Phoenix Flies

[Gas Man]

Ok.. I'll go...

As previously described on the old board I completely rebuilt my chop this last winter.

Then it took its first run

Then I got my newly chromed headlight mount from the UPS man... but damn... a little over packing by Browns!!!

To show the pure size of it all.. used one of the wife's coffee cups



I mean...COME ON... and I paid for that shipping... over kill if you ask me!

Pulled the tank again...


Did the now standard issue di-electric grease and shrink wrap.

Mounted the light, and put the tank back on.

MONEY!!







Bled the brakes once more... took it outside, adjusted the headlight and tightened it up!!

Back inside... ready for some real miles... BAM!!




Yesterday the weather broke... took it out for its first shake down run... Opened the garage door... whoom the whole bike fogs over... I hate this shit.



But with my make shift speedo plug


The speedo didn't fog over like it use to.


Took it out for a short 35mile spin. Could feel the top motor mount getting loose... it started to vibrate more... but the bike is running better than ever before. I'm not sure if its one thing or the combination of the pipes, ignition, doherty, desperato cover, or what... but it pulled AWESOME!!

So came home... parked it.. so it could cool down... went out later and checked it over...

Sure enough, the top motor mount bolts were loose, the lisense plate bolt that goes thru the swingarm to the plate assembly, and one exhaust heat shield bolt. But what I found strange loose was 2 oil lines. Must have been falsely tight with the pipe dope. Tightened everything up...

Now I did also find that my ignition key is cutting out a bit... never had a problem with it while riding but when I was screwing it when I got to tighten it up on the coil mount... it cut out. Then it will cut out one min and not the next. Going to have to pull the tank and check the wires... maybe they're getting pulled? Worse case... replace the key.

But then after going over the bike I cleaned it up and polished the stainless steel tips...

Left tip..done right one not



Both of them done.... moocho better



Guess that will do it for now... got to check the key Wed and then get back on to put on some miles...

[Gas Man]

So I pulled the tank and found another set of the special connectors had gone wrong... not sure what's up with that... installer error? The neighbor, Mr Sgt, said he thinks they must be prototype crap.. or somin like that.

Either way... got some different spade connectors on there and it works again...

[Gas Man]

picked up off ebay and got in. A nice luggage piece. Will help for packing and comfort.

Kuryakyn tombstone bag Retail $160 I got for about $100... says used, but looks new.

Here's a pic... not mine.



Side bag for each side that is detachable. Rain cover, and the front pad.. there is 3 of them. 1/2", 2", and 3" so you can tailor the bag for ultimate comfort.

Should help me for any upcoming trips.

[Gas Man]

Well before any distance trips I still need to get these bugs worked out... had some what I currently believe is some more electrical connection problems. Got er home and will have to dive into it more later this week. The trials and tribulations of wrenching...

[Gas Man]

Well pulled the wiring apart the other day. Those "prototype" connectors were JUNK. Cut the shrink wrap off and the damn wire came right out. low temp soldier JUNK! Replaced all of those with some new ones with normal old fashion soldier. And they are on there good!!!

Took it for another shake down ride today... got to adjust the shifter linkage, and try to bleed some more air out of the rear brake. Still feels spongy.

Will try to get to it Monday and Tuesday. Got too much work and now that its warm the grass is needing to be cut... which cuts into wrenching and riding time.

[Gas Man]

To further the last post... with better explanation on the wire failure


So I am still shaking out a few things in amungst working 70hrs a week. Had to rid the fancy connectors.



Some way, some how, user error? IDK. But they failed me... and left me stranded last week.

Riding down the road and the ignition would go out. No EHC error lights... just like you yanked the coils off the bike. Got to the point that it would only fire till the bike started rolling then poof!

That's ok... I have a plan out of this!

Cut the shrink wrap off at the end and the wire slid right out. The only thing making it appear to be in was the shrink wrap holding it tight. Oh well...

Got to work, got the tools out, and Sgt my neighbor came over. I suck at soldier and he is insane good at it!


Took some crimp on connectors, cut the plastic sheeth off, put tinned wire in and crimped. Then soldiered in.

[Gas Man]

Well I had not updated this in a bit. I planned another day of wrenching...need to re-tighten a exhaust heat shield, adjust the rear brake lever, and check over everything. Not much time needed...right? WRONG. Why?

Grade 8.8 chrome bolt holding the heat shield on... SNAP


Had to drill out... but before that happens... a few buddies showed up for lets see.... Honda jetting, AIH jetting and carb adjustment, new brake pads front and rear, and new brake fluid.

So I went from bike to bike, wrenched and gave directions...


Thanks Sgt. for recoganition for the help.


Chopper Nick... take your stupid air cleaner cover off so I can jet the damn carb!


Then another HD showed up... thankfully much like the wife's bike under the cover. The HD's were the only bikes out of the 5 that didn't need a wrench! There goes that old saying!!!

At the end of the day or allowed time the only thing that got done on my bike was making it worse as shown above. Oh well... another day tomorrow.

Got around to drilling it out and tapping it


Well this is not the first time this has happened. But the last time it happened to the guy that made the pipe. Both times it was this bolt and both times it was one of these grade 8.8 bolts. I think the bolt which is already hardened and loctited into place. The extreme heat from the exhaust re and extremely hardend the hardend bolt making it brittle. The said loctite has the threads locked into place. Meaning when you have to put the brute to it the shaft to break the loctite but the shaft is too brittle to break the threads loose and the it just snaps off clean. That being said, I replaced with a stainless steel bolt this time. They are to be grade 5 by pure nature. They still blend in well with the chrome and I don't think anybody will notice. So far so good.

Also, got the other items done. I think its ready to roll AGAIN!

Took it out Sunday to work and to Chopper Nick's for more work on his bike. Phoenix ran well. Ready for bike night Monday.

Bike night Monday included about 100 miles and highway speed. Phoenix ran perfectly. And it all put a big smilie on my face to boot.

its all good to be on Two Wheel and get in that Fix!!!