what did you wrench on today??

[Guest]

Had about an hour and a half spare yesterday morning so I figured I'd do something about my rear mudguard after it's altercation with the concrete wall at work a few months ago. As the crack gets bigger, the tail light vibrates more, which enlarges the crack more... and there is now a missing section around the left mounting bolt.





The origial rear mudguard that I got rear ended with popped nearly back into shape when I took it off, so I'm using that as my template and am making up a subframe from 2.5mm aluminium along the lines of the stock subframe that holds the stock guard on.

I didn't worry too much about nice straight edges as it won't be seen, just got the jigsaw out and went to town:



Got the mounting holes drilled and started bending to the right shape:



I just need to trim some of the rear corners back where it interferes with the curve of the guard, then I can finalise the correct bend angle for the rear part and mark/drill the tail light bracket holes in the bottom of it.

 

[wally]

Did you back into it?

I chipped a piece of reflector strip out of my Ulysses's top box while reversing out the drive way the other day...

 

[londonboards]

First Ever Carb Synch

First Ever Carb Synch

Did my first ever today:

http://youtu.be/c-iHNyp1Lss

 

[Guest]

Did you back into it?

I chipped a piece of reflector strip out of my Ulysses's top box while reversing out the drive way the other day...

Yup I'm afraid so

Running a little late so I missed the good spots which have my rear guard above the concrete wall (ground slopes down) and a brain fart pulling the clutch in at the wrong time allowed it to roll back into the wall... oh well... so much for the shiny new guard from the insurance claim after the rear ender...

Anyway, I have to do some work in half an hour so no time to fit the subframe and other guard tonight but I got it finished up ready to go at least.

 

[chuck hahn]

Got the 80 750E project bike fired up. Started with a frame with the engine in it, wheels, and 1 side of the pipes. 2 Boxes of parts and just put it all together. Runs sweet.

 

[Guest]

Glad to hear it Chuck!

And my rear guard and tail light is now nice and firm... even if it is a little crooked



Not as crooked as this photo shows but still...



And a little video to show it doesn't flop around any more...

 

[rustybronco]

And my rear guard and tail light is now nice and firm... even if it is a little crooked

Give the SOB a hard shove to one side and call it good...

 

[Guest]

Trust me I was tempted Dale... don't wanna crack that plastic more than it already is though

 

[ctex]

5000 mile valve check, all still in spec. Replaced paper gaskets with Real Gaskets. This time actually read the instructions and used inch pounds instead of foot pounds. Considerable difference when I followed instructions. Sometimes the guy gene just has to be overcome )

 

[steve murdoch]

....instructions?....i don't need no stinkin' instructions!....

 

[GreatDane]

Finally got the new tire on the back. Now all that's left is the front tire, new R/R and a new SS brake line and she will be done....I think!

 

[Guest]

Down one size on the main jets last night and counted the turns I'm at with the mixture screws... only 2 3/4 surprisingly enough.

Also got my new Motobatt battery in before work yesterday morning... cranks like a champ now and starts real quick

 

[Montanaman]

Wrenching to do -

Wrenching to do -

Took out the GS1100E after work - and the first time I wound it up through the gears, the tach started bobbling, and a few hundred yards later it was firmly sitting on zero - so I guess I broke the cable -

So no more riding the GS until I wrench on it, so I think I'll spend the time working on my relationship - trying to teach a sheep to cook.......

 

[Guest]

Done a few things lately... after Saturday's ride I've ended up with my mixture screws 3 1/4 turns out and she feels pretty good. Still idles ok in traffic with an occasional stumble or pop through the pods, but generally pretty good. Open the throttle and she feels real good now all the way to WOT so it looks like one shim on the needle and 142.5 mains are the way to go :clap:

Tonight was chain love... needed a small tighten and then gave it a good clean. Grabbed an old paint brush and gave it a good rub down with kero, although I didn't have time to pull the sprocket cover off so only the rear sprocket got a good clean as well. Wiped the bulk off with a rag so it looks pretty good, now letting it sit overnight for the kero to evaporate. Have left the tin of chain lube on the seat so I remember to lube it before heading off for work.

Final thing was Sunday I completed leveling the base for the shed, and the formwork was already complete, so that means a bit of sand to fill a couple of bits then some plastic and steel reinforcing and I'm all set for concrete. At this stage I should have budget next pay so in about 3 weeks I reckon I can get it done.

 

[Toasty]

I was changing the oil on the XT on Monday night. When I went to tighten up the oil tank bolt it just kept spinning, hmmm that's odd... and then a faint "tink" and the bolt head dropped to the ground

The thing had been heat cycled (and probably over torqued) so much it sheared off like it was made of butter. I had barely torqued it down at all so I was able to turn it out with a wood screw. Thankfully Ace Hardware was still open.

 

[koolaid_kid]

A few weeks ago bwringer purchased a replacement used engine for his 2000 Corolla S (90k vs. the 280k of the engine in the vehicle at the time). Since he knew I had done some engine transplants, I was volunteered as assistant and adviser. We had some issues removing the engine/transaxle, mainly a cotter pin breaking in one of the axles and the engine mounts being frozen to the mounting bolts. We struggled, but finally got it out. He ordered the parts (mainly the unusable engine mounts and bolts) and I came over the next weekend to install the newer engine onto the transaxle and then muscle it back into the car. We did that all in a long day, so he and twr1776 could go fireroading on their KLR650s the next day. Some pics:

Newer engine mounted to the transaxle and on the cherry picker (engine hoist). I ran the cherry picker, since I had some experience with them.
His V-Strom in the background, my dd Focus behind that.

Cherry picker under the car, ready to figure out how to wedge it in. The angle of the dangle was very important due to the tight fit.

Brian studies his Chilton's manual (have I ever mentioned how much I despise Chilton's manuals?), trying to figure out just how to maneuver it into the engine bay and connect the mounts.

Engine is mounted up and most things connected.

The big round yellow ball had already left the building, but we continued on. Brian did the under the car tasks, I was assigned the engine bay tasks. His aux transmission cooler is hanging down, not yet attached to the condenser.

When we were done, Brian gave me permission to kick him soundly in the crotch if he ever suggested doing this again. I, of course, accepted.
It does run much better, no longer uses a quart of oil to each tank of fuel, and the main driver, his wife, reports no difference in performance.
Sigh, women, what are you going to do?

 

[JAG]

The angle of the dangle was very important due to the tight fit

At last!!!! A man that understands

 

[Gorminrider]

My first attempt at upholstery...I cut the foam down on a spare T seat and so I couldn't use the original as pattern. Not a total fail . I'm glad it occurred to me (because I didn't find this crucial info online) that all parts should be cut on the "bias"-the seat vinyl I have stretches one way, not the other, so if I'd cut it inline it would have been more a mess maybe. I will try again and incorporate some pattern to the top because I think I see how that is done....

 

[Wizard]

Tick, tick, tick,,..

Tick, tick, tick,,..

Weather was still good but can see a storm a few days away.

So figured I could still get in a Valve Adjustment to get rid of a loud ticking coming from Front Left Cylinder Top.
A real Pain (drain rad fluid, remove lower rad,,..)

Got it done, but still loud ticking. Probably a Valve issue.

Too late anyway, Winter is here,, time for the big Plastic Bag / Winter Storage. Will deal with it in spring (swap in another motor).

Got other stuff to do, prep skis, winterize vehicle fleet, start makin the kids Backyard Snowboard Terrain Park,,..

 

[gustovh]

Removed all the items needed on Suzie Q, my 1100L, to pull her heart out and replace with a new one. Then we can pull her old heart apart and find out what her screaming was caused by.
V