This thread, and the other one on wondering about bent valves, remind me of days working in the industry when customers would bring in their self fixed crap when it finally totally bit the dust and they were trying (unsuccessfully) to get it going again.
We called these bikes "Roaches." It is always surprising to me to see just how many bikes are turned into roaches, by well meaning but ill-prepared owners who were at the start trying to save money, or prove their macho, or keep a dealer from messing things up the way they were messing them up themselves.
Post 1990ish motorcycles have little in common with Briggs & Stratton lawn mowers (maybe it can be argued that HD only recently moved away from the B&S model). They are complex enough to be approached with some respect.
One nice feature of this forum is that there are a few guys who really have solid knowledge and are willing to share that knowledge. Kudos to Ionbeam, MCATrophy, and several others (in honesty, probably more to name than I would remember off hand, so if you're one of the guys who actually knows what he's doing, please don't be offended by the fact that I haven't included you specifically).
But there are also guys who show no respect and give advice on how to cobble things together ... and these guys are the 4 lane entrance to the Roach Interstate. If you follow their advice, you are on your way. The cork idea, or the "stripless dripless expandable oil plug" come to mind quickly. Often these are the same guys who incite frugal riders to go with car tires.
So ... if there were a "hate" button in addition to a "like" button, I would expect to have several "hates" on this post.
I guess my feeling is that if you want to turn your own FJR into a Roach, that's your business. But it breaks my heart to see Roach oriented advice being given as though it were sage wisdom to poor shmoes who are only trying to be part of the group, and have already started into trouble by going into projects for which they do not have skill. The old phrase "The blind leading the blind" comes to mind.
We used to keep a sign in the shop. I've told this story before, so I apologize to those who remember it. It was a long time ago, and yes the basic rate was in fact the rate we charged at the authorized Honda, Yamaha Kawasaki, Triumph, Hodaka, Bultaco dealership where I worked.
The sign went something to the effect:
Labor Rates
$6 per hour.
If you watch, $12 per hour.
If you help, $18 per hour.
If you tried to do it yourself and now we're fixing your mess, $24 per hour.
