Four hours. Four bloody hours!

Discussion in 'UK Motorcycles' started by SD, May 23, 2009.

  1. SD

    SD Guest

    To fit a speedo cable.

    "first, remove the seat ..."
     
    SD, May 23, 2009
    #1
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  2. SD

    bod43 Guest

    My best one was a windscreen wiper spindle on a Lotus
    Elite (the 80's one). It is the absolute first thing put in the
    car. Had to start unscrewing trim to the rear of the gear
    lever or handbrake and did not stop until there was nothing
    left in front of that point. Took all day IIRC.

    Parts - £3
    Labour - Quite a lot

    Worth putting a drop of oil on em from time to time.
    Usual Lucas materials selection of course. Seized solid.
     
    bod43, May 23, 2009
    #2
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  3. SD

    crn Guest

    Try changing the speedo cable on an LE.
    It has a special channel between the bathtub and the top of the fuel
    tank. To remove the tank first drop the engine subframe ....
     
    crn, May 23, 2009
    #3
  4. SD

    Beav Guest

    Try changing a cam chain on a VN 750. First remove back wheel and swingarm,
    work forwards until you reach the point where the engine is on the floor and
    then you can start thinking about getting anywhere near the fucker.


    --
    Beav

    VN 750
    Zed 1000
    OMF# 19
     
    Beav, May 23, 2009
    #4
  5. SD

    T i m Guest

    Sounds as much fun (and a similar procedure) as greasing the clutch
    splines on my R100RT. ;-(

    T i m
     
    T i m, May 23, 2009
    #5
  6. SD

    Colin Irvine Guest

    Your replies remind me of that bit in Shirley Valentine. She's musing
    about blokes' abilities to change conversations to their advantage. It
    goes something like "You say you like the Spring, and he says he
    prefers the Autumn, and before you know it you're talking about the
    Autumn when you wanted to talk about the Spring".

    FWIW I sympathise with your speedo cable problem, and have no anecdote
    of my own with which I wish to top it.
     
    Colin Irvine, May 24, 2009
    #6
  7. SD

    malc Guest

    There may be a workaround on that one. Someone on Phil Hawkesley's site has
    a novel way of greasing the splines on his oilhead.
    http://www.bmbikes.org.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=9200
    Remove the starter motor. Get a piece of thin tubing and bend it so that it
    will reach the splines on the clutch. Mix up some moly powder and
    isopropanol. Dip tube into mixture and put your thumb over the other end of
    the tube to stop the fluid running out. Then you can reach into the clutch
    housing and let the fluid dribble out carefully over the splines.

    --
    Malc

    Rusted and ropy.
    Dog-eared old copy.
    Vintage and classic,
    or just plain Jurassic:
    all words to describe me.
     
    malc, May 24, 2009
    #7
  8. SD

    Eiron Guest

    That's a woman's trait.

    Ask a bloke what x plus y is, and the answer is z.
    Ask a woman and the answer is 'You don't love me any more'.
     
    Eiron, May 24, 2009
    #8
  9. SD

    T i m Guest


    Hey, thanks, that looks easier! I had considered there must be a way
    of installing some sort of permanent lube tube but never got round to
    exploring it.

    We were on one of our family holiday tours and had got as far as our
    first campsite, Leek in Staffs. I was two up (with daughter), fully
    loaded and towing. The Mrs was also towing a D10 behind her XV750
    (first time).

    The next day daughter and I popped out with now empty trailer to
    collect summat I'd won on eBay when all of a sudden, whilst cruising
    along at 50 mph it felt like it had jumped out of gear. No jabbing the
    gear lever found a gear so we coasted to a halt onto the pavement of a
    motorway flyover. I popped the bike on the stand, put it in first and
    I could turn the rear wheel to the sound of something slipping, like
    gearbox / clutch splines.

    The AA were called and delivered us the 175 miles home and I then
    returned to Leek in the car to finish our two week 'motorcycling'
    trip. ;-(

    Upon our return I stripped the gearbox and found the clutch / input
    gears worn through, not something I expected for a 34K 'dealer
    serviced' bike?

    While I was replacing the shaft I replaced all the bearings, springs,
    detents and seals but gave the actual rebuild to said Mr Hawkesley
    (summat best done by someone who has been there before).

    It still sits in box under the stairs. ;-(

    This year I hope to clear out the workshop and make room for that bike
    lift I've always promised myself making all this bike work much more
    predictable than doing it in the back yard.

    T i m
     
    T i m, May 24, 2009
    #9
  10. SD

    Beav Guest

    The work still doesn't get done, but it doesn't get done in far more
    comfortable and pretty surroundings.

    --
    Beav

    VN 750
    Zed 1000
    OMF# 19
     
    Beav, May 24, 2009
    #10
  11. SD

    T i m Guest

    You may well be right!

    However the workshop really should get done. Too many loose ends and
    more projects then I'm (realistically) ever going to getroundto so
    I've gotta do some sorting.

