what did you wrench on today??

[dorkburger]

If a clean bike is a happy bike, mine smiles once a year

Weekend wrap up... Took some scrap to the salvage yard to get some needed money for bike supplies. My younger son came along. He was very funny and everything at, and going on at the salvage yard was very interesting to him. He especially had fun winging old pulleys into the junk pile, egged on by the guy working there. He also loved all of the oddities hanging in the building, including an old torpedo that he claimed was a nuke. When we went to the window to get paid, he completely disregarded the 2 Tootsie Pops and went for the cash.....
And on the bike. Front tire mounted, cleaned up the grungy forks and calipers while the wheel was off, and I just painted the inner part of the brake rotors. If they cure enough, I'll put them on tonight and drop off the wheel to get balanced tomorrow. If not (likely) I'll do it during the week.

 

[dorkburger]

It's gonna look soooo bitchin'. I'm excited.
Then I get to repeat the whole process with a grungy with chain lube rear wheel. Probably no brake dust though.

 

[gordinho80]

Looking sharp, Glen! Where do you go for the balancing? I'm due for a front tire and I've thought about mounting it myself, but I'd probably just have someone with the right equipment mount and balance them for me.

 

[dorkburger]

Hey Mario, I still need to get it balanced. There's a small independent shop in town by the Nestl? factory im going to try called Cycle Passions. I spoke to the guy a couple times, and he seems pretty cool. About a year ago he wanted $25 to do a tire change / balance. Well worth it IMO and much cheaper the the +- $50 Xtreme Machines charges. My initial goal was to at least dismount the old tire so I could inspect / clean / paint the rim. Then I figured I'd try putting on the new. It was a bit tough, especially without the proper tools, but it worked. Not having a big compressor to seat the bead was tough.

The guy works on all bikes. I've seen at his shop, typical metric cruisers, a 70s and really cool Gold Wing, a 90s GSXR, etc. He appreciated the GS when I pulled on it last summer and came over to check it out.

 

[Sandy]

Hey Mario, I still need to get it balanced. There's a small independent shop in town by the Nestl? factory im going to try called Cycle Passions. I spoke to the guy a couple times, and he seems pretty cool. About a year ago he wanted $25 to do a tire change / balance. Well worth it IMO and much cheaper the the +- $50 Xtreme Machines charges. My initial goal was to at least dismount the old tire so I could inspect / clean / paint the rim. Then I figured I'd try putting on the new. It was a bit tough, especially without the proper tools, but it worked. Not having a big compressor to seat the bead was tough.

The guy works on all bikes. I've seen at his shop, typical metric cruisers, a 70s and really cool Gold Wing, a 90s GSXR, etc. He appreciated the GS when I pulled on it last summer and came over to check it out.

You want a good chuckle. Take him that tire you imploded with the vacuum pump and ask him what the hell happened to it. Us techies can be such dicks when we want to. LOL.

 

[gordinho80]

Guy's name is John. He seems a good guy. Did a tune up on my bro in laws Yamaha raptor. Had been sitting for a couple of years. Runs like a top now. Quality work at a fair wage. He did my rear tire couple of seasons back.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

After bathing the dogs there was still enough daylight to give the GS a much needed bath. A clean bike is a happy bike. :glee:

Yeah, that's a damn clean bike!

 

[Guest]

Another post I was reading early this morning asked about engine detailing/casing finishing. I answered the OP, and later today was inspired to try my first aluminum polishing. ALL the side covers on my "T" are in need of a detailing. They're all showing signs of corrosion, some mild, some not so mild. I didn't want to experiment on the T's covers/casing, but I've also been getting ready to assemble my 76' DT400 which has been in parts since the fall. So I decided to make my first attempt on the rear wheel brake hub of the DT. I knew from looking at YouTube vids it was simply wet sanding through a few different grades of paper, i.e 500, to 800 to 1000 to polish. I had borrowed my friend Armand's buffing wheel he mounted to a bar stool ( yea, scary ...a little). I also had a harbour freight headlight repair kit in the shed that could attach to a drill. It included 500, 800, and an unnumbered 'final" polishing disk. I used my drill with the headlight kit and some water to remove the corrosion, then polished it on the wheel......Holy Mackell.....I was shocked.....and surprised... I'm a polishing wizard!! ( Well, maybe just lucky) But here's the before and after
Before:





after



The whole job didn't take an hour. Being able to take the corrosion off with the drill mounted polisher saved tons of time vs hand sanding. Now that I know I can do this, the T is in my sights for polishing right away...

