Topic: The Happy-ish Thread. Share your small wins and mixed blessings.

[Magpie]

Going to Japan next week to visit a grandson we haven't been able to hug because of Covid. Chigasaki to be exact, south of Tokyo. There's a large Honda dealer about 15 minutes away from our hotel. Disneyland Tokyo also on the visit list. We may get to the Honda museum as well. Cliff.

[RAFster122s]

Cliff, have fun! I loved Japan. Got to go there for work a few decades ago now, Makihari, stayed in apt a few train stops away. Lovely country and people.

[grcamna2]

Going to Japan next week to visit a grandson we haven't been able to hug because of Covid. Chigasaki to be exact, south of Tokyo. There's a large Honda dealer about 15 minutes away from our hotel. Disneyland Tokyo also on the visit list. We may get to the Honda museum as well. Cliff.

You plan on picking-up/buying any Honda parts from that Dealer in Japan ?

[Magpie]

You plan on picking-up/buying any Honda parts from that Dealer in Japan ?
[/quote]

More souvenirs than parts, see what they have to offer. Cliff.
https://www.dream-honda.com/chigasaki/?fbclid=IwAR1tq6JIhdYnsZFX7rYDI-bz4viXBoXMHxlsH6CuIcD48z1vZ2a8vHvYJLM

[HondaMan]

I FINALLY got this 750 engine (from a member) back together today: since June it's been one of those that every step toward the reassembly discovered a broken (something), like stripped threads, crumbling rubber parts, etc...the last surprise was the last bolt I put on: it was the forward starter mount bolt, the last bolt left, and when I put it in and tightened it, it didn't...another Helicoil! Yeesh...

It's gonna be a nice-runnin' K2 when it gets home again, though.

[RAFster122s]

I FINALLY got this 750 engine (from a member) back together today: since June it's been one of those that every step toward the reassembly discovered a broken (something), like stripped threads, crumbling rubber parts, etc...the last surprise was the last bolt I put on: it was the forward starter mount bolt, the last bolt left, and when I put it in and tightened it, it didn't...another Helicoil! Yeesh...

It's gonna be a nice-runnin' K2 when it gets home again, though.

Sounds like a bad batch of alloy that made those cases, or some ham fisted previous owners...

[Terry in Australia]

It's Monday here in Melbourne, and as tomorrow is a public holiday for a horse race most of the public servants that I work with have taken today off to have an extra long weekend. I'm about to start a new part time job which will involve some interstate travel and I'll need to take a week off to make a start before I finish up for the year in 6 weeks time, so I opted to "work from home" today, which, because it was so quiet, was almost as good as having the day off anyway.

Instead of having to get up at 0445 for the "Three S's" before driving to work today I was able to sleep in until 0730, to wander into my den and climb into my comfy chair, and log on to the defence internet to start work, at 0800. I tried to stay awake all day while staring at my email inbox, then logged off at 1600. Tomorrow, being a public holiday I can sleep in until whenever I feel like getting out of bed, so all in all, my non-holiday today was pretty easy.  

[PeWe]

Big surprise today when I checked my postbox. A jiffy bag from Allens Performance UK.
Fantastic, they really had needles in stock I ordered last Friday!
https://www.catalyst-findit.co.uk/allens-performance-ltd/search?nav=r&w=900&h=n

Next good thing, no customs nor additional fees.
(Normal nowadays after Brexit)

I ordered needles initially from Webike, a few days later mail about refund.
Got money back minus almost $10   Maybe rate diff or Paypal fee.

So I had low expectations about needles.

All other sellers I found had max 1 needle or just out of stock. It seems to be a low interest to store Mikuni needles series 9 for TMR. Lots of other needles for VM carbs and round throttle carbs in general.

Needles went in this evening. A few adjustments like 1 step bigger main jets with synch and maybe a test ride if weather is fine the coming days.
Hopefully correct guess about clip notch.

Good birthday present 3 days in advance!

I was worried about needles in a jiffy bag, but happy when opened it.

Below photo with the protective plastic tube with new needles.
Old  too rich needle with clip beside new needle.

I'll have another look at their website for more to order.

If someone is interested in needle details.
New needle 9D3-52 (aka J8-D03-52) marked in green,
old too rich 9E11-52 in red text.

[Don R]

 I always feel like I learned something after reading a PeWe post. Thanks.

[Don R]

  I got selected to be an election judge. In our state a voter must match a signature, if it doesn't look close, they must produce an identification. I guess that's why they call it a judge.
  My Mom thought it was important and an honor to be one so this is for her memory.

[PeWe]

I always feel like I learned something after reading a PeWe post. Thanks.

Thats good feeadback, thanks!
I have learned a lot on these forums by reading a lot of posts with answers and discussions, your projects and posts included Don.

Plenty of inspiration from others projects too.
These forums are very addictive!

