Random photos

I'll get a writeup and some onboard video put together this week. Just got home from Vintage Motorcycle Days in Mid Ohio. Exhausted. It was an awesome weekend, and the bike ran beautifully. Was some of the most fun I've ever had on a motorcycle.

 

Nice - thanks for sharing, Matt - happy for you and can't wait for the vids and more commentary! Your bikes look gorgeous!

 

Sweeet dude! I look forward to the vids!! Jonesin..and jelly

 

This is the week to get back to my bikes, starting with repairing flat tires. I have 3 to do. First up - the Red wheel special that I had already replaced the front wheel valve stem. Now to do the rear. Everything went smooth as silk until it was time to put the rear wheel back on. Same old same old...wrestling with the two wheel bushing while manipulating the wheel into place. Swing arm on the left and rear brake strut on the right - and not enough (damn) clearance. I spent an hour on it and then called a time out to re-group.

 

After some down time and contemplation I came up with a plan.

Going to try getting the right side done first. That is to say get the axle in and through that side with everything in place - washer - spacers - strut arm - adjuster - etc....and then do whatever is needed to finish the left side. This may include leveraging the swing arm (it has some flexibility - right?) as needed.

All this time I've tried to get everything lined up on BOTH sides before inserting the axle. Well - that's like "herding cats"!

I think it's a good plan and HAS to be the way it's done. Gonna run over tonight and see if I can get it done - will report back.....

 

Make sure your rear stand is not adjusted so tight that it is pushing the swingarm together when the rear wheel was removed.

You don't have to do it all in one move either. Get the left started thru the hub and wheel with the axle just poking thru for the 1st right side spacer. It can kind of just hang there. I usually stack some lumber under the tire to where it just wants to sag just a little. Now start adding things and bumping the axle thru further with a rubber or weighted plastic mallet.

Squeeze in the last item and drive the axle thru the right chain adjuster, while leveraging the wheel up with a longer piece of lumber under the tire to line everything up for the final blow.

It can be a bitch sometimes, every bike is different, but that gets it done every time for me.

 

OK thanks, Capt. I thought the second time around would be easier, but nope.

I do have a thin piece of wood to help raise the wheel up - that much I learned last time. I thought about having a long pry bar too but I think not trying to get everything lined up first is the real key here.

Will report back - and thanks again!

 

We're back in the saddle! This time it only took about 10 minutes..........and no cursing!

Capt....this axle went in from right to left, so must have been installed backwards.

It seems to be OK the way it is. Should I change it back one day?

Didn't have any fuel in the tank to test it but it rolls nicely by hand and I can't detect any wobble.

Tomorrow is moving day so I will have some fuel on hand and can give her a test ride.

I also pumped about 45 PSI into the tire so we'll see if that holds OK....(makes sign of cross on chest).

 

The move is going OK so far. We found another unit that was closer too. Only 2 doors down - which works better for me!

I only have 7 more bikes to move over plus a shelf unit and rolling tool cart and some misc stuff. Those are going into another unit.

Did a lot of airing up tires...lol.

Test ride on the red wheel bike went fine. I'm actually doing another tire valve replacement on one of my RC24's in the middle of the move. Left side swing arm end is chewed up a bit where the chain adjuster goes in - plus the rear brake caliper isn't moving much. I had to pry it open enough to remove from rotor.

The axle went in from the correct side (left to right).

Get 'er done!



First bike in!




The RC24 with a bad tire stem - other than that - almost concours!



Wheel is off!



Progress so far - 9 bikes. There will be 4 rows of 4 bikes per row when finished. Tighter than a xxxxxxxx.....

 

If it's in and properly torqued, it's cool. I just prefer to have the nut on the right when tightening, which is stock.

Additionally, if you have any bikes with aftermarket 4-2-1 right exit exhausts, install the axle as you have it there, with the nut of the left. Even if it looks like it could never hit. Ask me how I know. Luckily no real damage, just a scuff to let me know it wasn't happy.

 

OK thanks - as always great advice!

 

The work load is crazy Bazza! It's probably 90*+ 90%humid huh...Water!! lol

Careful on those rear stands with the flat pads. I noticed several times while working on Red that the bike slowly slid backwards on the stand because of the swing arm angle.. Not sure why and it is the only bike I have ever seen that happen to, but just an FYI.
Now I put the front in a chalk and it seems to help keep from rolling.
my 2c

 

Humidity this morning was at 97%!

I work in shifts - 2-3 hours tops, so not too bad.

I'm only 10 minutes away as long as traffic isn't backed up.

Hey one of my RC15's had stuck choke and throttle cables - I could have used your help!

Just kidding.

 

Long shock. I have to pay attention to the RC26 too.

 

Baz, I have a question about the pic with the cush rubbers. It kinda looks like they are set up to be on just one side of the hub triangular lugs. Are those rub marks where the aluminum of the hub is up against the wheel?



The rubbers need to straddle the hub lugs and be up against the wheel ribs.

 

Wow......once again - good eye, Capt.! They were indeed all pushed to one side and then I put them on either side of the lugs before replacing the wheel, as you mentioned.

Thanks for pointing that out though......sincerely......

 

whichever one u ride, its the same ride, so i suggest u get a diferent bike to work on and ride -- u did a great job with the VTR but find a new project, bro---like maybe the nt 650 hawk or any newer VFR gen------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ?

 

Back from the second shift. My objective tonight was to move the rest of the bikes over and get the new tire stem in. That's all. I achieved my objective except the repaired tire stem tire isn't airing up - can't get the bead to pop. That tire has seen it's better days so I took this as a sign to replace the tire, so that is the new plan for tomorrow.

I just have to find my tire levers.

It seems like the new storage unit will be OK as far as space is concerned. Some of the bikes will need a tilt for me to get by them but that's nothing new for most of us who have multiple rides.

More updates tomorrow at some point....thanks for listening!

 

Who in the hell are you talking to, and what in the hell are you talking about?

 

lolz....