what did you wrench on today??

[earlfor]

In light of recent posts concerning. Pipes and lives, I thought I would save a few then go quiet. So yesterday I installed a different exhaust system. Here's the new pipe. Its to quiet. The member from Vermont worded it perfectly, thank you. On the other hand, its another look, period correct, looks sharp and now I can take it to work at 5 in the morning.

I look at it another way. It can't be too quiet. In most of my confrontations, the cager either looks right at me and pulls out or is not paying any attention, so loud will do nothing to improve the situation. For the ones that look at me and pull out or cut me off, I conclude it is intentional. Lots of aggression and road ragers out there. If they don't hear me, the aren't prepared to cut me off at the last moment and I'm gone before they can take a shot at me. Loud pipes pyiss cagers off and I don't want to be the object of their retribution.

 

[earlfor]

Quite a busy weekend working on the bike. Saturday morning de-greased the engine then pulled the fairing and bracket, seat, tank, airbox, carbs, cam cover and got to work.

My to do list was;
Front brake light switch
Replace cam end plugs and cam cover gasket
Inspect/ adjust valve shims as needed
Clean and oil air filter
Replace cracked breather hose
Pull float bowls off carbs and re-install stock 115 main jets (110's were too lean and in spite of adjusting mixture screws plugs still a little white-ish)
Replace float bowl gaskets
Re-seal airbox ends
Change engine oil and filter

And in a perfect world do all of this before it gets to be 100?F in the garage. Well, did what I could yesterday, then after church today. Way too many hours, man I'm a slow mechanic! Forgot to get new spark plugs so have to sync carbs and finish up ma?ana!

It is by far more important to be precise and meticulous than it is to be fast. Frequently, being fast results in getting more things done wrong in less time. LOL Or, as the old saying goes, there is never time to do it right the first time, but there is always time to do it a 2nd or 3rd time. heh

 

[Burque73]

It is by far more important to be precise and meticulous than it is to be fast. Frequently, being fast results in getting more things done wrong in less time. LOL Or, as the old saying goes, there is never time to do it right the first time, but there is always time to do it a 2nd or 3rd time. heh

Yes, I agree. We've used a similar saying since I can remember working on handrails and stair systems decades ago. Another saying my foreman used was "get good then get fast".

Just a little anxious to ride is all. Long work weeks don't let me ride much Mon-Fri. I am so glad to have all that done though. While crawling around the bike (no lift yet) I noticed the exhaust bolts starting to rust at the clamps holding the pipes to the head. In an attempt to avoid future grief, today I picked up 8 metric socket head cap screws (M8 X 35mm 1.25pitch) and lock washers to replace those crappy stock bolts. Been hitting it with PB Blaster for a day now, so hopefully they'll come out without a fuss. All in all there's very little corrosion on this bike. We're blessed that way in the desert Southwest.

Edit; stainless steel socket head cap screws that is.

 

[Burque73]

In order to replace the exhaust bolts in the head I had to remove the fairing bracket one more time. Not difficult but upon re installation lining it up right takes some time.

Good news is all eight bolts came right out even using just a 1/4 inch drive ratchet. PB Blaster must have done it's thing, or they just weren't too stuck YET.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Roger, your engine looks so good!
Wow, having weird summer, but finances are good, putting money in the bank.
Wired up my car for trailer lights. Last few times I just spliced into the tail light wires, this time I decided to find a proper wiring kit.
How to video:
[video]https://images.etrailer.com/static/images/video/install-wiring-harness-2014-ford-focus-118549.webm[/video]

 

[Burque73]

Roger, your engine looks so good!
Wow, having weird summer, but finances are good, putting money in the bank.
Wired up my car for trailer lights. Last few times I just spliced into the tail light wires, this time I decided to find a proper wiring kit.
How to video:
[video]https://images.etrailer.com/static/images/video/install-wiring-harness-2014-ford-focus-118549.webm[/video]

Thanks Bill. She cleans up nicely for sure. Too bad the black engine paint is coming off. At some point I'll freshen up the top end and repaint it. Starting to use a little oil and compression isn't the greatest, around 112 to 117psi when I checked last. Service manual says 128psi min but she runs great, pulls decently, and only uses about a pint of oil per 1000 miles which is weird since I never see any smoke or drips on the ground.

I have been without working trailer lights for an embarrassing long time and I use my trailer a few times a week. You've inspired me to finally get my trailer lights working.... soon!

 

[Guest]

...Starting to use a little oil and compression isn't the greatest, around 112 to 117psi when I checked last. Service manual says 128psi min but she runs great, pulls decently, and only uses about a pint of oil per 1000 miles which is weird since I never see any smoke or drips on the ground. ...

