The Renchin' Retard

[Marc]

Ok, I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to renchin' on the bike, but I get by. Maybe we can start a thread to help those of us who aren't so mechanically inclined when we want to save a few bucks. I'll start.

1). Get fuel tank quick-disconnects installed before you remove the tank by yourself. It'll save you lots of time and hassle and you won't wind up getting gas all over the place.

2). When you finally take the tank off, there is a bolt that holds the tank on - on the right-rear of the tank. There is a nut on the back side of is bolt that's easy to lose. Don't lose it.

3). There are two bolts that attach the front fairing to the frame. It's where you attach the cRAsH bars. Don't mix up the bolt that holds the tank on with one of these. It's the same thread pitch, but longer.

4). It may seem like a good idea at the time, but don't set screws, nuts or bolts on the bike. Use the top from a spray can and put it on a flat, stable surface.

5). It's real easy to over-torque some of these screws, bolts, etc. Get a torque wrench and use it - don't gamble and do it by feel unless you've got some experience.

6). Prolly don't want to have more than a coupla beers while yer renchin - DAMHIK.

7). It's not so hard to knock the bike off the side stand while renchin. Helps if you're fairly fast and strong too. Luckily, I caught the bike.

The next time I do something to my bike, I'll add more. I'm sure I'll have more bonehead tips. I'm absolutely certain.

Marc

[Bill]

Here is tip that I just love. It's easy, free, and might save you some trouble someday. (Credit: This was posted to the micapeak list and I've shamefully repeated it from there.)


When changing fluids in the final drive & tranny, loosen the fill plug before you take out the drain plug.

The fill bolts sometime sieze. If that has happened, you want to know it before you've got the old stuff in the drain pan.

[fish]

Originally posted by Marc

5). It's real easy to over-torque some of these screws, bolts, etc. Get a torque wrench and use it - don't gamble and do it by feel unless you've got some experience.

6). Prolly don't want to have more than a coupla beers while yer renchin - DAMHIK.

Here's a real pain-saver...if you break rule#6, make sure you know the difference between ft-lb and Nm on your torquewrench

[Marc]

Just remembered one more. Not done by me, but by someone on this very board!!! (you know who you are)

8). If you can't find a torx socket to fit, DO NOT just jam a hex socket in and start twistin'. It might work once or twice, but Torx Karma will eventually catch up with you...

Bad Mojo

[Chopperman]

Fuel line quick disconnects SUCK.
They break, they rot, they leak when the o rings wear out. More trouble than it is worth. The fuel lines wont spew fuel if you ease them off. Yanking at them will just make you crazy, blind and have busted parts. coax them. like a sweet young thang yer coaxing into your bedroll.



As for torque values.... try looking at the torque values in a book for thoe small 6 and 5mm bolts. You cheapskates don't have to buy the book, just go look over someone's shoulder. Look at that. Under 10 ftlbs. Now go stick a socket on your big ol torque wrench. Set it at 10ftlbs. oh wait...you got the big one that only goes down to 20? bummer. with it set at ten....turn the socked with your hand.....click. yeah that's how light 10 is. SO with those thin bolts twist em in by hand and then maybe a quarter turn with the wrench. Thisnk which would cost you more: a bolt falling off and hitting a tailgating SUV? Or cracking the fairing and/or stripping out the hole the bolt goes into.




But that is just my opinion.

[Chopperman]

Originally posted by Razorbak


Are these the bolts that you use to adjust the windscreen on a GS, or are you just talking small bolts in general?

BTW, anyone know what the torque specs are for the GS windscreen adjustment bolts?

Small bolts in general. I own an old boxer. A good example is the oil pan bolts. 6mm. people all the time wrench the dogsnot out of them, worried that they will lose the bolts, pan and oil as they ride down the road. The then pan leaks because it was over torqued and warped.

Now you arent going to carry a big ol torque wrench in your bags are you? (don't answer. I'm sure plenty do) so try it with the torque wrench and pay attention to how it feels. Then do it finger tight and 1/4 turn. CHeck it with the torque wrench. I bet it is pretty damned close.

[fish]

Just so we're perfectly clear here...this is a spy shot of Chopperman's toolbox:

[fish]

Originally posted by Razorbak


BTW, anyone know what the torque specs are for the GS windscreen adjustment bolts?

Tighten until you hear plastic cracking, then back off 1/4 turn


Seriously, the GS Repair Manual says "Carefully tighten the securing bolts by hand." No torque specs are given.

[Chopperman]

Originally posted by fish
Just so we're perfectly clear here...this is a spy shot of Chopperman's toolbox:

Well the rainier supply looks low. I'd have to pitch the rest of the slug bait beer. But relatively accurate.

On tightening on plastic. not much ore than finger tight should be just fine. Squinch it too much and the stuff will crack. too loose and it will buzz at speed. I'd rather buzz-tighten-buzz-tighten than crack the corner off 1000 bux in abs.

[Sparky]

The refrigerator stock proves that you are one of great wisdom.

If you had bought $1000 worth of Nortel stock one year ago, it would now be worth $49. If you had bought $1000 worth of Budweiser (the beer, not the stock) one year ago, drank all the beer, and traded in the cans for the nickel deposit, you would have $79.

Drinking heavily is the route to great, uhm, wealth.

- S

[Chopperman]

you paying attention Fish?

[fish]

Originally posted by Chopperman
you paying attention Fish?

yup...

[Sparky]

Originally posted by fish
yup . . .

Sounding yuppie there, fish.

- S

[fish]

Originally posted by Sparky
Sounding yuppie there, fish.

- S

http://www.da-admiral.com/wavs/bigburp.wav

[fish]

Originally posted by Sparky

If you had bought $1000 worth of Nortel stock one year ago, it would now be worth $49. If you had bought $1000 worth of Budweiser (the beer, not the stock) one year ago, drank all the beer, and traded in the cans for the nickel deposit, you would have $79.
- S

Not quite accurate...the NT position would actually be worth $62.50.

Want a worse one? If you had invested $1000 in Exodus Communications one year ago, it would be worth $7.42 today.

But! If you had invested $1000 in Johnson & Johnson one year ago, your position would be worth $1166 today.