[Terry in Australia]

  I got selected to be an election judge. In our state a voter must match a signature, if it doesn't look close, they must produce an identification. I guess that's why they call it a judge.
  My Mom thought it was important and an honor to be one so this is for her memory.

So who had the biggest election Don?

[jgger]

Still stuck in that "Anna Rosanna Rosanna Danna" rut Terry? Hahaha!

[scottly]

Jim, I think you mean Emily Litella, not Rosanna.
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=emily+litella+never+mind#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:b21f9f79,vid:fZLeaSWY37I

[jgger]

Rosanna was the one who got things way wrong and after her speech it was always ended with " Never mind".

I'm on my phone and the link won't load, but that may also fit.

[scottly]

No, it was Emily that always got things wrong, then said "never mind". The clip I posted was her rant about "violins on TV".

[scottly]

Here's a typical Rosanna clip:

[RAFster122s]

Violins on Television - Never Mind

[Don R]

 A giant pot of vegetable beef soup and all of the family here. Win/win and we fixed the chimney on the wood burning fireplace too.

[Terry in Australia]

I’d almost filed my CBR900RR in the “too hard” basket back in July after a lot of work only resulted in a couple of pops and nada. I’d wondered whether the 12000 mile engine had suffered a life altering ailment like a failed cam chain tensioner allowing the chain to jump a tooth or three and throwing the valve timing out, (or bending some valves….) or an electronic sensor failure affecting the ignition, maybe I didn’t clean the carbs as well as I thought I had after I de-rusted the tank, etc etc etc.

Yesterday the sun was shining for the first time in weeks (lots of flooding down here) so I removed the bike cover, removed the tank, replaced the fuel line, put another gallon of fresh fuel in it, hooked up a jump starter, and VAROOM! It fired right up like I’d only ridden it the day before, when in fact it hasn’t run in over 6 years. I attached my battery tester and gave it a rev and discovered that the alternator isn’t working and when I touched the plug from the AC wires I almost burned my pinkies, so I’m guessing that the reason the PO parked it so early in life was that the stator had died.

It ran really well but I needed to charge the battery so I took it out and put it on the charger then went inside to order a new stator, rec/reg for good measure, and a new gasket for the cover. The tyres are as hard as a hookers heart so I’ll buy new tyres and get a roadworthy inspection done, and hopefully be on the road by Christmas. This minor win made me happy.

[RAFster122s]

Sounds like fun Terry, if you don't warm up to it ya can flip it to the next owner for a good stack of fresh currency.
So, stator is not working but the AC output from the stator was enough to burn your fingers?
Voltage below spec or is it a rectifier/regulator issue?

[Terry in Australia]

Sounds like fun Terry, if you don't warm up to it ya can flip it to the next owner for a good stack of fresh currency.
So, stator is not working but the AC output from the stator was enough to burn your fingers?
Voltage below spec or is it a rectifier/regulator issue?

Thanks David, my problem is I seem to fall in love with every bike that rolls thru my gate. I did think that the seating position is nicer than on my RC-51 or my new(to me) Ducati 916 S4, and when I bought it I’d hoped that it’ll be a viable replacement for my VFR750 that I still kick myself for selling last year. If I was smart I’d sell the RC51 and the Duke and keep the little Honda, but I’ll probably not do either.

The charging system isn’t working at all, no rise in voltage as revs increase so it could be either, but looking at the amount of stators for sale for my model Fireblade especially, I’m guessing that the stator is dead, but I bought a new rec/reg from the same seller so I’ll first replace the rec/reg (easiest) followed by the stator.

[PeWe]

Good news, Terry!
I guess you'll trade the bike getting another interesting fun ride
Legal speeds can be fun too with right bike?

[Terry in Australia]

Good news, Terry!
I guess you'll trade the bike getting another interesting fun ride
Legal speeds can be fun too with right bike?

Thanks Per, the only bikes I have that are OK to ride at semi-legal speeds are my CB750's. The big land barges (Valkyrie and Rocket III) are too much of a handful to be enjoyable at suburban/city speeds, but quite comfortable at highway speeds, none of the "Sports" bikes are happy unless ridden like stolen, even my Harley Sportster (that I geared up with an 18 inch rear wheel) hates suburban streets but enjoys highway speeds, whereas the two CB750's seem to be happy enough around town.

I had another win with the 'Blade today, and another opportunity to laugh at myself. Whereas I thought the clutch was seized, hence every time I went to shift into 1st the engine would stall, I realised today that in fact it was because I had the side stand down. No harm laughing at yourself, especially if you do it before you pull your clutch apart. Luckily for me I hadn't got that far. I was considering taking it for a cheeky lap around the block, but then the rain absolutely bucketed down again after a beautiful warm sunny day, so that was the end of that. Good thing is that tomorrow I'm working from home, so will hopefully get a little ride in then.

[PeWe]

You'll spend the Fireblade sales money on your K1 project?