Uniform wear between rings and cylinder walls, so that the oil burns off very slowly. Sort of like a two-stroke.

 

[dorkburger]

One of the first things on my list after vacation was to fix this fairing mount bracket. Pieced it together and blew some sketchy looking weld on it. This seems to be a weak spot on these. My spare fairing came with a repair here. The parts bike I recently bought is intact, but shows signs of stress. While wrapping up, I found a broken mounting post on my mid panel, and a newly misaligned gap. Im not sure if it was already broken or broke while muscling around the fairing bracket to line things up, but im peeved. A lot. Mid panels removed..... for long term..... I just cant be bothered at this point.
http://20170730_224710 by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

http://20170730_231732 by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

 

[Jedz123]

More, scraping, cleaning, Painting and a couple Satellite dish removals... It's getting there!!! Only one side left!

Before:

After:

 

[bobgroger]

Roger, your engine looks so good!
Wow, having weird summer, but finances are good, putting money in the bank.
Wired up my car for trailer lights. Last few times I just spliced into the tail light wires, this time I decided to find a proper wiring kit.
How to video:
[video]https://images.etrailer.com/static/images/video/install-wiring-harness-2014-ford-focus-118549.webm[/video]

I had to do that on my Passat as well. Turns out the new cars use one bulb for tail, turn, and brake all controlled with a square wave from the controller that changes duty cycle. Just splicing in might result in letting the smoke out of a very expensive ECU. The Passat is rated to tow 1000 pounds, and handles a utility trailer with a GS just fine.

 

[gordinho80]

More, scraping, cleaning, Painting and a couple Satellite dish removals... It's getting there!!! Only one side left!

Ah... the joys of home ownership. For those of us who actually give a damn about our homes, that is.

This year's project, unexpectedly, was an above ground pool. Started just under 1 month ago. Site was leveled by my brother in law with his backhoe. All other work was done by myself by hand.

Still missing some finishing touches on the deck. Will have those done this week. Also needs landscaping all around, hopefully also this week.

 

[Jedz123]

Ah... the joys of home ownership. For those of us who actually give a damn about our homes, that is.

This year's project, unexpectedly, was an above ground pool. Started just under 1 month ago. Site was leveled by my brother in law with his backhoe. All other work was done by myself by hand.

Still missing some finishing touches on the deck. Will have those done this week. Also needs landscaping all around, hopefully also this week.

Woah! Great Share!
Mrs. Jedz has been talking about a similar idea in our back yard except have the deck off the house to the pool (our yard levels to the back). I like what you did here!!!

 

[dorkburger]

Wow, Justin and Mario. You guys have been busy. For the first time in a few years, I thankfully have no big summer home project. I actually went against my cheap nature a few years ago and paid to have our pool installed. The $500 was well worth it to me. They did everything, including levelling the yard which had a decent slope. I did have to do the electric, including digging a long trench though...

 

[gordinho80]

If I were to do another pool in another house in the future, I'd pay to have it installed too. The electric and the deck, I can handle. The installing of the pool, however... SHEESH! What a freaking nightmare!

 

[dorkburger]

Really... I give my dad credit. He bought a neighbors pool when the neighbor became frustrated with the upkeep (he was not a patient man). Dad took it down carted it up the street to our house and set it up.
He also replaced the liner after about 15 years. It was then good for another 15 plus.

 

[Guest]

Spooned some new shoes on the ES yesterday, new grips too in prep for track day next monday! Now just an oil change, pod clean and prep, and a good bath and we'll be cookin'! Woot!!

 

[Carter Turk]

Got all the parts to rebuild top end, including new clutch fibers, steels, inner hub, starter clutch, used head, bored cylinders, new pistons.
Cylinder boring was the last thing to do, but I had to find a block somewhere. Ended up being from Texas.
Took a long time fussing with ring orientation and getting them into the bores. Not much taper on the bored sleeves.

 

[steve murdoch]

Spooned some new shoes on the ES yesterday, new grips too in prep for track day next monday! Now just an oil change, pod clean and prep, and a good bath and we'll be cookin'! Woot!!

Track day?
We will need proof in the form of pics. haha.

 

[wymple]

Worked on my 77 Wing. Some of this is a PITA, but it's a cool old bike. Got it running really well with a 380 dollar carb rebuild (all genuine Honda parts). I'm done working on it when I get the lights wired, a buddy wants it. Buddies are always cheap ba+tards. :stung:

 

[Trilug]

After taking care of everyone else, I went to work on my GS550L. Got the carbs off, and started working on replacing the intake o-rings. Of course I had one screw head stripped out. Fortunately I got a new set of screws along with the carb and intake o-rings. It wasn't a bad day, but I'd kill for an uninterrupted week in a proper shop.