Topic: What did you do to your non-SOHC4 motorcycle today?

[MauiK3]

Very nice bike!

[BenelliSEI]

Very nice bike!

Steve….. I like it more, every ride. Comfortable, pulls like a train (in any gear). It’s pretty porky at rest, but the moment it starts moving it’s effortless. ABS, linked braking and today I noticed it has 4-way flashers too. “Only in Canada - eh!”

[RAFster122s]

The Varadero is an evolution from the DNA developed from the XL600/XL650 and XL700 Trans Alp and a predecessor to the current Africa Twin. Just like the earlier TransAlp fed the design of the original European Africa Twin that was raced and sold elsewhere. The Transalp was ahead of its time, like many Honda bikes filling a niche that didn't exist yet when it finally came to the US in '89 after being available in the rest of the world since '86. 
The CX500 being similar in its high center of gravity ungainly handling until you get moving and it disappears...
The Transalp sold poorly in the US and so whole it lived on and morphed into other designs abroad we didn't get to enjoy that evolution in the US because of lack of market penetration here. Honda motorcycles America is really reluctant to risk introducing bikes here, getting them legalized is pretty expensive though...

I'm glad to hear you continue to love the bike John, one of the gems appreciated by many not in the US and hard to find in the US as they were not sold here, unfortunately.

[BenelliSEI]

The story goes that Honda Canada spent the money to get it into North America as the US wasn’t interested (the Cuban name didn’t help). The bike was a complete flop here. It was expensive and dualsport riders went for the BMW. Mine sat in a Nova Scotia dealer show room for almost two years before the owner’s brother in law bought it at a huge discount.

The Toronto Honda dealer near my home in Toronto had two for so long they crated them up and sent them to Mexico! Wrong place, wrong time. Great bike!

[70CB750]

Replaced the brake line for the rear wheel on the CB900C.

[Kelly E]

Yesterday we finished up an oil change, coolant chemical flush and a valve adjustment using the Honda cam holder tool. The valves have never sounded better.

[RAFster122s]

Nice interceptor! Congrats on the successful work!

[Kelly E]

Nice interceptor! Congrats on the successful work!

Thanks, we still need to recover the seat. We've had the new cover for 2 years, it was laid out flat to remove the creases from being folded up in the box and it took a while.

[grcamna2]

Yesterday we finished up an oil change, coolant chemical flush and a valve adjustment using the Honda cam holder tool. The valves have never sounded better.

How did that bike ride now ?

[Kelly E]

Very nice bike!

Steve….. I like it more, every ride. Comfortable, pulls like a train (in any gear). It’s pretty porky at rest, but the moment it starts moving it’s effortless. ABS, linked braking and today I noticed it has 4-way flashers too. “Only in Canada - eh!”

My 94' Kawasaki Concours 1000 has 4 way flashers on it.

[Kelly E]

Yesterday we finished up an oil change, coolant chemical flush and a valve adjustment using the Honda cam holder tool. The valves have never sounded better.

How did that bike ride now ?

I haven't had a test ride yet. It's been raining.

[Mr. Mike]

“Non SOHC4”?

2002 ElectraGlide. Transmission oil drips a few drops after riding (here it is; “They all do that”). Should I just leave it, or fix it? Finally got annoyed enough to tackle the job. Not my first rodeo on this big twin, but without a table lift, all things motorcycle can be exhausting and hard on the feet and back when you’re not one of them spring chicken types.

Replaced the shift shaft oil seal. Never fun drilling into a rubber seal to extract it. The socket trick as a seal driver worked flawlessly on this little seal. The chain case main bearing seal got replaced…twice. Driving this seal in with DYI garage level tools is tough. At any rate I couldn’t get the lip seal completely flush with the machined aluminum case, just maybe a 1/32” high.
I watched the YT Magilla Gorilla mechanics and thought…”Ain’t doing it that way”. One guy, sounded Bostonian or NY accent used a steel hammer to pound in this seal. Seemed to me a one time use effort as you could clearly see the ding marks on the machined aluminum face.
Yet another YT HD mechanic stated regarding this seal, “If not set properly, maybe not today or next week, but it WILL pop out”. That was enough to unsettle my mind overnight.
Tried the almost perfect fit socket trick and hammer on this seal before pulling it, but deformed it. DAMMIT!
Out it came.
As Terry would proclaim, “FCUK!”.
Off came the primary assembly again. My feet are killing me. Up, down…up, down.
Next seal was an Amazon decently rated one. But that’s always a gamble I know. That one, with a bit of thumb with glove effort went in to rest against the backside of the inside bearing retaining snap ring the way the manual says it should. The difference between aftermarket and OEM dimensions however minute, hopefully won’t be this repairs failure.
If by chance it turns out to be the main shaft leaking…tough sh*t. I’ll be disappointed in a misdiagnosed leak, but I’m not set up for removal of the sprocket, nor specialty tools to drive new seals in. POS but I love it.

