Topic: 85 fz 750

[grcamna2]

How did your replacement fuel tank look Mark;did the inside look better than the original ?

[Mark1976]

How did your replacement fuel tank look Mark;did the inside look better than the original ?

The replacement tank was great inside, everything worked and aside from two small dings, it had the fuel gauge sending unit and a decent petcock, no gas tank cap, bought a new one (only cost $25). Repaired/repainted the lower half silver again and a couple of coates of clear later, and it was done. I spent $225 total on the tank, cap and paint. A steal in today's world. It still has the original graphics (which are checked) and the original red on top. Re-cleared the entire tank to preserve the upper half. Might, might..... Repaint the entire tank and apply new graphics in the spring, there just sitting on a shelf, but the red on the tank has a rainbow like flake in it (very fine) and I've not found a reproduction color of that yet. There's the solid red (Toyota color) available, just not with flake in it. So yeah we'll see...

[grcamna2]

Mark,do you know if a person can install some type of risers that will accept regular handlebars ?

[Mark1976]

Mark,do you know if a person can install some type of risers that will accept regular handlebars ?

   So, I've seen where there are adaptations for conventional bars, whether or not that means you could install a riser and then round stock conventional bars, I don't know. The bar setup as it is, really isn't that low. It may have been in 1985 but by today's standards, its standard.

[Mark1976]

   So about three days ago we had a break in the weather, so I thought I'd (since it's been more than a few weeks) start up the various bike in the garage and take 'em for a spin. When I got the  fz750 it wanted nothing to do with it, the damn thing turned slowly and then ground to a buzzy halt. I'm thinkin, battery, check it then put it on the charger. Nope battery's fine (f#$k), so out comes the starter, not bad, not fun either, but after its out and apart it's obvious the starter's fried. Brushes are worn right down to the leads and the commutator is just burnt to a crisp. Sooo, call a friend of a friend and for $29 I get a pretty good reasonable used starter.
   Put it in a we're good to go, waaaay better'r than the original, spins way quicker than the old one. Life should always be this easy.

[RAFster122s]

Glad your friend could bail you out with a spare starter and issue resolved...
Look forward to ride report and you joining the 25 rides thread.

[Mark1976]

  Well, doing a pretrip and guess what shows up, fkn screw stuck in the rear tire. Had to have happen right at the tail end of yesterday's ride, there's almost no sign of wear on the screw head, guess who's buying a new rear. This is a first in over 50 years of riding.

[simon#42]

you could put a plug in it , they work fine and it saves a tyre

[Mark1976]

you could put a plug in it , they work fine and it saves a tyre

   Yeah, I'm kinda on fence about what to do, decent tires are getting pricey, it is what it is. It can sit, I've got other bikes to ride. Fk....

[grcamna2]

you could put a plug in it , they work fine and it saves a tyre

+1

[BenelliSEI]

you could put a plug in it , they work fine and it saves a tyre

+1. I did one just like that two years ago and no issues.

[Mark1976]

you could put a plug in it , they work fine and it saves a tyre

  +1. I did one just like that two years ago and no issues.

 Well, I ordered a new tire, wasn't comfortable with the idea of a plug or a patch, but I'm going to see if one of the shops in my area will do it and then hang on to it for a while. Whether I toss it or repair it, eitherway it'll cost a few bucks. And in the meantime, there's other bikes to ride..

[grcamna2]

you could put a plug in it , they work fine and it saves a tyre

  +1. I did one just like that two years ago and no issues.

 Well, I ordered a new tire, wasn't comfortable with the idea of a plug or a patch, but I'm going to see if one of the shops in my area will do it and then hang on to it for a while. Whether I toss it or repair it, eitherway it'll cost a few bucks. And in the meantime, there's other bikes to ride..

The small screw hole there can easily be patched,and the best type is a Radial Patch,where the tire is removed and the tire repair shop installs it from the inside;they carefully prep it,and it'll never pull out.
Bring it to a quality tire place,and don't let a kid who doesn't care do it;have an employee that's done it many times install it.

Nice bicycle 

[Mark1976]

you could put a plug in it , they work fine and it saves a tyre

  +1. I did one just like that two years ago and no issues.

 Well, I ordered a new tire, wasn't comfortable with the idea of a plug or a patch, but I'm going to see if one of the shops in my area will do it and then hang on to it for a while. Whether I toss it or repair it, eitherway it'll cost a few bucks. And in the meantime, there's other bikes to ride..

The small screw hole there can easily be patched,and the best type is a Radial Patch,where the tire is removed and the tire repair shop installs it from the inside;they carefully prep it,and it'll never pull out.
Bring it to a quality tire place,and don't let a kid who doesn't care do it;have an employee that's done it many times install it.

Nice bicycle 

Will do...

[grcamna2]

you could put a plug in it , they work fine and it saves a tyre

  +1. I did one just like that two years ago and no issues.

