What did you do to your Yamaha today?

Motorcycles - up to '96

 

Those are tough to beat...

 

this week I installed a new used exhaust collector ,[ PO cut the angle off for straight out slip on's]
and ome mufflers. $134-ebay. and new bridgestone spitfire's RWL tires.
before :

after:

 

Much better...personally I do not like the slash cut mufflers. I bought a stock exhaust earlier this year is in great shape except down pipes were rusted , cleaned them up and painted with high temp barbeque black I really like how they turned out . Your bike looks great!!!!

 

My wife left me alone for the last 3 days worked in garage mostly on my bike , finished my spare set of carbs . Today I put them on and was happy fired up , put my pro motion synch on and it was not far off. Took them back off and put back on the other set of carbs , was actually a good thing I did this the vacuum line at the petcock was split so that is fixed . Bike running soooooo good . Now have put my 3rd set of carbs back together, this set is just parts .

 

Bought a stator removal bolt and a secondhand (original) fuel tank.

 

Replaced my headlight. Someone had updated it previously as it had a Maxtor H4 light, but the lens was real cloudy inside. I worked on it some with paper towels and a paint stick. Got it decently clear but then I could see that the reflector was also pretty cloudy. Cleaning that didn't go so well and I stopped when I saw a spot changing from silver to gold. Decided I'd stick the bulb back in and see how it looked, but the mounting flange came loose from the bulb and that's when I just said eff it and took a drive over to Summit Racing in Arlington. Had been wanting to check that place out since they opened anyway. Cool place, man it's huge! Got my new Hella Vision Plus and picked up a 0-15 psi air pressure gauge for setting my fork pressure.

That was yesterday. Today, I installed aforementioned light and then carried right on into doin my fork seals. Just pushing the bike around the shop and hitting the front brake, the front of the bike would dive terribly. From like one mile an hour speed, lol. Unsurprisingly, there was very little oil in the forks, and what was in there looked like mud. Tearing all that stuff down wasn't too bad, but I had a hard time getting the old seals out of the first fork. Mostly because I was being careful and didn't want to damage the aluminum housing. After I got that apart and saw how everything went, I decided my tire iron would be the perfect tool for the job, and it sure was. That thing popped those seals out in seconds.




Also worked out a little trick with the fork caps. I fought with them a bit coming apart, but going back together I did it on the bike and used a wrench on the handlebar along with a socket to push the cap down. Might not want to do that if you have beautiful new handlebars, but that's not a problem on my bike Left side was even easier than the right side in the picture. I was able to cam the wrench into place so I didn't even have to hold it while I installed the retainer.



Wow, what a difference since the forks are done! It actually feels like I have shocks now and the bike might ride alright. Unfortunately I used 10W fork oil since I didn't read about going to 15W until just earlier today. I suppose I can change it out later if I feel it needs it. Also the o-rings that seal the fork caps are in sad shape and they don't seem to want to hold air pressure. I measured them up and will pick up some new o-rings at the local bearing supply place tomorrow.

 

Replaced start/neutral relay. Neutral light was coming on when I pulled the clutch lever. Diagnosed the problem using the wiring diagram in the Haynes manual and confirmed a bad diode with the multimeter. Found a relay on Ebay for a good price, the new part checked good on the multimeter and BAM, took about a minute to replace it. Neutral light now ONLY comes on when the bike is actually in neutral, yay!

 

it is a nice skill to be able to read a wiring diagram.

 

that would be a nice forum reading and interpreting wiring diagrams

 

It was very satisfying to correctly diagnose and correct the problem using the manual. Especially since I had little or no luck finding solutions to the first couple of things I looked for. I don't know if it's a matter of me getting better with the book or if I just had the right thing to look for this time, but color me happy! It was a great confidence booster and made me feel like I can find the info I need next time a problem comes up.

Of course being able to ask you guys and get a solid answer is great too!

 

learning is the best part of asking questions.

 

OMG finally a nice evening with no rain and warm ...wife said I should go for a ride for half an hour while she cooked dinner( actually love my wife) went out on back roads , there is an S turn as I come out of it see a turtle in road , busy road pulled over and put little fella in weeds ..did my good deed. Felt so good to ride without dodging rain clouds.

