What did you do to your Yamaha today?

This year it will be a GoPro... if we can get some warmer weather

 

I got caught in a downpour on the way home from work today. Thankfully I had my rain suit on, but I was stuck in traffic during the worst part, so I just sort of had to sit there and let my helmet get soaked.

That aside, I think I actually like riding in the rain. Gotta be a little more cautious about traction, but the air cooled engine seems really happy to get water sprayed on it while I ride. And I enjoy the pitter patter sound against my helmet.

 

If you don't ride in the rain you aren't a real rider.... I have had some real memorable, in a good way, rides in the rain. I like riding in the sunshine better but the rain isn't always a bad ride.

 

Went for a longer ride across town today. When I got to my destination, I noticed I was missing something…





I’m assuming this heat shield on the exhaust pipe doesn’t do anything besides look nice and keep my foot cooler… right? Even so, I’m still bummed about it. I guess the bracket holding the back of it on rusted through. That thing was welded, so I don’t think there’s any repairing this unless I replace that whole part of the exhaust.

 

I have a couple that I have removed to clean up/repair the exhaust box. You can have them for the cost of shipping from 27511. You will have to weld them back on but I am not going to use them.

 

Dangit! Went to wipe the grimy fork oil off and it just crumbled in my hands. Something else I have to fix.



Brakes are lookin' spiffy though.



The speedo gear was feeling kinda crusty and looked a bit rusty...but by the time I got it cleaned up it was just solidified grease. Gears look good. After a fresh smathering of grease it's smooth as silk.
(forgot to take an "after" shot before I greased it up)



Getting close. I got the plate yesterday. Maybe a test ride tomorrow...

 

I don't know what your brake symptoms are, but most problems can be solved with a brake fluid change. Brake fluid turns to goo over time, and can also solidify.
You'll hear people say that brake hoses can collapse on the inside and cause calipers to stick, that is a myth. The brake hoses cannot do this, all that is needed to fix this problem is a guitar string. Also, check to make sure that your brake rotors don't have oil on them if you have weak brakes. If the calipers aren't leaking there's really no reason to rebuild them

 

It's got one piston dragging and wearing the pad faster than the rest. They're overdue for a rebuild anyway. Also need to change fork oil and rebuild the anti-dive since I cheaped out and didn't do it when I replaced the hoses. Now that I've done the 900 its fresh in my mind so should be a breeze. Might as well do it all at once.

Just gotta get the 900 finished up and out of the way, then do some work in the KLR, then get the exhaust fixed on the Shadow, THEN I should have room on the table for the 750.

 

It's not just the leaks. Corrosion sets up behind the lip of the piston seal, sometimes the piston itself gets a little rust and starts hanging up. To say there's no reason to rebuild other than for leaks is really asking for trouble... ask me how I know.

Do you want to trust your life on some unknown condition brake lines? Again I must say this is some really bad and borderline dangerous advice. Brake hoses can swell internally and act as a check valve of sorts with the higher pressures during application pushing the walls out slightly more, return is only the release of pressure which will drop to a point where the swollen wall will hold the fluid back slightly and drag the pads. This is the collapsing that people often refer to that however is mislabeled is real and potentially dangerous. Only thing a guitar string is going to do is compromise the interior of the brake line, sorry but you're not working on my bike.

 

Yes, I've seen brake hoses "close up", also seen Ali corrosion under seals make them bind up. So a calliper rebuild every few years seems sensible - what's the recommendation?

 

Yamaha recommends that your brake calipers should be rebuilt every 2 years.
Yamaha recommends that your master cylinder should be rebuilt every 2 years.
Yamaha recommends that your brake hoses should be replaced every 4-5 years.

 

I don't think there's any hard numbers for when you should rebuild the calipers but personally I'd say to check them out every season at the minimum especially if you ride in the rain or regularly wash the bike. I like to check the pistons to make sure they're free moving by using C-clamps and seating them fully and pumping them up again. This will also push out any air bubbles and give me a good feel for how things are moving while extending out the dust boots for inspection and cleaning. I'm also going to order a set of the stainless lines from Chacal for my eventual conversion to a top side brake master.

And of course Chacal beats me to the POST button.

 

There you go, fixed that for you.
Other than that, what you wrote is drivel.

 

So what did I do to my Yamaha today? Ordered up a set of stainless brake lines from Chacal.

 

Took a 60 mi. ride to BassPro to pick up a new rifle.

 

Today I:

Installed self made brake lines for the AntiDive system
Installed a Messner Throttle assembly
Installed a Helicoil in two brake bleeder ports
Installed new brake speed-bleeders from Russel
Designed in cad a mounting bracket for the taillight
Installed front turn signals to test this location for them
Fabricated an air intake plenum with internal velocity stacks,(just need to weld them on)
Installed heat shrink braided loom on a few lights and other components
Prepped the horn bracket to be cut apart and modified for Suzuki horns
And ordered a large lot of things on ebay.

I think that covers most of what I did today so far.

 

Sounds like you had a busy but productive day. Good for your XJ.

 

First summer-like day here. Got the 750 and 1100 out to shake off the cobwebs. I use a maintainer through the winter, but the battery in the 1100 was weak, likely needs replaced. Jumped it and got it started. The 750 decided to be more dramatic with a stuck float. Cranked and sputtered until it puked gas and oil out the airbox. Fixed the float and did two oil changes to purge to gas. Time to ride.

 

I cheaped out and just used some DupliColor ceramic enamel. I'll probably regret it, but obviously the factory coating wasn't all that resistant to brake fluid either since half of it had peeled off. Worst case I guess I paint it again.

I debated back and forth on the gloss vs satin. Kind wish I had gone satin since the gloss looks quite a bit shinier than the original. Maybe it will look more natural once it gets a little dirt on it.

I also modeled up a full set of 3D printable caps to cover all the various holes that shouldn't be painted. Worked awesome. At some point I'll stick them in Thingiverse and post in the 3D printing forum.

 

Use some satin clear coat over it............

 

True. Or just another coat of black that's not as glossy. Unfortunately, this is the type of paint that you have to wait 5 days if you don't add coats within an hour. I really need to get this project wrapped up. The honey do list is going to take over soon...

 

I say l cannot concentrate on the to do list until my bike is fixed .

 

Just waiting for my stainless brake lines to arrive, need another excuse to work on my bike.

 

I bought an untitled 550 Maxim switched tanks, kept the carbs and and grab bar, switched a couple of turn signals and put it back up for sale on Facebook Marketplace in Minneapolis, Minnesota for $400 or best offer. If anyone on the Minneapolis area is interested, let me know.

The Frankentank goes with it (the one that's pop riveted, JB Welded, and Por 15 lined) I tested the tank with some windshield washer fluid and it didn't leak but the bike was for my son so I thought it best to give him an unpatched tank (I've discussed that the tank is patched).