what did you wrench on today??

[Steve]

Why was I told recently by a powder coater that they could not powder coat exhaust???

Exhaust powdercoat is a special coating (Cerakote) that will stand up to exhaust temperatures. A regular powdercoat would indeed be no go.

Indeed, 'regular' powdercoating is no good for high-temp situations, but ceramic coating does BEAUTIFULLY. I was going more for the shiny look, so I went for the "near-chrome" finish.
Here are the two that I have done so far, my son's 650L and my 850G(K):

"How close is it to chrome", you ask? Here is the ceramic coated header and the stock chrome muffler:

.

 

[cowboyup3371]

I use vht header paint. Supposed to be good to 2000. I would like to have a little more gloss though. This is pretty flat and I'm wondering how it's going to look against my shinny black motor.

Be sure to follow curing steps exactly or it won't take. Baking is best but can be done on bike. Mine I baked has stayed very well,another I cured on bike didn't take cause I didn't follow directions it took second try when I did. Have a fan ready to clear smoke and fumes.

Agreed on the curing as well as the maintenance. I accidentally spilled brake fluid on my pipes after doing them a few years ago and it ate the paint right off. I since had mine ceramic coated at a place here in Ohio for a decent price (Edited - Steve posted his reply before me) and they are still looking nice. I would look to see if you can find a place that will do the ceramic coating.

 

[Steve]

Sorry, I forgot to include the link to that place.

Aesthetic Finishers. in Piqua, oHIo.

.

 

[trevor]

Agreed on the curing as well as the maintenance. I accidentally spilled brake fluid on my pipes after doing them a few years ago and it ate the paint right off. I since had mine ceramic coated at a place here in Ohio for a decent price (Edited - Steve posted his reply before me) and they are still looking nice. I would look to see if you can find a place that will do the ceramic coating.

Good idea. I will see if I really like the pipe then get it ceramic coated if I do. It's not cheap here. Of course because nothing is! Lol

 

[Guest]

actually looked at the bike today, i have a few parts i need to sell so i can buy a new chain and sprocket set. spring is coming......

 

[cowboyup3371]

Clutch cover gasket replaced, oil change completed, right side mirror replaced after a bit of stupidity yesterday, and started it up. I'll try to ride tomorrow if I have time while the rest of the wood boards are setting up after gluing today.

 

[GS1000S]

Took bike out for it's maiden voyage after restore and only ended up tighten a couple of loose fittings and the frt. master cylinder lid. Put about 35 miles on it and wanted more but commitments kicked in. Bike ran out great and was a blast to ride. It should be an enjoyable ride. I'm looking forward to the Caldwell show next weekend.


Pat

 

[Grimly]

Last week, I discovered a forgotten-about wheel off a van I'd owned a while ago. Having no use for it now, I realised I had the perfect opportunity to make one of these...
http://www.motocampers.com/forums/showthread.php?4330-DIY-Tire-Changer
Today, got the tyre stripped off it and tomorrow will start welding legs to it.
The slightly annoying thing is, the tyre that was on the wheel was virtually new, but it's long since passed its use-by date for commercial use and nobody would want it now.
I'm loathe to chuck it out, as it's in great condition - might find a use for it on something.

 

[dorkburger]

Started roughing in the crown molding. I ran out of wood.....ran out of patience long before that.
I should start a thread titled "why my GS isn't yet nice" it would be full of this and similar.....leaky pool, leaky refrigerator, porch / sidewalk that took a beating from the winter....the endless revolving list of home ownership......im thankful despite my complaining though.

 

[ozman]

sorting out brakes on the baja bug today

 

[planetcaravan03]

I spent the day checking compression and valve clearances using the "zip-tie" method. I highly recommend that method.

 

[dorkburger]

No real wrenching, but after a somewhat frustrating day, i found myself in the garage tonight listening to music and going thru GS junk. Lifes funny sometimes. After years of riding with mismatched panels and fender, the prospect of an off the shelf rattle can that is really close match (thanks Sandy and fjbj40) may cause me to address that, but first I need to find out why my mid panels are such a struggle to install/remove. My bike came pre crashed, and it had 2 incidents since ive owned it, so chances are some bracketry is bent. I pulled down my old fairings to examine the situation. It looks like the mid bracket is bent, preventing proper alignment of the tabbies....