[Kelly E]

We have to play the same game with the 05' Fatboy some time this winter. We have to use the long ramp to get it on the lift table because Paul ordered it lowered from the factory.
He thinks it's the primary case leaking but we'll find out eventually.

[grcamna2]

“Non SOHC4”?

2002 ElectraGlide. Transmission oil drips a few drops after riding (here it is; “They all do that”). Should I just leave it, or fix it? Finally got annoyed enough to tackle the job. Not my first rodeo on this big twin, but without a table lift, all things motorcycle can be exhausting and hard on the feet and back when you’re not one of them spring chicken types.

Replaced the shift shaft oil seal. Never fun drilling into a rubber seal to extract it. The socket trick as a seal driver worked flawlessly on this little seal. The chain case main bearing seal got replaced…twice. Driving this seal in with DYI garage level tools is tough. At any rate I couldn’t get the lip seal completely flush with the machined aluminum case, just maybe a 1/32” high.
I watched the YT Magilla Gorilla mechanics and thought…”Ain’t doing it that way”. One guy, sounded Bostonian or NY accent used a steel hammer to pound in this seal. Seemed to me a one time use effort as you could clearly see the ding marks on the machined aluminum face.
Yet another YT HD mechanic stated regarding this seal, “If not set properly, maybe not today or next week, but it WILL pop out”. That was enough to unsettle my mind overnight.
Tried the almost perfect fit socket trick and hammer on this seal before pulling it, but deformed it. DAMMIT!
Out it came.
As Terry would proclaim, “FCUK!”.
Off came the primary assembly again. My feet are killing me. Up, down…up, down.
Next seal was an Amazon decently rated one. But that’s always a gamble I know. That one, with a bit of thumb with glove effort went in to rest against the backside of the inside bearing retaining snap ring the way the manual says it should. The difference between aftermarket and OEM dimensions however minute, hopefully won’t be this repairs failure.
If by chance it turns out to be the main shaft leaking…tough sh*t. I’ll be disappointed in a misdiagnosed leak, but I’m not set up for removal of the sprocket, nor specialty tools to drive new seals in. POS but I love it.

I used to have a lift table,over 20yrs. ago  MISS that thing !

[Mr. Mike]

We have to play the same game with the 05' Fatboy some time this winter. We have to use the long ramp to get it on the lift table because Paul ordered it lowered from the factory.
He thinks it's the primary case leaking but we'll find out eventually.

The one thing that made my identification somewhat easier, is the trans fluid is red, primary is the standard amber color, so that alone ruled out primary side seals. Hopefully you’ve got the FSM for your model. Small details that are in print in the manual don’t always get addressed on YT video even from guys like Doc Harley.

[Kelly E]

We have to play the same game with the 05' Fatboy some time this winter. We have to use the long ramp to get it on the lift table because Paul ordered it lowered from the factory.
He thinks it's the primary case leaking but we'll find out eventually.

The one thing that made my identification somewhat easier, is the trans fluid is red, primary is the standard amber color, so that alone ruled out primary side seals. Hopefully you’ve got the FSM for your model. Small details that are in print in the manual don’t always get addressed on YT video even from guys like Doc Harley.

We do have the factory manual for it. It helped out when we replaced the steering head bearings. We didn't watch any YT videos.

[budman]

New rear tire on the Scout.

[Stev-o]

New rear tire on the Scout.

Hey Bud!   How many miles on the ol' girl now?!

[budman]

New rear tire on the Scout.

Hey Bud!   How many miles on the ol' girl now?!

Just over 18k.  I just got back from a ride to scuff up the new tire.  Long ride planned for tomorrow.

[Stev-o]

Last ride on the mighty Z1 was a few weeks ago, a fuel leak from the Mikunis was detected, the "screw driver knock on the bowl" trick did not work.
So decided yesterday was the day to pull the carbs and repair the issue.

Part 1.

Pulling the carbs is relatively easy on the Z1, the seat, tank and side covers come off as easily as a CB. It was rather warm in the garage so I rolled it out to my driveway...