    Cheers, T i m
     
    T i m, May 24, 2009
    #11
  12. SD

    malc Guest

    I wish I had a bike lift. I did the service on the oilhead last weekend
    including rocker endfloat and what have you. I spent 3 hours hunched over
    the blessed thing and put my back out. It still isn't right now (back not
    bike).

    --
    Malc

    Rusted and ropy.
    Dog-eared old copy.
    Vintage and classic,
    or just plain Jurassic:
    all words to describe me.
     
    malc, May 24, 2009
    #12
  13. SD

    T i m Guest

    Not good.

    I'm still ok crawling about on the ground (only 52) it's just not
    always as nice / easy as doing stuff sitting on a stool beside the
    bike and having your beer / tea at hand in front of you. ;-)

    Initially I set out the door end of the workshop with bike-space and
    just shallow shelves (for cans of oil etc). Then I fitted some of that
    1m deep blue / orange industrial racking so lost the bike working
    space.

    I intend to at clear that out first then go from there. ;-)

    T i m
     
    T i m, May 24, 2009
    #13
  14. SD

    malc Guest

    I think my garage would be better if I could throw out some of the junk
    that's accumulated. As it is there's just about enough space to sit on the
    floor either side of the bike. At 46 I ought to be more limber, I do go
    caving so I ought to be a bit more agile. I put the bad back down to being
    stuck in one awkward position for half an hour at a stretch.

    --
    Malc

    Rusted and ropy.
    Dog-eared old copy.
    Vintage and classic,
    or just plain Jurassic:
    all words to describe me.
     
    malc, May 24, 2009
    #14
  15. SD

    platypus Guest

    I need a bike lift. And a parts washer. And a slightly less complex bike.
     
    platypus, May 24, 2009
    #15
  16. SD

    T i m Guest

    The problem is you can guarantee the instant you throw something away
    you will need it. It's when you look for a replacement you realise how
    rare, expensive, dangerous it is to replace it. ;-(
    Hmmm, not something I've ever fancied that's for sure.

    I was helping our daughter with some chainsaw practice round my mates
    back garden (small wood) the other day and we ended up with a tree cut
    into 3 x 10 chunks. The idea is we re-plant them for her to practice
    felling (gob and back cuts, nice parallel hinge etc) ready for her
    CS31 ticket. These sections were about 9-10" in diameter and she found
    it hard to even roll one. I just picked each one up, first onto my
    knees then to waist level and carried them to were we wanted them. I
    think she was quite surprised. I really think there is something in
    this mind_over_matter stuff ... women lifting cars off of trapped kids
    etc.

    Another thing I get used for is a bottle opener. She can't get a good
    grip on those plastic topped orange juice and fizzy drink bottle tops
    (where you have to break the seal as you unscrew) and sometimes she
    can't even hold the bottle still while I twist the top off. ;-)
    I can't remember the last time I got up after sitting cross legged on
    the floor for a while and actually been able to feel my legs straight
    away! ;-(

    T i m
     
    T i m, May 24, 2009
    #16
  17. SD

    T i m Guest

    I actually had a second hand one out of a workshop but it got left
    round a mates and got throw away when he had a clear out.
    I've got one a baby one of them:

    http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cw2d-bench-mounted-parts-washer

    I still have a cabinet mounted one made from one of those large tough
    grey plastic storage boxes and a fine mesh-protected drain into a 25l
    holding tank. There is a second tank and I used to alternate between
    them (allowing the sediment to settle).
    The most complex bike currently in our stable is the Yamaha Majesty
    250. To be fair it's only marginally more complex than the rest
    because it's liquid cooled so has thermostat, rad, hoses, water pump
    and fan etc.

    The GPZ 550 could also be considered complicated (in comparison with
    the MZ for example) because of it's rear disk, 4 carbs, anti dive,
    uni-trak, electronic fuel gauge thingy and air assisted shocks.

    Still, luckily none of them have any EMUs, fuel injection, ABS or CAN
    buses.

    T i m
     
    T i m, May 24, 2009
    #17
  18. Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, platypus
    ]
    You have full and unfettered access to both, whenever you need them.

    We can even supply a sleeping pit, just say the word.

    --
    Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

    I have already made the greatest contribution to the fight against climate
    change that I can make: I have decided not to breed. Now quit bugging me and
    go and talk to the Catholics.
     
    Wicked Uncle Nigel, May 25, 2009
    #18
  19. SD

    platypus Guest

    I suppose adoption is out of the question?
     
    platypus, May 25, 2009
    #19
  20. Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, platypus
    That... depends. Which way?

    Seriously, the offer's there.

    --
    Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

    I have already made the greatest contribution to the fight against climate
    change that I can make: I have decided not to breed. Now quit bugging me and
    go and talk to the Catholics.
     
    Wicked Uncle Nigel, May 25, 2009
    #20
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