Author Topic: What have you done with your bike today? (Read 230815 times)

Mr Nick · « **Reply #1500 on:** June 04, 2020, 14:50:01 »

Sounds like a fun trip!
I have a whiteboard on the back door to the garage where I write up half finished jobs on my way out in the hope that I'll spot it before heading out. Right now it reminds me that the 990 has no forks just in case I don't notice...

mr_diver · « **Reply #1501 on:** June 04, 2020, 15:55:26 »

I like that idea, but my garage door in an up and over.
I open it from the outside, so I'd never see a board on the back of the door.

Maybe one of my old diving slates with
"CHECK THE FOLLOWING BEFORE RIDING:"
Attached to the handlebars of any bike that's been worked on...

Or I could just finish the bloody job properly

Brockett · « **Reply #1502 on:** June 05, 2020, 18:14:14 »

VZ800:- Before I go and buy fork oil I thought it would be an idea to study the book and look into stripping the forks. I must remove the springs in order to fill each leg and measure the quantity / air gap. I Phoned the shop and asked for a price on the special tools needed....... well over a hundred and twenty pounds and not including the special tool for rebuilding. So tomorrow I've arranged for the dealer's workshop to fix them.
I thought it would be a good idea to check the headrace bearing as it's 12 years old and probably never been touched. Still not touched..... as it requires a 30mm socket to remove the nut on the top yoke. Biggest in my set is 27mm. Halfords maybe?

Mr Nick · « **Reply #1503 on:** June 05, 2020, 19:18:08 »

Halfords will have 30mm sockets: I picked up an 8 piece 1/2" drive rail set that covered 20 - 32mm that will set you back £23 or the 30mm itself is £6.50.

Slightly better response from the new fork tool supplier: got a separate receipt from them today so more hopeful that they're going to deliver.

Brockett · « **Reply #1504 on:** June 05, 2020, 20:19:40 »

VZ800:-- This clever, but not very! Good old Suzuki made a hole in the bottom yoke and shoved a wire and connector through and then they put the brake hose through it so the wire and connector cannot be removed without first draining the brake line and then removing it. I think this simple bearing check is turning even more tricky. It also just about guarantees the bearing will need attention and or renewal.

kwackboy · « **Reply #1505 on:** June 05, 2020, 20:38:04 »

Brockett,
Do the bearings feel smooth ..? Notchy..? If they are smooth and you just want to grease them you would only need to drop the bottom yoke by about an inch to get access, you wouldn't need to remove the brake line.

Stupid design though

tallpaul · « **Reply #1506 on:** June 05, 2020, 20:45:22 »

It's a pain in the donkey but you can strip the terminals from those connectors and reassemble it after. Just make a careful note of which holes the wires come out of. You need a fine blade screwdriver to lift the locking tab on the terminal and pull it out of the back of the housing. Fiddly but doable.

Brockett · « **Reply #1507 on:** June 05, 2020, 21:11:50 »

kwackboy - yes that is what I am hoping.
tallpaul - if the bearings need changing the brake hose will have to come out anyway. It'll give me a chance to foul up the caliper and spend even more money.

Mr Nick · « **Reply #1508 on:** June 05, 2020, 23:12:32 »

Surely nobody would suggest opening up a channel away from the fork hole to release them with a hacksaw?

TLPower · « **Reply #1509 on:** June 06, 2020, 06:58:31 »

Dremel was my first thought Mr Nick.

Do you have any of those " one spin" knock offs left Brockett?

Brockett · « **Reply #1510 on:** June 06, 2020, 18:12:56 »

I took the forklegs to Orwells in Ipswich. They cleaned them out and refilled to the correct level. Charge was half an hour labour with VAT and fork oil £45.88. I think that was very reasonable.
However when I dropped the lower yoke a smidgen and peeked inside I found a collection of dirty rusty balls. Either the lower bearing dust cover does not cover enough or water got in from above. The top race is nicely greased and almost good as new. I am both glad and sorry I looked now. Suzuki want £112 for replacements but I have gone the cheapskate route with a set of taper roller bearings for £43. They may be in by Tuesday.

PS no lower yokes were harmed during this work ...... Hacksaws and Dremels indeed

kwackboy · « **Reply #1511 on:** June 06, 2020, 19:07:43 »

You may need a Dremel to remove the bottom race

TLPower · « **Reply #1512 on:** June 06, 2020, 19:23:43 »

Rusty Balls, any relation Rusty Nuts?

Brockett · « **Reply #1513 on:** June 06, 2020, 20:12:14 »

Yes kwackboy the Dremel may well be needed. I like the manual's glib instruction to remove the lower bearing with a chisel.Always fun eh!

Rusty Nuts · « **Reply #1514 on:** June 06, 2020, 20:18:59 »

Quote from: TLPower on June 06, 2020, 19:23:43

Rusty Balls, any relation Rusty Nuts?

Yes, he's a more rounded individual than me.

Brockett · « **Reply #1515 on:** June 06, 2020, 22:42:24 »

Only because the corners have worn down

Mad Malone · « **Reply #1516 on:** June 07, 2020, 08:40:26 »

If you have access to a welder,run a weld along the ball track,as it cools it will shrink the track and come out easily.

TLPower · « **Reply #1517 on:** June 07, 2020, 18:17:43 »

I went for a rather soggy ride with Ridaz.

It was brilliant, I set off in my 20 year old Frank Thomas waterproof suit which I hadn't worn for 17 years. Coupled with freshly "dubinned" boots and decent gloves I was bone dry and warm all day. I found it quite therapeutic setting off in a down pour, though I did turn the stability control from "sport" to "street" in a bid to curb wheel spin. Ridaz used a wonderful app that chooses a random looped route, he just set East and 150 miles for the trip duration.

A wet, windy and virtually deserted Scarborough provided socially distanced fish,chips and mushy peas.

Wet weather riding is nothing to be scared of said Adam Ant. It certainly did deliver today.

We were Kings of the wild frontier.

mr_diver · « **Reply #1518 on:** June 08, 2020, 11:10:38 »

Had to fit the ancient soft panniers to the XJ600.
Had loads of stuff to take to work.

I may leave them on, I hate wearing a backpack on the bike.
Who cares if the paintwork gets scratched!

TLPower · « **Reply #1519 on:** June 08, 2020, 12:09:22 »

"Patinated" bar muffs and soft luggage. Now you need a brown leather seat to fit in with the other cold hipsters.

Coolio Bro'.