what did you wrench on today??

[cowboyup3371]

Started installing lights on the side cases of the Bandit but ran out of time tonight.

 

[ddaniels]

Started installing lights on the side cases of the Bandit but ran out of time tonight.

Is there a picture of your Bandit anywhere? Would like to see it.

 

[Darin Jordan]

Tick-Tock-Tick-Tock... Patiently waiting for the new Carb Manifold clamps to arrive so I can put the freshened up carbs back on the bike... Floats moving freely now, however.

 

[Guest]

Had to do some maintenance on the 450 last weekend and last night.

The front brake has been getting a bit grabby for quite a while now, only at rolling/nearly stopped speeds so not dangerous but certainly annoying. I tried replacing the lower caliper axle a while back but it has a rubber boot around it that doesn't appear on any parts fiche's, so it seems NLA which is annoying as it doesn't seem to be quite right.

I'd switched over to copper grease quite a while ago, but recently was told this can get a bit abrasive, so last weekend I cleaned and degreased everything and am now giving high temp bearing grease a shot. I also completely flushed the fluid.

So far so good, see how it goes for a while. I think longer term it might need the Salty Monk treatment but no budget for that as I really want to get my Kat finished first.

Untitled by starpoint73, on Flickr

Then last night was finally stator replacement time. I thought my battery was on the way out a number of weeks ago and assumed it wasn't happy after I threw the bike down the road on New Year's even morning.

However I replaced the voltage monitor on my dash and that instantly showed I had a charging problem, probably should've verified that sooner! Anyway, testing the stator showed two legs not going over 50VAC and one barely able to touch 20VAC.

The stator being replaced is an Electrex World brand, around about 5 or so years old, and I have an SH775 with the stator connected directly to the Furukawa connector. No headlight loop, no bullet connectors.

After replacing it I fired the bike up very briefly (less than 10 seconds) as it was after 9pm, but the charge light went instantly orange then green. Yay!

No wonder it wasn't charging right... some of those coils are quite crispy indeed!

Untitled by starpoint73, on Flickr

Untitled by starpoint73, on Flickr

 

[Grimly]

Had to do some maintenance on the 450 last weekend and last night.

The front brake has been getting a bit grabby for quite a while now, only at rolling/nearly stopped speeds so not dangerous but certainly annoying. I tried replacing the lower caliper axle a while back but it has a rubber boot around it that doesn't appear on any parts fiche's, so it seems NLA which is annoying as it doesn't seem to be quite right.

I'd switched over to copper grease quite a while ago, but recently was told this can get a bit abrasive, so last weekend I cleaned and degreased everything and am now giving high temp bearing grease a shot. I also completely flushed the fluid.

If the holes the sliding pins go in aren't floppy with wear, you're good for ages yet. The boot you mention has been a must get​ item for me for ages, but I can't find them, or they were extortionately priced. I'm keeping an eye out for something unexpected that will fit.
That rubber sleeve on the pin swells up and causes stickiness, too. It's a bit of a balancing act finding the right lube for it, but red rubber brake grease seems ok with it.

So far so good, see how it goes for a while. I think longer term it might need the Salty Monk treatment but no budget for that as I really want to get my Kat finished first.

Untitled by starpoint73, on Flickr

Then last night was finally stator replacement time. I thought my battery was on the way out a number of weeks ago and assumed it wasn't happy after I threw the bike down the road on New Year's even morning.

However I replaced the voltage monitor on my dash and that instantly showed I had a charging problem, probably should've verified that sooner! Anyway, testing the stator showed two legs not going over 50VAC and one barely able to touch 20VAC.

The stator being replaced is an Electrex World brand, around about 5 or so years old, and I have an SH775 with the stator connected directly to the Furukawa connector. No headlight loop, no bullet connectors.

After replacing it I fired the bike up very briefly (less than 10 seconds) as it was after 9pm, but the charge light went instantly orange then green. Yay!

No wonder it wasn't charging right... some of those coils are quite crispy indeed!

Untitled by starpoint73, on Flickr

Untitled by starpoint73, on Flickr

Looks like the period before the SH775 went on had already done the damage. It was living on borrowed time.

 

[Grimly]

Finally got the inlet valves in - what a right pig that was. I'd done a lot of heads over the years, and several bike heads including GS ones, and this turned out to be a right mare. The exhaust collets were fine, once I'd got the tool set right, but these inlets just didn't want to go in. I was sure I had the tool set right, but had to stand back and examine things afresh. Hah. Turned out the tool adjuster wasn't screwing down the compressor head, but simply winding the adjustment thread through the tool end, instead. Once I locked that properly it was fine.
Sheesh, half an hour struggling and back killing me because of that.
I'll know next time - whenever that is.

 

[Burque73]

Is there a picture of your Bandit anywhere? Would like to see it.

Did you ever find a pic of Cowboy's Bandit? Sure is a nice looking bike.

Here's one from the ride today thread.

 

[Guest]

If the holes the sliding pins go in aren't floppy with wear, you're good for ages yet. The boot you mention has been a must get​ item for me for ages, but I can't find them, or they were extortionately priced. I'm keeping an eye out for something unexpected that will fit.
That rubber sleeve on the pin swells up and causes stickiness, too. It's a bit of a balancing act finding the right lube for it, but red rubber brake grease seems ok with it.

Ah I had a feeling this was somewhat of a known issue, and yes, I've thought for a while now that boot must be swollen.

I'll have to give the dealer a call I get my OEM parts from and see if they have any solutions. They're awesome when it comes to Kats but not sure on their general GS knowledge. They're pretty helpful and switched on guys though.

Looks like the period before the SH775 went on had already done the damage. It was living on borrowed time.

