what did you wrench on today??

[Baatfam]

Finally got around to assembling the tool stand I bought last fall. It's a heavy duty universal stand, with a 500lb load capacity. Got it from Home Depot for $50.

Really nice to have the drill press up and running, not to mention the grinder in a permanent spot.

 

[dorkburger]

Bicycles..... and payback.
Prepped and checked the bikes and test fitted them on the car bike rack for our upcoming trip. Trued my back wheel. Installed an odometer on the wifes bike that she wanted. She needed a new seat as the finish on hers was flaking and leaving black marks on her bum. So in my natural form, I bought a seat cover and put her old super soft seat on mine in place of the narrow uncomfortable one on mine. Bliss.

And for the payback. My older son had long outgrown his bike and needed a new one. $415 later he had a really nice new bike purchased from the same spot where my mom spent much time and money at when I was his age and a full on BMX freestyle fanatic. They had a full row of old freestyle bikes on display from my era. Cool...

My 20 plus year old Trek is by far the oldest in the group..
http://Bikes by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

 

[Redman]

...............

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My project of a removable ramp at my house for my brother's visit was sucsessfull in that he could get his wheelchair up and down it (with some help). He needs someone to open and/or close the door for him (since is slopped right up to the door) and should have someone helping push/pull (since it is steeper than should be).

Problem is that the longer section is about 10 ft long and is almost more than I can handle, and DOAH! doesnt fit in my shed.

So had another project to make that long section into two sections.

CUt the span in two and added legs there, and cross members there.
So now is about a 4 ft section on the porch, a 4 ft section on the steps and the sidewalk, and about a 6 ft section from sidewalk out into the lawn.
Other thing that I added was to add some hand holds underneath to use when picking it up and carry it -- that really helped.
And a couple coats of floor paint on the deck and underneath the lower section so can withstand some rain.
Each section can be loaded on red wagon and hauled out to the shed.

here is pic of one of the 4ft sections, loaded on red wagon for trip back to the shed.
can see the handholds I added, there in center in front and back.
can also see how I stored away some shims for if needed in the future. (porch and steps seem to be settling over the years).

Some of the tools I used were those I bought 40-45 years ago.
I recalled when I bought some of those tools (This was a significant thing for me, since I was raised in a household that had practically no tools.)
I do recall when I bought some of those tools, thinking that I would have these tools for a long time.
Was single and living in an appartment, thinking I might be getting married, maybe get a house someday, and could be using these tools someday for things unknown to me at that time.
Yah, when I was 20-25, would not have though that someday would be building a wheelchair ramp for my brother (younger brother).

.

 

[cowboyup3371]

Had to have a serious discussion with my mechanic - me - after I tried to ride my 550T for the first time in a couple of months. I aired up the tires, checked all the lights and oil level fixing the front brake light connectors, and wheeled the bike to the front of the garage when I geared up and pushed the start button. Ummm, tried to push it again and realized nothing was starting. I broke out the meter and verified the battery was good so I grabbed the test light and discovered I wasn't getting power to the kill/start switch. After finding and replacing a blown fuse, I hooked everything back up and tried to start the bike again only find the fuse blew again. Sadly I pushed the 550 back into the garage and took the Bandit out for the ride instead.

Afterwards, I went back over and began troubleshooting everything by first removing the headlight and then taking off the seat. Once I started to remove the tank, I discovered the starter relay wire had gotten pinched between the airbox and the side mounting bolt when I had replaced the air filter a few weeks ago. Fortunately the shielding was still in good shape so I pulled it out of the way and started the bike. I'm going to try and get it out this week to make my amends to it for not riding it as much as I should have.

 

[Guest]

Finally got around to pulling the carbs off the '79 850 and cleaned them in the ultrasonic cleaner I bought off eBay. The bike runs good, but the choke was slow warming up the bike and it was running a little lean on the third cylinder. Of course three out of four gaskets ripped, so I broke out some gasket material the X-Acto knife and cut some new ones. I though I had some, but they were for CV carbs. I'll put the carbs back on tomorrow morning, tune and sync them and go for a test ride if it's not raining. I also got my front brake pads installed and flushed the system on my 1150. I think the carbs on it will get a soaking next.

 

[Jedz123]

That looks 10X better Bob!

 

[scratch]

Rolled my GS550 spare-part-pile-project out of the barn and fired it up for the first time... and got to hear the vintage V&H at last!
Some tuning and wiring still to go but that, first succesful light up was pretty exciting

 

[steve murdoch]

Congrats, Scratch.
What gear shift linkage is that?

 

[Guest]

Electronics parts

Electronics parts

No wrenching, but some preparation. I'm trying to get the window motors to work on a '96 Astro. The new motor didn't work in the van, so I want to test externally. I need to stick wires in connectors, attach to a battery, and use a fuse. So I went to find a fuse holder. Radio Shack used to be the easy source for such thing. In Lafayette, IN, there was a nice small store for radio/electronics/alarms/computer parts. In Albuquerque, there seemed to be no stores for such things. In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, I went to Iowa Radio Supply, which used to be big and carried almost everything. Now it is tiny, and carries very little. I was able to find what I need for this task.

So it now appears that internet purchases are about all that is available for such items. Sad.

 

[scratch]

Congrats, Scratch.
What gear shift linkage is that?

I've narrowed it down to coming from either a 1982 GS750T, 1980750L or 1980gs550L. Had acumulated a lage collection of parts bikes while fixing up a few others and at one point just started stipping them down into save or sell/swap boxes, some orrigins were forgoten in the process.

 

[aclaytonb]

Looks like my 550e linkage.

