HW's Inaugural Maintenance

sixpack577 said:
I was wondering the other day how this project was going; what else do you have left to do to it now?
Click to expand...

Subtract stripping the bike, pulling the fork, draining the oil, changing the coolant, and swapping the stator cover. Remaining is a lot. I deliberately did not iterate little upgrades I am doing to introduce some surprise to the gang.

I have a tuned fork. This next step has been waiting: install the fork, mount the tires, mount the wheels, and drop the bike to compress the spring to get a shock bolt past the frame to remove it. I wish I would have done that first but there was no indication in anything that I read that some load is required.
 
Hayabusa Wannabe said:
Subtract stripping the bike, pulling the fork, draining the oil, changing the coolant, and swapping the stator cover. Remaining is a lot. I deliberately did not iterate little upgrades I am doing to introduce some surprise to the gang.

I have a tuned fork. This next step has been waiting: install the fork, mount the tires, mount the wheels, and drop the bike to compress the spring to get a shock bolt past the frame to remove it. I wish I would have done that first but there was no indication in anything that I read that some load is required.
Click to expand...

Can you not just lower the swingarm down on to a stool, chair, block of wood, or anything to compress the shock?
Or just push the wheel into the swingarm and slide the axle through it, you don't need to reassemble it all.
If there is no tire on the wheel, put a towel down to prevent scratches, but it won't harm the wheel, it is rigid enough not to bend without a tire on it.
 
sixpack577 said:
Can you not just lower the swingarm down
Click to expand...

I tried this with blocks but the bike is pivoting on the Skylift LOL. Imagine a Three Stooges episode where one tries to compress the back but rotates the bike forward, then back, then forward, scratches their heads, then Moe slaps us all.

The wheels are not bare but have the old tires so I plan to do the tire changes next. It seems to make sense at this point.
 
Hayabusa Wannabe said:
I plan to do the tire changes next. It seems to make sense at this point.
Click to expand...

All of a sudden it is 20°F out. I have no way to warm these to a good temperature nor a conventient inside area to work. As a mathematician would likely iterate at this point, "The planned order of operations is hopelessly mucked." I knew inherently when it was hot, "better get out there and do this" but for "reasons" it was not possible at the time.
 
Hayabusa Wannabe said:
All of a sudden it is 20°F out. I have no way to warm these to a good temperature nor a conventient inside area to work. As a mathematician would likely iterate at this point, "The planned order of operations is hopelessly mucked." I knew inherently when it was hot, "better get out there and do this" but for "reasons" it was not possible at the time.
Click to expand...

Buy a hair dryer, put it in the new tire, inside the house, let it run for 15-20 minutes, it will warm up the tire enough to soften it.
I'de even bring the wheels inside to change them, put a piece of cardboard on your floor if you're concerned that your tire changer may damage the floor in any way.
 
I just read the Captain's message on the forum shutting down, thus I need to update you while I still can. Recently I was notified that I will be laid off. Given the sour lemons I will be making lemonade. Among other things I will have time to get the bike back together with all of the mods and then start on the VFR for the first time. Thank you all for your guidance and for demonstrating that these bikes are modular, not rocket science, and not scary at all. What scaredy-cat would have known this without your input? Not this scaredy-cat.

I love this crowd here. It is so academic. Thank you for your solid professional advice.

While I enjoy photography, I only took photos on my ride because members here are motivated to see photos. Sitting on my hard drive the photo files do nothing. The same with sharing my newfound bike work. I am not in motorcycle circles and thus from here on out the bike life will be solo. I will miss this conversation. It is like talking tech shop at work; just a blast.

Thanks again for your advice and comraderie.
 
They might not be rocket science but there are a zillion things I've learned that are certainly not intuitive. It's very inspiring just to know you have a couple people paying attention to what you're doing. Over and above that, you get solid trustworthy advice. I really need a place like this so lets try to find one where we can all resume.
 
Hayabusa Wannabe said:
I just read the Captain's message on the forum shutting down, thus I need to update you while I still can. Recently I was notified that I will be laid off. Given the sour lemons I will be making lemonade. Among other things I will have time to get the bike back together with all of the mods and then start on the VFR for the first time. Thank you all for your guidance and for demonstrating that these bikes are modular, not rocket science, and not scary at all. What scaredy-cat would have known this without your input? Not this scaredy-cat.

I love this crowd here. It is so academic. Thank you for your solid professional advice.

While I enjoy photography, I only took photos on my ride because members here are motivated to see photos. Sitting on my hard drive the photo files do nothing. The same with sharing my newfound bike work. I am not in motorcycle circles and thus from here on out the bike life will be solo. I will miss this conversation. It is like talking tech shop at work; just a blast.

Thanks again for your advice and comraderie.
Click to expand...

Come to Facebook, if you're not already there.
 
My current job is done and in addition to polishing the headlight on the car that has been scratched for several years, the bike should probably be worked on. I am sitting here contemplating this and began utterly fretting about rust in the tank. It is 04:56. I went out to the garage and low and behold it is a Suzuki miracle! The tank is filled to the line. I thought I may have emptied it so that moving it up and down would be easier. Now I am remembering that even a wimp can lift a tank full of fuel, duh. I suppose my unconscious self is not as dumb as that guy seriously appears in the mirror.
 
Lately I unboxed and put the Rabaconda Street Bike Changer together, watched the company's videos, and wrote out my own numbered procedure.

It is 89°F out and extremely humid. I put the wheels and new tires in the sun and then worked in the sun.

