[XXGUY]

So my #3 daughter finally had time to sit down and study with me and she took the MSF class. So we could now go to the DMV office since she got the MSF card/certificate in the mail. Our small local office had it's lot repaved 3 months ago but still didn't have the course marked/painted yet. So we had to go 30 miles away and this meant getting on a 4 lane hwy with 65 mph limits. Told her no big deal. Just go 60 and I will be protecting you as I will guard you from behind.
So off we went...she kept edging up to 65 and I told her to slow down. Got there and she practiced for 30 minutes and we went in. Sorry not excepting any more tests. Why you don't close for another 2 hrs? We quit excepting drivers tests an hr after we opened...
Ok, so we had a nice ride home on back roads. Next Thursday I called her in sick from school and we went over and she did fine but on the way back I kept telling her to slow down as she had that 250 at 70! Got home and an exhaust collar was off and rattling on the pipe. A stud had broken. This happened to this bike when #2 daughter was riding it and I had a shop fix it. Now I was suspicious as it was the same exhaust stud that broke as last time. So I decided to tackle it and told #3 that she would be wrenching because she wouldn't slow down. Dad, the needle was waving back and forth from 75 to 60. I didn't know how fast I was really going... yeah, well when you see me getting smaller and smaller you slow down!
She took off the seat, tank and valve cover, bags. Learned how a ratchet works and what tools were what. Next two evenings I am out there alone as she had some tests to study for. Holy moly! I gotta take this engine out to get the head off! Got it done and now the head's back from the shop that got the stud out. Parts are all in. $120 all in. Got the head placed and dealing with the cam and sprocket when it was time to quit. #3 will be with me this weekend and hopefully we can get this done. Oh, I believe I found out why that stud broke. Behind the cast main exhaust collar there is supposed to be a spacer which the main collar presses up against which in turn pushes against the pipe holding it tight against the exhaust gasket. It is almost a full circle and wouldn't have been able to fall off while going down the road. So when the little engine was vibrating and gasping for air it caused problems as this pipe wasn't being tightly held down. It will be when I am done. Stuff like this is why I said enough is enough and put my money into a lift and other tools.

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[XXGUY]

Re: What I have been doing the last few evenings!

Gutted like a fish! Never had an engineless bike in the garage before!

 

[pbz1900]

Re: What I have been doing the last few evenings!

Oh no, it has started. Send this young sailor to quarantine, first mate. She has caught the disease, and we are years from Port. Speaking of which, get the young sailor to drink some and keep the engine room happy. Over and out.

 

[XXGUY]

Re: What I have been doing the last few evenings!

Oh no, it has started. Send this young sailor to quarantine, first mate. She has caught the disease, and we are years from Port. Speaking of which, get the young sailor to drink some and keep the engine room happy. Over and out.

That's funny...as I did time in an engine room for 5 out of my 6 years in the USN. She loves to ride. Says it is so calming...
#2 daughter texted home from college... Dad, having this motorcycle is sure a good conversation starter with the guys!
And another time... "some guy saw my helmet and asked what kind of scooter do you have? Dad, I just looked at him and said... I own a real motorcycle. It's 700 cc's, why do you own a scooter! He had a 600 and they went riding in the Utah mountains a few times.

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[TheDuck]

Re: What I have been doing the last few evenings!

Got to love the passing on of skills and enthusiasm for spannering and riding.

 

[XXGUY]

Re: What I have been doing the last few evenings!

The engine is in and the cam and top end is put back together. Tonight I hope the exhaust will get put on, check valves as long as it is apart, tighten the chain, tank and stuff put back on and fire it up. the cam is 180 out from how I took it off. I followed the Honda Manual instructions. we shall see if I have to tear it down again when I check the valves. Pics to come later tonight.

 

[XXGUY]

Re: What I have been doing the last few evenings!

