What did you do to your Yamaha today?

Today I went on a 200km ride in perfect conditions.... In fact it was almost too hot

 

Today I played around with LED lights. I tried a couple in the instrument panel for neutral and hi-beam indicators. They seem brighter than the old incandescents; but it will take a good sunny day to be sure. I also tried a red LED 1157 for the tail / brake light. I didn't like this one so much. It is so directional that it does not illuminate the whole lens, just a bright spot in the centre. So I put the old bulb back.

Then I played around with exhaust manifold bolts and managed to break one off in the head. Oh well, now I get to go by more tools so I can get the remains out. Just love the tools.

 

You DON'T want Brighter Bulbs in your instruments if you do any riding at night.

You want RED Lights. Just bright enough to read the instrument.
The RED Light will not affect your night vision.

Bright instrumentation will cause your eyes to adjust to the brightness and hinder your night vision appreciably.

 

OK Rick, how about those that cannot see red - what would be a better choice? I am not in that group, but many are.

At night I find the stock white lighting to be actually more like yellow and the needles orange. My goal is to re-fit the needles with something red from another source as described elsewhere in this massive site.

After driving a few Pontiac rentals at night, under that red lighting the gauges seem blurry. Is there a way to sharpen up all this without going red and still maintaining night vision?

 

Orange or Blue.

I repainted the Indicator Needle Arms of my Instruments with Yellow Florescent Paint. You get a better look at the Speed and Revs with the Florescent at night and during the day they stand-out clear as day.

I haven't switched-over my 750 to different Instrument Lights, yet, but when I do I'm using some Blue Bulbs for and exotic looking set of gauges this thime 'round.

 

I'm liking this idea, what are the bulb numbers? no mention of it in the manual, and I haven't pulled the cluster yet. Think blue would be nice... need to track down some florescent paint...

I have new turn signals and mirrors on the way and I need to pull the tank for a repaint, and find a gasket for the gascap :/

Also need new brake line for the front and a master cylinder rebuild.

 

You have to go to a High-line Hobby Shop for the paint. It's used to paint model planes and radio-controlled race-cars and such.

A small Bottle, enough to do a thousand Instrument Needles is about 3-Bucks
If you don't find what you need ... PM me ... you can use some of mine!!!

 

Great tip, Rick...I'll add it to the growing list of "Things I Wanna Do But Never Seem to Have the Time" and try to make the time, rather than mow the lawn this spring.

Hmmm - certain pleasure from a great hobby against certain displeasure from work my wife wants me to do against certain displeasure when she finds out it's not done.

Decisions, decisions. Just wish it would warm up enough to do this stuff before the snow melts.

Started her up today anyway.

 

Drilled (or should I say Dremel'd) out the original brass caps above the idle mixture screws... without damaging the screw heads themselves

 

Oil them with a really light machine oil before you try and move them.

Make SURE ... Darn SURE that the Blade Tip of the screwdriver FITS the Slot with NO free-play.
No wiggle.
No room for the wings of the slot to move anywhere when turning torque is applied.
Those wings are SOFT Brass
You'll think the Screw is moving BUT its only the wings if the screwdriver doesn't fit perfectly.
Keep filing and grinding the tip of a screwdriver until you have a perfectly fitting tool.

 

OK, got my new mirrors and turn signals in the mail yesterday
So that's on my todo list now too... need to make a new mounting bracket for the rears...going to re-locate them, try a few ideas

 

Took the front wheel off.
Unbolted the brake calipers and antidive pistons.
Put wood blocks between the brake pads
Removed the mud guard.
Removed the air union and oring.
Started removing the right fork stantion.

GAVE UP after the stantion stopped moving downward, did move about 4-5 inches down before quiting

 

There's a locating wire C-clip on the tops of those Forks, I believe ... I know they're on the 900 with air and anti-dive.

You have to remove the wire C-clip in order to slide the Fork Tube down out of the Triple Tree. There should be a Pair of O-rings that are inboard of the wire C-clip that cushion the C-clip from hitting the Pinch area of the Tree.

Once you remove that C-clip ... the Fork will slide right straight down and off the bike.

 

Changed my cluster bulbs to blue, and am creating a new needle right now, drained the oil,and removed the front brake caliper . oh and lubed some cables

 

I got my "Back-Off Brake Modulator" installed. It's attached to a trio of LED-type strips above the stock Brake Light Lens on the plastic rear panel between the rails of the rear grab bar.

Pull the Brake Lever or Step on the Brake Pedal causes the LED Strips to flash 5 times very rapidly and then come-on steady with the Brake Light.

Very attention getting.
Resets instantly.
Pump the Brake Lever and you can get those LED flashing 5 or 10 times!

 

Fitted a new Battery bike has not been touched in 8 months fired instantly ran choppy and smoothed out in moments wont have to strip them carbs again woohoo one happy boy!

 

Changed the oil and filter. Should have been done long before now.
Put all back together w/o tightning the oil filter housing all the way.
Started and watched a liter or so pour out
Retightnend and checked level 8)
All is well!

Got the forks back on, along w/ a new speedo cable(Thanks Chacal)

Put anti seize on the oilfilter bolt, and drain screw.

Went for a test ride :twisted:

All is well in Texas

 

Did a quick lube job, changed the oil and filter. Changed out the front/rear sprockets/chain, removed the numerous bolts and screws that have been striped, and am on-going with the paint job. (had to start over twice already) But it's giving me lots of experience working on my first bike!!!
Mac :lol:

 

Removed the guages getting ready to mount the 140mph speedo and replacement tach. Planning how to mount new taillight, and got replacement muffler in mail today.

Dave
Ace of Clubs

 

While waiting for my new jets to come in, the bike is mostly apart. I've been polishing, polishing, polishing. I didn't think my clutch cover could ever have a mirror shine. I also tucked the taillight up under the rear cowling as I saw on somebody's else bike. It looks much better because I always thought the taillight was too big. It looks very neat tucked under there and the reflectors can still catch some light. I also had to raise the plate to get it to look right.

All my work seems to be paying off, as I slipped the carbs on there for just a minute and it fired right up with some starting fluid. The new exhaust sounded great for about 5 seconds.