what did you wrench on today??

[johnod]

Yesterday after a ride I decided to tear into my whiny tach in the hopes of cleaning it up and oiling it. Tear down went well but I absolutely destroyed the blue lens with a soft polishing tip dremel bit. These colored lenses are extremely soft and it didn’t take link at all to wreck it. The red and blue lenses were fogged from a previous attempt to clear the guts by squirting brake kleen into the works. Pics included just because.

Then I decided to hop on eBay and see what was out there. Found this nearly perfect tach for $50. It’s on its way.

The ring on the eBay one has a small ding at the top. I may swap out the ring from existing tach which is in good shape even after all my prying.

Is that a home made tool for pulling the needle?

 

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Is that a home made tool for pulling the needle?

No, it’s a plastic automotive panel prybar. Part of a set. Very helpful for popping off car interior panels.

 

[Baatfam]

I used a pair of paint can openers...

 

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Bobs paint can opener/church key solution would be better as it would lift the needle off the spindle in-line with the spindle. My method would leave the hole in the needle somewhat worse for wear with the off-kilter lifting.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

No, I'm not talking about lubing the cable. I mean the clock-works of the tach itself. I've never had a tach or speedo cable sheath unthread itself at either end but can see that it is possible. I want to make sure the guts of the tach from becoming whiny like the two units I have.

Use a newer synthetic lube, if you wanna be serious. I'd probably still use motor oil.

 

[Rich82GS750TZ]

For lubing the cables I have a bottle of the stuff that the local Mennonite bicycle shop uses to lube cables. They either make it or put it in small bottles to sell from a 55 gallon drum out back. You can't get more serious about bikes than the Mennonites. No Joke. For inside the clocks' spindles, I did just purchase a small bottle of sewing machine oil from Amazon for about $2.50. Think I'll try that first. Thanks Bill.

 

[johnod]

No, it’s a plastic automotive panel prybar. Part of a set. Very helpful for popping off car interior panels.

Thanks. Good to know, could be handy some day.

 

[Kingjoel]

My 1978 GS 1000 would only run on three cylinders. I replaced the spark plug caps, spark plugs, cleaned every wire connection (with a set of $60 diamond electrical cleaning tools), and ran another cable from the negative battery post to the frame (two grounding cables now). It has never ran better in the 5 years that I've owned it. I think the headlight is brighter now also, I'll know more when I take it out at night.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

No description necessary…

 

[1978GS750E]

Finally sync'd the carbs on the 750 today. Slowly getting it back the way I want it!

 

[steve murdoch]

Just curious, did you use a Morgan Carbtune?
btw, your bike looks fantastic!

 

[1978GS750E]

Thanks, it's slowly getting back to the condition that it was in when I sold it a couple years ago. I used my trusty old mercury-filled sticks!

 

[cowboyup3371]

Oh my gosh I finally got one of the bikes running today with an oil change and battery replacement on the Bandit. And I did it in the new shop!

First Oil Change in New Shop by Scott Baker, on Flickr

 

[dpep]

Oh my gosh I finally got one of the bikes running today with an oil change and battery replacement on the Bandit. And I did it in the new shop....

Congratulations on both the shop and the oil change. It has to be a good feeling when you reap rewards from all that hard work.

 

[gtem]

Have been tinkering with two of my new(er) to me bikes: a '78 XS1100E and a '80 Harley FXS80 Low Rider (shovelhead motor).

The Harley got all of the (many) rubber oil lines for the oil tank, primary lubrication, and oil cooler. bwringer graciously mounted up the new Dunlops up at his place for me. Waiting on one more baffle for my mufflers, yes I did the unthinkable and am trying to make this thing *quieter*

The XS1100 has been a real journey to get the non-original (1980) carburetors set up right. I'm finally very close to nice clean response throughout the RPM/load range. It also needed a fresh clutch and springs. The old parts still measured in spec when I took them out, but with the new parts I'm no longer experiencing any slip so that's that.

The Bandit got a new rear tire, once again mounted up for me by Brian, many thanks. I got to break the new Shinko Raven in this past weekend on a fun ride with Brian (still have some quite embarrassing chicken strips on them... still getting my legs back this season).

 

[rustybronco]

What didn't I work on today?

Tomorrow will be another fun filled day out in the driveway. (Garage has the newest 300M project occupying a space, boat is in front of it.) The driver for the boat drive bellows should show up in the post so there is that. Gotta make an install tool for the exhaust bellows. (Alpha 1 Gen 2.) The '02 300M gets P/S lines installed. Those showed up yesterday. Probably will do a bit on the '03 300M special that's in the garage as well. Put the EVIC back together, R&R hood cable.

 

[gtem]

What didn't I work on today?

Tomorrow will be another fun filled day out in the driveway. (Garage has the newest 300M project occupying a space, boat is in front of it.) The driver for the boat drive bellows should show up in the post so there is that. Gotta make an install tool for the exhaust bellows. (Alpha 1 Gen 2.) The '02 300M gets P/S lines installed. Those showed up yesterday. Probably will do a bit on the '03 300M special that's in the garage as well. Put the EVIC back together, R&R hood cable.

I take it you're a bit of a Chrysler 300M enthusiast then? I always liked those cars. Comfy mile eaters.

 

[rustybronco]

This latest one makes number three that we've owned.

The first, a 1999, my wife bought new. The second was bought to replace the worn out '99. The latest is an '03 special I purchased sans engine. That one has 130,112 miles on the chassis. The gent I bought it from was the second and fourth owner. The third owner destroyed the engine I assume by neglecting oil changes. It took out the crank shaft. He removed the engine, bought a crank kit and had the heads redone. I can't remember if he had the block bored or not but I'm pretty certain that was done as well. He still has the engine but as he's more of a rear wheel drive person, (300C etc) decided to sell the car. When I bought it the car had new struts all the way around and recently had brakes installed but the rotors had rusted from sitting plus they were not the correct front rotors for a special so I bought new rotors and pads along with new struts (purchased KYB) and a host of other things. The owner couldn't believe I was going to buy new struts for it as the one's on the car had zero miles on them. Yah puts the wrong crap on it! (Base model 300M/ Duralast replacements.) Can't have that can we?

 

[Suzukian]

Taking covers off my ZZR1200 to install new throttle adjusting cable that the PO unscrewed completely. Those cables cost over $90 dollars. Lots of fairing to remove. I also have to make new Brackets to hold up the new exhaust slip on pair I designed for it in the rear exhaust. Almost done.

 

[johnod]

Pulled carbs on 79 gs1000s, Stuck needle valve , gas all over the floor.
Fixed, and installed carbs, just have to hook up cables and put the tank back on.