Tech Day: September 18, 2010

[BikerGeek99]

In case ya live in a cave or something and didn't hear, our very own BustanutJoker hosted a tech day on September 18. These are some pictures that I took and some commentary on the ensuing hilarity.

This tech day was brought about by a conversation I had at CFR back in June. I was telling Ray (Yzerman19) that I have an Admore light set sitting around at home but I wasn't comfortable getting to the wires. Well, Ray threatened to come down and install 'em for me. I readily accepted his offer. As Bust was walking by (between bouts of 'altitude sickness'), I mentioned that we should just put together a Garage Day / Tech Day and Bust should host. His response: “OK, Geek, but you gotta put it together.” A deal was made and a plan was hatched.

Via PM's and email, Bust, Ray and I nailed down the date and Ray suggested several other items to do to my bike since I have the mechanical abilities of a ******** toad and he is a very helpful guy. We wound up with this: cam chain tensioner replacement, throttle body synch, new spark plugs, replace my stock shock (bike has 74,000 miles on the clock) with a Wilburs I picked up used, and install the above mentioned Admore lights.

And so it begins.

When I rolled into the drive at Casa de Bust, already there were Bill (yamafitter), Ray (Yzerman19) and Joe (el Toro Joe). And Bust, of course. Since there was a lot of crap to do to my bike, Ray did not waste any time tearing into my bike to start off with replacing the CCT.

My bike in the foreground, Bill in the blue shirt, and Bill's bike. That's Joe's bike outside.

Bust's bike.

Bust's bike was the only Darksider we'd see today.

Part of the CCT replacement process is to zip-tie the chain. Why? Hell, I dunno, but I read about it on the internet.

Ray doing … uh, something.

Others started to show up. Jason (FlyingJ) and Bust pondering how long until Bust's eyelid explodes since he is running a CT.

Bill changed the oil in his bike and did a TBS a little later.

Joe, Jason and Bust.

Nice shirt and nice mug, dill-weed.

The CCT replacement process can be a bit tedious, so Ray pulled up a chair.

More guys rolled in. This is … uh … Pete, IIRC.

 

[BikerGeek99]

More guys rolled in. On the left is Jeff (UselessPickles) and Wayne (extrememarine).

There was a nice turnout, considering the weather was iffy, at best.

OK, who is Joe talking to? I'm drawing a dang blank here.

I didn't know there was stuff under there!

Jeff wanted to adjust the mohoogey that triggers the thingamabob. Luckily, Bill understood and pitched in.

Eventually, the skies opened up and it rained for a while.

Jeff, being the thorough type of fellow, even brought along his shop manual! You can see it on the pillion seat on his bike.

We (meaning Ray) got the CCT replacement wrapped up so next up was the shock. Having recently replaced the rear shock on his own bike, Bust offered a hand.

Swapping out a shock isn't difficult technically, but my bike did not want to give up the stocker.

The Wilburs on the left and the stocker on the right.

I was just hoping that everything would make it's way back onto the bike.

Jeff got into the act and did some work on his bike. Wayne and Joe “supervised.”

Bill preparing to do a TBS on his bike. Bust had wood in his pocket.

After the shock install was wrapped up, it was time for a TBS on my bike.

Insert your own caption here.

Jason getting ready to head out.

I even got the salute.

No pics of the spark plugs, but the ones that were in there had at least 30,000 miles on 'em. So out they came and in went some Iridiums.

Finally, it was time to work on the Admore lights, which was the whole reason for this little get-together in the first place.

Other people came by. Here's Joe with Bust's brother and sister-in-law.

Bill chillin' a bit.

My buddy Todd stopped out as well.

Ray, being a very thorough chap, had his multi-meter to test things. This would be beneficial.

MizzBust chatting on the phone with (I think) Sooze.

Getting all the wires and crap put in there.

Ray, Bill and Bust eventually determined that the flux capacitor in the harness for my Admore lights was a left-handed flux capacitor which would be fine in Sri Lanka or the Bronx, but not in Owosso, MI, so we didn't get the lights installed. I'll be contacting the vendor where I bought 'em to hopefully get a replacement set which I'll take a HUGE leap and try to install myself. So, we wrapped up my bike.

Ray, getting his posterior prepared for his impending Russell Day-Long purchase by testing out mine.

Bust and Ray. And Ray's on MY damn bike. <sigh> What the hell...

Towards the end of the night, I was kinda seeing things like this myself...

Work done, bikes put back together, we did what us manly-men do: sit around, drink beer, tell lies, and fart. Here's Joe and Ray.

I think I'd been drinking. I normally do this when I've had a few.

Now things got ugly.