As many of you know I am attempting to repair Diana Galster bike. Never took an engine out of a bike or the top end apart. Well this is how far I have gotten. Engine in. Exhaust and crash bars on. Valves checked. By the book if new valve clearance is supposed to be .002". Gee whiz that is tight. I checked and they are .0025" and it drags on the gauge. Good enough. Had all the engine mounts on except the front as I had to mount the crash bars later. Well had to loosen the 3 mounts and jack up the engine slightly to get the last mount with the bars. Had another major problem and I think I got around it. Putting the exhaust collar on and the spacer behind it popped up. Kept tightening and bent the collar. Got to a Big vice and I believe it was straightened out. And I had purchased two spacers. Didn't have more exhaust crush gaskets. We will see...
Just need to do valve cover and tank, chain adjustment, bags and seat. Cross fingers and hit the starter!

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[XXGUY]

Re: What I have been doing the last few evenings!

It wouldn't start but then I shot some ether into the carb and she fired up. Did that a couple of times and then it caught and ran. Now I need to adjust the chain...
Chain adjusted. Diana finally got home and I helped her change out the sacrificial plastic piece on the left rear blinker that was broken when she dumped it due to an ignorant home owner that was cutting the grass in the ditch and blowing it out into the road. Grass was about 2' tall and on the road it was an inch thick. Then I asked her to check her tire pressure via her phone. FOBO sensors. Pressure was a little low so I showed her how to unlock and remove the unit. The tool is on her key ring.filled them then re-locked the units on. Will adjust the clutch tomorrow. She wants to ride a little more so didn't change oil yet.
Biggest job I have done yet. I bought some harbor freight torque wrenches but not sure if they are accurate. May invest in some better ones. Happy it is done and working. Spent 120 dollars and 4 evenings and one afternoon.

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[o4xx]

Re: What I have been doing the last few evenings!

Wish you were my dad.don't need a 52 year old son do you

 

[XXGUY]

Re: What I have been doing the last few evenings!

Wish you were my dad.don't need a 52 year old son do you

Nope, since I am 53 that would be a tad weird.
This bike was bought for my #1 daughter's graduation present. $400 then I added the bags, PIAA lights, backrest and chrome rack, cobra crash bars, and new chain and tune up, Extra red LED brake light. Three weeks of my vacation.
I learned and #2 daughter was given a 3 year old modern fuel injected NC700X after she learned for two years on her sisters bike. #1 was a bit salty about the difference!
So when #3 daughter wanted to learn to ride I swapped out #1 daughter's rebel for 5 yr old NC700XD. Both 2012's with low miles and fairly low purchase prices. For an all round standard bike I can't say enough about the NC700X bikes. 70 mpg and plenty of storage. With some suspension upgrades it will do for most people's adv. Riding out west.
The ST1300 and XX are what my son and I took out west this past year for 6800 miles.
You can come hang out anytime!

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[XXGUY]

Re: What I have been doing the last few evenings!

Life is about making memories and spending time with family members if we are lucky enough to have family you enjoy being around.
Now it is November and getting cold and most fruit is off the trees. I am leaving a shopping complex and I see an apple tree with apples on it and on the pavement too. The tree is growing on the property of a closed down restaurant. I went home and got #3 daughter and went and collected what little apples that were left and took them home. Tonight we ground them up and pressed them with a apple cider press that my Dad made back when I was a kid. Back then it was hand cranked. I left for boot camp and he made a wood pulley and bolted it to the crank wheel and put an old ancient washing machine motor on it since his muscle left.
We got about 6 gallons of very sweet good tasting juice.

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[XXGUY]

Re: What I have been doing the last few evenings!

