What did you do to your bike today?

[Orange4]

Today I tested the tip-over switch and the automatic shut-of feature of the fuel taps.

I learned a neat trick the other day from Bigfoot so I did not try to put my foot down and catch the bike. Thank! You! Harry!

The captain goes down with his ship? What's the tip?

[Orange4]

Took the 78E out for the first time which is also my first time riding an XS.

Blue blistering barnacles, she goes! Now I know how a cannon ball feels.

Still have some tweaking to do. Idles smooth and goes like a scalded badger on meth but off idle cruising is a bit rough with some popping on decel.

[Poprock]

Replaced the valve cover gasket w Hondabond. They didn't have Yamabond that day. All surfaces were very clean. I let it get dry to touch before putting it back on. Did a 90 mile two-up ride yesterday, no leaks. Time will tell, but it looks good so far.

[MPittma100]

Gasket

Mike,

I'm not sure why but the valve cover gasket, even a gasket sealed with silicon, always starts to seep a little around the edges and the camshaft end plugs after a few thousand miles so I'm trying to get away from silicon and gaskets.

The precut gaskets are way too expensive for my blood so I just buy a sheet of gasket paper and make my own gaskets. It's a little tedious and it's annoying when I get to the very last cut and --- oops! I tore it!

.

I have had really good luck with the Ultra Grey on the 11s and other engines. Some gasket installation procedures require that you glue one side of the gasket, install, and clamp it down until dry. Then remove it and glue the other side. This prevents the gasket from slipping around and leaking.

It is a lot of extra trouble, but seems to work as prescribed.

Mike

[3Phase]

The captain goes down with his ship? What's the tip?

Orange,

Bigfoot broke his leg. The front wheel locked up and when he put his foot down to try to save it things didn't go as planned.

The tip? Let It Go! <cue Idina Menzel>

.

[Orange4]

I learned the "Don't try to catch it" lesson the other day too without injury on a smaller bike.

I guess my question is "Abandon ship or go down with it?" I would probably jump off by reflex from my motocross days.

[clashpistol]

2nd time is a charm. Thanks for responding all

FONT="Palatino Linotype"]

Thank you for your kindly replys. I DID IT!! It took 2 days of walking away.
When gear set finally dropped in the 1st time. I had the counter shaft shift fork #2 on top of shift drum. Tried to private message members to see if I could get #2 for in without removing gears. (not happening) It took quite a while to get out. And reinstalling correctly was properly facilitated by paying attention to gear mesh wiggling tire etc. I hope I do not have to do again but not that scary again. This is the second time doing.
I did the dremel fix last year due to bad 1st gear slippage. In hindsight I should have bought the 1st/4th as I thought it looked bad but, I ground it well and it seemed to mesh tight. It seemed successful but manifest itself by the end of the season. Starting in 2nd sucks and my clutch got smoked. I was unaware the gear would be so easy to find. I did look on ebay at the time and a few other places but I thought the gear looked good. At that point I was trying to save money as I had about $1800 in in parts and specialty tools. Everything on the bike has been gone through. a(Bearings, M/C and caliper rebuilds, fork seals. Took apart and cleaned every electrical solenoid etc. I took apart speedo and tach and bulbed and cleaned. Rewired fairing, new stereo. I took apart saddle bags and rewired. Carbs rebuilt, rejetted, valves timing etc. this year new rubber, clutch and put in Mikuni pilots as they weren't(as per T.C.) Also bought a trunk with a nice backrest. I couldn't get one on ebay (this was only $75) exact for application so I cut down my luggage rack and dropped off to be welded today. I got a good sync on (Medusa) today. Yesterday I pulled the threads on a exhaust stud and had done one before do I helicoiled all and used 5/16" allen screws. The MFer' was exhaust gaskets were shot so I got a sheet of exhaust and had to precisely cut with snips(I wish I would have had a wittle bitty ones).I then tightened up all the clamps after sending mufflers home with a mallet. Last year
LYearI bought intake manifolds. I had checked and rechecked my floats. Bench synched carbs using half hole on butterflys. I could not get it to sync properly after turning screws for about an hour and a half. Well I knew the exhaust was now tight. I expelled some propane and low and behold. Intake manifold leaks. I am using K&N pods and installed 2" I.d Muffler pipe at the tail end because pods kept walking off and they kinda covered the jets on the back of the carbs. Now the Carbs and Pods are an assembly. I quickly got them out tightened manifolds rebench synched and in about an hour had good tuning. Had some mishaps while taking out countershaft bearing. I was trying to pull out gently with a cotter pin extractor and broke an ear off of bearing assembly. Luckilly a great local welding shop and they had repaired 1st thing next day. In Dremel Fix a great addendum would to recommend usind an dowel or rod and GENTLY tapping with rubber hammer. Had another stupid moment when I messed with putting front pads for hours loosening forks, spacing etc and then Top Cat sent info about how tapers on pads relate to sides exclusively. Live and learn. I have front brakes and gravity bleeding now. Taking a break now and starting fairing/ bag reinstall now. The nice thing is that every thing is heat shrinked terminals and I put long wires on the fairing so I have it screwed on a work table next to it. I easily make the wiring connections and put it on. I can have the saddlebags on in 15 minutes so I think I will be on a test ride tomorrow. After getting beat up through hundreds of hours I have learned humility and patience and only flipped out for about 15 seconds on this project. It has been a learning experience to say the least. Not my first bike or bushel basket, but I got spanked on numerous occasions like she was the schoolyard bully hence the name, MEDUSA. Thankfully yesterday having insight I was lucky enough to spot a problem. After putting on clutch cover I noticed the clutch actuator shaft had a pretty big gap behind the cable arm. Refering to manual noticed the thrust washer behind the basket. When I pulled the clutch basket 1st time left a bolt and spring in it and putting discs did not notice that thrust washer was not there. Luckily my box from the parts bike had the basket out and thrust washer was in there. I sucked taking clutch out and reinstalling but I have great clutch now and perhaps was a problem with my premature trans failure?
I got this 79' with a parts bike for a grand. I overpaid now I know, but I got touring package that was on the standard and now after my work I have a mechanically sound bike.
I thought I would let you know where I am at with her. This site has been instrumental in my success and I appreciate the help from all more than you know.