It seemed logical to learn on the smaller front wheel first. I dismounted the tire. That was easy. Breaking the bead on each side only had to happen in one spot. The rest of the diameter easily pulled away. I installed a 90° valve stem. My torque wrench, I thought was going a bit far. So I tested it in the garage. It was only clicking on 20-30 in-lbs but at 84 was not breaking. (How to loosen it after sitting unused?) I tightened the nut and twisted the valve. I figured that my gauge would be if I could rotate the valve it was too loose. So I tightened the nut just to the point where the valve stopped rotating with moderate force. Let us call that exactly 7.4 ft-lbs. Thoughts?

Mounting the tire the first time it got too taut. I heard a little cracking. I used a mallet to back it out from where it was stuck. I found a few rubber shavings in the tire. The next attempt I made sure to (follow the darn instructions) keep using my hands to push the tire into the drop center giving the mounting portion plenty of give. It then mounted easily.

Generating a little sound of crackling, did I damage the cords in the sidewall folding it over too aggressively?

I was not outside a long time but it is miserable out, so that is it for today.

Perhaps I will continue with the rear wheel tomorrow. It is going to get cooler out. Hopefully the sun will shine which will still heat up everything adequately.
 
Hayabusa Wannabe said:
Lately I unboxed and put the Rabaconda Street Bike Changer together, watched the company's videos, and wrote out my own numbered procedure.

It is 89°F out and extremely humid. I put the wheels and new tires in the sun and then worked in the sun.

It seemed logical to learn on the smaller front wheel first. I dismounted the tire. That was easy. Breaking the bead on each side only had to happen in one spot. The rest of the diameter easily pulled away. I installed a 90° valve stem. My torque wrench, I thought was going a bit far. So I tested it in the garage. It was only clicking on 20-30 in-lbs but at 84 was not breaking. (How to loosen it after sitting unused?) I tightened the nut and twisted the valve. I figured that my gauge would be if I could rotate the valve it was too loose. So I tightened the nut just to the point where the valve stopped rotating with moderate force. Let us call that exactly 7.4 ft-lbs. Thoughts?

Mounting the tire the first time it got too taut. I heard a little cracking. I used a mallet to back it out from where it was stuck. I found a few rubber shavings in the tire. The next attempt I made sure to (follow the darn instructions) keep using my hands to push the tire into the drop center giving the mounting portion plenty of give. It then mounted easily.

Generating a little sound of crackling, did I damage the cords in the sidewall folding it over too aggressively?

I was not outside a long time but it is miserable out, so that is it for today.

Perhaps I will continue with the rear wheel tomorrow. It is going to get cooler out. Hopefully the sun will shine which will still heat up everything adequately.
Click to expand...


I think that the valve stem is fine.
I stopped torquing 90° valve stems a long time ago, as the 7.4" lbs always let me turn the stem...which is no good, so now I just snug them...basically what you did.
As for the Rabaconda Street, after changing over a dozen tires on it...it has really lost it's appeal to me...and I no longet recommend it to anyone...I even emailed Rabaconda.
It gets the job done...but is nowhere near what it is made out to be, a pretty effortless tire machine...which it is Not.
If it was $200, sure, it works better than any manual changer out there, but for $800...it's not even close to being worth it, as for a grand I can buy a new hydraulic/electric changer.
Some tires go on easier than others, as some go right on...and others seem nearly impossible, no matter what manual method you use, regardless, every tire I've mounted with the Rabaconda street has fought me.
I thought that it would get easier with some practice, but not so.
If you don't have room for an actual electronic tire changer, or need to change tires trackside or anywhere without electricity, then fine, otherwise, this thing is way overpriced and takes too much effort.
Again, it does the job, but I apologize for ever recommending it.
I hope that the other tire goes on well for you.
As for damaging the tire on install, if it's holding air you're fine.
 
The front is always a lot harder than the rear. Bigger tire, I guess it stretches more easily. I've only used tire irons and an ordinary tire mounting stand. New rim protectors and that NoMar seaweed lube help a lot. I've always found it very rough job though. I don't change tires often enough to get good at it. I was thinking about getting one of the top of the line No-Mar tire changers some years back. If I get CF rims, that would be the only thing I'd try short of going to a well trusted tire shop.
 
Good stuff @sixpack577, thanks.

I can say that I had the alignment off and caused my own grief. My very first tire change provided several lessons in geometry.

We shall see about inflation. I do not think my tiny portable unit will work so I may have to transport the wheels to the gas station.

I had made a complete plan for a No-Mar including specifying a nice plywood base. I am down to my final square inches in the garage and that eliminated a larger unit. The Rabaconda is the best compromise for me, that is all good.
 
Hayabusa Wannabe said:
Good stuff @sixpack577, thanks.

I can say that I had the alignment off and caused my own grief. My very first tire change provided several lessons in geometry.

We shall see about inflation. I do not think my tiny portable unit will work so I may have to transport the wheels to the gas station.

I had made a complete plan for a No-Mar including specifying a nice plywood base. I am down to my final square inches in the garage and that eliminated a larger unit. The Rabaconda is the best compromise for me, that is all good.
Click to expand...

If you can get them to hold air, but the bead(s) won't seat, try bouncing the tire on the ground, sometimes that's all it takes.
My compressor is small too, and I have seperate big tank that I fill, and sometimes it's enough, other times I have to take them to my Dad, as he has a big compressor.
 
Pro tip: Put a big rock under the frame to hold up the bike while you swap tubes on the side of the road and curse the invention of rim locks...

0008560-R1-005-1-M.jpg
 
Hayabusa Wannabe said:
I would push but if things went as usual for this wimp, it would push back and I would get trapped underneath it. The news would say, "He was killed in a slow speed bike accident" and my heirs would be forever embarrassed. No thanks.
Click to expand...

Lmao
No...Goldwings only lean over so far, then they just lay on their crashbars.
A great design for such a big bike...but I like the joke!
 
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