I finally got to a spot where I have my bike back up and running; spent too much time with the wiring of the new lights and a few other mods butt the results seem worth it with a few exceptions.
First off, I got some flame throwers now! I had to wait until dark to get them aimed but all seems well. I'm leaving tomorrow for a quick trip to Michigan to see how it all LD's.
I got a little bit of maintenance done as well; it didn't need much and some things I couldn't complete as my tools couldn't do it. I did get the air filter changed - dang that's a PITA! Mine's worse because of the extra harness coming from my fuze block in the back.
I attempted to change spark plugs and got the #4 done. I used my old 5/8" plug socket. The foam is all dried up so it wouldn't hold the plug and I noticed it was kinda tight in the hole but I managed to get them changed without too much drama. When I went to #3 the socket didn't wanna go in the hole and I didn't want to force it, so left well enough alone until I have a better tool. A quick search yielded the knowledge that the bike's factory socket works well, so after I get back I'll dig that out and give it a try. Right now, I got 3 old and 1 new plug.
I attempted to change out to the Wynpro covers on top of the engine, but I don't have a good set of metric ball allen/socket wrench's. So, once again, I'm gonna defer that until I can get better tools for that particular task; I'd love to get all that "stuff" outta the way to work on the topend. I have good quality allens, but couldn't seem to get straight in the socket and they started to "booger up" so stopped!
I don't have the sync tools for the throttle; more tools needed! And, after Michigan I'll do the valves.
Engine and rear end oil isn't that old so that can wait until after this trip.
I also need to fix my new voltmeter - I thought it was working well, but it cuts off sometimes and I can't figure out why. I've taken a meter to it and it checks out, both on voltage/circuit, and continuity of the wires themselves. I suspect the issue is where I combined all the ground wires, so thinking about it I'll just run a new ground and see if that solves the problem. I'd just about take an ass whoopin' rather than go back into that harness I built but know that I will have to eventually, but I'll wait until next winter...
One more thing of note; Tony is coming up next weekend to help me drill my main tank for aux fuel. I don't have my aux tank mount fabricated yet and in that effort I brought in a retired KSC machinist I used to work with. He was here yesterday (Tuesday), took some measurements + we talked about it some. He came back today with another co worker that's a heck of a good all around machinist/fabricator that worked in both my shop and the machine shop and he came up with what I think is the way we're gonna go. Getting a piece of 1/8" aluminum sheet the right size and getting it broke the way we want is next before we fabricate the mounts and such. As before, more later...
Take care, and if any of you Michigan folks are out near Napoleon, look for a farkled up black FJR!
First off, I got some flame throwers now! I had to wait until dark to get them aimed but all seems well. I'm leaving tomorrow for a quick trip to Michigan to see how it all LD's.
I got a little bit of maintenance done as well; it didn't need much and some things I couldn't complete as my tools couldn't do it. I did get the air filter changed - dang that's a PITA! Mine's worse because of the extra harness coming from my fuze block in the back.
I attempted to change spark plugs and got the #4 done. I used my old 5/8" plug socket. The foam is all dried up so it wouldn't hold the plug and I noticed it was kinda tight in the hole but I managed to get them changed without too much drama. When I went to #3 the socket didn't wanna go in the hole and I didn't want to force it, so left well enough alone until I have a better tool. A quick search yielded the knowledge that the bike's factory socket works well, so after I get back I'll dig that out and give it a try. Right now, I got 3 old and 1 new plug.
I attempted to change out to the Wynpro covers on top of the engine, but I don't have a good set of metric ball allen/socket wrench's. So, once again, I'm gonna defer that until I can get better tools for that particular task; I'd love to get all that "stuff" outta the way to work on the topend. I have good quality allens, but couldn't seem to get straight in the socket and they started to "booger up" so stopped!
I don't have the sync tools for the throttle; more tools needed! And, after Michigan I'll do the valves.
Engine and rear end oil isn't that old so that can wait until after this trip.
I also need to fix my new voltmeter - I thought it was working well, but it cuts off sometimes and I can't figure out why. I've taken a meter to it and it checks out, both on voltage/circuit, and continuity of the wires themselves. I suspect the issue is where I combined all the ground wires, so thinking about it I'll just run a new ground and see if that solves the problem. I'd just about take an ass whoopin' rather than go back into that harness I built but know that I will have to eventually, but I'll wait until next winter...
One more thing of note; Tony is coming up next weekend to help me drill my main tank for aux fuel. I don't have my aux tank mount fabricated yet and in that effort I brought in a retired KSC machinist I used to work with. He was here yesterday (Tuesday), took some measurements + we talked about it some. He came back today with another co worker that's a heck of a good all around machinist/fabricator that worked in both my shop and the machine shop and he came up with what I think is the way we're gonna go. Getting a piece of 1/8" aluminum sheet the right size and getting it broke the way we want is next before we fabricate the mounts and such. As before, more later...
Take care, and if any of you Michigan folks are out near Napoleon, look for a farkled up black FJR!
