All depends on how mechanically inclined you are. I find it funny I used to be chicken to wrench on my bikes yet thought nothing about wrenching on cars worth far more than any one of my bikes. A couple years ago I was looking to do a Head Quarters build on my 06 Ultra when Phillm dropped me a PM. After messaging with Phill I decided I'd buy a few tools and do the build. Since then I've worked on other peoples bikes and have helped my dad fill his power needs. My brother got out of racing so I'm not spending lots of time researching things or working on his dragster. So now I spend my time researching motorcycle related items along with spending time with my dad working on them.

Today was a pretty productive day. We installed the oil temp gauge, Jagg 10 row cooler and put the chrome front end on it. I still have to install the garage door opener and 2nd horn and all the work will be completed on mine.

 

Knowledge is power, I'm the same as you. I like to know what is involved so I can follow along when I have something done.

 

The valve and the bracket sure show the beating they took from the heat. I was surprised at the o-rings I removed from the cam chest also. The one for the scavenge side of the oil pump was kind of stiff vs a new one. The 2 that the cam plate sealed against where really hardened. All the ones I have removed from other bikes in the past with more mileage on them were not that hard. I can only guess it was from the oil getting pretty hot. I didn't know what my oil temps where running because I didn't have the temp gauge installed. That area is also mighty close to the toaster oven exhaust. Will be interesting to see what I find when I take my dads apart. At a glance his exhaust bracket doesn't seem cooked line mine is.