Another dirty PO trick

So, I am trying to get these handlebars off an XJ750. Having looked at the manual, I know that there is a shroud and a bolt underneath. So there's this nice round thing about the size of a half dollar with a smooth round top. There's a seam underneath so I am trying to figure out a way to pop it off. Nothing works, so I say to heck with it and take a drill to the middle of the rounded top thinking I would drill through the shroud and then pry it off from the middle.

In drilling I find I am removing some stuff pretty easily. Would you believe that the moron had filled the allen head bolts with some kind of wood putty and painted over the damned things?! I had to clean out those holes, scraping them with a small screw driver till I could fit an allen ratchet head into the hole and hammer it in far enough to grip! A little ratchet work from there and they were off.

What kind of moron fills bolt heads with putty and then paints over them? Arrrrrggggggghhhhh!

 

You mean I shouldn't be doing that?

kidding...

 

Pretty sure the bikes came with little plastic plugs in those allen holes. one of my bikes still had them in there.

 

Yeah, that's what the manual refers to as "shrouds". That isn't what was on this.

 

Wow amazing what some people will do. I can't think of a single reason to do that.

 

I would bet the allen hoes were rusting so the PO filled then and gave them a shot of paint. Just to make it look better.

 

Got another one for you:

Customer of mine just bought a 96 YZF600R. Chain and rear sprocket seem good but the chain is stretching like mad.

Pull the cover off and the worn out drive sprocket has been flipped over to extend it's life (just long enough for a test ride).

 

I highly suspect that that is illegal. I don't believe that falls within the realm of "full disclosure" let alone "good faith" which are legal standards WRT vehicles in most states, any more, I believe. He should be able to take the guy to small claims for the repair.

 

Ever found American sized nuts forced over the rear shock metric stud bolts?
Or automobile hose clamps used on the intake boots?
How about the drain hole from the starter pocket plugged with epoxy putty?
Or the starter solenoid cables swapped so the starter spun backwards?
Just my favorites from this last winter's projects. :roll:

 

If we want to rant about PO.... what sort of moron bends in both sides of the fuel tank using a screwdriver to pry off the "Yamaha" decal that is GLUED there. The same PO takes bondo and fills in the Yamaha /YCIS on the engine crank case cover and then paints them to NOT match the tank or side covers. By the way he did the same bondo trick on the front fork yamaha emblem. He also chopped the pipes and didn't adjust the carbs so it was sputterin and backfiring.

 

hmm, my po must've been lazy, lol

 

old thread, I know, but still fun to look at.....

I just brought in a 750 seca that had the fuse box eliminated......all wires were spliced and soldered straight through------ currently has NO fuses.

the rest of the wiring was just wrapped up onto a ball under the tank

the rear brake rod had broken at some time, and it was overlapped and held together with a metal cable u-clamp.

the seat hinge bolts are two 12p nails pushed through and bent.

the rear axle has a HUGE cotter pin through the hole by the pinch bolt....yeah the hole that you use to pull the axle out with....

The ignition key switch is from a riding lawnmower, and is installed in a metal bracket below the left side cover

the instrument cluster has been removed, and all the wires are spliced, soldered, taped, and stuffed into the headlight bucket.

the speedo is a tiny speedo just sitting on top of the cable, not supported.

rear cowl is removed, and a small flat plate stuck behind the seat with trailer lights mounted on it.

this one will be fun to resurrect....

dave

 

But it's CUSTOM!

:twisted:

 

Love it... Guys in the LBC (Little British Car) world often refer to DPOs (Dumb-arse Previous Owners). Nice to know that some of those DPOs own bikes, too.

So far, on mine...

- Headlight flipped upside-down and bolted onto a piece of sheet metal with self-tapping screws. "Hi-beam is low-beam and vice versa" he said, in explanation.

- Petcock broken - old needle-nose pliers with a large hose clamp around the handle were clamped onto the fuel line when bike not in use.

- "I rebuilt the carbs" - opened them up to clean them, and the bowl gaskets ripped. Rather than sourcing new ones, smeared great gobs of red permatex everywhere, which then made its way into every little passage in the carbs.

Still, it's a hobby...

-D

 

the fork top rubber shrouds are there to stop the allen heads from filling with water, if p.o. didn't have em, that's a reason to fill em up, with putty.
---numpty,
:roll:
stu

 

Pics or it didn't happen. :lol:

All I got from my bikes P.O. is the valve cover, exhaust and spark plugs were all removed, after which the bike was parked outside. As such, I was able to drain over a gallon of rainwater and leaves from my engine, which is why it is now completely disassembled in my workshop.