With the carbs off and float bowls removed, the carbs looked immaculate!  I had them vapor blasted a few years ago and still look great, inside & out.



However, it did seem like one float was sticking but not #1 which was the carb that was leaking.  Once back together, I pulled out my "tank/carb bench jig", which is actually a wine box for the tank and amazon box for the carbs! [I do have a remote fuel jug but this was much easier]



Turned on the petcock and 30 seconds later #1 starts pissing fuel, WTF??  So, I pulled the float bowl back off, float is not stuck, no dirt, all looks good and put the bowl back on. A second check showed no leak, good.

Carbs back on, about a 15 min job, tank and seat on, bike fires right up.  Went for about an hour test ride all is good on the big Kaw again!




Part 2.
 
Last time I rode the Kaw H1 500, it seemed I fouled a plug and was only running on 2 cylinders.  Checked the shelf and found some new NGK's and slapped 'em in.   Took about 20 kicks, no elec starter, I hate that, but she roared to life, she's a smokin'!!!



A short test ride was all I had time for, had to meet the wife for Happy Hour.  But made time to give the bikes a quick wipe down, a great day for a couple Kaws.

[Mr. Mike]

Happy to report no leaks from the three seals replace on my big twin. Now to park it on the Main Street for sale. This is a tough one (just one more ride…just one.).

[RAFster122s]

Happy to report no leaks from the three seals replace on my big twin. Now to park it on the Main Street for sale. This is a tough one (just one more ride…just one.).

Glad your work on the seal fixed it. Seems I'm hearing a lot of guys letting go of their Harleys after HD's mgmt taking a stance they couldn't tolerate. But think I read where the outcry and some changes resulted from that backlash. HD is going to be in a world of hurt if riders turn their back on them for brands like Indian and other marquee... MC sales have been really down from the reports I have read about sales numbers worldwide and where the growth in sales are, the few that are enjoying increased interest and sales. Harley won't get assisted like they were in the past, so they better tread carefully and need the signs

I hope your bike sells, if not, store her for the winter a d pull it out for the spring when people want to throw a leg over and get out and ride. You are likely to get a better price for it in the spring too!
 

[Mr. Mike]

Happy to report no leaks from the three seals replace on my big twin. Now to park it on the Main Street for sale. This is a tough one (just one more ride…just one.).

Glad your work on the seal fixed it. Seems I'm hearing a lot of guys letting go of their Harleys after HD's mgmt taking a stance they couldn't tolerate. But think I read where the outcry and some changes resulted from that backlash. HD is going to be in a world of hurt if riders turn their back on them for brands like Indian and other marquee... MC sales have been really down from the reports I have read about sales numbers worldwide and where the growth in sales are, the few that are enjoying increased interest and sales. Harley won't get assisted like they were in the past, so they better tread carefully and need the signs

I hope your bike sells, if not, store her for the winter a d pull it out for the spring when people want to throw a leg over and get out and ride. You are likely to get a better price for it in the spring too!

Indeed the market is flooded and somewhat flat especially where I’m at. Not too many are wanting to drive 150 miles to “check out a bike”.  I’m from a small (I was born in a small town……and I can breathe in a small town…)…anyway my market radius is small and the economy is such that not too many are wanting to put out big money right now. Pricing for older models is difficult to gage. Some people want to unload their bike, some are asking what seems to be too much for the year and model hoping to get lucky on that lime green touring bike for $17,000.00 which has been on the market…in the big city…for 45 days or more. If I resided in say California, or Nevada, it would be a different selling strategy altogether.
I went with the low end of the spread that I deduced from a variety of places and by golly I’ve got a hit already (did I sell short?). Time will tell if this individual can come up with the $5K before winter actually rolls in. We’ve got at least 8-10 weeks left give or take a couple of weeks, but the best part is I don’t have to sell, but I’m just done with that bike. It’s a love hate thing right now and whether it goes this year or next doesn’t matter. But I had to price it attractively to move it ahead of any of the other three touring bikes on the market here. And if I’m good with my price structure, I believe the buyer wins as I actually think I’m 1K or a tad more under market. 
I hope it goes through.

[Kelly E]

I hear you about the pricing thing. We're going to sell the 82' CB 900F and it's been hard to figure out what to ask, especially in the fall. Luckily my buddy that I resurrect bikes with has most of that responsibility.

[BenelliSEI]

Sold the little Suzuki RM85. My grandson is only using the CRF230 and I’ve decided “if we don’t use it; move it”.