Well, I started in on the Clutch slave cylinder replacement on my ST1300. In the tech article it states to make sure you have high temp silicon grease. I spent two hrs in Rockford Illinois looking for this and finally I called the dealer and he said yeah high temp moly grease would be fine... which I have on the shelf at home! So I come home and disconnected the battery, took off the lower black cowl's, took off the oil filter, tilted the bike over, moved the drip hoses, removed the speed sensor. Then I went after the banjo bolt... it states in the tech article that you need a long 12 mm box ratchet flex head wrench. I only had a 6" one. No go at all. Then I remembered a tool I had from harbor freight which is a thin headed long 1/4" drive. It worked great with a socket. Then when loose I could use the short 12 mm box ratchet flex wrench to continue to get it out. Then I got the Clutch slave cylinder out of the package found out that it was already packed with grease! (Bought from Honda dealer who matches prices from Hondaparthouse.com as they had the best prices.) Then I tried removing the new one once I had put it on just to look at it as it wouldn't go down easily (I Found why later) due to the new one has a stronger spring in it. When I pulled on it, it separated! Yikes! I carefully put it back on and tightened it all down. Went to look at the tech article and it stated that I should have tried threading in the banjo bolt in first prior to installing it to ensure it threads in easy! Argh, I already installed the slave cylinder. Oh well, time to stop for the night and take it up after work tomorrow... We will see. Getting better at accessing the thing...
On another note. #2 daughter is home from 18 months in Honduras. She is used to over 100 degrees and humid. She has a blanket wrapped around her and states... I thought you had the heater on? Oh, I do says I from the floor. I have it up to 70F so I am warmer while laying on the floor.... Oh, only 70, no wonder I'm cold. Guess she won't be out on her NC700X for a while! Will be doing a bunch of maintenance in the coming weeks.
Somebody at work just said to me today... I have a Ninja 250 from the 90's I need to get rid of. I Haven't ridden it in 10 years. Really? How much you want for It? Oh, $200. I'll give you $200 for it. He said OK. Now what I will do with that I have no idea... but $200, I couldn't stop myself. Maybe turn my 12 year old loose on it.
Been riding the Red Bird since the end of February! Must be spring if you see Red Birds out and about!

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[XXGUY]

Re: What I have been doing the last few evenings!

Tonight's saga...

Got home and out in the garage around 8 pm. Took some pictures along the way. Had to get the 3 crush washers on and it is a bit tricky. The Vaseline worked well. Trying to go by feel and dropping the 1st washer several times and having to clean and grease it up again...grrrrrr! Finally got it. 2nd one was easier and the 3rd is on the banjo bolt. Grease that one too so it stays on the bolt. I found an easy way to get the bolt in...long neck needle nose pliers...maybe the bent kind would even work better? I had short regular and it got the job done while I looked from underneath and it went between the pipe and frame. Tightened it by hand easily and then used my 6" flex wrench to continue to tighten. Then to torque it down used the socket and HF thin ratchet. Done. Hardest was getting the 1st washer in. Long neck needle nose would be the bomb! Put the speed sensor back in and then did drain tubes. Put the shifter back on and almost goofed up as I didn't take a picture prior to see what was top and bottom! Luckily my Mark lined up the 2nd time trying to get the right splines. I put the oil filter on while she was still tilted over. Stood her up and got the book out and looked for the bleeder. Wow, it is hidden! Hooked up my mity vac vacuum pump then cleaned out the reservoir of what little fluid was left. Then got out the Q-tips and cleaned some sludge out and then filled it up with Amsoil synthetic DOT 3&4. My 12 yr old son kept the reservoir full and it went super easy bleeding the Clutch. I used about 3/4 of a bottle. Could have used less but I wanted to be sure. Filled and capped the reservoir then hooked up the battery. Make sure to cover the tank with a large garbage bag. Put a very absorbent rag around the reservoir as you put the rubber piece in and put the plastic and then the aluminum cap to absorb any fluid that squeezes out! Looked at the oil level...yep, just above the low line. Turned the key on and it was in neutral. It was on the Center Stand so I started it up and pulled in the Clutch. Shifted to 1st then up into 2nd and 3rd. No I didn't let the Clutch out as I was in the garage. Will have to wait until Monday to try it out as I have to go to #3 daughter's High school play tomorrow. So a couple of minutes to put panels on and I am done... I hope! Plan on taking it to the car wash and spraying off the bottom to get the oil and brake fluid off where it dripped then putting the panels on.

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[XXGUY]

Re: What I have been doing the last few evenings!