 

[Burque73]

That looks great PB!

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Another post I was reading early this morning asked about engine detailing/casing finishing. I answered the OP, and later today was inspired to try my first aluminum polishing. ALL the side covers on my "T" are in need of a detailing. They're all showing signs of corrosion, some mild, some not so mild. I didn't want to experiment on the T's covers/casing, but I've also been getting ready to assemble my 76' DT400 which has been in parts since the fall. So I decided to make my first attempt on the rear wheel brake hub of the DT. I knew from looking at YouTube vids it was simply wet sanding through a few different grades of paper, i.e 500, to 800 to 1000 to polish. I had borrowed my friend Armand's buffing wheel he mounted to a bar stool ( yea, scary ...a little). I also had a harbour freight headlight repair kit in the shed that could attach to a drill. It included 500, 800, and an unnumbered 'final" polishing disk. I used my drill with the headlight kit and some water to remove the corrosion, then polished it on the wheel......Holy Mackell.....I was shocked.....and surprised... I'm a polishing wizard!! ( Well, maybe just lucky) But here's the before and after
Before:





after



The whole job didn't take an hour. Being able to take the corrosion off with the drill mounted polisher saved tons of time vs hand sanding. Now that I know I can do this, the T is in my sights for polishing right away...

That's damn good! Please show us your polishing rig?

 

[dorkburger]

A teaser....

I........ LOVE IT! Can't wait to see it complete.
http://

 

[Burque73]

A teaser....

I........ LOVE IT! Can't wait to see it complete.
http://

Your hard work sure is paying off. The bike looks fantastic!!

 

[dorkburger]

Thanks! The shop charged me $5 plus tax to balance the wheel. He did razz me a bit in good nature for doing the tire my self. Only problem is that the silver frame, which im not crazy about to begin with, stands out more but thats for another time - maybe never.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Yeah lookin real good Glenn!
Silver frame, what's wrong with that? I painted my Katana GSX frame silver, just to fake aluminum.

 

[limeex2]

Its my week off. Many projects. Just finished this winters make over. Its a 03 with about 16k on it. Seems like I can never leave 'am alone. Now if it would just warm up!
Rental bars, Triumph levers, bar end mirrors.
Muzzy/Hyperpro stabilizer, fork brace, Race Tech valves/springs
Tokiko 4 pot calipers, HH pads, steel lines, Arashi f/r disc's.
Pods and dynoed by Hypersports in Osseo Mn. 130/90 Hp/tq
Muzzy head and midpipe, Ladybird can.
Ohlins rears.

 

[dorkburger]

Sweet ZRX!

Bill, thanks. Ive never been a fan of the silver frame on my bike. Should the time ever come for a full teardown, this is the look I would go for - I love the body color with the black below.View attachment 50111

NVR2OLD's bike is done similarly and absolutely beautiful.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Funny, I was thinking your bike would look good with a black frame, if it was red. The Suzuki blue and white colors turn me off. The Yoshimura racing colors are red, black and silver, much better.

 

[dorkburger]

Ha, black and red are one of the cooler hot rod color combos.

 

[gordinho80]

black and red are one of the cooler hot rod color combos.

Yeah they are!!!

 

[limeex2]

Ha, black and red are one of the cooler hot rod color combos.

RED!!! Ive also never been followed by so many police when I was driving a red CBR919 in red and I was in red/black leathers.