I'm shit at fixing bikes. Resolution: Do not attempt to fix anything myself. That is all.
Hmmm...I'm guessing you've rounded some screws or snapped a bolt head or a spark plug. Oh, or you can't get a brake bled. Or you've popped the pistons out of a caliper whilst changing brake pads? Wow, there's so many things you could've ballsed up!
Flatish springy bits perchance? My problem with this job on Brembos at least is losing the little pingfuckit clip off the rod thingy that goes through the holes in the pads. -- +-------------------------------------------------------------+ | Pete Fisher at Home: | | Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest Yamaha WR250Z | | Gilera GFR Moto Morini 2C/375 | +-------------------------------------------------------------+
Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, BGN Y*T*C. Look, you've got a standing invite from me and the Spic to visit WUNderland, watch, look, learn and make tea. I suggest you do just that next time something needs fettling on your bike. -- Wicked Uncle Nigel - Podium Placed Ducati Race Engineer as featured in Performance Bikes and Fast Bikes WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41 SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner", Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big" Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha Vmax Honda ST1100 wiv trailer
Yes, one of those. I purchased new EBC pads of the correct type from Shoppe. Opened the Book of Lies and the process looked pretty straightforward. Take old ones out, put new ones in, take off brake fluid filler cap if needed to push pistons back. RHS pads went in fine. LHS pads really not in a good condition at all, worn past the warning marker and had started to grind away the metal sleve(?) that the pads go in. Much more wear on the left pads than the right (although not even wear between the inside and the outside pads on the left) I tried to get the new pads in the left but they wouldn't fit. I pushed the pistons back with my fingers as best I could but I can only fit on side in. You may remember that a while back I mentioned my front brake was seizing slightly. Motorcycle Shoppe said they'd fixed it during the service (This isn't Cheriton Motorcycles, which shitted up the ER-5's brakes before, but that other one in Folkestone (can't remember the name!), but not Alford Bros.) but from the look of this the LHS pads had been siezing for quite some time. It seems that motorcycle dealerships close to me have quite a problem with brakes. The only dealership that I do trust now is Alford Brothers. They aren't cheap, they are a Suzuki main dealer and they probably have half a clue. I shoved the old pads back in (new ones too thick for a caliper that isn't willing) and then noticed a small flat springy bit about an inch wide was sitting beneath the front wheel. Not sure what it does exactly, but goes towards the bottom of the pads on t'other side near the holding pin. Can't get it back in the RHS caliper where it fell out from at the moment. The long and short of it is I need to get that LHS caliper looked at anyway if it's seizing and has been grinding the bits at the side of the sleeve away and also need to get that springy bit back in RHS caliper and also have a good look at the RHS caliper as it's, err, moving a tiny tiny bit when mauled around. Pay day on 15th (wahay!) so will either get Alford Bros. to pick it up and make it happy again or will ride it up there as it's only 7Km away.
I was going to visit Mr. Courier later on in the month to work out why my front brakes made a noise but couldn't really leave it that long.
<snips tale of woe> Sounds truly gumption evaporating. So glad I took my first faltering steps in motorcycle maintenance on bikes that were so old and shite that the consequences could be shrugged off - probably rare classics though now some of them. <remembers bodged tuning of Excelsior Talisman twin with shame> In fact my first engine strip was a Suffolk Colt two stroke motor mower engine that had been my grandfathers [1]. Go that to run on paraffin as an experiment. You really need to start by getting familiar with spanner twiddling on something routine that is not likely to be stuck or otherwise bolloxed. Having said that the 5 minute job that turns in to 5 hours is not unknown to me. Take WUN up on his offer to demonstrate the stuff that is not in any book of lies. A good and trustworthy 'mecco' is worth every penny though if you can find one. -- +-------------------------------------------------------------+ | Pete Fisher at Home: | | Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest Yamaha WR250Z | | Gilera GFR Moto Morini 2C/375 | +-------------------------------------------------------------+
And all of us. Most recently: "I'll put that nice shiny new front mudguard onto the Z650, to replace the old rusty one." Two minutes into the job, and trying to undo one of the little bolts that hold the stay on... and it shears straight off. Oh, lovely.
