I do some simple things, change the oils, install slip ons, I took the front wheel off one of the bike to get a new tire installed. I like doing that stuff. I started looking into replacing the bars on my softail slim but I gotta say, the amount of posts from people who tried doing theirs and things don't work, bike won't start, throwing all kinds of error codes and on and on...I paid an independent guy to do it, $600 including parts and it sounded like it was a pain in his ***.
That’s the great thing about older bikes. Swapping bars is a pretty simple task, loosen the cables, loosen the controls, swap the bars and reassemble. Easy peasy.
Been wrenching for a lot of years, still...
On some bigger-type jobs, I noticed that I fret about it more than I need to, even when I know all the details of what needs to be done. Once you dive in, it's like "This isn't so hard".
Top end on both bikes, bottom end on the Shovel, even rebuilding the engine on my '48 Ford tractor was actually easy for me and kinda fun.
There's a point when it's all apart, where it easily looks like all is lost...but it's just part of the sequence. When it's back together and purring, that's a sense of accomplishment and some pride that most guys these days miss out on.
Besides, my stuff is so old, the dealer won't work on it anyway.
Been wrenching for a lot of years, still...
On some bigger-type jobs, I noticed that I fret about it more than I need to, even when I know all the details of what needs to be done. Once you dive in, it's like "This isn't so hard".
Top end on both bikes, bottom end on the Shovel, even rebuilding the engine on my '48 Ford tractor was actually easy for me and kinda fun. There's a point when it's all apart, where it easily looks like all is lost...but it's just part of the sequence. When it's back together and purring, that's a sense of accomplishment and some pride that most guys these days miss out on.
Besides, my stuff is so old, the dealer won't work on it anyway.
BT/DT, a few times I have something torn apart on the bench or in the driveway and think "what have I gotten myself into?". Then a few hours later I'm starting it up and grinning as I hear it roar to life and idle. Its a great feeling for sure.
Wish we'de had the camera tech back when I first enjoyed playing with these things, but scoots we're a lot simpler then too. Good move on your part, kudos.
It's proven useful quite a few times.
One in particular that proved it's worth was for some reason I had got it into my head that I didn't torque the S&S tappet cuff down properly when I swapped to new lifters.
My brain wouldnt shut the **** up about it so I was thinking at my 10K service I'd pull out the rear pushrods and tappet block, and redo the rear tappet cuff.
I went to check the video to see where I ****ed up and how.
Turns out I didn't **** up at all.
I actually did the whole procedure correctly, with a triple check on the torque on the bolt that I thought I hadn't done correctly.
So I saved myself several hours in the garage and tearing apart part of my bike again unnecessarily because I had a video of me doing the install.
It's proven useful quite a few times.
One in particular that proved it's worth was for some reason I had got it into my head that I didn't torque the S&S tappet cuff down properly when I swapped to new lifters.
My brain wouldnt shut the **** up about it so I was thinking at my 10K service I'd pull out the rear pushrods and tappet block, and redo the rear tappet cuff.
I went to check the video to see where I ****ed up and how.
Turns out I didn't **** up at all.
I actually did the whole procedure correctly, with a triple check on the torque on the bolt that I thought I hadn't done correctly.
So I saved myself several hours in the garage and tearing apart part of my bike again unnecessarily because I had a video of me doing the install.
I can relate, had the doubt worm chew on the grey matter a time or two thinking I'd missed something and find later I hadn't. Pulled a lower end down once because I could not remember if I'd done the final torque on a crank pin nut. Luckily it was still a bare lower, hadn't done the barrels up yet.
I can relate, had the doubt worm chew on the grey matter a time or two thinking I'd missed something and find later I hadn't. Pulled a lower end down once because I could not remember if I'd done the final torque on a crank pin nut. Luckily it was still a bare lower, hadn't done the barrels up yet.
Marking fasteners with a felt pen or dykem after final torque has always worked for me. When you have to answer the phone or help a customer when in the middle of assembling something critical it helps keep the job on track.
Marking fasteners with a felt pen or dykem after final torque has always worked for me. When you have to answer the phone or help a customer when in the middle of assembling something critical it helps keep the job on track.
Picked up that habit a bit later playing millwright/ Machine repairman, witness marks are lovely thing.
I can think of two reasons they pay!
1) They have no desire or ability to do it themselves
2) They have money to pay!
I do most of my own because I have the ability and I don't have allot of $$! But I don't really care what other people choose to spend their money on!
You forgot the most important reason . . . "Time". My excuse is I have the desire, but lack the ability and I have no time with job and family. For simple things like bolt on mods I do like doing those. Anything inside the motor or changing tires, I leave to the professionals. My thought process is "Drop it off on Monday, get it back on Thursday, ride on Saturday". I'm old enough to know my manhood and "bikerness" (new word) is not defined by my ability to wrench. We all have different skills and and ability, but riding is what we all have in common.
02-06-2023, 03:51 PM
