Author Topic: Mental Note Thread (Read 3813 times)

kuyarico · « **on:** December 06, 2006, 05:46:29 AM »

Being somewhat new to sohc4's(picked up my bike 9/06) I'm bound to make some mistakes while undertaking the repair and maintenance of my 78 550K. Back in the day, when I was a student, I would write things down so I wouldn't forget them before a big test. I will post my bone-headed mistakes and mental notes here so I will hopefully remember not to do it again. Post your own mistakes and mental notes.

As the snow started to fall here in Northern Ohio, I decided that it was time to get into the 550. I cleaned and lubed my drive chain. Replaced the shifter seal. Adjusted the cam chain. And adjusted the valve tappets. While putting the bike back together, I failed to replace the tappet covers for cylinder 1 before starting her up. I also happen to be standing on the left side of my bike(next to cylinder 1) while starting her up. She fired right up. As I stood there admiring my handy work(she was purring), I noticed two tappet covers sitting on my work bench. At that moment I also noticed that I was wearing what seemed like half a quart of motor oil. Mental note: Make sure valve tappet covers are replaced before starting up.

medic09 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 06, 2006, 06:40:12 AM »

That was very professional of you to share that, and allow us to learn from it...LOL.

kuyarico · « **Reply #2 on:** December 06, 2006, 06:41:13 AM »

Maybe I'll embarass myself into not making dumb mistakes

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #3 on:** December 06, 2006, 07:08:59 AM »

I expect we could all use a refresher on the "12 Step No More Dumb Mistakes Program."

medic09 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 06, 2006, 07:32:21 AM »

Quote from: kuyarico on December 06, 2006, 06:41:13 AM

Maybe I'll embarass myself into not making dumb mistakes

Assuming this occupation is like jobs I work, that won't work. We just move on to different dumb mistakes!

I had a boss as a teenager, Howard Marks. A fine, intelligent gentleman. The stairway down to the basement of the store had both walls lined with pieces from sailboats. They were all souveneirs of mistakes and mishaps he'd had over decades of sailing and racing. That way, he made different mistakes instead of repeating the same ones.

Maybe you should hang those oily clothes on the garage wall where you work on your bike.

kuyarico · « **Reply #5 on:** December 06, 2006, 07:42:44 AM »

I will be wearing those oily clothes while working on my bike in case of another brain malfunction.

medic09 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 06, 2006, 08:53:27 AM »

Quote from: kuyarico on December 06, 2006, 07:42:44 AM

I will be wearing those oily clothes while working on my bike in case of another brain malfunction.

okay, that's probably a better choice!

csendker · « **Reply #7 on:** December 06, 2006, 10:24:25 AM »

Oil seals are designed to keep the oil inside the engine, therefore drain the oil before replacing your shifter seal. Not like what I did. Now do I have to chip the oil stain out of my garage floor and mount it on the wall?

eldar · « **Reply #8 on:** December 06, 2006, 11:19:53 AM »

I replaced my shifter seal....wait, now I cant remember if I had drained the oil?

mrbreeze · « **Reply #9 on:** December 06, 2006, 12:37:59 PM »

I remember changing out a starter on a Toyota one time. I had to remove the oil filter to acess the starter.I had the car up on the hoist and after completing the task,got up on a ladder and started the car.I shut it off and restarted it....about 2 or 3 times just to make sure I liked the way the starter sounded. Then...........along comes a co-worker telling me about the big puddle of oil under the car!!!!!!!OOOOOOOOPS!!!!......I had forgotten to put the oil filter back. I only lost about a quart of oil but I sure felt like an ass after that one!!!

medic09 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 06, 2006, 01:27:09 PM »

Ya know, this could turn out to be one of our funnier threads.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #11 on:** December 06, 2006, 01:35:43 PM »

You guys haven't lived until you decide to check the oil level on a Briggs and stratton engine, while it's running!;D (Mental note to terry, stop telling people about dumb things you've done..................)

seaweb11 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 06, 2006, 01:37:32 PM »

When you have just finished a 6 month restoration...check that the fuel lines are connected before getting all excited and pouring fuel into the tank

flyin_ · « **Reply #13 on:** December 06, 2006, 01:42:14 PM »

What a great thread!
When I was younger I loved wrenching on my XL250. I don't remember how many times it took me to remember to put the oil drain plug back in before filling the case up with 4 quarts of oil. Ever notice how the drain plug is always on the opposite side of the bike as the filler hole.
Note to self...check for leaks or missing drain plugs before you put in 4 quarts

what a mess

jdigga · « **Reply #14 on:** December 06, 2006, 01:51:54 PM »

When I was replacing the clutch pushrod seal on my XS650, I wanted to visually see if it was holding or not, so I took off the left engine cover to expose the assembly and started the bike. It was good for about 5 seconds until the pushrod popped out and fresh oil started spewing out. Mental note: place finger on clutch pushrod, apply pressure.