 

[ddaniels]

Had to fix a gas leak today. A crack appeared in the gas line just below the petcock. Of course, not until after I had gas all over my pant leg on the way to work. Thankfully, there was enough hose to trim it off.

Also, got a new seat from Seth Laam motorcycle seats yesterday. He actually modified a used one I sent him. So far I am pleased. Will know more after the traveling picnic this weekend.

 

[cowboyup3371]

No wrenching, but some preparation. I'm trying to get the window motors to work on a '96 Astro. The new motor didn't work in the van, so I want to test externally. I need to stick wires in connectors, attach to a battery, and use a fuse. So I went to find a fuse holder. Radio Shack used to be the easy source for such thing. In Lafayette, IN, there was a nice small store for radio/electronics/alarms/computer parts. In Albuquerque, there seemed to be no stores for such things. In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, I went to Iowa Radio Supply, which used to be big and carried almost everything. Now it is tiny, and carries very little. I was able to find what I need for this task.

So it now appears that internet purchases are about all that is available for such items. Sad.

Tom, did you talk to Border States Electric over off of Jefferson? They look to have what you'll need based on their site and from what I remember when I lived there, the folks are real good

 

[Guest]

I had a trying day at work. Yesterday and today I've been trying to figure out an intermittent starting issue on an 07 gsxr 750. I get a code 42 (immobilizer)which is the ignition not speaking to the ECM. This causes the fuel pump and spark to fail. I tested and replaced the TO sensor, fuel pump relay, ignition switch(with one from the parts room), turn signal relay/ diode, stop kill switch and ECM, with known good components from a running bike. Nothing made a difference and every component when put on the donor bike worked flawlessly. I tested continuity of all the wires involved with every component and even tested the fuel pump. That's what I was told was the problem to start with. I even switched to a brand new battery. I thought I might have gotten it fixed when I disconnected the battery once and the code went away. It finally started, so I shut it off and the code came back. I figured maybe the ECM was resetting like the Honda's do, but it doesn't. After inspecting everything that came to mind, I put it back together with it's original parts and decided just to mess with the ignition. I found that I could turned it off just enough for the power to go off, but not enough to pull out the key it would start more often than not, so it has to be the key switch, but when I change the switch from the good bike it still gave me the C42 code. I'm beginning to think the bike is possessed and I need to call for an exorcism.

 

[ChicagoBob]

New clutch for the 550

 

[scratch]

I had a trying day at work. Yesterday and today I've been trying to figure out an intermittent starting issue on an 07 gsxr 750. I get a code 42 (immobilizer)which is the ignition not speaking to the ECM. This causes the fuel pump and spark to fail. I tested and replaced the TO sensor, fuel pump relay, ignition switch(with one from the parts room), turn signal relay/ diode, stop kill switch and ECM, with known good components from a running bike. Nothing made a difference and every component when put on the donor bike worked flawlessly. I tested continuity of all the wires involved with every component and even tested the fuel pump. That's what I was told was the problem to start with. I even switched to a brand new battery. I thought I might have gotten it fixed when I disconnected the battery once and the code went away. It finally started, so I shut it off and the code came back. I figured maybe the ECM was resetting like the Honda's do, but it doesn't. After inspecting everything that came to mind, I put it back together with it's original parts and decided just to mess with the ignition. I found that I could turned it off just enough for the power to go off, but not enough to pull out the key it would start more often than not, so it has to be the key switch, but when I change the switch from the good bike it still gave me the C42 code. I'm beginning to think the bike is possessed and I need to call for an exorcism.

I'm pulling out my hair just reading that... Perhaps pull the battery again with the known good switch installed so it resets the fault? Note: I'm outa my depth on that one.

Today I sanded 6 lbs of bondo, rust and house paint off of an otherwise rasonably sound GS550E tank... I'll never figure why somone would use so much bondo without any damage to fix? they even bondo'd over the old pinstiping! I marked it up as a teenage-first-time-using-filler-sculpture, chuckeled and reminded myself that heaps of bondo is better than heaps of dents.

 

[Guest]

Replaced old rubber (original??) brake hoses with steel braided lines and kevlar pads.. wow...what a difference! oh...and I guess the new tires made a difference too..

 

[Guest]

Tom, did you talk to Border States Electric over off of Jefferson? They look to have what you'll need based on their site and from what I remember when I lived there, the folks are real good

No, I never did. They didn't come up in my internet searches...

Oh, well, I don't live there any more. But thanks for the information.

Tom

 

[Guest]

I'm pulling out my hair just reading that... Perhaps pull the battery again with the known good switch installed so it resets the fault? Note: I'm outa my depth on that one.

Today I sanded 6 lbs of bondo, rust and house paint off of an otherwise rasonably sound GS550E tank... I'll never figure why somone would use so much bondo without any damage to fix? they even bondo'd over the old pinstiping! I marked it up as a teenage-first-time-using-filler-sculpture, chuckeled and reminded myself that heaps of bondo is better than heaps of dents.

Well it is the ignition switch. The replacement switch I was given to try, is a very good Chinese copy that looks identical, but it doesn't have the antenna to receive and send the signal back to the ECM. . I was told it was OEM, but it isn't. I tried it again and noticed some of the blue plastic protector over the keyhole they use to keep the cheap metal from tarnishing before it is bought. I took the one from the known good donor bike and it started every time I tried it. I have one from a part out bike at home, but they want to play the cheap game on me. I ought to tell them just to take there chances with eBay. I've been with them almost 4 years come Nov. and they still want to play games.

 

[Redman]

..........replacement switch................ ...... .... doesn't have the antenna to receive and send the signal back to the ECM. ..................

Oh, Man. I didnt know there were such things.

Sounds like you were quite determined to troubleshoot this down... and you did. I was wondering what you might learn along the way.