Cleaned up the garage a little then changed out the rear gear oil and then turned the bike (ST1300) around on the lift and started removing the forks to change the fork oil. If this had ever been done before the fork caps were way over torqued. I had a 24" breaker bar on the caps. One I barely got loose. The next one I couldn't budge and I am 6'3" and had my weight into it. This wasn't going to end well so I stopped and got out my 1/2" Chicago Pneumatic impact gun and hit it a little and the cap finally loosened up! The oil I drained out looked like liquefied mud and smelled like the worst burned tranny fluid that you ever smelled! Went to take the internals out and both screws came out easily with the air gun. Problem is that the aluminum cap didn't come out with one of the damper assemblies and now I have to take the whole tube apart. I have the tools but didn't want to buy new seals as the originals are not even weeping at all. Maybe I can fish it out of there somehow. I will find out tomorrow morning! Get this done and it will be checking the tires and put all the plastic on... In 2 years I will do a Jamie Daugherty suspension upgrade on it.

So hopefully tomorrow on to the BB for an oil change, clutch and brake fluid changed out and coolant changed out too. Rear tire probably before June. Some of you guys have me thinking about trying a TC3 instead of another PR4 GT.


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[TheDuck]

Re: What I have been doing the last few evenings!

You are really getting the hang of this maintenance XXGUY :clap:

Maybe I can fish it out of there somehow.​

I've managed to get one out of a Bird fork with a very fine drift and a gentle tap with a mallet, they can stick in the recess in the fork bottom.

 

[XXGUY]

Re: What I have been doing the last few evenings!

You are really getting the hang of this maintenance XXGUY :clap:

I've managed to get one out of a Bird fork with a very fine drift and a gentle tap with a mallet, they can stick in the recess in the fork bottom.

This one is loose and I think that I can see it stuck sideways. I am learning that is the truth. Doing valve clearance on bucket and shim type valves is next on the list to learn. That has me nervous.

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[TheDuck]

Re: What I have been doing the last few evenings!

Doing valve clearance on bucket and shim type valves is next on the list to learn. That has me nervous.

Nothing to be nervous about on the Bird just allow yourself a decent amount of time and then double it!

Things to remember
1. Cover the throttle bodies with cling film or cloth to stop anything 'dropping in'

2. The cover seal always falls out when you try to get the cover back on. To stop this being a real frustration when you remove the cover make your first task sticking a new seal into the cover with silicone, this will go off while checking the clearances and you will complete the task in a better frame of mind.

3. To check the clearances on a Bird 'cranked' feeler gauges make life a lot easier.

4. If the cams have to come out you will need a strong magnet (pulls out bucket and shim in one go), a 6" steel rule (to check the marks on the cam sprockets when re-timing the motor), a small mirror (to see the steel rule and sprocket marks lining up) and a torque wrench that is accurate at 12N.m

5. No matter what shims you have (I have 2 sets) you never have the one you want! I had to pay two visits to the dealer when I was re-shimming my Mrs' bike a couple of months ago .....

 

[XXGUY]

Re: What I have been doing the last few evenings!

Nothing to be nervous about on the Bird just allow yourself a decent amount of time and then double it!

Things to remember
1. Cover the throttle bodies with cling film or cloth to stop anything 'dropping in'

2. The cover seal always falls out when you try to get the cover back on. To stop this being a real frustration when you remove the cover make your first task sticking a new seal into the cover with silicone, this will go off while checking the clearances and you will complete the task in a better frame of mind.

3. To check the clearances on a Bird 'cranked' feeler gauges make life a lot easier.

4. If the cams have to come out you will need a strong magnet (pulls out bucket and shim in one go), a 6" steel rule (to check the marks on the cam sprockets when re-timing the motor), a small mirror (to see the steel rule and sprocket marks lining up) and a torque wrench that is accurate at 12N.m

5. No matter what shims you have (I have 2 sets) you never have the one you want! I had to pay two visits to the dealer when I was re-shimming my Mrs' bike a couple of months ago .....

By "cranked" do you mean the type that is bent at the end?

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[TheDuck]

Re: What I have been doing the last few evenings!

Yep that's the type

 

[XXGUY]

Re: What I have been doing the last few evenings!

Yep that's the type

Well, I am due for a valve check most likely as I bought the bike with 7093 miles on it in 13 and it now has 23,000 or so miles on it now.
Haven't gotten into the garage yet today as I have some things that need to be done. Hopefully I'll get out there and get those forks done or order new seals as needed!

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