No riding today , although in OZ we aren't in total lock down , we are limited to travel within our 'region' state of WA is divided into about 7 or so region's. So I've been lucky enough to get some rides in. Today was wash and a bit of polishing. 22yrs old this yr (98 model) 96660 klms ! Not too shabby for her age ... Although some of the plastic is Brittle ... ! cheers capt
Fitted a new radiator guard, only one bolt, how hard can it be? even I can do it … oh bollox, who put the engine bar there? managed it, without needing to loosen the engine bars, though that may have been quicker ...
Since I live in a rural area and we are not on lockdown got a decent ride in today. Started on the Spring bug collection. Stopped at an old abandoned roadside grill and motel from the 1950s by the look of it. I’d like to find out who owns it and get permission to do a photo shoot there. Neat place.
Fitted paddock spools to the street triple, used the $25 pit bull F009C spools with the 0.6 inch spacers so the stick out enough to easily use stand without scratching swingarm finish. Made in the USA, but same price as the Chinese ones at cycle gear. Choose the silver ones, as I figured the colored ones would show scratching.
Can only guess how ypour are feeling @Duckadiledundee , so what plans have you got for your favorite girl today
So in between other lockdown DIY jobs...Number 576 out of Hinckley lives again!!!! The 1995 (bike is 1991)loom only had 4 differences & the indicator connectors changed so no worries really. 1/ By headlights...a connector for a clock(Trophy?) 2/In line fuse 5A for rear brake light. Sits by CDI unit 3/Spare 8 pin connector by the Fuse box & indicator relay. Not checked that one out yet but presumably Trophy again?? 4/ 1 connector for i think the side stand switch looks the same but slightly different as it wont lock together but that easily sorted with a ty rap. Still got a bit of fettling to do as its a struggle to get the battery in so loom has to be moved a little. I could do with new spark plugs. The carbs dont appear to leak so far which is a bonus as i didnt buy a new carb seal kit, just roughed up the seals with brake cleaner.All carb fuel lines replaced as 29yr old ones just went rock hard. .All electrics including the bloody fan which started all this off work. Just indicators to sort with nice waterproof connectors. Loads on Ebay but all come from that real popular place...China. Need to tidy loom behind headlights bolt clocks on & then get into the sticking calipers at the front. Seal kit on its way for that. roll on MOT
Faced five inches of snow yesterday, but temps got up and all gone this morning. Rolled out the '06 Bonneville and conducted a shakedown ride. Takes a while for the carbs to even out, but I guess I'm just spoiled with the fuelies. Adequate power. it is incredibly drafty today and I kept getting blown around the road in the gusts. Seems like everything works. One problem to address is the RPMs hang up on throttle off and slowly taper off. Slides are OK, so I guess this is a lean condition. Looking for vacuum leaks now. I guess exhaust valves could also cause same. Tamper plugs still over the mixture screws. This machine has been sitting for a while, so perhaps I will run it and see if things sort themselves.
Since your in the USA, I would highly recommend non ethanol gas, costs about 50 cents more, but cheaper than any repairs or even roadside issues.
Thanks for that. Fairly hard to come by in corn soaked Iowa. I try to use 91-93 Octane for the boys, but BP's non-ethanol version is only 91. Out in the pasture, the Co-op's all are ethanol. It's almost treason not to use.
Quik trips have it around here in KS, don't recall the octane, I buy it 6 gallons at a time for carburetor lawn equipment etc. Don't know about Hi-vee if that's what you have. Spent a Christmas break building baseball fields in Creston, IA cold as hell. Spent countless hours in aircraft ran by ICM (the ethanol kings) as a consultant, pretty sure we weren't burning ethanol.
Try this site. I live and die by it. https://www.pure-gas.org/ "Ethanolization is the most monstrously conceived and dangerous communist plot we have ever had to face."
I would have to agree somewhat, it's a chess game of supply and demand for fuel, and it's just a heavily subsldized pawn when crude oil is up in price. The percentage listed of ethanol is the maximum, so my $1.33 fuel per gallon may not contain very little, as the ethanol probably costs more to produce than gasoline right now.
