Note to self

[aps45819]

Yeah, I've heard of people forgetting their disk lock...I can't image what that's like. I have a Xena alarmed disk lock. If you get on the bike with it still installed...you'll know it.

Somebody makes one that's also your foot peg. It snaps off a special adapter and opens up into a disk lock. Should be a good reminder if your foot peg is missing

 

[ItsGene]

Everyone has a learning curve.

Everyone on this board has a story they have paid big money to keep quiet regarding their early day experiences riding and wrenching!

I salute you for taking on some of the maintanence tasks yourself. Keep at it, it will get easier! Might not be a bad idea to have someone go over the work for you before you ride off into the Maryland traffic. I started out years ago fearing oil changes. I have now arrived at a point where I can pull the tranny from the BMW if need be and I have a garage in which to do it. It just takes patience, a good maintanence manual and an experienced wrench willing to impart their knowledge!

 

[desertrat]

You should stick your pinky in the "black thing" to be sure it wasn't dirty inside.

That's how my Dad use to have me help him check his ignition.

 

[ylexot]

OH! Here's a story of a near-huge-F-up...I was changing the spark plugs. I thought the manual said 75 ft-lbs for the torque. So, I'm tightening it and am thinking "this seems really tight". So, I checked the manual again...7.5 ft-lbs! If I had kept going, I would have stripped the threads and it would have been a major repair. That does make me wonder though...why don't they make the threads on the spark plug the weaker threads? That way, if you do something stupid, it's clean out the threads/cylinder and buy a new spark plug.

 

[ItsGene]

Helicoil.

Cuz there is no money in just repairing a spark plug.....

 

[desertrat]

OH! Here's a story of a near-huge-F-up...I was changing the spark plugs. I thought the manual said 75 ft-lbs for the torque. So, I'm tightening it and am thinking "this seems really tight". So, I checked the manual again...7.5 ft-lbs! If I had kept going, I would have stripped the threads and it would have been a major repair. That does make me wonder though...why don't they make the threads on the spark plug the weaker threads? That way, if you do something stupid, it's clean out the threads/cylinder and buy a new spark plug.

Dang good question!
I always thought that the engine builder should incorporate an insert that the plugs screw into rather than just the aluminum head.

 

[aps45819]

Cuz there is no money in just repairing a spark plug.....

weight. To make the cylinder heads of a srtonger material than the plugs would make them very heavy, or very expensive

 

[ylexot]

weight. To make the cylinder heads of a srtonger material than the plugs would make them very heavy, or very expensive

Ahhh, but to make the spark plugs weaker....

 

[aps45819]

Ahhh, but to make the spark plugs weaker....

You're talking a metal capable of with standing the heat and pressure of combustion that's softer than cast AL. The plugs would have to be a larger diameter with deeper threads to keep from blowing out. You'd loose head real estate now used for multiple intake and exhaust valves.

 

[Ponytail]

... Lurch, crash.

It's really not as exciting as it sounds.

 

[Pete]

It's really not as exciting as it sounds.

You've done it eh?

 

[Ponytail]

You've done it eh?

More times than I care to recount. One of those new rider vs "cool-point" accumulation things. It's extra special when ya do it in front of a large group of your seasoned rider friends at bike week.

 

[Pete]

More times than I care to recount. One of those new rider vs "cool-point" accumulation things. It's extra special when ya do it in front of a large group of your seasoned rider friends at bike week.

I hefted mine up at the Burchmart the other night and a guy intrupted my pre start routine. It was quite startling to hear the kickstand scrape when I rode off.

 

[Ponytail]

I hefted mine up at the Burchmart the other night and a guy intrupted my pre start routine. It was quite startling to hear the kickstand scrape when I rode off.

That's cheatin. Your supposed to scrape it while diving in to a corner.

 

[Pete]

That's cheatin. Your supposed to scrape it while diving in to a corner.

You aren't going to "dive" into a left turn with the kickstand down, especially if you make it lock.