If only that was the case! The stator and the SH775 were installed together to swap out the SH532 and first burnt out stator... the SH532 was still ok but stator was toast, and that lasted maybe 2 years? That was the same brand stator too which is the easiest and most cost effective to get over here. My maths are off a bit too, the one I just replaced was only about 4 1/2 years old at most.

I have a mate who's used the same brand stator, and also got the 4 to 5 year life out of it, we suspect they may only be designed to last that long.

This time around I'm trying a DB Electrical brand which is half the price. I figure if it lasts as long I'll be ahead, and 4 to 5 years is fine for me.

 

[Grimly]

If only that was the case! The stator and the SH775 were installed together to swap out the SH532 and first burnt out stator... the SH532 was still ok but stator was toast, and that lasted maybe 2 years? That was the same brand stator too which is the easiest and most cost effective to get over here. My maths are off a bit too, the one I just replaced was only about 4 1/2 years old at most.

I have a mate who's used the same brand stator, and also got the 4 to 5 year life out of it, we suspect they may only be designed to last that long.

This time around I'm trying a DB Electrical brand which is half the price. I figure if it lasts as long I'll be ahead, and 4 to 5 years is fine for me.

Uhmm.. that's not good. Otoh, I've been running an old stator that was definitely past its best - not crispy, but well-used - for the past couple of years on the SH775, and I would have thought if there was any strain put on it, it would have burnt up by now. I've been doing this quite deliberately to see how long it would last.
Suppose we'll just have be aware of the possibility of failures, as everyone seems taken with (and I've been promoting) the idea of this being a fit-and-forget final cure for the stator problem.
Damn.

 

[Guest]

Took apart the fuse box and gave all the contacts a thorough cleaning, along with the main harness connector.

 

[Guest]

Uhmm.. that's not good. Otoh, I've been running an old stator that was definitely past its best - not crispy, but well-used - for the past couple of years on the SH775, and I would have thought if there was any strain put on it, it would have burnt up by now. I've been doing this quite deliberately to see how long it would last.
Suppose we'll just have be aware of the possibility of failures, as everyone seems taken with (and I've been promoting) the idea of this being a fit-and-forget final cure for the stator problem.
Damn.

Yep, figured it would be too good to be true for the SH775 to be a final solution.

Mainly I'm kicking myself for not replacing my charge indicator sooner as that would've told me exactly when the stator started going out, rather than distracting me thinking my battery was having issues after the tip over.

 

[Kingjoel]

Today I replaced the intake manifold O rings. With all that goes with it, I fixed the air leak. The intake boots were in good shape, so I felt good. Test ride was almost red line in the first 4, 110 mph when I hit 5th. It's good!

 

[Darin Jordan]

Carbs back together with new OEM Bowl Gaskets and Needle/Seat Assemblies, with floats adjusted to 22.0mm, and installed. Rejetted the carbs down from the DJ155s to a set of DJ150s, drilled out to 1.65mm, which should yield approximately 152.5 or so.

Test ride last night in 80-degree sunshine felt good. Bike was crisp and seemed to accelerate nicely. Didn't notice any surging, etc. Will do a proper plug check the next time out but I think I've about got her dialed in.

 

[storm 64]

UPS man delivered me some new tires The one advantage of changing your own tires is that you can clean everything real good. The cycle shop just changes the tires they don't clean anything. I got the rear tire done along with lubing the driveshaft splines. Tonight I'll work on the front.

 

[Burque73]

UPS man delivered me some new tires The one advantage of changing your own tires is that you can clean everything real good. The cycle shop just changes the tires they don't clean anything. I got the rear tire done along with lubing the driveshaft splines. Tonight I'll work on the front.

Good for you! I'm looking forward to changing mine from now on as well.

 

[Jedz123]

UPS man delivered me some new tires The one advantage of changing your own tires is that you can clean everything real good. The cycle shop just changes the tires they don't clean anything. I got the rear tire done along with lubing the driveshaft splines. Tonight I'll work on the front.

I can't wait to get this Bias front tire off the Bonneville and swap to those puppies. I'm burning it off, plan on doing the tubeless conversion on the rim (yes there is a safety bead on the Triumph rims) and running the PR4GT's as well... Phenomenal road tire, handle great and they take for ever to burn off... I had a front PR4GT last +25K miles on the Connie and nearly 7K on the rear. The Bonnie is pretty good to the rear tire, amazing how TTC looks after tires.

I'm running those on the Bandit.

 

[Motojoe2492]

These are the bad boys I got for my 850. Got them put on by a friend of mine who has a vintage shop at his house. They look good on the roller, can't wait to see it with the engine in it too hhaha


https://www.ebay.com/itm/110-80-19-...275415?hash=item568da03997:g:z3YAAOSwGwlaBz9n

 

[Burque73]

These are the bad boys I got for my 850. Got them put on by a friend of mine who has a vintage shop at his house. They look good on the roller, can't wait to see it with the engine in it too hhaha


https://www.ebay.com/itm/110-80-19-...275415?hash=item568da03997:g:z3YAAOSwGwlaBz9n

Cool! Had those on my V Strom. There have been a few times I wish I had them on the 850 as well. Now when I come to a less than perfect dirt road I try and leave it for the KLR.

 

[storm 64]

These are the bad boys I got for my 850. Got them put on by a friend of mine who has a vintage shop at his house. They look good on the roller, can't wait to see it with the engine in it too hhaha


https://www.ebay.com/itm/110-80-19-...275415?hash=item568da03997:g:z3YAAOSwGwlaBz9n

I clicked on your E-Bay link.... What a nice set☺

 

[Burque73]

FYI, I was actually referring to the tires...