I mean really ugly.

Bust tempted Ray into taking his Darksided '04 for a ride , and Ray DID NOT WEAR ANY GEAR AT ALL!! He's a crazy man, completely out of control, and now that's he's ridden a motorcycle with a CT on it, we all know his left ***-cheek is going to fall off, 'cause CT's don't belong on bikes, right?

I'd mentioned that my headlight lenses seemed cloudy, so these guys attacked that issue like a fat chick at an all-you-can-eat chicken pot-pie buffet.

Bill got into the act as well.

And that's all I have.

I cannot express my thanks enough to Ray for going what is, in my opinion, wayyyy above and beyond being “helpful” and spending his time working on my bike. Thanks as well to Bill and Bust for also helping out with the various tasks that were knocked out. You guys are all the best!

So, you may ask, how is my bike running? Well, yes, I can tell that there's a new shock on it, but I can't really say why I know or how I can tell – it just has a different feel. And, due to either the new plugs or the TBS (and mine were all over the damn place), the bike is much smoother at speed. And it's much quieter at start-up – I used to be able to hear a wee little bit of racket outta the right side of the engine which is now gone, and I'm chalking that up to the spiffy new CCT.

Poke your nose into the Midwest regional page – ideas were discussed to do this again in the spring.

To the guys I'd already met – it was great seeing you again.

To the guys I just met – great to meet you! Hope to see you again soon!

If you were there and have pictures, let's see 'em!

 

[Dr. Bones]

Very nice write up and pics. Looks like a good time was had by all!

 

[Big-D]

Looks as though everyone had a good time throughout the day!!

However, no mention of you bastages calling us SW-FOG folks stirring things up in Toas (pronounced Toe-***), NM

 

[yamafitter]

Looks as though everyone had a good time throughout the day!!

However, no mention of you bastages calling us SW-FOG folks stirring things up in Toas (pronounced Toe-***), NM

As I recall there were a number of drunken obsene calls placed from the Toe-*** area during Friday night. There seemed to be fewer calls Saturday which we assumed were the result of certain individuals being too drunk to find the recall button.

 

[Bustanut joker]

Looks as though everyone had a good time throughout the day!!

However, no mention of you bastages calling us SW-FOG folks stirring things up in Toas (pronounced Toe-***), NM

As I recall there were a number of drunken obsene calls placed from the Toe-*** area during Friday night. There seemed to be fewer calls Saturday which we assumed were the result of certain individuals being too drunk to find the recall button.

Seems like only two IIRC.. They did get kinda crazy though.

Hey Bill they didn't say anything about the alcohol having a detrimental effect on the festivity's..

Did ya know they forgot to auction off certain items? :lol:

 

[RaYzerman19]

Well I had a great time and it was good to stay busy. Very happy and satisfying to have Andy's bike turned into the new and improved. Met lots of new folks and shared a few stories. Would have liked to spend more time with the young Pickles, he's a geek with a brain and maybe I could learn a few things. Got to take a darkside spin, which put me over the edge so to speak... I'll give it a shot on my bike next spring.

And since this is a "ride report", I want to thank Bust very much for waiting until all the others were gone and taking me out back to sample his "private stock". I can't say too much out of pure respect for this gesture, but let's just say that Dolly is out there kinda like a distraction. Think a private stash of the best purebred lineage. Think the best single malt ewe have ever had. OK, that's all I can say.

 

[BikerGeek99]

And since this is a "ride report", I want to thank Bust very much for waiting until all the others were gone and taking me out back to sample his "private stock".

Dude.

Can't ya start yer own 'ride' report for that kinda thing?

I suddenly feel dirty...

 

[RaYzerman19]

Don't get yer shorts in a knot, I just wanted to show appreciation that the fine gentleman thought enough of me to show me the secret stash, while you were in another altitude and I can tell you he is a man of impeccable distinction and class, despite the outward appearances. Of course he's gonna be mad I spilled..... and you can choose to say nothin' happened, 'cuz there ain't no pictures~!!!!!

 

[huron52]

Thanks for the Report, Andy ! I am sad (well, only sort of )that I missed this event. Maybe next year.

 

[RaYzerman19]

Thought I'd read this again for fun. I just can't stop grinning about what's gonna happen in a couple of days........... hope the weather is good.

 

[BikerGeek99]

Thought I'd read this again for fun. I just can't stop grinning about what's gonna happen in a couple of days........... hope the weather is good.

Dang. Forgot about this.

Weather's looking trbl for the ride up on Friday and good for the return home on Sunday. As the Harley rider I talked to last July, you only get wet once.

Sooze is coming up this time, so we should have more pictures, too.