 

A dry ride in spring before dinner with the wife's blessing and you saved a turtle, sometimes life is good.

 

Lending my machine to a friend so he and his wife could go for a ride for the first time on separate machines.

 

Rode my bike to work today for the first time this season. Normally a 30-40 minute commute, half on the interstate. Beautiful day!
Planned an alternative route using back and side roads with scenic views on 2 lanes and some twists and turns that would have taken about 1:15. After 15 minutes in, get to road closures due to flooding that were open a few hours before. Couldn’t get across the river. Had to turn around and instead was met with a 1:15 ride through town with traffic and too many stop-lights.

Grumble grumble. The bike wanted to go faster and accelerate, but cars and many stops got in the way.

Despite that, she ran beautifully.

 

tore off my carbs and cleaned them.......normal maint.....if one does not run the bike for a month or so.......the ethanol ( 10% ) out here in CA. with plug the pilot jets up in no time.....

So off they come...easy to clean if periodically done....

 

I def. did something to my Yamaha today. Namely, I bought my brother-in-law's Honda CB 900 F2 (1982). In my defense, for $1000 I get a running bike and a spare as a parts donor. I just hope she can forgive me.

 

Think I will put up a turtle crossing sign short ride and a bigger turtle in the middle of the road , was a quick little devil put him in the weeds , and went for short ride ...clouds looking angry and wind kicking up.

 

I made some adapter sleeves today and finally mounted up my used Harley shocks. The picture shows the steel adapter bushings that I made, the original and Harley rubber bushings, and one of my original rubber bushings installed into the narrowed Harley shock. I actually had it together without the adapters, but the Harley eye is a bit larger diameter which made for a loose fit on the rubber pieces. The adapters are there to take us the slack and I tapered them to help keep the rubber centered up.



I think that about wraps it up until I can get it out on the street and find the things I can't discover by just idling here in the shop. Hopefully it's all good to go! Here's what I've done so far...

Check and adjust valve lash
Replace both tires
Check rear brake shoes
Replace front brake pads
Replace front brake hoses
Replace fork seals/change fork oil
Change engine oil
Change final drive oil
Replace missing rear turn signal lights
Replace horn
Replace headlight
Replace neutral/clutch safety starter relay
Paint the tank and side covers
Clean and polish engine side covers

Not bad I think for the first 5 weeks of ownership of my first motorcycle ever, lol. Soon as I can just get my damn health insurance squared away I'll get out and burn up some gas!

 

Went for a short ride to run an errand , was chilly so put on a a jacket , went through town and hit back road ,no traffic so cranked it up only hit 55 WHEN I looked down my jacket zipper came unzipped I looked like superman with his Cape called it quits as I was at back entrance to my edition . When I was home decided to pull number 1 and 4 plug and check color both were ash gray , slightly lean but I'm going to leave it.

 

Got about an 80 mile ride in. Great weather here in Seattle. First swim in the pool and fishing in the morning

 

Bought a horn today to try and make it so I can hear the horn over the engine noise, installed it and still not a great sound. So clean up contacts at the horn and at the handle bar switch. While I'm at it let's clean the fuse box contacts...... bad move without any pressure two of the holders broke in half. I know they are a week link in the system and had it on the to do list for a winter overhaul. Well I need to ride this summer so down to Canadian Tire and found a 4 fuse holder..... just have to get a cover worked out and make the list of what to order longer.

 

This is one reason most upgrade to the blade type fuse block ,the stock fuse block usually falls apart ,know mine did ...PO had put individual blade fuses bypassing fuse block ...replaced that real fast with a 4 blade fuse block much neater .

 

+1^

 

Stood beside my bike and shivered again this morning. Only 6 degrees Celsius.
We have only had two days above 10 D,C in the morning this entire year so far.
I made a rule years ago it had to be at least 10 degrees in the morning if I was going to ride to work.
I rarely ride on the weekends, other stuff to do like boating.
Which means I have only ridden her twice so far in 2019, which is RIDICULOUS!

Where the hell is the nice weather??

 

Craig B where are you in Ontario? Went for a ride in Durham yesterday cold cold colder.