 Well, I ordered a new tire, wasn't comfortable with the idea of a plug or a patch, but I'm going to see if one of the shops in my area will do it and then hang on to it for a while. Whether I toss it or repair it, eitherway it'll cost a few bucks. And in the meantime, there's other bikes to ride..

The small screw hole there can easily be patched,and the best type is a Radial Patch,where the tire is removed and the tire repair shop installs it from the inside;they carefully prep it,and it'll never pull out.
Bring it to a quality tire place,and don't let a kid who doesn't care do it;have an employee that's done it many times install it.

Nice bicycle 

Will do...

I have seen guys in a tire shop install them.
The employee first removes the piece of metal/screw to see which path the hole was on;with a screw,they carefully un-screw it and see the angle the screw took when it embedded itself into your tire,then they use a hand tool to prep/rough-up the hole in the orientation/path the screw was in there. They prep the area around the inside of the tire for the patch to overlap the hole and add rubber cement into that area and the hole,then pull the Radial Patch all the way through from the outside. I hope you didn't remove the screw,let them do that so they can see the path the screw took.

[Kelly E]

I've done plenty of plug patches from the outside and then wore out the tire. It works great and I've never had one leak. I carry a plug patch kit on the Concours incase I pick up a nail or screw out on a road trip. No need to replace a perfectly good tire over a little screw or nail hole.

[simon#42]

I've done plenty of plug patches from the outside and then wore out the tire. It works great and I've never had one leak. I carry a plug patch kit on the Concours incase I pick up a nail or screw out on a road trip. No need to replace a perfectly good tire over a little screw or nail hole.

yes me too , very handy when you are miles from home and everywhere is closed .

[Mark1976]

I've done plenty of plug patches from the outside and then wore out the tire. It works great and I've never had one leak. I carry a plug patch kit on the Concours incase I pick up a nail or screw out on a road trip. No need to replace a perfectly good tire over a little screw or nail hole.

I guess I oughtta invest in one... $198 for a tire, and I dismount and remount and balance the whole sha-bang, gettin not to be so much fun anymore. The local shops wanted $300 plus to do the same thing, I was like, "I can't do that, its one f#$%'in tire." The whole bike repair/maintenance thing is just getting ridiculous, cars are no different, but I literally can't fix the car anymore so it is what it is... If you're buying a new bike everybody wants to know ya, if ya got an old bike nobody cares.....

[grcamna2]

I've done plenty of plug patches from the outside and then wore out the tire. It works great and I've never had one leak. I carry a plug patch kit on the Concours incase I pick up a nail or screw out on a road trip. No need to replace a perfectly good tire over a little screw or nail hole.

I guess I oughtta invest in one... $198 for a tire, and I dismount and remount and balance the whole sha-bang, gettin not to be so much fun anymore. The local shops wanted $300 plus to do the same thing, I was like, "I can't do that, its one f#$%'in tire." The whole bike repair/maintenance thing is just getting ridiculous, cars are no different, but I literally can't fix the car anymore so it is what it is... If you're buying a new bike everybody wants to know ya, if ya got an old bike nobody cares.....

A new tire can be a spare,for when you wear-out this one.
You can remove that good(slightly used)tire yourself,take it to a tire shop for a good repair.

[BenelliSEI]

I've done plenty of plug patches from the outside and then wore out the tire. It works great and I've never had one leak. I carry a plug patch kit on the Concours incase I pick up a nail or screw out on a road trip. No need to replace a perfectly good tire over a little screw or nail hole.

Totally agree. I wouldn’t go to the salt flats or road racing on it, but for the road, no problem.

[Mark1976]

I've done plenty of plug patches from the outside and then wore out the tire. It works great and I've never had one leak. I carry a plug patch kit on the Concours incase I pick up a nail or screw out on a road trip. No need to replace a perfectly good tire over a little screw or nail hole.

Totally agree. I wouldn’t go to the salt flats or road racing on it, but for the road, no problem.

   Well, I'll invest in the kit somewhere down the road, but for the time being I mounted and balanced a new tire today. So it's done with, avon mkII roadrider, $210 from dennis kirk, a full $116 less than what the local shop wanted.

[grcamna2]

I've done plenty of plug patches from the outside and then wore out the tire. It works great and I've never had one leak. I carry a plug patch kit on the Concours incase I pick up a nail or screw out on a road trip. No need to replace a perfectly good tire over a little screw or nail hole.

Totally agree. I wouldn’t go to the salt flats or road racing on it, but for the road, no problem.

   Well, I'll invest in the kit somewhere down the road, but for the time being I mounted and balanced a new tire today. So it's done with, avon mkII roadrider, $210 from dennis kirk, a full $116 less than what the local shop wanted.

I've always liked Dennis Kirk & their deals,still order things from them monthly.
I call in and reach a live agent,every time.