]

Not wrenching on it yet but my wife came home from visiting a friend and said "she's got an old motorcycle from her uncle that's been sitting a long time in the garage and wants to get rid of it". I checked the pics she took, and it's a Bultaco 370, blue so I think it's a Frontera. Fingers crossed, I'll go see it ASAP.

What a wife!

[Buffalo Bill]

EZ work today, minor cosmetic

Decided to finally black bomb some chrome parts, because they detract from the aluminum parts.

[ddaniels]

Finally found out why, and fixed it, this FZ1 would periodically just die on me and was a bit hard starting. I knew it was losing spark but wasn't sure why until I finally searched for it in the FZ1OA forum and it's common with these gen 1 bikes. Apparently the ignition switch gets dirt and grime down inside and it interrupts signal getting to the igniter. So, after flooding the key hole with WD40 over and over until it started coming out the bottom clean and after the key started coming out clean, it seems to be cured. And, it also seems to be running better and definitely easier to start. Hasn't died on me yet after about 4 hours of riding time. I like these inexpensive fixes.

[bonanzadave]

flooding the key hole with WD40

WD also makes an electric contact cleaner spray

[grcamna2]

Decided to finally black bomb some chrome parts, because they detract from the aluminum parts.

I like your 1000G model;what brand fairing does it have ?

[ddaniels]

WD also makes an electric contact cleaner spray

Thanks, good to know.

[Buffalo Bill]

I like your 1000G model;what brand fairing does it have ?

A Ducati 900ss from www.airtech-streamlining.com

[tomo]

Last few months I have been re-building "Betsy", my 78 CX500. Been in bits in the shed for over ten years. Came around to fitting the clutch cable, which I know was in the garage someplace, kept seeing it and one of the things that kick started the rebuild. But could I find it ?, searched the garage several times, also the sheds, not a trace of it. So, bought a new one as I just want to get the old girl fired up and running again. New cable arrived in the post, so went out and fitted it. Stood back to look at the bike and there was the old cable hanging up on the wall. How the hell did I miss it ?!!. Must be old age !

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Last few months….. !

Lately, that seems to be the only sure fire way for me to find parts/tools that go missing. Sure enough, as soon as I buy a new one, the old one magically appears.