Repairs in progress By Guitarman (Read 1,004 times)

[Guitarman]

Did anyone get the license plate from the truck that ran me over?

I just spent about 4 hours searching out screws and bolts to get the plastic off my bike. Finally got it free and there was the fork right in front. After fighting with the pinch bolts I decided to look in my Haynes scooter book and see why the stupid things spin but won't come out.

Found the screw on lock cap and was able to change them out no problem. If I hadn't been hurting so badly at that point I might have put the correct one on the right side. As it was, it only took 2 or 3 minutes to swap them out once I realized what I did.

About that time it started to rain and so I covered it with a tarp, clamped it down and took all my plastics in the back yard and sat down and cleaned them up. They were black with oil. dirt and grease. The old fork had ruptured and all the damping oil had blown over the entire right side, covering the plastic with a thick layer of crud. They are blue again.

While I have it apart, I'm going to install my new HID headlights, new ignition switch and clean up the wiring in there. I might add one of those $20 bike radios with a SD card slot from ebay. Speakers are already mounted, why not?

Do I have to take the dash off to get to the ignition switch? I hope not, but I suspect I will.

In the meantime, I'm in serious need of a bike lift and a masseuse. ;D

[Bashan]

I don't have your bike, I ride a Fashion. Y'all can quit giggling, it's the name of the bike. However, the ignition switch on my Fashion is held on the dash with a collar. I don't think any of the bikes need the dash off to work on the ignition switch. Expose the rear of the switch (grow up kiddies) by removing the front cowling and then there's a collar on the dash holding the switch against the dash. Take that off and the switch comes out of the dash from the back to front of the bike. I hope you're OK from your accident. When I was bumping around Toledo as a musician I was always paranoid about getting in an accident and not being able to play a gig. If they call and you say no a few times they quit calling. There was a friend of mine that played trumpet and burned his lip on hot pizza. He had a helluva time getting jobs again after he healed up. Rich

[Guitarman]

Rich,
The line about the truck is an old joke. Sorry, I did not get hit. I have Diabetic Neuropathy combined with compressed disks and nerve damage in my lower back. That's why all the pain. Frankie and I have quite a bit in common on that side.

The ignition. I did have to take that dash off to get to it. It's mounted to the backside of the handlebar mount and you simply can't get to it unless you happen to be Mr. Fantastic.

I got it traded out with the new one and YAY she started. But wouldn't keep running. She just slowly died out. Started the same way, I had to really pour on some gas to get it to run and keep at an idle.

So NOW what?

[Guitarman]

So, it's taking me much longer to get this done than I had originally planned on. If I wasn't sitting in the scorching sun all the time, I think I would have had it done by now, but the heat just takes the life out of me. So I only get about 2.5 to 3.5 hours at a time to work on it.

Since I'm not a mechanic, I'm taking quite a bit of time to get it done. I'm also waterproofing all the electrical connections as I go. And I clean everything also. I find it amazing how much dirt gets up under the plastics. And in areas that are almost completely blocked off.

Right now, I'm finishing up my HID headlights, then I'm going to fix the leak in my rear brakes. The left brake handle just flops around now. It was getting soft, but now I have no choice but to fix it.

Any ideas from anyone or tips on getting it done quicker? Brakes and electrical?

[Guitarman]

YAY!!!
Its running. Not well, but its running and my new headlights are SWEEEEET!!! ;D
Just need to finish putting the front end back together and then I can start the freak out over the valve adjustments.

[Guitarman]

It's been raining on Oahu for the last 2-3 days now. Anyone on Oahu have a garage I can use?

[Guitarman]

About time:

Closing up the front end....


Left side...


And the right....


HID headlights installed.
Now I just need to meter the battery and set the valves and hopefully that will solve everything! Oh, Almost forgot! Fix the rear brakes!

[Guitarman]

Well, It's not perfect, but its running. Going out for a cruise, maybe it just needs to be ridden to shake the bugs out.

[kz1000st]

Yay! May the Force be with you.

[richardthescooter2]

Yeah Guitarman, I have the same problem with my feet, and have had the front of my scooter off several times, I installed 35W light in mine.

[Bashan]

That makes three of us RTS2. It sucks doesn't it? Sorry Guitarman, your thread just kinda fell through the cracks. I wasn't ignoring you, it just slipped by me. Hey, did you check your fuel pump? It sounds to me like you're not getting proper fuel flow. Rich

[scooter49]

Your scoot looks like mine, a year ago. It blew over in a thunderstorm. Luckily had full coverage insurance- so was out no money fixing it up..

[Guitarman]

Oh for the love of riding!

I took the bike out and ragged it hard on the freeway and something blew out the back end and suddenly it was running like never before. I was doing 65 - 70 on WOT. It was flipping awesome. So after some time (a month or two maybe) I smelled an electrical fire. My HID's were crossed somewhere and melted my positive battery cable. WHAT?!!
Soooo.... Since I'm NOT a mechanic, I get my bike back from the shop tomorrow, fixed up and new brakes as well.

As soon a I get it home, it's on Craig's list so I can afford to pick up the nice '07 Honda Shadow Aero I have my eye on. She who must be obeyed only allows me one bike at a time...

[Guitarman]

Had login troubles. I didn't abandon you all on purpose...

[Bashan]

We know bud, we're cool. I had the same thing happen on my Fashion. It suddenly got faster and louder. The PAIR canister blew:

[

The thing is then it runs leaner because the air is moving at a greater volume through the system. Check all of your hoses and see if there's a problem.

OK, and then an electrical problem? I'll have to put that on hold for a bit.