All the best,

Jeff Bennett[/FONT]

[Bigfoot]

Orange,

Bigfoot broke his leg. The front wheel locked up and when he put his foot down to try to save it things didn't go as planned.

The tip? Let It Go! <cue Idina Menzel>

.

Glad you aren't laid up like me Scott. Mine happened sooo quick I am still not sure exactly what happened and didn't consciously put my foot out, might have been because I had my daughter on the back and reacted in more of a protective way.

After plenty of time to sit here and try and figure out what happened anyway, here is what I have come up with. My front brakes were dragging (I knew that and had headed home slowly to deal with that issue) but they were not locked up, just dragging. I think i hit some sand on the road with the rear tire while I was accelerating from a stop. That combined with the front brakes effectively being applied caused the back to break loose, spinning the rear tire and dumping us immediately.

Moral of the story, don't be a dumbass. I should have stopped and addressed the front brakes on the side of the road instead of being stubborn and trying to get it home. I could have just bled them to release the pressure and then easily gotten it home.

Live and learn.

[3Phase]

Harry, I know it's a reaction and if it was my kid on the back I'd have thrown myself under the bike if I needed to!

Heck, there were boot prints in the ground where BA80 went off the road that looked like he tried to paddlefoot his way through and almost made it. Good try, Greg!

I was lucky. I just sort of let go and slid off as it spun out from under me and went down. The tip-over switch killed it before it finished spinning all the way around and gnawed on my head and back with the shiny new rear tire.

.

[Bigfoot]

Yeah, new tires can be real slick. Almost dumped it before giving it a little gas on a brand new tire. Glad you are ok and minimal damage to the bike.

[bikerphil]

I always wipe a new tire down with a generous amount of mineral spirits before running it on the road. Not nearly as slippery that way, still gotta take it a bit easy though.

[3Phase]

Thanks, Harry, you take it easy too!

Phil, I scrubbed that stupid new tire with Gunk engine degreaser, then hot water and Dawn dish soap because the Gunk is the environmentally-friendly California formula that just sort of annoys oil and grease instead of removing it. I even washed and polishedf the rim (Yes! Really! ) while I had it off the bike. All that shiny aluminum and clean paint just made the wheel so totally slick it spun out.

Today is the third day the rear XJ air shocks have held air at 40 psi after I glued the air fitting into the upper shock body. The air leak is fixed and the shocks don't bottom out and slam when I run over gum wrappers or paper plates but now the rear brake has turned spongy.

I'll get some more brake fluid and bleed the rear brakes tomorrow. Columbo .... <sigh>

.

[3Phase]

()
When I went to bleed the rear brake I noticed a clicky/grindy noise from the right rear wheel bearing. It wasn't doing that after I put on the new tire so something happened.

Lucky me has a complete set of new bearings around here somewhere (thank you, James England!) so today I get to take off the rear wheel again.
(/)

[motoman]

Actually rode it 100mi. today. Mixed slab(75-80mph) and paved zig-zagging county rd. back thru the winery tastin' route.

Getting back, noticed wear bars are no longer existant on rear tar in most places.....guess I got a little ham-fisted.

[BA80]

Got a new TKat fork brace in the mail today. I don't remember ordering it and I searched through my bank statement trying to find where I paid........no luck.

So, I've come to the conclusion that I am befuddled but I now have a new TKat brace on Ol' Okie.

If one of my brothers out there saw fit to gift me one, thank you very much. If it's something I ordered and forgot about I'm seriously considering a ct scan.