What did you do to your bike today?

[Rasputin]

Today I found out exactly how far I could travel with no gear oil in the middle drive ,165km/102miles

Ok I have to ask just why you would want to know that specific number. Just curiosity or what cause I can't believe you would leave with it empty on purpose.

[BA80]

Today I found out exactly how far I could travel with no gear oil in the middle drive ,165km/102miles

OOPS......that's a long walk home.

[tinman905]

Ok I have to ask just why you would want to know that specific number. Just curiosity or what cause I can't believe you would leave with it empty on purpose.

I had no interest in finding out how far one could travel with no gear oil.
I was pulled away dealing with the "Honey-do" list and after a week or so before I was able to ride to work I completely forgot to add gear oil after my 2nd gear fix before I left.

[tinman905]

OOPS......that's a long walk home.

I made it home before it seized up thankfully. I was a couple of miles from home when the middle drive started to fail. It was completely seized when I removed it . I replaced the middle drive tonight and fluids are all topped up.

Lesson learned and thankful I wasn't on the freeway when it locked up.

[fredintoon]

Yesterday I (finally) got around to replacing my stock CCT with an automatic CCT that a friendly list member sold me last September.
Apart from the effort of hauling my ancient body up and down from my crawl mat and having to work around the front sidecar mount to scrape off the ~40% of the gasket that stuck to the crankcase, the job was a doddle, just like everybody said.
The test run showed the same slightly increased noise level that others have reported.
What surprised me was how the engine runs had changed.
Highway & town performance has no change at all.
But on cold start with full choke, the revs now settle out at 3,500 rpm instead of 2,500 and clicking back to 1/2-choke it revs at 2,200 instead of 1,500.
Warmed up, no choke, 1,000 just like before except it doesn't have the occasional hiccup any more.
I have no idea how these changes could be caused by swapping CCTs but I'll take them, nevertheless.

[motoman]

I have no idea how these changes could be caused by swapping CCTs but I'll take them, nevertheless.

Glad to see U finially got er' done Fred. Changes are: motor is happy ALL the time with cams running in time ALL the time. In the automotive world, I'm sure you've seen where with timing lite the mark dances around not staying stationary.....advance....retart....advance...reta rd. Stretched chain and worn-in gears allowing slight slack in chain can show easily with a timing lite. Although, in these cases, worn distributor bushings will indicate same scenario also, but I think U get the idea. Should notice a more constant overall smoothness also.

[planedick]

Top

hi planedick,
jat, sometimes if the guage cluster sits on top of the top tripple tree
can cause that, have u got ur guages sitting at the bottom
of the top of the tripple tree.

I got them on the top and looking at it, there isn't enough room for them on the bottom. It would make them hit the fairing when I turned the handlebars. I may try that even though, just to be sure.

[cywelchjr]

I got them on the top and looking at it, there isn't enough room for them on the bottom. It would make them hit the fairing when I turned the handlebars. I may try that even though, just to be sure.

Not sure what fairing you have, it's not in your sig, but I have mine on the bottom with my WJIV and they don't hit at all, have just enough clearance. I'd think that they would look strange sticking up above the level of the fairing dash, and wouldn't work with the soundsystem for the fairing either if they were on the top.

[natemoen]

Pulled the exhaust a couple days ago so I could start cleaning it up and getting rid of all the surface rust and then for now it will have to be painted.

[tv5150]

Installed Tkat fork brace...definetly worth every penny, much more stabe especially at low speeds manuvers. For anyone on the fence wondering IF it's worth it...go for it, you will be glad you did...I was

[tv5150]

Installed Fly Screen

Even though it's minimal, it does a pretty
good job of deflecting the wind at 70 mph
and makes for a much more relaxed ride experience...
At the right angle (3rd pic) you can barely see it...
Last pic is before I installed it

[tv5150]

Installed Tkat fork brace...definetly worth every penny, much more stabe especially at low speeds manuvers. For anyone on the fence wondering IF it's worth it...go for it, you will be glad you did...I was

Here some pics before the brace...

[XJfan1]

My lead acid battery finally kicked the bucket,but not before it spilled and ate up some paint and ruined the chrome on my exaust. I solved that problem by buying a sealed battery. Should have done that sooner.

[je2wheeler]

Smoke'n but not hot

Didn't start today but has extended into today. I had to take an extended break from riding but a week ago, I primed the carbs, disconnected the Battery Tender and fired her up. Shortly thereafter, blue oil smoke began to boil out the left muffler. First thought was 'Oh great, valve seal leaking.' But the smoke didn't clear up and continued unabated even after a ten minuet ride. The compression check reviled 160 #1 and the others 185.
Top ends are something I have done many times back-in-the-day but it has been twenty plus years.
I had acquired a spare engine and have taken down the top end and everything mic’ed out well so I honed the cylinders and filed new rings and set it aside.
I have a Wiseco 2.5mm overbore kit that has been sitting on my shelf for a long time in the event. I balanced the two options for a week now and I have decided to go “all in” with the overbore.
I will farm out the head as I no longer have all the proper tools to lap the valves and I’ll let them check guide clearance and install new seals as well.
The take down did not show anything with #1 piston and cylinder, but the exhaust valve and spark plug insulator are pure white leading me to fell #1 had overheated and the rings have lost temper. A carb rebuild is to follow. The cam arrows and dots lined up perfectly.
The piston kit, cylinders and head are going to the machine shop this week and I continue gasket removal on the case. What fun.

[jimbyjimb]

tv5150- your bike is gorgeous, especially that awesome exhaust setup you have.

Today I reinstalled the front wheel after getting the tube replaced. Now I'm waiting on Galfer stainless brake lines, spring clips for the front brake pads and a TKAT fork brace.

I wasn't going to get a brace but when I pulled the wheel off I was simply amazed at how flimsy the front end was. So, here comes the brace!

After that and some fluids I'll be set for the summer.