 

Near Barrie. Temp should be 22+ and still only 13 degrees by mid day and now its raining.

 

you need one of these

 

Installed new stator and brushes

 

In Chicago area ...RAIN and more RAIN and temp in 80s one day down in 60s next and more RAIN I have only rode about 250 miles so far this year...and guess what it is doing right now RAINING ...

 

After rebuilding the carbs, checking the valves, and a few other odds n ends, I was able to get my 750 midnight fired up last night. Have to do sync/colortune yet but it runs pretty darn good. Can't wait to see what it's like on the road

 

Got the sync/colortune/recheck sync done tonight and while slightly tedious at times I am happy with the results. Nice idle, crisp throttle response, and no hanging or anything indicative of any vacuum leaks. New valve cover gasket and oil filter/housing oring seems to have solved at least any major oil leaks. Will keep an eye on that. Have to rebuild a petcock so it doesnt leak anymore then just maybe i can take a lap or two around the block. Oh it got a new set of plugs as well. Trying out some autolites in this one just for the heck of it. Can always go back to ngk

 

Been running Autolites AP63 plugs running great, when I had my Virago this rated best plug to run.

 

One more test drive before the Carb Clinic.

Flooded parking lot near the lake was steaming in the sun. Video would have captured that better.

 

Adjusted the headlight, cleaned out the little passage thing in the brake master cylinder and went for a night ride to check things out. Headlight is way better aimed now, at 80km/h on the back roads around my place I'm not out riding the low beam now. I have one question when did all drivers with LED head lights forget they have low beams? I was blinded 5 times in a 1/2 hour ride or do auto beams not detect motorcycles?

 

Center stand for my bike arrived yesterday, found it secondhand at a wreckers. The PO took it off because reasons. This weekend I'll probably try and strip/derust/prime the outside of the fuel tank and see how well it sits with the new rubbers. Not sure yet how much time I'll have because Saturday morning I'm picking up a second bike (first world problems).

 

If it a used bike at least your recycling....Lodewijk you are a hero saving the planet one bike at a time.

 

I hadn't looked at it that way yet! It's from 1982 (Honda CB900 F2 Bol d'or) so I'll have to paint it green now, I guess.

 

Even better, reMOTORcycling!

 

Leaving for an all day ride in about 20 min. Local poker run, see how many harley's I can upset hahahaha

 

Picked up the new (old) bike today, drove it home through stormy weather. It has a fairing which helped enormously, runs good too! PO was nice enough to drop off the parts bike, and I got that wrapped up until I can put it somewhere out of the weather. Hopefully the weather clears tomorrow so I can do bike stuff. =D

 

picket up another XJ today and brought her home. gonna need a little TLC . she was naked and afraid. 0147 was the last 4 digits of the vin.

XJ900RK. Sent Dave the info to place her in the registry

 

Finally got to go for a real ride ,just short of 100 miles , bike ran fantastic . Only thing it was so windy as I rode south I was having to lean to the left to keep it upright and tracking straight. So headed for home riding west was fine. Bike is so quite with the stock exhaust, of course now it is going to rain.

 

rain suit because everyone needs to know how to ride in the rain

 

New here. Just got a 85 xj700. New battery, electrical connection cleaning, and started cleaning the carb.

 

I've riden in the rain more times than I care to remember. Once rode to Columbus AMA Vintage days , on way back got caught in a total down pour, rode almost 75 miles before it quit , the next 150 miles I dried out

 

^+1
I ride rain or shine just that I do not start out in down pours my season is to short to dry weather ride.
40 degrees is my cold limit just because below that can quickly turn to 32 or less depending which street I ride.

 

Sorry to say I'm a fair weather rider 50 degrees is my limit , a couple of years ago went on a 300 mile ride was low 60's when I started out but once the sun set , going down in hollows was really cold and then fog rolled in . My teeth were chattering I had on Jean's, a Tshirt ,sweat shirt, and a windbreaker my full face helmet by the time I got home 45, i was stiff and tired realized I'm not the young guy I once was.

 

In Scotland it rains a lot l just go out on the bike with the waterproof clothing on. But l will be 60 soon enough and the black ice in winter thats what bothers me.