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #15 on:** December 06, 2006, 01:54:51 PM »

I can add to this. I was going through the many month routine of getting my 750 back on the road after 22 years in the back of the garage. I had, among other things, removed, stripped and cleaned the carbs. Reinstalled them and inserted the slides (it has the four separate cable set-up). Somehow, I managed to let one of the slides rotate 180^o. The way Honda designed the set-up, this is almost impossible, yet, I did it.

. Well, when I went to start it, I can tell you that having one of the, carbs essentially at full-throttle, the engine revs pretty high.

Fortunately, shut it down within a sec of two.

kuyarico · « **Reply #16 on:** December 06, 2006, 03:33:16 PM »

I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one that makes mistakes

mrbreeze · « **Reply #17 on:** December 06, 2006, 05:22:12 PM »

We're all just beans.......beings!!!....hahaha!!! Keep the stories coming.......don't be shy!!!

petercb750 · « **Reply #18 on:** December 06, 2006, 05:43:07 PM »

Man, where do you start...........

Changed the oil and filter on CB900F, hit starter, watching for oil light to go out, after a few seconds still glowing, give it a rev, still glowing - why do my socks feel wet, about 2 litres of brand new oil over feet, shed, driveway. Hadn't seated the oil filter housing properly had I. Very embarrassed when I had to go back to my local bike shop and buy another container of oil - mumbled something about how quickly you can rack up miles between services.......

There's heaps of other "moments", and more happening as I get older, but clearly I'm not alone.THANKYOU.

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #19 on:** December 06, 2006, 07:22:13 PM »

I see a new kind of "oil thread." How it got away.

mrbreeze · « **Reply #20 on:** December 06, 2006, 07:30:08 PM »

Well at least so far.....none of us has let them go down the road blowin' oil......or at least coped to it!! Like the thread says...........just make a mental note......double check your work!!!!

Klark Kent · « **Reply #21 on:** December 06, 2006, 09:04:03 PM »

mental note: if you are going to lock a wheel, make it the rear.
-KK

burmashave · « **Reply #22 on:** December 07, 2006, 12:19:25 AM »

Automotive Tip One: Tighten lugs after swapping out wheels. I tend to do simple jobs quickly, with less concern for quality.

It takes me about 15 minutes, start to finish, to swap the wheels on my Integra (without an impact wrench or a high jack). I was especially fast one day because I didn't bother to tighten the nuts of one wheel beyond getting them started. I drove a bit, heard a noise, drove some more, heard the ka-lunk-ka-lunk-ka-lunk. Fortunately, there was no damage.

Tip Number Two: Don't be stupid. I was making a run in my '88 Chevy 3/4 ton (the Lead Sled -- man do I miss it), and I was pulling a rented trailer. About 1 1/2 hours from home, I heard a terrible bearing squeal (Houston, we have no bearing) behind me. Obviously, it had to be the rented trailer, so I drove it hard the whole way back to the rental yard where I unhooked the trailer. Surprise, the trailer was gone, but the deafening nail-on-the-chalkboard squeal was still with me. $:-\$

scunny · « **Reply #23 on:** December 07, 2006, 02:27:59 AM »

I had a Thames 800 Ford Trader, Brits will Know the one, had changed wheels at some stage and on the way to a big night out the van got unstable thru a left hand bend and as I was wondering what tyre was flat I started to go round the following right hand gentle sweeping bend and my left front wheel decided to pass me, message too diary, nip up the wheel nuts

martini · « **Reply #24 on:** December 07, 2006, 06:52:54 AM »

Not so much a mechanical issue but here it goes. I park my little 350 right outside of a cafe, I sit in there drink my beer and admire how nice it looks. Time comes to leave, I saunter on out cool as can be, put the key in, open the petcock, push the starter button, won't start, keep it going until finally the battery starts to fade. Okay better kick it, about 5 minutes of this, I'm getting really hot, off with the helmet, off with the jacket, kick for another five minutes - won't start. Get off the bike try to look like I know what I'm doing, check the fuel lines, yes they have fuel in them, carbs are working. Not looking at all cool at this point and starting to get seriously pissed. Well maybe I've flooded it, so I sit on the curb and give it 10 minutes. Couple people in the cafe offer me assitance. I'm now covered in sweat, hands are all dirty. Starting to think about how I'm going to get home. One last try I figure. I throw a leg over the bike, and what do I notice?

I forgot to turn the bloody ignition switch on!!!! Turn it on, bike starts up first shot. Talk about feeling like a tool. Note to self, always trun the bike on before spending half an hour trying to start it!

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Author Topic: Mental Note Thread (Read 3813 times)

eldar

jdigga