 

[trevor]

Speaking of body work....I had noticed one of the tabs on my tail piece had broken, the bolt was there but it a broken apart. When I bought the bike two years ago the other side came broken and I fixed it with JB Weld and it is still holding. So I fixed the new broken one the same way. That JB Weld is amazing stuff!





Some other stuff got done to the 1100's this weekend too...had my mechanic put the parts bike exhaust I blasted and painted on my 83 and the put the v&h on the 81...so re-jetted the carbs (not quite tuned yet) put in Sonic fork springs (Front end feels awesome!), the fork brace I got off the parts bike I bought. Put in new wheel bearings in front and rear wheels. And while the forks were off I had them polished too.





And the new (old) exhaust on the 83..think it looks good. I like the black but I gotta do something about the can. It sounds friggen awesome!!

 

[eddie21]

For a long time I've been telling my buddies how much I wish I could find a set of S&W Street Strokers for my 1000S. Be damned if Trevor didn't get a parts bike that had a set of them. They looked a little tired so he gave them to Rob, (azr), and he buffed them up and did a great job of making them look good. They then presented me with the shocks, I was gobsmacked and couldn't wait to put them on the bike.

Before

After

The S&W's are way better than the old stockers! Now I have to wait for Rob and Trevor to come up for a visit so I can supply them with the many beers that they so rightfully deserve!

 

[Guest]

I have to admit Glenn, those shocks are a perfect touch to the S, super old school. Curious how they ride.

 

[eddie21]

I have to admit Glenn, those shocks are a perfect touch to the S, super old school. Curious how they ride.

They're on the softest setting right now and it is very cush. I went over the train tracks in town and my spine didn't get hammered. I lost my shock adjusting tool, (for now), but when I find it I'll stiffen the spring settings up and see how it feels. So far, so good. No leaks and the bike feels very steady.

 

[Guest]

bet you could do them by hand.

 

[Guest]

For a long time I've been telling my buddies how much I wish I could find a set of S&W Street Strokers for my 1000S. Be damned if Trevor didn't get a parts bike that had a set of them. They looked a little tired so he gave them to Rob, (azr), and he buffed them up and did a great job of making them look good. They then presented me with the shocks, I was gobsmacked and couldn't wait to put them on the bike.

Before

After

The S&W's are way better than the old stockers! Now I have to wait for Rob and Trevor to come up for a visit so I can supply them with the many beers that they so rightfully deserve!

I have a set of those I just took off my 750. Probably been on my bike 30 years and they still seem strong yet. Just the rubber bushings are shot.

 

[Brendan W]

Friend took me to see his Rotax two stroke powered microlight. Wasn't powering up at all. Turned out to be a dirty ignition switch. The usual green corrosion on the inside. Don't know why I bothered cleaning it and it wasn't the first time either. Might be ok for a bike but it's history on an aircraft to my mind. Now just got to figure out if he's ok to continue with a three phase R/R on a two wire generator and why the six inch earth wire run from the same R/R is about three feet long all neatly coiled up into a tight bundle zip tied to the engine mount.

 

[Grimly]

Friend took me to see his Rotax two stroke powered microlight. Wasn't powering up at all. Turned out to be a dirty ignition switch. The usual green corrosion on the inside. Don't know why I bothered cleaning it and it wasn't the first time either. Might be ok for a bike but it's history on an aircraft to my mind. Now just got to figure out if he's ok to continue with a three phase R/R on a two wire generator and why the six inch earth wire run from the same R/R is about three feet long all neatly coiled up into a tight bundle zip tied to the engine mount.

Eek. I suppose it's easy to get kind of blas? about risk on a microlight, as somehow they seem a bit more diy and divorced from the mainstream, but gravity is an unforgiving sucker and will kill ya just as surely no matter what you're in. When it comes to aviation electrics and mechanics I'm a bit more fastidious, which comes from seeing early on what the consequences can be, and the realisation that if that engine quits, you're in the metaphorical cesspit.